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/128126
IIlf we could only get McGrath on a red one... that would be a season to remember. 11 Hayden's Speed BMW Helps Too Seeing Red Does anyone know why Nicky Hayen was not penalized with a stopand-go for going 67 mph, or 15 mph faster than the limit on his race pit stop? James Everett VIa the tnfrNnet It was nice to see that Harley Davidson had some nice contributions directed to helping with the terrorist attacks of September 11. However, if you guys are going to make comments on that, shouldn't you include others motorcycle manufacturers doing similar donations? I do know BMW had some nice contributions. They donated $1 million along with 10 new BMW X5 SAV's. One hundred police motorcycles will be given to the city of New York to replace lost equipment as well. They value this to be $2.4 million. Now granted, BMW does not just do motorcycles. I hear they have some automotive line too. But it is worth mentioning. I love the fact that Ricky Carmichael will be on a Honda next year. It is good for the sport to have some change. Frankly, I am really tired of seeing Jeremy McGrath on that blue bike. If we could only get McGrath on a red one ... that would be a season to remember. I guess we can dream on because it's all over but the shouting if your not seeing red. Hayden's Speed II As a matter of interest, could you perhaps shed some light on the pit stop deal at Virginia International Raceway? It appeared that a 50 mph pit-lane speed limit was in place. It appeared also that an AMA-operated speed radar "trap" was in use for monitoring the pit-lane entry speeds of the Superbike riders. It seemed to me that Nicky Hayden's pit-lane entry speed was at least 61 (or perhaps 67) mph. One of the commentators on the Speedvision broadcast mentioned it, but dropped it ever so quickly. I have no axe to grind with Hayden, or with Honda (having worked for the Honda Canada road racing program for many years), I would just like to be able to understand how that AMA can (apparently) permit such things to go on over and over again (case in point... the shenanigans that took place at the Daytona 200 this spring). Maybe you can help me understand, or point me to someone who can. Rob Stone VIa the /nfrNnet We have received several e-mails regarding the pit· lane speeds during the final round of the Afl1A/Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Series round at Virginia International Speedway most notably race winner Nicky Hayden's pit-lane speed. Viewers of the telecast on Speedvision saw a radar gun reading on the entrance to pit lane that indicated that Hayden was speeding. We asked AMA road racing manager Ron Barrick for clarification, and he has since obliged. Here's Barrick's take on the situation: "The 67 mph speed shown on TV as Nicky made his pit stop during the race was prior to the speed-controlled area. The radar display unit that was seen on the television broadcast was positioned directly on the pit lane entry line. The radar display shows the speed of the riders as they approach (about 40·50 yards) that line so they can adjust their speed. That line designates the start of the pit-lane speedcontrolled area and another line at the exit of pit lane marked the end of the control area. The control area was policed with hand-held radar guns by AMA officials. While we had many cases of pit-lane speeding during the weekend, none occurred during the races. n Case closed... Editor Shane McCarthy TuCSOf\.AZ Miller Retires I have been the luckiest man on the planet to be able to achieve a boyhood dream of being a full-time, paid professional road racer for six years. Additionally, I've been very fortunate to work in a motorcycle racing community with some of the most incredible and interesting people in the world. In light of the recent World Trade Center disasters, my final race weekend at VIR will be especially memorable to me not only as my final pro race, but because it was our first Pro race back since the attacks of September 11. While being lucky enough to put on our show from the East to the West Coasts of the United States, we in this racing circus are given a particular and intimate perspective into how special and unique each city and town really is. Then to imagine 6000 people, 6000 fans, vanishing out of their neighborhoods is simply numbing. Last weekend at VIR, us in the paddock and all in the stands were ready to mindfully celebrate life once again, the spirit of competition, and a new sense of community. Pretty cool feeling. Next stop for my career, at least short-term, is to release a home video production with an insider's look at motorcycle road racing. The release date is set for March 2002, and it's tentatively titled "Superbike Life." Very special thanks to: Bill Syfan, Richard Stanboli, Steve Blakeney, Henry DeGouw, Kevin Erion and Rick Hobbs, Jeff Chann, Nick Haymen, Chuck Graves, Tom Houseworth, Pete and Carol Swetish, Andre Castanos, Tim Lee, Chuck Yu, Mel Blaney, Mom and Dad, Mid-Cities Honda, AMA Pro Racing staff, tire guys, sponsors, Speedvision staff, print/web media, photographers, the fans, and especially the beautiful Miss Tammi. It's been fun. MamMl//er Long EJeach. CA sen owen Ok/ahoma CIty, OK Super License Is the FIM anti-American too? Of all the BS criteria for obtaining a "Super License" there is no mention of a top finish in AMA competition. Last I checked there have been at least 12 500cc World Championships directly related to former AMA racers. How about a little respect? Speaking of respect, you've got to respect Mrs. Hailwood for standing up to Ducati. Though I too drooled over the MH900E with everyone else, I wasn't so sure that Mike Hailwood or his estate had corroborated with Ducati on the machine with the fake oil sump. Now I am sure and I hope the Hailwoods get what is rightfully theirs. Long live the two-stroke. Ed Bettwlcourt she went high off of turn fotH and struck a portion of the wall which was not protected by hay bales. She suffered multiple wounds and as of this writing was still in ICU. A hay bale costs about $2. What is it going to take for the sanctioning bodies, promoters, sponsors and track owners to wake up and understand their role in these tragic events and their responsibility to fix things? It's time to re-assess the state of dirt tracking and make some changes. If a track is inherently unsafe, it shouldn't be raced on - end of story. It's time to listen to the riders. If the resultant changes substantially change the sport, eliminate some tracks and are financially detrimental to some of the parties involved, so be it. To leave the situation as it is today is appalling. If we keep going on blindly killing the best of our sport, the sport itself will die. Today, it's much more appealing to go road racing, where the safety record is much better, even at double or triple the speed. This year I go to the Del Mar Mile with my excitement dampened by apprehension, fear and sadness for the sport and its participants. I won't see Rob Damron, Will Davis, Jennifer Snyder, Toby Jorgensen, Rodney Farris, Jess Roeder, Davey Camlin, Andy Tresser, or Dan Hart. Instead we look forward to an event that will undoubtedly call for a moment of silence for Will Davis and an injury report on Jennifer and Jess. Instead of a Will Davis autograph this year, I have the signature on a thank you card from his bereaved wife acknowledging the small donation our dirt tracing team made to the fund established on his behalf. There is a parallel in that just as the tragedy that befell our country on September 11 th has made us reassess our way of living and our approach to the world, so must these past dirt track accidents force us to reassess our approach to fundamental rider safety. I just don't have the guts for more grieving these days. Please, somebody do somethingl Randy Kremlacek VIa the /nfrNnet Concorct. CA For more information on the Super License program, see this week's Grand Prix story on page 6... Editor Had Enough In the past, I've always looked forward to going to the Cycle News Web site to see the results of the past weekend's races. However, after reading the report on the Seattle Mile this last visit, I don't know if I want to see the news anymore. I have just plain had it with all of the injuries and deaths in dirt track these past few years. Yes, racing in inherently a risky business and when you dance with death, sometimes death becomes your partner. However, each death or injury caused or exacerbated by poor safety planning is just senseless and cruel. It's always been the racer's argument to the layperson that "we are all going the same direction and when we fall we don't hit immovable objects, unlike you guys that ride out on the street." Sadly, many of the injuries and deaths in dirt tracking these past few years have been a result of the rider hitting immovable objects. In 1999 at Dallas, Texas, a wonderful, aspiring-to-greatness 17-yearold racer by the name of Toby Jorgensen was taken out of this world when he hit an unprotected hurricane fence during a mile race. This past Sunday at the Seattle Mile, 18-yearold Jennifer Snyder was battling for the lead in the Pro Singles class when cue' e n e _ S • OCTOBER 17,2001 5