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/128087
IIWhatever the future holds for Ducati this has surely been our finest hour. 6raziel Letters to the editor should be sent to l Voices. Cycle News. ll P.O. Box 5084. Costa Mesa. CA 926285084. faxed to Show Me The Money Being a fan of all forms of motorcycle racing, I found something in Issue #50 that disturbed me. After reading the Mat Mladin interview, it seems that he only races for the money. He stated that: "Money drives me like nothing else." In fact, money came up several times in the interview. I don't want to take anything away from Mat as he is, after all, the AMA Superbike National Champion and he earned that. But, whatever happened to doing it for the fun and love of the sport? I have followed Nicky Hayden's career since he was riding dirt track as an Amateur and have watched him progress to the point he is at now. Never once have I heard Nicky say anything about money in any interview on television or in any magazine. However, he has said that he is having fun and doing what he loves to do. Sure the money is nice, but remember what Nicky said in his interview after losing the Daytona 200 last year to Mladin by inches. He said: "This is America's race and I wanted America to win." Hats off to you, Nicky. It's not the money - it's your love for the sport. You are America's champion. C Backenstose Hunttngdon, PA Joe Parkhurst The death of a friend is never easy, but Joe Parkhurst's passing left a larger-than-normal void inside of me. A cherished friend and off-road riding buddy, we shared many riding experiences in Joe's beloved Baja. Memories of those rides, camping on remote Baja beaches, and the good times in the bar at Mike's Sky Ranch help dull the pain in this dark hour. Joe's passion for motorcycles and the motorcycle industry will live on in the pages of Cycle World magazine, which he conceived and founded. And he'll be remembered as a friend to all who were lucky enough to know him. I hope the pain will subside quickly for Joe's wife, Claire, and for Joe's numerous friends. Ron6rtewe VIctorville, CA Ty's Grand Prix I just wanted to say that the first Ty Davis Christmas GP was a great event. Ty, his family and friends did a great job of organizing a fun and safe weekend of racing. The course was challenging for all skill levels, and even the little kids had their own track to race on. The huge support of Ty's sponsors with prizes and the awesome "handbuilt" trophies were the best I have seen in many years of racing. Ty was working on the track from the time I arrived on Friday and was seen pulling banners and markers after all of the riders and their families had left. I only hope that more people will mark this event on their calendar for 2001. It was truly a professional effort by one of the sport's greatest off-road racers and now race promoter. Thumbs up to all who put in a first-class effort for this event. Dave Brosius Glendale, AZ A Happy Guy I attended the AMA Superbike race at Pikes Peak International Raceway this past summer. I must say the management and staff did a better job at this race than I have seen at any other AMA, Grand Prix, or World Superbike race that I have attended in the last 30 years. One of the items that especially impressed me was that on Sunday morning the information booth handed out printouts of the starting grids that included rider names, numbers, and qualifying times. At the end of the racing weekend it struck me that I had never attended a race where all the staff I encountered were as consistently helpful and friendly. At PPIR I also had a chance to meet both Kurtis Roberts and Freddie Spencer. I was in the company of a Superbike racer from Sri Lanka who was attending, as a spectator, his first race in the U.S. It was important to him to meet Kurtis Roberts as he had met his father and brother at the Malaysian Grand Prix. We caught up with Kurtis at the end of Saturday after the Formula Extreme race. It was at the end of a long day for Kurtis and he was in a position where he could have easily ignored us. Having just entered the media interview area, he was past the security guards where we couldn't follow, when I called out to him. He stopped, turned around and came back out to meet us. He posed for a couple of pictures and had a chat with my friend from Sri Lanka. I thought it was very considerate of Kurtis and much appreciated. I come from a time when a person was either a Kenny Roberts fan or a Freddie Spencer fan. I've been a fan of Kenny since he battled with Gary Scott on the dirt tracks. And I always remember that Freddie bumped Kenny off the track on his way to 714/751 ·6685 or winning his first 500cc World Championship. This hadn't made me a big fan of Freddie's. Late on Saturday, as I was leaving PPIR, the place was just about deserted, and I ran into Freddie near the parking lot. I introduced him to the rider from Sri Lanka who was very interested in attending Freddie's racing school. Freddie was very gracious and generous with his time. He spent several minute talking with us and posing for some pictures. I'm glad Freddie and Kenny are no longer racing each other as it makes it much easier to be a fan of both, and I'm now a fan of Freddie's. It appears to me that the professionalism of the sport is definitely on the rise. It's a good thing as I think it will help the riders get the pay and recognition that they deserve as some of the most deserving and impressive of professional athletes. Good luck to all the riders in 2001. John Purser Colorado Sprtngs, CO e-mailed to editor~ cyclenews.com. Published letters do not necessarily reflect the position of Cycle News. Inc. Letters should not exceed 200 words and all 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. With a small contingent going over with the tour this year, almost everyone chipped in to help. I want to take this opportunity to thank them. To our loyal sponsors who supply very generous product or monetary support to maintain our equipment: Arai Helmets, Bel-Ray lubricants, Cycle Gear and the Ride To Win Fund, Malcolm Smith Racing, and the AMA. Thanks to Hugh Fleming for once again being our jury representative and Connie Fleming for providing daily updates and pictures to the Internet so everyone back home could see what was going on. Now to the special people, some of whom don't even have a particular rider to help, but go because they love the sport and want to see the U.S. win the World Trophy: Bruce Wakeley and Kent Doyle in the Parc Ferme; Chris and Diane Hardy, Jim Stoffer, Bob and Tony Argonis, and Dave and Dan Ruffner, who captained the check points. To the cooks in the Parc Ferme who had hot pasta ready for the riders when they were done to replenish their carbohydrates and energy: Laura and Jim Hogan, Pat Noel, Laura Claypoole, and Shirly and Mandi Mastin. To the other Parc Ferme workers that took care of the riders when they went out in the morning and when they came in at night: Bob (I'll see you in France) Babcock, Jay Hall, Marty Martinson, Beth Garrahan and Jacqui Cartwrite. Last, but not least, are the countless others who realized this was a team effort and manned the check points, special-test areas, and the Parc Ferme to help all the riders. I thank you very much for your help. I've enjoyed working with everyone again and hope to see everyone next year in France. Gunny Claypoole VIa the Internet Bordi and Ducati Some of those who have an interest in Ducati, and especially those of us who have been around awhile - read this as pre-916 days - may want to join me in wishing the man mainly responsible for our beloved Ducati's high standing and current success the best of luck in his future endeavors. I am speaking of Mr. Bordi. Not so many years ago, Ducati was having something of an identity crisis. Although the legendary Dr. T w% still peripherally involved with tile company, the future lay in combining the traditional qualities of Ducati with the then-new technology of electronic engine management. Without the guidance of Bordi, the 916, motorcycle of the decade (some would say arguably) would have been stillborn. It was a closer thing than many realize. The in~redible ride in the '90s, and three record sales years in a row, as well as the outstanding successes of bikes like the 916/996, "M" series, ST's, SuperSports, and withdrawal of the Cagiva influence have all occurred during Bordi's watch at the Italian marque. Whatever the future holds for Ducati, this has surely been our finest hour. Grazie! Paul Bunde VIa the Internet Gunnys Thanks Once again the ISDE has come and gone, and once again our riders gave it everything they could and we finished 10th. A few years ago all the trophy riders finishing on gold would have put us in the top three, but the competition has gotten better. eye. e < 0 _. n d) en Claypoole is the team manager for the U.S. ISDE team... Editor n e _ so • JANUARY 17, 2001 5