Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

I found Eric to be incre ibly polit sincere and genuine: A true role model" I The Pace Car writing because I saw virtually no ponses regarding the pace-car ident in the Daytona 200. Please Kurtis Roberts, Aaron Yates and mie Hacking that we agree with ir observation that there was no ce car flag between the West rseshoe and the West Banking. Five people in my group were ated in Section A of the Keach andstands between road course s one and six. I can vouch for the t that Mat Mladin came through n six before any flag was waving, t we had horrifyingly watched the e car already enter the banking. I certain of this because I spent eral seconds praying that Mladin uld see the pace car in time to oid it, knowing that he had no rning before he entered NASCAR one. I raced for several years eluding Daytona) and I know that en you're on the banking you can nothing except black asphalt 100 ds ahead of you - and you must k upward to see even that. In fact, din almost blew by the car before could slow. My wife will swear that the only she saw waving before the crash s a plain yellow one. She has spent untless days at the track and ows her flags. In addition, she tched the workers pick up the nge flag. We were all holding our breath as h rider came up on the pace car. er the crash, we saw madly waving low, orange, and white cross flags the entrance to turn six. The marais at the exit of turn six (therance to the West Banking) waved flags throughout the incident. I do not fault the marshals. The rshals at the entrance to turn six re beyond Mike Ciccotto's minor II and would normally have no reato wave any flag. As a spectator, eemed that the pace car had a d of its own and climbed onto the ck before the marshals could sigits presence. I'm not looking to cause a stir. I uld only like you to tell the racers we agree with them - they didn't wit. Dan Hurley ut1teton, MA Why No Aprllla? as brought to my attention by the resentatives at the Aprilia tent at ytona International Speedway that Aprilia SP model was not authoed to race in the AMA Series ause the AMA counted all sales, luding scooters, and told Aprilia they had to make 500 and not 50 SPs in order to be homologated (as you stated in "Briefly... " in your coverage of the Daytona 200). That brings me to the question of Harley-Davidson and 50 units. Please show me the bikes. I really think the AMA is just trying to keep Aprilia out after seeing what they have done in World Superbike. LarryWoAa Tallahassee R. Role Model I am a Police Officer in Southern California and I also teach fifth grade D.A.R.E. We teach them about choices, stress, violence, consequences, and other subjects - including drugs. posters ran out two hours later, he signed their shirts, arms and pieces if paper - until there were no kids left. I found Eric to be incredibly polite, sincere and genuine: A true role model. With all we are seeing in the schools these days, God knows we need some. Eric, I wisti you all the best in the coming season (as do 400 of your newest fans). Eric Bostrom is a credit to his sport and sponsors and my hat is off to his parents for raising such a fine young man. He would be welcome in my police car (in the front seat) any time. Good luck, Eric, and thanks again! SIfIveLang VIa the IntrHnet fused when I got this week's issue (April 4, Issue #13). It seemed to me as though the article was more focused on the fact that the other Honda team had clutch problems instead of focusing on the win that Steve and Jonah gave Honda. I would like to take time now to congratulate Steve and Jonah on a job well done. Steve, if you keep riding the way you are, I know we will be reading your name in the record books some day. Good luck in the Baja 500 and I hope I get to read about you guys winning that one. Wayne Thomas La Habra, CA Holding Your Line Honda's Steve Hengeveld at speed on his Honda XR650R. One of our lesson plans is about role models, which includes introducing the children to someone to look up to and who has qualities they might aspire to. As an ex-racer, I continue to follow road racing and have been very impressed with the demeanor of many of the top young riders. I thought they would make excellent role models for the kids. I decided to call Eric Bostrom (who didn't know me from Adam) and asked him if he would come to the D.A.R.E. graduation night held at a local amusement center to meet some of the kids (400 of them). Eric immediately agreed and, on graduation night, he showed up with 200 posters, sat down and began signing them for the children (and some adults) who stood in a line stretching out the door. When the Baja And Honda I recently attended the 2001 San Felipe 250 and let me say that Honda sure has a hold of the scene south of the border. What surprised me the most was the way Steve Hengeveld piloted the big XR650R. I remember seeing Steve riding a KX250 and was surprised to see him on such a big bike. I had hoped that he would do well, but didn't expect him to win the overall - which he and Jonah Street did. I can't get over how well Steve rode. He seemed to be the strong part of the team. Not just out of the two riders on his team, but the entire Honda team. Needless to say, I was pumped for Steve and really looked forward to reading the Cycle News article on his achievement. However, I was conI: U I: I _ After watching the Daytona 200, I cannot believe what I saw Scott Russell "Mr. Daytona" do. I race dirt track and I know that, when you have trouble, you simply raise your hand and hold your line until everyone behind you has gone by. As soon as I saw Russell start to pull off to the right, I said, 'Oh, boy, here we go.' And, bingo, Russell got himself and two other riders hurt. I would have rather taken my chances and stayed in line until everyone got by me - that way the target was narrower. When Russell pulled to the right, that's all it took. He became a bigger target. I think someone should refresh Russell's memory as to the right procedure for when you get in trouble and anything else he doesn't understand about racing. SarySuttor stDuston, VA Okay, Gary, and you have won how many Daytona 200s, how many World Superbike Championships, how many AMA Superbike Championships? In hindsight, Russell may have erred in his judgment of trying to get to the grass, but I'm not sure there's a lot that he doesn't understand about racing... Editor n __ O5 • APRIL 11. 2001 5

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