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/127990
Voices America's weekly motorcycle newspaper LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Volume XXXVI group of bikes tha t all look alike and sound alike with their muffled engines. If you go to a Grand Prix, they again all sound pretty much alike. 1 will admit that Superbikes do have more interest, with their inline fours, V-fours and Vtwins. But I still don't like the mufflers that they are forced to run. When I go to a vintage dirt track and hear a well-tuned Triumph running beside a good Harley, with both having straight pipes, I feel the old excitement return. I can ,hardly wait to go to a Grand Prix with an unmuffled V-eight turning 16,000 rpm. I will pay a week's salary and travel all across the country for a treat like that. When we see something besides Harleys with mufflers on t11em at the dirt tracks, I'll be back every chance I get. If you don't like the sound, bring earplugs. Bob J. Fowler fowlerbj@earthlink.net 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 E;ditor Matt Freeman, Assistant Editor . Alan Cathcart, European Editor David R. Holther, Copy Editor Advertising Wtstern States (714) 751·7433 Terry Pratt, National Accounts Manager Mark Thome, Westem Sales Manager Forrest Hayashi, Western Sales Manager Rhonda Crawford, Ad Coordinator Bridgett Bobrofsky, Assistant Advertising . 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Subscription rates: Rates for the United States and its posses- . sians for onc year (SO issues), $50.00; two years 000 issues), $95.00; six monll;ls (25 issues), $26.00; trial sub (15 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 05 issues), $38.00. Cycle 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 infor~tion will be sent upon request. See S.R.D5. t;; .;:; W~r.a ~~TION ~ Printed in U.S.A. 4 regIStered U.S. Patent Office. All rights reserve~. Co~yrighl· Cycle News, 10c.l999. Tra~emark Cycle News No fair Kevin Windham - down but not out. How do you sleep? After reading tha t Kevin Windham broke his collarbone for a seventh time, I have a question: How do you sleep? I broke my collarbone three weeks ago and still have trouble getting comfortable willie trying to sleep. When people ask what happened and I tell them I crashed a motocross bike, they so, "Oh, on one of those." What is "those?" I want to thank Kevin Windham for making something very difficult look very easy. People who have ridden at all can appreciate the talent it takes to compete with injuries. Also, a word of thanks to the entire supercross field - all of whom are gifted professionals. I've been riding for 30 years and the talent and skill out there just keeps getting better. Dave Wiederkehr davidwie@texas.net Bring the noise I read with considerable interest the plans for changing from 500cc twostrokes to 100Dc four-strokes for the premier class of Grand Prix racing. I have been interested in, and have attended, almost every type of motorcycle competition you could imagine. The last few years, however, I've found my interest slipping somewhat. Tlie main reason I have been losing interest is that when you go to a dirt track race, you see a 1 am a big fan of Josh Hayes. The young . man has worked hard and given up a lot to get to where he.is. He is capable,of ruruling with the big guys. I know he showed it at Daytona and you really gave him grea t praise. Then, at Phoenix, there was almost nothing about him. Why didn't anyone bother to write that the winner of the Daytona 750cc Supersport ra<;e had gone to the hospital after a crash in the 750cc qualifier and then returned just in time to race the Formula Xtreme race (stitches and all)? Then he had to ride Grant Lopez's 750 because of the crash. Then he rode the 600 the next day while sore and hurting. This young man deserves more than Cycle News gives him. Please help him in the future. It does make a difference in his future and I think he shows he is a plus for the sport and his team. Not to mention what it will do for his future. Gina Nadeau compms2@aol.com Since you obviously didn't read the story before sitting down to write your leUer, let us allow you the opportunity to do so now. The following is pulled directly from our coverage of the Formula Xtreme race from Phoenix International Raceway ("All Screwed Up," Issue #12, March 31). . "Va/valine EMGO Suzuki's Josh Hayes ended up second after a harrowing day. Riding witit a broken left scaphoid, Hayes crashed in the 750cc Superspbrt practice, abrading his right arm and forcing a trip to the hospital. Ten stitches were needed to close two wounds, and the work was done quickly at Hayes' request so that he could make it back to the track in time for the race, He did, but just barely, missing the warmup lap." Now let us allow you the opportunity to read directly from our 750cc Supersport report in that same issue. "... with an injured Josh Hayes' - still suffering from the .effects of a morning practice crash - on the Valvoline EMGO Suzuki eighth." Now, please let me know at which pain t we didn't mention Hayes not only getting injured, but also making it back to tile race track at the last minute, and then finishing eighth in the 750cc race because of his injuries. Don't bother writing again, we accept your apology... Editor Gripe this I'm reading my Cycle News and I see the "Mulder Gripe" letter ("Voices," Issue #14; April 14). George Cummings ought to be happy that there are dirt tracks to ride on. These tracks can't be prepared to everyone's liking. Sure, it was rough. I hadn't raced in nine years and I ran . third in my heat race and finished the main event with a jammed throttle and no front brake, using only the kill button. How rough was it? George, you're a squid - just ride and slide. Louis Joseph Northridge, CA King Edwards I Thanks for the nice article on the upcoming World Superbike Championship by Henny Ray Abrams. I was impressed with Colin Edwards II's attitude. 1 can see him being the next Mick Doohan at Honda, once the series switches to four-strokes. One must wonder what Mr. Doohan will decide to do. He certainly has my vote as a great World Champion and no longer needs to prove anything to me. There will be no shame if he decides to retire at the end of the two-stroke era. Thank you, Mr. Doohan, it's been great wa tching you race. Edwards seems very happy in the Honda camp, and (since they) have finally resolved the front-end problems on his RC45, he has become very confident. If, he conld pull off a championship for Honda either this year or next, he's a shoo-in for Doohan's seat at the new "pinnacle" of motorcycle racing. If Doohan decides to stick around and have some fun, Edwards will be an equal partner. INSIDE: ISSUE #15 APRIL 21. 1999 FEATURES SUPERCROSS Round 13 - AMA Supercross Series from Pontiac, Michigan 8 INTERVIEW Team Yamaha's Rich Oliver 14 RIDING IMPRESSIONS 1999 Bimota SB8 1999 Yamaha TTR 225 and 250 16 20 DEPARTMENTS EUROFILE QUICK SPIN PIlODUCT EVALUATION EVENTS CALENDAR LEADERBOARD WANT ADS CHiCANERy LOOKING BACK c ~ 6 22 22 23 41 49 .50 67 67 ON THE FRONT COVER Chaparral Yamaha's Jeremy McGrath won his fifth straight AMA Supercross when the series vis~ted the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan. The win puts McGrath on the verge of capturing his sixth AMA Supercross Championship. Photo by Karl Ockert.