Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

(J) ~ ~ ~ ~ z w The half-faired Dueatl Supersport 750. r iii Ducati Supersport While I appreciate Alan Cathcart's mention of my book, "Ouca'li Supersport," in his "Eurofile" (Issue #2, January 20), I must comment on one particular point. He says that the half-fa ired Oucati 900SS was developed at the same time as the full-faired version, but this is incorrect. . When I researched the new SS in January of 1998, I spent a week with the design-and-development team that included Pierre Terblanche and Andrea Forni. At that time, the SS existed only in prototype and mockup, as full-fairing only. It was projected that a 750 and half-fairing would appear by the end of 1998, but this was by no means finalized at that stage and didn't exist in any form that Oucati were happy to have published in early 1998. This is why the half-fairing isn't mentioned in this book, which had a manuscript deadline of February 1998. Ian Falloon Victoria, Australia One more on the Dork issue I am sorry to read that L. Greer is "embarrassed to be associated" with the sport of motocross ("Voices," Issue #2, January 20). I, quite frankly, am embarrassed for the sport of motocross that we must continue to put up with the opinions of Greer and the intolerant others like him or her. Greer wrote to express his/ her lowly opinion of the natural growth of our sport through the so-called freeriding m,ovement and the success of jump videos. The nationally televised program "Fox Files" aired what turned out to be a rather objective piece on the dangers and allure of free-riding and . its relation to the sport of motocross (which, last time I checked, is an inherently dangerous activity in and of itself). Greer would slur as "idiots" and "morons" anyone who would associate with free-riding. The only moronic idiots are the bigots who would so quickly seek to assign stereotypes. In fact, free-riding is the natural and obvious cousin to one of the fastestgrowing spectator sports in America: supercross. Supercross has enjoyed its success no doubt in equal parts due to savvy promotion and the skill and allure of its athletes. Free-riding, similarly, has helped to' expand the reach of motocross by taking the sport, and its related industries, to an audience perhaps not particularly interested in racing as much as in the simple, sheer thrill of flying a motorcycle: In the meantime, motocross just keeps growing. Greer casts this as a "sorry period" for motocross. He / she is' dead wrong. Motocross has never been healthier and we can thank the fantastic appeal of supercross and, yes, free-riding and the jump videos, for helping us reach out to a broader audience. Wade Wallace Greenwood, IN ~ '-- --lQ. r World Supersport action from laguna Seea's World Superbike weekend last year. Other problems Why don't all of you Gobert-haters put all your energy into something more productive? If we gave drug tests to any of the well-dressed brothers from the valley and all the motocross guys after a river trip, we wouldn't have any racing to watch. I don't use or promote drugs, but I do wake up in the real world where stupidity doesn't exclude the fast. We live in a world where politicians are stealing our land and regulating the power of our bikes. We don't need to worry about one stoner who won't even be here next year, nor do we need to worry about the "Crusty" crew or the XXXers. We need to start worrying about what and where we will be riding in two or three years. I don't want to be riding some fat fourstroke in a parking lot out in Riverside. Don Steinhoff dsteinhoff@opencominc.com Wanting World Supersport I enjoy reading Cycle News every week to find out information, results, etc., and I hope that you will include the results from the World Supersport Series in 1999. This way, your readers will be able to keep track of "new" and talented riders. At Laguna Seca last year, they showed us what they are made of, and it was also interesting to see the twins (Oucatis) allowed to race in the category. I've got one more request, and it's a big one: Before the road racing season begins, how abot,lt an entire page to tell us about each team and their riders in Grand Prix road racing, World Superbike and Supersport, and AMA Superbike and Supersport? I know it will be difficult and tedious, but it will. help us look at each field with a better understanding. R. Yves Marie San Francisco, CA We'll try to come up' with the lists in the next few weeks... Editor Letters to the editor should be sent to Voices, Cycle News, P.O. Box 5084, Costa Mesa, CA 92628-5084, faxed to 714/751-6685 or e-mail, edilor@cyclenews.com. Published letters do not necessarily reflect the position of Cycle News, Inc. Letters should not exceed 200 words and all letters are subject to editing. Anonymous letters will not be considered for publication. All letters should contain the writer's name, address and daytime phone number ... Editor. M - .&: <> '" ::E 5

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