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/128138
"Ilm only 42 and I havenlt raced in a year Letters to the editor < 0 _. n tD should be sent to Voices. Cycle News. and a half. I think VII sign up for Anaheim. 11 P.O. Box 5084. Cosla Mesa. CA 92628· 5084. faxed 10 SX Saga Revisited Terry Denemark ("Voices," Issue #2, January 16) thinks the factories will go with the AMA in 2003 because each AMA round will get three hours of live coverage on TV. Clear Channel Entertainment claims supercross reached 87 million households in 2001 and will go global in 2002, reaching some 131 million homes worldwide. At last count, ESPN reaches 85 million American homes, ESPN2 reaches 81 million and Speedvision, which will air the AMA races live, only reaches 45 million (and I'm not one of them.) Let's see, the factories race for exposure and increased sales. CCE rounds will air worldwide and reach 131 million (plus more over armedforces radio) potential customers vs. the AMA's 45 million. I doubt these numbers will escape the factories as easily as they did Mr. Denemark. being there, and I thank him for his stellar effort, and applaud his ability to overcome the sizeable hardships he encountered while doing such a great job. Perhaps I'm just a small representation of the general American public who appreciates what the rest of the world does, but this Dakar thing is one awesome event. My congratulations go out to every participant who ever attempted it, every journalist who ever reported on it, the sponsors who make it possible and the organizers who pull it off. Watch for it on Speedvision soon. Can one imagine the complexity of attempting a similar event in this hemisphere, say Vancouver to Mexico City? No way! That's one of the reasons I appreciate reading about it. No Chump In reply to Frank Damommio's letter (Issue #2, January 16), he states that Ricky Carmichael is a chump, not a champ and has no idea who to be a champion. Ricky Carmichael has held a number-one plate every year he has raced as an AMA Pro, and this alone shows that he can handle the pressure of being a champion. His record speaks for itself. DanIel D. Gonzalez VIa the Intemet Jonnum And The Dakar Dakar Rally. I have often enjoyed articles written by Mr. Jonnum for your publication, but he has far outdone himself with this latest assignment. I, like him, have been fascinated for a long while regarding this unique event, noting with some displeasure the lack of coverage the Dakar receives from most American publications, and with very rare exceptions, most American riders (and drivers). I forgive him for missing the fact that there was a single American bike entrant this year, and he pointed that fact out in one of his reports late in the Rally. Jonnum had me glued to my monitor [on the Cycle News Web site) for the duration of the Rally, almost drooling to read his daily report regarding the race, anq his experiences covering it. Reading his daily up-dates was probably better than e·mailed to editor@" cyclenews.com. Published letters do Thank you, Chris Jonnum, and Cycle News for the excellent job of covering the Dakar Rally. Daily rally results and commentary, as well as personal experiences, were more than this rally junkie could have hoped for. I am hopeful you can do this again next year. not necessarily reflect the position of Cycle News. Inc. Letters should nol exceed 200 words and all are subject to editing. Anonymous letters will not be considered for RIch Constantino VIa the Internet publicalion. All letters should contain the Ricky Carmichael Once again, thanks to Cycle News for the effort involved in sending a representative, but thanks even further for the stellar job by one lonely American journalist. His insights and background of this year's event will forever be etched in my memory, and I dearly thank him for the supreme job he has done for your readers. Perhaps one day, I'll be able to thank him in person for this articulate, colorful rendering of one of the world's premier motorsports events, but, if not, might you please relay to him my sincerest gratitude for his accomplishments on behalf of your organization? Perhaps CN could spring for a new laptop, I bet the African sand has ruined the one he used on the Dakar. Steve 'Cosmlc" Miller Seat1te, WA We're anticipating the return of Chris Jonnum any day now and you'll be able to see his full report of the Dakar Rally in an upcoming issue of the newspaper. Jonnum was skinny when he left so we can't imagine what he'll look like on his return. Perhaps he'll be able to take a nap on the mini blinds in his office... Editor and daytime phone number .. Editor. bike that I really covet. All that I want is a quality dirt bike that is street legal. None of the street legal "dual sports" fit the bill. They are either obese (KTM LC4, Husky TE610E, [, Suzuki DR-Z400S), or have minimal 1980-level power [, suspension (Yamaha XT225, Kawasaki KLR250). If anyone would just make a KTM 400 EXC or YZ250F that is street legal without being so grossly overweight... Currently, I would be faced with trying to convert a true dirt bike into a dual sport using a Baja Design kit, which is anything but a sure bet to procure a license plate. I know the bike that I covet might be less than a desirable road bike, but a dual sport by nature is a compromise anyway. I doubt any of the current dual sports are a better road bike than a converted KTM 400 EXC would be. Tom Hockett On January 5, 2002, 53 riders showed up to do battle in the first round of the AMAlEA Sports Supercross Series' premier 250cc class in Anaheim, California. On January 4, 2003, there will be two first rounds occurring simultaneously. Clear Channel's series will take' place in Anaheim's Edison Field and the AMA's series will be in Los Angeles most likely at the Coliseum. If there is an even split of riders attending both of these individual series, that means that either venue will only have 26 riders to field in their event. This would mean that the two heat races would have 13 riders each. After the top four from each heat transfers to the main that would leave nine riders for each semi. Then, after the top five from each semi _ transfer to the main, that would leave the final eight riders to battle it out in the Last Chance Qualifier. Will this be very exciting to watch? It reminds me of an interview I heard during the first Indy 500 race after the big CARTIIRL split. It was with a dentist who qualified somewhere in the back of the pack. He said, "It's always been a dream of mine, so I thought I would give it a shot." Heck, I'm only 42 and I haven't raced in a year and a half. I think I'll sign up for Anaheim. Scott Pangbum Kennewick. WA Unsafe Riding? In response to Dan Wallace's letter (Issue #2, January 16) about fining Chris Gosselaar for unsafe riding, I would like to say that I also thought the same thing at first. But then I recalled Gosselaar mentioning that Rodrid Thain slowed down. When we got home from the races, we replayed the race with our TrvO system in very slow motion. It is my opinion that Gosselaar was charging, following the leader in line, and Thain did in fact slow down. It looks like he lost momentum and Gosselaar was keeping his speed up. So I don't think fining Gosselaar is fair. I do believe Thain or anyone who portrays bad sportsmanship in any sport should be penalized. VIa the Intemet Wanting More, Or Less Shelly BeckstotrrN VIa the Intemet After spending hours pouring over your latest buyer's guide issue, it dawned on me that nobody sells a cycle UJ writer's name. address Anyone's SX 71m Tolleson santa Qarlta, CA A note of thanks to Cycle News and, in particular, staffer Chris Jonnum for one splendid job of reporting from the 714/751-6685 or Jonnum And The Dakar II Thain was fined $1000 for his actions after the 125cc main event at Anaheim... Editor n e _ S • JANUARY 23. 2002 5