Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127982
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR America's weekly motorcycle newspaper Volume XXXVI Sharon Clayton, President Michael Klinger, Publisher Editorial .. Paul Carruthers, Editor Kit Palmer, Associate Editor Scott Rousseau, Associate Editor Mark Hoyer, Managing Editor Keith Bush, Assistant Editor/Copy Editor Matt Freeman, Assistant Editor Alan Cathcart, European Editor David R. Holther, Copy Editor Advertising Western States (714) 75]-7433 Terry Pratt, National Accounts Manager Mark Thome, Western Sales Manager Forrest Hayashi, Western Sales Manager Rhonda Crawford, Ad Coordinator Bridgett Bobrofsky, Assista,.,t Advertising Easte,." States (770) 934-7850 Greg Mitchell, Eastern Accoullts Manager Jim Clark, Eastern Sales Mallager Carla Allen, Ad Coordillator Marketing & Promotion Mark Thome, Director ,Forrest Hayashi, M'al'lager Kory Klinger, Dealer Representative New Media Development Rick Matheny, Webmaster Classified Ads Melissa Alvarado ~ UJ '" g ~ ~ i:i § a.L....~ Graphics and Production Mandy Loa, Art Director Dennis Greene, Lab. Tech. Amanda Wollny, Lead Graphic Artist Paul Fisher, Graphic Artist Administration Judy Klinger, Coordinator Pam KJein, Administrative Assistant Accounting/Data Processing Donna Bryan-Diamond, A/R Coordinator Geneva Repass, Assistan! Theresa Milburn, Credit Circulation Alma Anguiano, Circulcrtion Manager Carol Maggio, Processing Coordillator joy Lau, Dealer Coordillator Service and Support Shannon Clark, Receptionist Jim Olson, Service and Support National Headquarters 3505-M Cadillac Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626 P.O. Box 5084, Costa Mesa, CA 92628-5084 (7]4) 751-7433 FAX (7]4) 751-6685 Eastern Office 4188 First Ave., Tucker, GA 30084 P.O. Box 805, Tucker, GA 30085-0805 (770) 934-7850 FAX (770) 934-31]2 e-mail editor@cyclenews.colll subscribe®cyclenews.com advertising@cyclenews.com Internet http://www.cyclenews.com Cycle News (USPS 141·340) is published weekly gxcept the last two weeks of the calendar year for $50.00 per year by Cycle News, lnc.,3505-M Cildillac Avenue, Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Periodicals Postage Paid at COSio Mesa, CA ond at additionDl moiling office. Canada Post Intemiltional Publica· tions Mail #546615. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Cycle News, P.O. Box 5084. Costa Mesa. CA 92628-5084. To determine the expiration date of your subscription, check the fOUl numbers on the first line of your address label. The first two digits mdicate the last issue number you'll receive and the last two characters indicate the year of the last issue. Subscription rates; Rates for the United States ond ils posses-sions for one year (SO issues), $50.00; two years (100 issues), $95.00; six months (25 issues), $26,CX); trial sub 05 issues), $19.00. Canada and Foreign, one year (SO issues), $90,00; two years (100 issues), $175,00; six months (25 issues), $45,00; trial sub (15 issues), $38.00. Cyele News welcomes unsolicited editorial material including stories, cartoons, photos, etc. Such material, if published, becomes the exclusive property of Cycle News. Reprinting-in whole or part only by permission of the publisher, Advertising rates and circulation information will be sent upon request. SreS.R.D.5. WJ'BD'A AUDITED V .m!'~ CIRCULATION Printed in U.S.A. 4 Co~yrightC Cycle News, Inc. 1999. Trademarlc Cycle New5 "ll"tered U.S. Pa...,t Office. All rights reserved. __ ~ ~ __-'--'- More on the crust 'Less than 10 years ago, a friend of mine invited me to join him for a trip to the mountains to try a new sport called snowboarding. That first trip got me hooked and I have been heavily involved ever since. Snowboarding's introduction to the winter-sports world was a tough road, to say the least. The fact tha t snowboarders have a tendency to go side to side while skiers take straighter lines epitomizes the conflict that built up between two sports that utilized the same terrain and ven ues. I can't COUl1t how many articles I've read and incidences I witnessed where the ski industry denounced the sport of snowboarding and its enthusiasts. Since then, the empirical growth of the snowboard industry, its inclusion in the 1998 Olympics, and the substantive revenues generated by increased resort attenc\.ance and consumerism have had an enormou.sly positive impact on the skiing industry. So what's my point? It's deja vu allover. again. I keep reading (and you guys keep printing) the epitome of "Crusty Old Fart" opinions regardi ng the socalled "Crusty Dorks." ~ ~ _ : . - ~ - - ' _ - - = _ - - - ' : . . . . : . . . J Mike Jones is a serious racer and a freestyle rider. Jones has appeared in many of the extreme videos and also chooses to wear freestyl~type riding apparel. Traditionalism goes out the window every season when it comes to emerging sports, and today's athletes are reaching heigh ts our predecessors never even dreamed of. It seems natural that motorcycle riding, the world's second extreme sport after bull riding, would continue its pattern of growth to embrace the latest generation of freestyle sport disciplines. . In the last two issues we have read comments from L. Greer describing the new "freak show that makes him em barrassed to be associa ted wi th the sport." In turn, Rick Oestricher sprayed hi~ dismay by highlighting the lack of professionalism of today's freestyle motocross riders. In both cases, it was interesting to note that they referred to a recent "Fox Files" show that chronicled the "Crusty Demons of Dirt" videos and the new freeride phenomenon. Perhaps they should be reminded that Fox is the most notoriously sensationalist television network in a country that boasts INSIDE: ISSUE #7 FEBRUARY 24. 1999 FEATURES SUPERCROSS Round 6 - AMA Su percross Series from Tampa, Florida 8 FIRST RIDE 1999 Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa ...14 DAYTONA PREVIEW FEATURE SECTION The race for the Daytona 200 16 Scott Russell interview 20 Mike LaRocco interview , 22 Dan Butler interview 24 Eric Bostrom interview 26 1999 Daytona events schedule 32 ROAD RACING 1999 MBNA Superbike Series 28 predictions DIRT TRACK 1999 AMA Grand National Championship Series predjctions 30 OFF-ROAD 1999 Adelanto Grand Prix : 34 Round 1 - AMA National Hare Scrambles Series from Hollister, California 42 ARENACROSS Rounds 21 & 22 - AMA/PJ] NationaJ Arenacross Series from Winston-SaJem, 38 North Carolina DEPARTMENTS NEW PRODUCTS EVENTS RESULTS CALENDAR WANTADS CHICANERY LOOKING BACK " 41 & 45 48 .. .57 58 66 , 84 84 ON THE FRONT COVER Daytona has it all. From the Harleys at the beach to Scott Russell at the Speedway. There's also' Mike LaRocco in the supercross and Dan Butler in the short track. Photos by Gold & Goose, Henny Ray Abrams, Kinney Jones and Dave Hoenig. such enlightened and accurate series like "Jerry Springer" and "World's Scariest Police Chases." At least .they have ignorance to fall back on and the televised media industry to blame. If history repeats itself, we predict the following: The advent of the latest freestyle riding apparel sales estimates which have permeated the winter sport, beach lifestyle, and outdoor-sport industries will continue to gain market share and floor space in both traditional and nontraditional motorcycle retailers. . The enormous television exposure guaranteed freestyle events such as the '99 Vans Triple Crown of Freestyle Motocross, the '99 Free Air Festival of Freestyle Motocross, NBC's '99 Gravity Games Freestyle Motocross event, and the countless freeride and jump-show events scheduled for this year, will expose the motorcycle industry to millions of new consumers. These facts, .compounded by an increase in periodical coverage, will substantially expand the enthusiasm for, and acceptance of, freestyle motocross athletes by traditional motorcycle riders and spectators. Will there be a few bad apples at the core? Of course. Will we look different, act different, and ride different than those who created the sport? Absolutely. But are we as a whole freaks, unprofessional, and a detriment to the sport? In our opinion, absolutely not. If you go out to a ski hill these days, you may be surprised to find that snowboarders comprise upwards of 40 percent of ticket holders, and virtually everybody is wearing snowboard-influenced clothing. History does repeat itself. Some people eat the crust, others leave it. Don't like it, don't eat it. Jim Beau Laguna Beach, CA Beau works for 4 Leaf Entertainment, a promoter offreestyle motocross events... Editor. The Roberts 1 get so sick of Kenny Roberts Jr. and' Sr.'s comments about the unsophisticated nature of four-stroke racing and the AMA. Kenny Sr. needs to retire now and Junior needs to get a life. Suzuki needs to reassess their choice in riders. I'm sure Roberts Jr. wouldn't be competitive in superbike racing at all. And the Modenas are really silly bikes. Thank you. Frank Derryberry fderryberry@elcotel.com