Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

the public - have gone down the toilet. If the AMA ever wants to see their goal of bringing this sport to the level of NASCAR in term of fan base/interest/marketing, they can do without the charity and reinstall the forefounding homologation guidelines. Harley - produce your portbike or get off the grid. Honda - build a kick-ass affordable 750 like we know you can instead of hiding behind your megamodified 4-year-old Frankenstein RC45. Let's give back the credibility this sport needs to continue forward. Dave Sisk Kirkland, WA Just say no I'd sent this letter in when Anthony Gobert had his problems and was suspended by the AMA. After reading the latest interview with Gobert (Issue #1, January 14), I still think the following letter applies: Just when you boys thought you had seen the last letter concerning the resident pothead of the AMA Superbike Series, here we go again. In 1997, when Anthony Gobert was fired from the uzuki 500cc Grand Prix team for testing positive for a banned substance, he denied using any. I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and believe his side of the story. I do not recall seeing the Suzuki version of the story in print. When the 1998 AMA Superbike season began, Anthony backed up some of his bold statements of the past by winning some races. It seemed as though the title battle would come down to Miguel DuHamel and Anthony Gobert. But Miguel broke his leg and Gobert was off smoking dope with his buddies. We all know the rest of the story - the World Superbike ban at Laguna Seca, his AMA ban, etc. Gobert and his manager/mother say he made a mistake, and that the most important thing to Anthony is racing. Anthony's actions would tell us otherwise. He is quoted in your paper as saying he "doesn't see anything wrong with smoking a little weed," and that he "doesn't have a drug problem." I don't think people without a drug problem check themselves into rehabilitation centers for 30-day stays. His next brilliant move was to miss the AMA-issued drug test prior to the last round of the series. He must have been aware of this test and he is obviously now aware of how long marijuana can be detected in urine samples. One would think that when racing is the most important thing in one's life, they would be on time for this sort of thing. Anthony even goes on to say later in the race weekend that he i 100-percent dedicated to racing. Is he convincing anyone yet? Terry Vance should think long and hard about giving this guy a job next year. As long as any race win or series ti tle is a team effort, Terry should ask his mechanics if they want Gobert on their team. There is no doubt in my mind that Gobert can win races, but there is doubt as to whether he can put away his pipe and rolling papers for an entire season. My suggestions to Vance and Gobert are as follows: Terry - hire Jason Pridmore for the 1999 season. He has already proved the potential he has on your equipment this season, and he will only improve with more time on the bike. Anthony - take some of the money the factory has paid you and buy a privateer Ducati, hire a tuner, and do the AMA Superbike Series. Stay away from drugs and prove to all of the race fans, and your former employers, that you are truly l00-percent dedicated to racing - like you say you are. Whatever happens in 1999, Anthony will end up where he belongs. We will just have to wait and see if that is on the seat of a top SOOcc GJ? bike, or living in a van down by the river. Toby E. Glenn Hamilton, MT Dirt Track 101 Upon receipt of some bulletins from the AMA Pro Racing department, I feel compelled to write this letter to openly ask the AMA why it feels it must stifle the growth of dirt track racing. Over the past few years, the AMA has announced plans for dirt tracking that when first released sounded promising and a step in the right direction. But when the plans are revised and actually put to use, they seem to lose the focus of building the sport from the bottom up. First the Hot Shoe Series was introduced to. bring Pro Sport riders together in a National-caliber series that would allow young, up-and-coming riders to race at events where they might 'get some real exposure. Then the AMA cancels the Pro Sport classes at many of the premier race tracks (Le., Daytona and Springfield), where there are decent crowds and potential sponsors. Next we get Project 2000. For some reason, the AMA.. believes we need new motorcycles to race - then. the sport will get better and grow. Okay, let's try a new developmental class wi th new manufacturers and hopefully some new financial backing. Maybe this will bring some new involvement into our sport. But then the AMA decides to make this a GNC• JOHN KE~ o..;r. license class only effectively shutting the door on any Artist's conception of a Moto Guzzi Super Tracker. new riders getting involved. So what we get is the same elite grou p of riders on new motorAMA - please put some new riders in cycles. The current race bikes are great. our sport by letting the Pro Sport classes But if we need more brands, try runget more involved. We need to open dirt ning different classes and different race track racing up before all the young ridtrack. Have a series with an equal er go motocros ing or road racing - on number of short tracks, TIS, half mile easily obtainable motorcycles and and mile races. That will surely break events. up the one-manufacturer dominance. George Mack At any National where 600 are ridItasca,IL den, there are always l()(}..plus entries. And if a manufacturer's motorcycle When the AMA first released its tentative could run at five or 10 ationals and be rules for the SlIperTracker Series on Decemcompetitive, more brands would show ber 3, the niles stated that both GNC and up to try and win a race. Could you imagine the new talent that would show Harley-Davidson Sportster Performance up if a 24-race series had ix short tracks Series-licensed riders would be eligible to .and six TIs - along with the Harley half compete. On January 5, a new competition miles and miles? bulletin was released, stating llzat only GNC For our sport to grow, we have to licensed riders would be eligible for the start at the bottom. We need to encourclass... Editor eM age new, young riders by giving them quality races to compete in. When was the last time we had a new rider win Letters to the editor should be sent to his first National? George Roeder? Voices, Cycle News, P.O. Box 5084, He's been racing a long time. Andy Costa Mesa, CA 92628-5084, faxed to Tre ser or Joe Kopp? They rode 600s at 714/751-6685 or e-mail, editor@cyclerace tracks where Harleys don't dominewS.com. Published letters do not nate. necessarily reflect the position of Cycle Putting the same group of riders on News, Inc. Letters should not exceed new motorcycles is not the answer. But 200 words and all letters are subject to if we build a strong Atpateur and Pro editing. Anonymous letters will not be Sport program, we will bring new considered for publication. All letters motorcycles, new fans and friend, and should contain the writer's name, some new excitement to our sport. And address and daytime phone number ... along with the new people will come Editor. new sponsors and new money.

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