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/127988
Do I support business as usual, or do I send a message? A lawsuit before a court is not a baseball game, where it takes nine innings to play the game. Appeals exist to be absolutely sure that justice was done - and not to replay the game or shop for a better verdict. I've got problems with a legal and publicrelations trategy that accepts a trial and multi-million-dollar judgement with trebled damages as a temporary nonsignificant setback, and an operating philosophy that equates the ability to spend money on an appeal with the ability- to dodge responsibility for the situation in the first place. If the AMA gets the award reduced to a million dollars (this is vindication?) or dismissed, it's still an expensive disaster - considering the legal fees and time and energy spent. If it doesn't get the award reduced and the AMA has to pay what a judge and jury rules (and the laws of this country exist to protect the citizens from unfair and unjust actions), it's a disaster - and a big one. And it happened on the current administration's watch. The individuals in charge of promoting and protecting the welfare of the members screwed up big-time. Regardless of the final outcome, I want some changes made 4t personnel and operations and procedures at the AMA. Stating that spending the savings of the AMA in cleaning up this mess isn't going to hurt anything, and that the resigna tion of the only AMA official who could knowledgeably explain to the membership how this situation came to be was really just an able administrator retiring and leaving the organization at ~ high point, isn't going to convince me that the AMA is in good hands. I'm still waiting for an explanation on why the rider boycott and cancellation of the Route 66 AMA National road race on the first day of practice was really just another demonstration of brilliant strategy and superior management. I didn't contribute money in the past to build up the AMA and achieve these kinds of results, and I won't in the future. Joe Facer jfmcrr@popd.ix.netcom.com The AMA vs. Edmondson /I Thanks for the nice piece on the Edmondson/ AMA litigation. As an AMA member, I think another lawsuit needs to be filed on behalf of AMA members against the current and former AMA officials who have caused this mess. Dan Knous dan@alvanlalva.ok.us Disgusted with DuHamel Miguel DuHamel showed me in your Daytona issue \tow spoiled he is with his comments about slower riders. Why is he the topiC of factory bidding wars and yet still slums in 600cc Supersport? He complains about riders being slow, but they can't make a name for themselves because superbike riders are hogging up all the top spots. The 750cc Supersport class only offers one brand to watch, so the 600cc class offers the best opportunity for many local riders who don't own a Suzuki 750 to race in AMA racing. If Miguel doesn't feel like riding the 600cc class, that's good. I think Doug Chandler and Mat Mladin have a lot more class for staying out of the 600cc class. The AMA should create a rule to keep top-paid talent out of the lower classes because it devalues the prestige of the Superbike class. . I'm sure if many riders in the 600cc race at Daytona had anywhere near the support Miguel has, they wouldn't appear to be "looking for Wal-Mart." The situation makes American superbike riders look second-rate and keeps some great talent from being developed because some mili.lonaire loudmouth is hogging the purse and the spotlight. Tom Gorman Reno,NV Iannucci, the racer With respect to Mr. "Eling's letter ("Voices," Issue #11, March 24), I have seen Rob Iannucci race his XR750 at Elkhart Lake in 1979 or so. Wha tever bad things you might say about Iannucci, he is a racer. Bruce Metcalf kesedeme@aol.com And again I have often been amazed by the obv;ously limited intellect eXhibited by some of the people allowed to affix "Doctor" to the front of their names. Dr. Elings certainly appears to be in this category. His defense of AHRMA's actions concerning Team Obsolete is reduced to half-truths and petty slurs. The bitter personal dispute between Smith and Iannucci is far from over concerning these trademarks of questionable value. However, one thing is certain: Everescalating and already considerable legal fees are coming out of our (AHRMA's) treasury. I suppose "professional race teams" does not include Barber, Heritage, etc. There must be an approved list. I further question the value of a statement to the effect that having not seen Mr. Iannucci on the track somehow makes the doctor a better man. With this kind of ego, I hope I'm in another class. Maybe with the exclusion of the professionals, the rich doctors will have the best bikes. I would suggest that before Dr. Elings decides to engage in a little more character assassination, (or makes) decisions on who or what belongs in AHRMA, he gets his facts straight. _ Johnny Kain ~ew Orleans, LA Bill Boyce Bill Boyce was an ambassador for AMA racing and a sportsman we all regarded as a true friend. All of us who had the honor and pleasure to know him, either as foreigners at AMA races or in his FIM capacity, will always remember him as a gentleman with no side or political bias. He will be sadly mi sed on both ides of the Atlantic. Paul Butler London, England Butler is the chief executive of International Road Racing Teams Association (IRTA) ... Editor Scotty vs. Ricky G. I'm sending this in honor of Scott Parker's final year of racing. Looking back on the million times I've heard him say how he races "for the mpney" and has his sights set on the late Ricky Graham's records, this needs to be said. First off, in order to get Ricky's record of six straight and 12 in a season, you need to give up the factory ride and Bill Werner. Then you need to ride a Honda or some other brand of bike on a privateer team. Ricky won twice as a privateer on two different brands of bike; and he also won the Harley 883 Championship. The year he set those records, he did it against he winningest rider / tuner combination in the sport's history. On top of that, who could forget the straightaway-long wheelies he performed on the miles - with the checkered flag held high? Kenny Roberts and Ricky Graham were the two best I've ever seen. It takes a lot more than a juicy factory ride and lots of career wins to be what Ricky was to dirt trackians everywhere. Good luck with those records, Scotty. See you at the track. Mark C. Dambrowski superd@stans.com Scott Russell I would like to make a couple of interesting points regard ing the Scott Ru$$ell bar brawl. First, what was he doing in a bar in the wee hours of the morning just prior to attempting to ride a 150-plus-horsepower motorcycle around the banks of Daytona? Even if no alcohol was involved, should he not be getting a normal night's sleep if he is serious about the job he has signed a contract to do? If alcohol were a factor, I would suggest to the AMA to immediately suspend this irresponsible competitor before he causes another racer serious injury as a result of his lifestyle. Look at what they did to Anthony Gobert over his lack of responsibility. Maybe it's time for them to start issuing alc'ohol tests before each practice session and race in order to ensure the safety of those responsible competitors who take their jobs seriously. It is now pretty obvious why Russell has had the results (or rather, lack thereof) he has had over the past couple of seasons - perhaps this is something for Harley-Davidson to think about. Sean McGloin smcg464677@aol.com 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, editor@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.