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/128118
"I would probably take a year o~ go to collegel meet some girls and let my brain heat 75 Years? The back-page Ducati ad in Issue #31 (August 8) really ticks me off. "75 Years of Victory," - that is mistruth in advertising. Who do these new owners of Ducati think they're fooling? Ducati didn't build motorcycles until after WWII. First, these weenies loused up the logo, then attempted to make Ducati appealing to bed-wetters who'd rather sip a latte than ride - and now this. Aarghl Keep it on two. D. Randy RIggs VIa the Internet 75 Years II? With the last founding Ducati brother and Ing. Fabio Taglioni barely cool in their graves, the American owners of Ducati apparently feel free to re-write history. Their "75 Years of History" advertisement on the back page of Issue #31 contains the line: "75 Years of Victory." Victory at what? Pre-WWII Camera & Radio races? Mercedes-Benz, Audi, BMW, H-D, Guzzi - all can and do advertise great racing victories in the pre-war era in their marketing struggle with the Japanese makers, two or four-wheeled. Ducati falsely wants to be included in this pantheon of historic racing names and wants desperateIy for enthusiasts to think them older than Honda and the rest of the Japanese makers whose history begins with the end of the war. The truth is otherwise, however. Soichiro Honda was building and successfully racing cars of his own design as early as 1936 while the Ducati brothers were building cameras. The brothers start- L.. ed building motorcycles after the war, as did Honda, and public relations efforts to build a different image does If I was a concussed teen MXjfreestyle phenom who was as intelligent as and could ride a bike as well as Travis Pastrana, I would probably take a year off, go to college, meet some girls and let my brain heal - thinking that I still would have a good 10 years to race. As it is, I'm just a slow, out-ofshape, 30-something-year-old. I Rousseau's article. Maybe dirt tracking will not be as big as road racing or motocross, but the people involved in it are some of the best people you'll ever met. To see someone come out and blame the riders for the downfall of the sport is absurd. The riders and the fans are what keep this sport alive, and losing Mr. Bailey as a fan doesn't seem so bad. I challenge him to come to the pits at a Grand National, meet the riders, and see how things really work and then form his opinion. Almost all of the riders are really great people and would never do anything to hurt the sport. I am not saying that everything is perfect in the dirt-track world, but there are a lot of people trying to make that happen and I think that Rousseau's article may open some other people's eyes to work toward this common goal. Paul Lynch/.Jason ryef guess when your 17 or 18 years old it's hard to realize that you have your whole life in front of you and nothing, not even championships, are as Motocross des Nattons motorcycle business until 1945. Unless Ducati were winners in some as-yet unreported radio competition back in the '20s, the claim "75 years of victory" goes way beyond typical advertising hyperbole. Maybe some young copywriter at Ducati's advertising agency didn't check the facts, but surely company management knows better. Or at least they should. BobS/ndalf Santa Barbara, CA Pastrana's Head important as your physical well being. GeotrMarcJnko Macedonia. OH .....l...._IiOlO.......... Dirt Track Again riders, but come on, Chris, which team do you think really needs the money, huh? Annando J. MIranda VIa the Internet BelAJr,MD Just because Chris wrote about supporting the Motocross des Nations team doesn't mean he doesn't believe the ISDE team also needs support. Those wishing to contribute to the ISDE team's efforts in France this year can buy T-shirts from the AMA for $15 with all proceeds going directly to the riders. For more information, call 6/4/856-1900, ext. 1272... Editor This is in response to the Cycle News editorial column by Chris Jonnum (Issue #31, August 8). I personally agree that we as a country need to back up our boys in the Motocross des Nations. However, Jonnum made it sound like Ricky Carmichael, Travis Pastrana and Ryan Hughes were destitute. Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't these guys factory riders? Do they not make a pretty good salary? If Chris Jonnum thinks that these boys have it rough, he should see ... what most of our Interna- Should Travis Pastrana be racing after so many head injuries so early in his career? dishonor to the real greatness that is Ducati today and does dishonor to ll Thanks From Clear Channel I've been meaning to write this one for a while but I wanted to say thank you to two groups of people. On August 4, I watched our roster of IFMA Freestyle Motocross riders sit at the autograph tables and sign one autograph after another. 'Mad' Mike Jones, Jake Windham, Nate Adams and the rest of the guys burned up a box of Sharpie markers late into the evening just minutes after finishing what I would call a spectacular show for the fans. The scene reminded me of the several times I've seen McGrath, Carmichael, Antunez, Grant Lopez, Chris Carr or Jennifer Snyder stick around do sign autographs during the 'sessions' we arrange at our events. So to every rider who has stuck around and signed until the fans go home we say "thank you." To every die-hard fan who has waited patiently while we lasso the riders up to the concourse levels after the event just to get an autograph from their hero we also say "thank you." Dan Krolczyk VIa the Internet tional Six Days Enduro riders have to go through - it would make him cry. In most cases, these peo- pie have regular nine-to-five jobs and have to have fund-raising events the brand's loyal owners - do they really think us this stupid? Taglioni must surely be spinning in I wanted to comment on Mr. Bailey's comments in his letter to the editor. He has obviously not met any of the locally to help with the expenses. All of the Team USA support staff are volunteers who pay their own way to his grave. BtuceAnnslrong Santa Barbara, CA riders or been in the pits of a Grand National race. I don't know where he has come up with such an outlandish help our guys out. I work at Cyclepro of Santa Rosa (California) and one of our young- As a Ducati rider, I was surprised to see the Ducati ad on the back cover of Cycle News claiming "75 Years of Victory." Whoever approved the ad copy should be red-faced in embarrassment. To be sure, Ducati was founded 75 years ago, back in 1926 but as a manufacturer of radios, not motorcycles. Ducati didn't enter the opinion. I am not saying all of the races are started on time, but if they are not it is not any of the riders' faults. We go to the races to do one thing - to race. That is our job. We have no control over when the AMA decides to put us on the track, but I can tell you when they tell us it is time we are all ready to go racing and not just sitting around doing as we please. I totally agree with Scott sters, Craig Wesner, has just qualified for the Junior USA team for the ISDE. He is relying on hard work, credit cards and donations from people like myself, who have watched his talent and determination grow since he was a child. We are all very proud of him and he rides for us. I am not trying to disrespect the riding talents or the status of our Team USA Motocross des Nations 75 Years III? cue I e Krolczyk is the senior director of marketing, motorcycles, for Clear Channel Entertainment. .. Editor n e _ S • AUGUST 22, 2001 5