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/128095
.1 identify more with his cartoons than with the interviews of current' champions. 11 •• 11 Keep Two-Strokes Many in the media have been speculating that the new "500cc· Grand Prix rules will make two-strokes obsolete as the four-strokes are expected to make at least 200 horsepower vs. the 180-190 horsepower for the current formula. Well, I have an idea: As this becomes the truth, let the two-strokes grow to say 550cc or 600cc with the same weight restrictions (add a touch of bore and stroke, baby!). The two-stroke can then become the dance of the small team/privateer/entrepreneur (i.e. Kenny Roberts and the Modenas or MZ). This was kinda the two-stroke's role in the sixties anyways. I think it is important for twostrokes to remain in GP racing for technical, historical and competitive reasons. By allowing them to slowly raise their displacement to match the power outputs to come, we allow two rich traditions to continue. DavId Bell Castro Valley, CA No Kocinski Fan Thank God John Kocinski is leaving racing. He is nothing but a self-centered, egotistical crybaby. He is so filled up with himself he doesn't realize that racing talent alone doesn't make one a complete man. He has proven to the world that you can be a 'champion' on the racetrack and still be a complete freak. The Hayden family, on the other hand, has shown that you can have incredible racing talent and still retam the qualities that make men great: humility and kindness. Racers and racing fans need to keep racing in proper perspective. Good riddance, Kocinski. MIchael Lehnlng. StuartR. Tell us how you really think... Editor More Smitty Mall Welcome Back Team Smitty. What a joy it was to find myoid pal Team Smitty buried in the back of my February 21 issue of Cycle News. What made it even better was the fact that I had a chance to share this zany Jim Smith cartoon creation with my 8year-old son, Wesley. After reading and rereading the cartoon again and again, my son and I laughed so hard that our stomachs ached and we each had tears rolling down our cheeks. Oh, and by the way, tonight when I tucked Wes into bed, I discovered he'd raided my closet and was wear- ing myoid vintage Team Smitty Tshirt. He said, "Team Smitty is the funniest cartoon I've ever read, and it's really cool because its all about motorcycles. " You've gained yourself another fan, Team Smitty. jimmie O'Dell Via the Internet And Again Glad to see Team Smitty backl I am the number-three Team Smitty Fan Club member and I've still got my membership card. In fact, I'm still trying to get some kind of discount on my motorcycle parts with it. Ronald Kempster VIa the Internet Last One? Please note that this letter is written on real paper by hand - not some whimpy afterthought e-mail like you get so many of. I say hooray to the return of our cherished and fearless motorcyclist Smitty to the pages of Cycle News. Please keep printing his work (and paying, no doubt, his outrageously expensive artistic compensation). As a reader (and a mid-packer), I identify more with his cartoons than with the interviews of current champions. Ronald Rlngsrud Saratoga. CA Boring? The new schedule for the 2001 AMA National Motocross Championship is boring. Every year they schedule the same tracks and I think there should be some change. Tracks across the United States want to host an event, but the AMA uses the same ones. It would be great for the sport if new tracks were a part of the series, because it would get new people involved in the sport of motocross. And it would make the riders happier to tryout a new track every once in a while. DavtdTaube Sytvanla, OH Helping Hands I would like to take a minute to tell you about what happened to me on February 10 while competing in the Four Aces Dual Euro Scrambles in Red Mountain, California. I was going to race the Vet Amateur/Expert class at 11 a.m., but about four miles into the race I hit a large rock and went over the bars and ended up breaking my hip. In the next few hours I saw what desert racers are truly like. The first person by my side was the guy that was behind me - a man named Rex from the Dirt Diggers motorcycle club. He asked if I was all right and I told him I didn't know what was wrong, but it was something with my hips. Since I was in "traffic," he set my bike up to protect me from the racers coming through on the next lap and he also gave me his Camel Back for a drink. He only left me when he knew I was safe and he promised he would be back with help. The next person who came through was someone from the Four Aces. He made sure I was going to be okay and then went to get Rescue 3. By this time the leaders where coming back around for the second lap and the first rider through was Paul Krause. Believe it or not, he stopped and asked if I was okay and promised he would get help for me. Two couples in four-wheel-drive cars where the next people to stop, and they told me that the guy on the orange KTM had stopped them and told them about me and showed them where I was. When Rescue 3 arrived there were about 8 to 10 people there to help me. I told the man from Rescue 3 that I felt something was wrong with my hips and was afraid to move. He said he wouldn't hurt me and they along with the others loaded me into the back of a pick-up to take me to the ambulance. I just want everyone to know what kind and caring people w.e have in the District 37. I want to thank Rex from Dirt Diggers, all of the members of The Fours Aces who helped with my care, Rescue 3, Liberty Ambulance, Paul Krause of KTM, UEA members Ed Mazenko and Bob Pryor, and I also would like to thank my friend Larry Kunkel for giving up his anniversary dinner with his wife to drive up with my wife and father to pick up my truck and trailer and motorcycle. He also stayed behind to locate my truck and trailer so my wife and dad could follow me back to the hospital in Orange, California, as I rode in the ambulance. JetTy 6rabow Garden Grove, CA John Sliva I am writing this letter in reference to the passing of our local motocross race announcer John Silva. John was recognized for his Cycle News articles and as an avid trials enthusiast, but we also new John as one of the best race announcers and land-use pro- cyel. tectors around. John not only wrote great articles in Cycle News that got our exploding area tremendous exposure, but he was also a race announcer who really knew the sport. He could comment on a racer's recent history, talk intelligently about the track, professionally plug sponsors, and he had a real knack for getting a crowd into a race. The Northern Nevada motocross scene lost a real friend this year and he will be greatly missed. 1)rErqulaga Via the InfrHnet Still Red I have heard some rumors that I am no longer with Honda and the Honda Riders Club of America and that I am now with Suzuki. This is not true. Gary Bailey and the original School of Motocross is supported by the HRCA and will be until the end of 2003. I will be at the major Amateur events to help Honda riders in any way that I can. However, I do work with riders of all levels and on all brands of motorcycles. As far as Suzuki goes, I have been working with Travis Pastrana for some rune years now and he has me go to as many events as I can get to between my regular schools. So, of course, I am in the Suzuki pits on weekends to help Travis. However, I am still supported by Honda and the HRCA to help give riders on all brands the best advice we can to make them better and safer riders. In closing, I would like to thank Charlie Keller and the HRCA for supporting my schools and for understanding what my job is: to help riders win no matter what brand of motorcycles they ride - even if we do wish they were riding red. Also thanks to Roger DeCoster at Suzuki for not making me wear yellow! Gary Bailey Axtofl, VA n. _ S • MARCH14,20015