Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

Voices America.s weekly motorcycle newspaper Volume XXXVI Sharon Clayton, Presidel'lt Michael Klinger, Publisher Editorial Paul Carruthers, Editor Kit Palmer, Associote Editor Scott Rousseau, Associate 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 Mallager 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 MaIketing & Promotion Mark Thome, Director FOTTestHayashi, Manager Kory Klinger, Dealer Representative New Media Development Kory Klinger, Site Manoger Classified Ads Alicia Franklin Graphics and Production Mandy Loo, Art Director Amanda Wollny, Lead Graphic Artist Paul Fisher, Graphic Artist Kim Ybng, Craphic Artist Administration Judy KUnger, Coordinator Pam Klein, Admhlistrative Assistnnt AccountinglOata Processing Donna Bryan-Diamond, A/R Coordinator Geneva Repass, Assistant Theresa Milburn, Credit Manager Circulation Alma Anguiano, Circulation Manager Carol Maggio, Processing Coordiliator Joy lou, Dealer Coordinator Donna Sharp, Billillg Coordinator Service and Support Shannon Clar~, Receptionist Jim Olson, Service alld Support -------- Nationa! Head~ 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 Otfice 4188 First Ave., Tucker, GA 30084 P.O. Box 805, Tucker, GA 30085-0805 (770) 934-7850 FAX (770) 934-3112 e-mail editor@cyclenews.com subscribe@eyclenews.com LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Wrong! Has anybody noticed that Jay Springsteen possibly has the record for the longest time between National wins (J 975, 1999) ever? I think you heard it here first. It could be a good marketing tool. People love records. He might also be the oldest National winner. I don't know how old Steve Morehead was when he won his last National. . And how about another National in the Los Angeles area? We sure do miss Ascot. Jeff Lewis jmlewis@pacbell.net Springsteen won the PomolJa half mile in 1995, the 41st of his career, at the age of 38. He is nOW 42 and the win last week was the 42nd of his career. Morehead won the Las . Vegas half mile last year - at the ripe young age of 43. Morehead has amassed 23 Grand National dirt track wins over his career... Editor Darrel Triber In a recent issue of Cycle News, there was a brief article about the passing of Darrel Triber, who died from chest injuries sustained in a fall while raOOg at the age of 67. Not many outside the Pacific Northwest knew him, but some of the more notable who were at the funeral were Harry Taylor (Mr. Hodaka), Jim Pomeroy and Joe Kopp. It is a small community that comprises the motorcycle industry, and Gary Mathers (Honda's racing team manager) once worked for Darrel, and Evel Knievel and Darrel were brief partners in a business. The list goes on, but willie I worked for Darrel, he showed me that a good businessman can be a tough competitor, a tough negotiator and yet can still have integrity. More than once he impressed me with his principles, yet he was fun to be around. I owe a lot to Darrel for what he taught me, and so does the legion of riders who wore the Triber's Tigers racing vests over the years. John Johnson fourthmoon@aol:com Semantics lesson I would like to clarify a discrepancy in your report on the Formula Xtreme race at Laguna Seca (Issue #18, May 12) regarding the statements "Joshua Hayes blew up his Valvoline EMGO Suzuki on the 12th lap as he exited the Corkscrew" and "... with Grant Lopez 10th today on the ailing Valvoline EMGO Suzuki 840 . after running as high as third." The image I got from the term "blew up" includes serious engine failure, and the term "ailing" implies engine trouble to me. In fact, neither Hayes nor Lopez encountered any internal-engine-component failure. Hayes' bike stopped running with what turned out to be a fllelpump problem, and Lopez slowed when the rear shock absorber lost pressure and oil. In the future, please feel free to have your reporter check with Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki crew chief Keith Perry or Jeff Wilson, Suzuki's sportspromotion supervisor, if he has any questions regarding the team, the team's riders or the teams' bikes. Kei th or Jeff will be happy to answer any questions, as will Josh or Grant. We appreciate this opportunity to clarify the situation. Pat Alexander American Suzuki Brea, CA My pickup truck is ailing right now, but I think all it needs is new brakes. Hopefully, the engine is okay. If it quits running altogether, I'll try not to assume that it blew up. But either way, it'll make getting there all the taugher... Editor Sue who? Rick Doughty writes in his letter ("Voices," Issue #18, May 12) that Team Obsolete "filed suit" agaiJ1st AHRMA. Team Obsolete did not sue AHRMA. Quite the contrary, AHRMA sued Team Obsolete over an admittedly worthless trademark that no one was then using. AHRMA has publicly admitted to having spent $85,000 in 1998 in a futile quest to "recover" a $3000 legal fee that was foolishly spent. In 1999, they have spent about $60,000 more in furtheF futile attempts to "recover" the first $85,000. Obviously, the logic and motivation for tlus litigation is open to serious question. Now the case is on appeal. There is no end in sight. AHRMA is suffering from an internal cancer. Reform is urgently required. I propose the following: a members' Bill of Rights establishing clear guarantees of fair treatment of all members/ owners; full access to our newsletter and to our membership roster; establishment of effective procedures for prosecuting AHRMA officials for wrongdoings; formation of a '1itigation oversight committee," completely advertisingtYcydenews.com INSIDE:ISSUE#20 MAY 26. 1999 Internet http://www.cyclenews.com Cycle News (USPS 141·340) is published weekly except the last two weeks of the calendar year for $58,00 per year by Cycle News, Inc., 3505-M Cadillac AVeIltle, Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Periodicals Postage Paid at Costa Mesa, CA and at additional mailing office. Canada Post International Publications Maillt546615. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Cycle News, P.O. Box 5084, Costa Mesa, CA 92628-5084. To determine the expiration date of your subscription, check the four num.bers on the first line of your address label. The fil's! two digits indicate the last issue number you'll receive and the lasl two characters indicate the year of the last issue. Subscription rotes: Rates for the United States and its possessions for one year (SO issues), $58.00; two years (l00 issues), $111.00; six months (25 t§sues), $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 issues), $55.00; trinl .sub OS issues), $42.00. Cycle News welcomes unsolkited 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 mtes and circulation information will be sent upon request. See S.R.O.5. W/BD'A V -r~ AUDITED QRCULATION Printed in U.S.A. 6 COfyright" Cycle News, lne. 1999.'Trademark Cycle News registered U.S. Palent Office. All rights reserved. FEATURES MOTOCROSS. Round 2 - AMA/Mazda Trucks 125/250cc National Championship MX Series from Sacramento, California 8 Glen Helen Amateur MX from San Bernardino, California .32 ROAD RACING Round 4 - World Superbike Championship Series from Albacete, Spain 16 SPEEDWAY Round 1 - World Individual Speedway Championship Series from Prague, Czech Republic 20 OFF-ROAD Round 6 - AMA Grand National Cross Country Series from Manahawkin, New Jersey 22 INTERVIEWS Kanemoto Honda's John Kocinski Pamo Honda's Ryan Hughes 26 .30 - DEPARTMENTS EUROFILE .........................................•...........4 NEW PRODUCTS 28 EVENTS ...........................•................•_ 34 LEADERBOARD ...............•..........................56 CALENDAR ..............................•..................57 WANT ADS ...............................•..................66 HOWL : 83 LOOKING BACK ................................•.........83 ON THE FRONT COVER Kevin Windham scored the overall victory in the Hangtown Motocross National with his consistent moto finishes. Photo by Kinney Jones. Colin Edwards II won the second leg of the World Superbike round in Albacete, Spain. Photo by Gold & Goose. independent from those who are now running AHRMA into solvency; a "truth and reconciliation commission" to review the cases of all members allegedly victimized by AHRMA's current bosses; recovery of the estimated $200,000 from the bosses who spent it on worthless litigation. Rob Iannucci Brooklyn, NY Iannucci owns and operates Team Obsolete... Editor Lipping off The display that was put on by Mat MJadin at Laguna Seca during the wait for the restart and the comments made by him after the race were one of the worst displays of sportsmanship I've ever seen. And thanks to television, only a few million others witnessed it along with those unfortunate enough to see it firsthand. It is absolutely absurd that MJadin had the nerve to lip off about the AMA and the fans expecting him to do his job. For someone who has such a huge interest in helping this sport grow, he sure has a strange way of showing it. Fans go to the races to enjoy themse] ves - if they wanted to hear bitching and complaining, they'd stay home. There isn't anybod y ou t there who wan ts to hear a bunch of high-dollar crybabies go at it and, please, not on a nationally televised broadcast where everyone can see the tantrums. What exactly was MJadin's problem is still a mystery, since he has conceded that they were still half a lap away from 80 percent. That means you're not at 80 percent - period. Talk about throwing a fit to get your own way. He wanted the AMA to change the rules to suit him. My, aren't we the spoiled one? Why would anyone want to be given sometiling they hadn't earned? It was unfortunate that the leaders lost so much ground because of the restart, but thaYs racing and these things sometimes happen. Suck it up. As for his complaints about the "unprofessionalism of the AMA" in this particular situation, it was nothing compared to that displayed by our resident crybaby. In fact, it was such a profound example of unprofessionalism that Webster's has decided to adopt a likeness for Mat for their upcoming edition as an example of unprofessionalism. Look for it to hit shelves soon. As a final note, I'm glad that most of

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