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
Junior [ didn't realize how much I missed hearing "The Star-Spangled Banner" being played after GPs until Kenny Roberts won the Malaysian Grand Prix. Kenny has done his country, his team, and his family proud. I also thought Mick Doohan showed real grace and cla s in defeat. This looks to be a great year in 500cc GP racing. It seems the machines are similar enough in performance that the series may degenerate into a contest between riders. It might be a while before four-stroke racing gets to that state - so let's all enjoy it. David Pierce Farmington, NM Junior, again Congratulations to Kenny Roberts Jr, on his first Grand Prix win. And to the Roberts family. This must be an indescribable event for Roberts. lt certainly is a big up for the Robertses and for the United States. It is the first Grand Prix victory for an American in some time. Note to F. Derryberry: What was that you were saying about Kenny Roberts Jr.? Phil Topps philt@warwick.net Jeremy Gordon? I just watched "RPM Tonight" and have also read what Jeremy McGrath said about the Mickael Pichon incident. 1 think Jeremy thinks he's Jeff Gordon and that everybody is supposed to move out of his way. Quit crying, you big 'Tm too gteat to ride motocross" baby. Jeremy looked like Gordon when Rusty Wallace bumped him and he crashed. I lost all respect for McGrath - and I had lots of it. Carla Wagner princess@dcn.net. Mouth of the South? 1 see the whining Mouth of the South is at it again: It's only two races into the season and Aaron Slight is already complairiing abol}t the Ducati "advantage." I have listed a few assumptions below based on my knowledge of the sport. 1. The Honda RC45 produces approximately 185 hp at the rear wheel. It now makes as much horsepower as the Honda NSRSOO. 2. The Ducati 996 produces 165 hp at the rear wheeL 3. There is one minimum weight limit for all mach.ines - and there is no more weight advantage for the twins. 4. The Honda RC45 held a distinct top-speed advantage over any competitor machine at the Daytona 200. So, Aaron, please tell me why you are losing. Could it possibly be the rider? I seem to remember that John Kocinski won the World Superbike Championship on the Honda RC45 - in his first and only season on the bike. John-Boy was washed up, nobody wanted him, and he rode circles around you and the rest of the field in the rain. Don't the twins have an "advantage" in wet conditions? How did John-Boy do it? Where w"re you who:;n all of this was going on? Oh, I forgot, you were in his rooster tail and couldn't see for all the spray. That's why you lost. How many years have you been on the RC45? Certainly more than you deserve. What happened last year? After Troy Corser crashed in Japan, the championship was yours for the taking. What happened? You ch~ked in front of all your em ployers. Haga looked like a king riding that vintage Yamaha. It was reported that you even pleaded for assistance from one of your competitors. It didn't help - you lost and Carl Fogarty became champion again. I have a couple of po sible solutions .for you. Find someone to hold superbike drag races. The RC45 has the most power, and wi th an electronic speed shifter, you are sure to win. Oh, I forgot, the clutch thing. The twins are more tractable and will hold an advantage off the line. Forget that idea. Find someone to hold a World Superbike Championship with only two races at Speedways like Daytona and TaIledega. Better yet, only race on the bowl with no infield or damn chicane - nothing to get in the way of you holding the throttle open. There - now that's a series you're sure to win. Just make sure no one else has a Honda RC45. Van Funchess van.funchess@sundsdfibrator.com. Give Henny a raise Give Henny Ray Abrams a raise. The guy is a great observer of human nature and all things mechanical (blue smoke). For those who can't take a joke, tough *&$#. As for the Australian dwarf, platform shoes are in. Jose Obando jmobando@aoLcom Pascal Picotte - en route to finishing third at Sears Point on the VR1000. Pascal and the VR As the editor of Cycle News, 1 feel that you should make a big deal to HarleyDavidson about Pascal Picotte's performance at Sears Point. The factory has to understand fhat these results are possible every week if they would only step it up one or two notches on the bike's development. I am very in'pressed with Pascal's riding ability. Congratulations to llinl and his team. Jess Aldape jeaprod@concentric.net If they need me to tell them, then they're really in trouble... Editor. It's shocking Oh, contraire, Mr. Palmer. In your "Makin' It Again" article on the new Maico (Issue #15, April 21), you stated that Maico was the first motocross bike to feature angled or "moved up" shocks. You were mistaken. I bought a 1974 Maieo 250 MX and had to have a Wheelsmith move the shocks up. That experime'nt never worked very well and I oon purchased a 1974 Pentol) 250. That bike featured multiple "moved-up" .or "laid down" shock positions, featuring rear-wheel travel of up to seven inches - along with neeqle-bearing swingarm bushings and a folding tip shift lever. Maieo then, later that year, came out with the 1974 1/2 model "(!,th "moved-up" shocks. Maieos were undeniably great bikes in the '70s, but the Pen tons had more than their share of "firsts" - including being first into production with movedup shocks. Mike Lenz Mapleton, IL Wilat Palmer stated was, "if I'm not mistaken, Maico was tile first motocross bike to feature arlgled - or "moved-up - shocks." ... Editor One, not three .Please correct the facts in the interview with Rich Oliver Gssue #15, April 21). In that interview, the writer and Mr. Oliver both mentioned the three Formula USA Championships that Rich had won. That is incorrect, Rich Oliver was a great competitor in the Formula USA Series. He always put on a show and the fan remember him for that. Rich Oliver still ranks as the thirdwinningest rider in the Formula USA history book behind Fritz Kling and Dave Sadowski. However, only one rider has earned multiple Formula USA Championships: Dave Sadowski, who won two. Rim Oliver earned his one and only Formula USA Championship in 1991, riding a Marlboro Yamaha for Kenny Roberts. Douglas Gonda Truckee, CA Gonda is the president of F-USA Ltd., promoters of the two-race Formula USA Series... 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, 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. 5