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/128117
IIRicky doesnlt oWe anybody a damned thing. 11 ith all due respect given to all of the ell wishers concerning Jeremy cGrath's career and a "final" run at n eighth Supercross title, I must say, "Come on, folks!" To offer any opinions and or advice to him is ridiculous. I believe anyone who has dominatd the sport of Supercross, as Jerey has, certainly knows what it takes o win the title again. As an old-time, retired motocrossr, I too like to offer my vast "knowldge and wisdom" to such topics; owever, I simply find it extremely amusing how some people have it all •gured out for Jeremy and desire for im to just listen. Only time will be able to answer he question of an eighth championship, as well only Jeremy can prepare and do what it takes to win it. better comparison. Mario Andretti continued racing competitively long after his prime. As for motocross, Mike LaRocco is still podium bound many years after his rivals retired. The same can be said of Jeff Ward. Speaking of retirement, Kiedrowski, Stanton, Bradshaw and Emig all left the sport for their own personal reasons. Injuries, burnout and frustration are the main motivating factors for retirement in our sport. As long as Dowd, LaRocco and McGrath are healthy and still love the sport, I will carry the towel in their corner. I have raced as an amateur for four decades, and I applaud the tenacity that McGrath possesses. By the way, has Michael James ever tried to approach Carmichael as a fan? I had an occasion to speak with RC at Loretta Lynn's, and I am not impressed. In fact, I met a whole group of people at Troy that went to the pits Carmichael fans and came back disgruntle after being snubbed. They started rooting for LaRocco with our group of old-timers. I hope that RC wakes up before he gets in the mental frame of mind Bradshaw was in before his first retirement. Speaking of Troy, Travis Pastrana was signing autographs through the fence long after all of the teams had packed up to leave. He was apologizing for leaving to catch his plane. He is someone who is great for our sport. Not since Rick Johnson have I seen such a positive and enthusiastic champion. Finally, I feel the need to comment on the current 125cc-c1ass situation. The points system that the AMA has devised is ludicrous. Mike Brown should not have pointed out, but he should not have been back in the toddler class today, nor should Lamson, Ward and Huffman. They are taking money away from struggling up-andcomers on the circuit trying to gain momentum and experience in the 125cc class. Their presence defeats the purpose of a 125cc class. I do not recall seeing Hannah, Bell, Sun, Howerton, Lackey or Marty Smith dropping back to the 125cc class to make a living at the expense of the young racers. If they want to continue racing, they should be in the 250cc class striving to make a living like the young 125cc pilots. That is my opinion, and like James, everyone has one. Fran Green YTa the Internet Doug Holt Nashvtlle, TN No Sympathy For Walker ear Chris Walker: It is unfortunate at you are feeling devastated over e fact that the Shell Advance Grand rix team has "not been true to their ord" and is no longer honoring their ontract with you. Perhaps you can call the folks at uzuki World Superbike to see how ey cope with such hardships. If the ine is busy, try Scott Russell, or Rob uzzy, or the Suzuki Grand Prix earn. I'm sure one of these folks will e able to help. Jim Royd LakeMaty,R Team Tips onsidering Travis Pastrana's recent rain fades, maybe we should replace im with Kevin Windham at the otocross des Nations. We'll have to ut Ricky Carmichael on a 125, but e'll do what Johnny O'Mara did way ack when and twist the &%$# out of e throttle. This way America will have a beter chance at bringing back the trohy even if it is on one of those highpeed fire roads that Europeans onsider a motocross track. :JefMorgan VIa the Internet Doesn't Need Your Help The Tyson Rule Leave RC Alone I felt the need to respond to "The Tyson Rule" by Michael James. I agree with some of the points he made, but feel compelled to disagree with the article in general. Boxing is not a good comparison for motocross. George Foreman, who came out of retirement to compete for the title, was conveniently left out of the comparison. CART racing is a I am amazed at how naIve some folks are. In response to all the fools who think Ricky Carmichael should stay at Kawasaki, you have to remember one thing - motocross is a business, pure and simple. Ricky doesn't owe anybody a damned thing. If he got injured and had two dismal seasons in a row, Kawasaki wouldn't think twice about firing him or at the very least negotiating a much smaller salary. Carmichael just beat the winningest Supercross rider of all time for Pete's sake. He's hot, and in a sport where the next race or practice session could be your last, you have to go where the money is. Daniel :Jendre Northtteld, OH Dirt Track Revisited I enjoyed very much the Scooter Mania column (Issue #29, July 25) by Scott Rousseau regarding the coverage given to dirt track motorcycle racing. The only reason I ever picked up a copy of Cycle News was because they gave dirt track racing more than a passing nod. This, however, was only after another racer let me know about it. Let's face it, as cool as Cycle News is, it's not a mainstream publication. It is focused toward motorcyclists. The chance of coming across a copy in your average waiting room is next to zero. To blame Cycle News, basically an insider publication, for the lack of dirt track coverage in the mainstream media is goofy. Let's look at the show - because that's what it is. All the insiders know that a race could possibly start late, but this is not a good conduit to rv coverage. All the insiders know that track prep is at least tricky, sometimes requiring a nod from the guy upstairs and some luck. Newcomers to the sport thought they were coming to see a motorcycle race, not water trucks and heavy equipment doing laps. But without these cautions, there may be only 37 riders at the next National and not 38. I'd like to have my cake and eat it too. I'd love to have the Minneapolis Star and Tribune sports writers calling me for the latest info on the race series B&R Promotions puts on up here in Minnesota. But that's not possible if the promoters don't let anyone know, or at least make the show good enough so it's appealing for the first-time fan. Scott should relax a little. The team owner has a bundle invested in his equipment, riders and expenses. The rider has a lifetime invested in honing his craft. You know this effort can put a strain on a person. Please don't blame them because the promoters haven't been getting the job done. The uphill battle these guys have been fighting for years is a good battle. They deserve our respect. Diplomacy is the art of letting someone see things your way. Don't be afraid to use it. It seems like a great story, the 17 -year-old beating the old hand. There is no shame in being beaten by a better rider - be he 15 or 50. Dirt track needs all of us the promoter, the rider, the team owner, and the joumalist. Let's work together. It's pretty hard being taken to task, cue. III deserved or not, for an entire organization. Don't take it personally, Scott. I read and enjoy your work, and I keep track of your rides on that RM250 in Cycle News (and I thought you weren't a rider). Ertc Brouhard StPau'MN A Petition Drive The Desert Vipers Motorcycle Club (DVMC), after many years of applications and negotiations to establish the Barstow to Vegas corridors, and tens of thousands of dollars spent, is still in quite a battle. We need to let the powers that be know that we are not happy with all the public-land closures and land-use issues that are incessant and oppressive. We are organizing a nationwide petition drive to let our government leaders know that the people who use the great outdoors are tired of it. We want these petitions in every motorcycle shop, fishing tackle store, personal watercraft store and RV dealer in the nation. We would like the help of bicyclists, hunters, property owners, Boy Scouts - anyone - to make this work. We are asking for help to gather, distribute, etc., in order to get these petitions to the President's desk. Along with these petitions will also be membership applications to the Blue Ribbon Coalition, a group that represents these interests on a national level. We will be asking the sponsors who help us every year with the Grand Prix to get involved. We will also be approaching manufacturers and aftermarket suppliers to help, as well. If you have any ideas or suggestions, please contact us. We must turn this around. Desert YTpers Motorcycle Club YTa the Inff1met The Vipers can be reached by calling 800/287-0306 or through their website at www.desertvipersmc.com... Editor n III _ S • AUGUST 15, 2001 5