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/127993
America.s weekly motorcycle newspaper Volume XXXVI Sharon Claytqn, President Michael Klinger, Publisher Editorial Paul Carruthers, Editor Kit Palmer, Associate Editor Scott Rousseau, Associa.te 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) 751-7433 Terry Pratt, National Accounts Manager Mark Thome, Western Sales Manager Forrest Hayashi, Western Sales Manager Rhonda Crawford, Ad Coordinator Bridgett Bobrofsky, Assistant Advertising Eastern States (770) 934-7850 Greg Mitchell, Eastern Accounts Manager Jim Clark, Eastern Sales Manager Carla Allen, Ad Coordinator Marketing & Promotion Mark Thome, Director Forrest Hayashi, Manager LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Honest dad My son, Jason Orndorff, was listed as the winner of the 125cc Expert class at the Sage Riders AMA National Hare and Hound on April 10. Jason rides a Gas Gas EC 200, so a bit of an explanation is in order. Utah combines the 125s and 200s into one class. The AMA doesn't recognize 2oos, so they must compete in the 250cc class. Jason was racing for Utah (USRA) points, so he competed in the 125/200cc class. For Utah scoring purposes, Jason came in first in the 125/200cc class and 25th overall. For AMA purposes, Jason competed in the 250cc class. The real winners of the 125cc class were Travis Sluder, Bill Rush and Donnie Williams - and they should be recognized. . We're very proud of Jason's finish, but we feel that those on actual 125s should get the credit they deserve. Chris Orndorff Springville, UT Kory Klinger, Dealer Representative New Media Development Kory Klinger, Site Manager Classified Ads Alicia Franklin Graphics and 'Production Mandy Loo, Art Director Amanda Wollny, Lead Graphic Artist Paul Fisher, Graphic Artist Kim Yong, Graphic Artist Administratio.o Judy Klinger, Coordi~ator Pam Klein, Admin.istrative Assistan.t Accounting/Data Processing Donna Bryan-Diamond, A/R Coordinator Geneva Repass, Assistant Theresa Milburn, Credit Manager Circulation Alma Anguiano, Circulation Manager Carol Maggio, Processing Coordinator Joy Lau, Dealer Coordinator Service and Support Shannon Clark, Receptionist Jim Olson, Service and Support NationalHeadQuarte~ 3505-M Cadillac Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626 P.O. Box 5084, Costa Mesa, CA 92628-5084 (714) 751-7433 FAX (714) 751-6685 Eastern Office 4188 Fmt Ave., Tucker, GA 30084 P.O. Box 805, Tucker, GA 30085-0805 (770) 934-7850 FAX (770) 934-3112 e-mail editor@cydenews.com subscribe@cyclenews.com advertising@cyclenews.com Internet http://www.cydenews.com Cycle News (USPS 141-340) is published weekly except the last two weeks of the calendar yeor for $58.00 per year by Cycle News, Inc., 350S-M Cadillac Avenue, Cost.:, Mesa, CA 92626. Periodicals Postage Paid at Costa Mes." CA and at additional mailing office. Canada Post International Publications Mail #546615. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Cycle News, P.O. Box 5084, Costa Mesa, CA 92628-5084,. To detc.nnine the expiTalion d'alc. of your subscription, check the four numbers on the first line of your address label. The first two digits indicate the last issue number you'll receive and the last two characters indicate the year of the last issue. Subscription ratt:!S: R.ates for the United States and its possessions for one year (50 issues), $58.00; two yenrs 000 issues), $111.00; six months (25 issues>, $29.00; trial sub 05 issues), $21.00. Canada and Foreign, one year (SO issues), $105.00; two years (100 issues), $195.00; six months (25 issucs), 555.00; trial sub (15 issues), $42.00. Cy~e News welcomes unsolicited edit'orial material including stones, cartoons, photos, etc. Such material, if published, becomes the exclusive property of Cycle News. Reprinting in whole or parI only by permission of the pubJisher. Advertising rates and circulation infomlation will.be sent upon request. See S.R.D.5. W/BD'A VI 1IfIt!'~ AUDITED CIRCULATION Printed in U.S ,A. Copyrigh Cycle News, In(.1999. Trademark Cycle News registered U.S. Patent Office. All rights reserved. Vintage #3 1 read with some interest the recent inclusion to "In the Wind" titled Vintage Wars I, Vintage Wars II. I was quite surprised to have my name appear in Mr. Iannucci's press release, as permission to do so was never granted. While it is true that AHRMA's executive director, Jeff Smith, did bill me personally for a conversation [ had with AHRMA's attorney, it was not for $500 as in the case of Mike Green. Further, the bill was waived when I pointed out to the chairman of the board, Fred Mork, that the conversation was primarily centered around my offer of equal access to testimony. My personal opinion is that there has been significant abuse of power on the part of Jeff Smith over the years, and the above is simply another example of such. I think it is unfortunate that he has continued to allow his personal feelings and agendas to interfere with the business of the organization and the sport itself. With his retirement only months away, he appears to be on a mission to settle the score with anyone he has carried a grudge for during his tenure. This is sad and childish, but thankfully only temporary. The sport is bigger and stronger than anyone person Dr entity and will no doubt continue to evol ve in the years ahead. Having said that, I still have respect for the organization I spent years and countless dollars helping grow. I understand AHRMA's position on not wanting to do business with someone who has filed suit against them. However, to not allow a member in good standing, such as' Dave Roper, the opportunity to race because Mr. Iannucci owns the bike is, in my eyes, indefensible. AHRMA has stripped Mr. Iannucci of his membership rights, so if a controversy were to arise from any racing activity his machine may be involved in, he would have no rights Dr authOO"ity to take action against the organization. AHRMA's lawyer may see the situation differently, but from the outside it appears that this exclusion policy based on machine ownership is taking things simply too far. What's next, checking pink slips at tech inspection? It's time to get back to what vintage racing is all about - fun.' Rick Doughty Yorba Linda, CA Doughty owns and operates Vintage Iron InternationaL. Editor Okay, one more on numbers the P.MA's decision to assign numbers '1ike NASCAR does." NASCAR only assigns numbers to cars/teams - not the drivers. The #28 Halvoline car has been dt;iven by Davey Allison, Dale Jarrett, Ernie Ervin, and today, Kenny Erwin Jr. NASCAR can afford to assign numbers to cars because less than 100 show up every week to qualify for one of 43 starting spots. In contrast, supercross gets well over 100 riders each week to qualify for the 20-rider main event, while National Motocross events draw several hundred riders. As a fan, I enjoy watching the riders earn their way up through the ranks, and the numbers they proudly display the following season best exemplifies this. Marty Smith went from 522 to 1; Mark Barnett from 322 to 24; Johnny O'Mara from 10; to 40; Rick Johnson from 212 to 22; Bob Hannah from 1 to 100 (after he broke his leg water-skiing), and then from 100 to 4; David Bailey from 45 to 23; Jeremy McGrath from 125 to 1; and so on. '1 applaud you, AMA, for striving to improve the sport. But never, never underestimate your audience. We fans are a refle~tion of ESPN's "knowledge" commercials. It's interesting for us to see what number our favorite riders earned. Drew Lien Canoga Park, CA I've been making numbers for years, and feel a need to share some insigh t on Lien works for 100% Products... Editor The last one on numbers It's truly a testament to just how exciting motocross and supercross are that they've been able to survive the AMA as well as they have. Just off the top of my head, there was the claiming-rule fiasco, the production-bike rule that killed bike-technology advancement. and they tried a one-moto system in the outdoor Nationals that didn't work. Then there was the Grand Champion thing, when they combined points from motocross and supercross (something they'd also copied from someplace else). Now they want to try the NASCAR numbering system. Supercross and motocross are what they are - why don't they quit trying to copy other sports, and quit trying to fix things that aren't broken? Does it really take a rocket scientist to figure out that the riders' numbers are based on how they finished the previous year? If the AMA wants to try something new, I've got an idea: Try leaving our sport alone and qui t trying to mold our sport into the image of other, lessexciting ones. L. Greer Springdale, AR INSIDE; ISSUE #18 MA Y 12, 1999 FEATURES SUPERCROSS Round 16 - AMA Supercross Series from Las Vegas 8 ROAD RACING Round 5 - AMA/MBNA Superbike 14 Series from Laguna Seca Round 3 - HM World Superbike Series from England .23 RIDING IMPRESSION MV Agusta F4 .28 HARE & HOUND Round 4 - Lucerne Valley NationaJ... .. .32 INTERVIEW Former World Speedway Champion Billy Hamel .36 FLATTRACK West Coast Flat Track Series from Perris Auto Speedway 38 Kenny Roberts Jr. - preparing for Mick Doohan at an early age. . DRAG RACING Round 2 - NHRA Winston Drag Race Series from Texas Motorplex ..40 Round 3 - AMA/Pro Star National Drag Racing Series from National Trail Raceway ..42 DEPARTMENTS EVENTS LEADERBOARD CALENDAR WANTADS RACER X , .43 .57 .58 66 83 ON THE·FRONT COVER Anthony Gobert leads Mat Mladin and Doug ChancUer through Laguna Seca's Corkscrew en route to winning the AMA Superbike National. Photo by Henny Ray Abrams. Inset: Nathan Ramsey. Photo by Kinney Jones. Inset #2: The MV ,Agusta. Inset #3: Colin Edwards II. Photo by Gold & Goose.