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/128145
"O ne thing I love about motocross is that most riders ride clean because . they know that they Will be paid back." Fight Club I think the petty fines are silly, but I would like to ask Duke Finch why he just talked to Ron-Ron, but put Rodrig Thain on indefinite probation. I have nothing against Ron-Ron (actually, I kind of like him), but he did ram David Vuillemin way harder than Thain rammed Gosseler at Anaheim I. Edward B. 6erl1ardt vta the IntrHnet Fight Club II What goes around comes around. Stephane Roncada has got a taste of his own medicine and he does not like it. How can the AMA justify fining David Vuillemin and not Roncada? Duke Finch claims that Roncada only "bumped" Vuillemin after the race in Atlanta. I saw it, and I have to disagree. What Roncada did is not an accident. He intentionally hit another rider. Is this not also "action demeaning the sport"? Finch should have fined both or neither. The problem for Finch was that he let the situation get out of hand. He waited too long to act. I suspect the pressure has been building for some time. What to do with overly aggressive riders? Instead of taking a comprehensive approach to the problem, the AMA is going to piecemeal out justice. Finch has demonstrated why one man alone should not be the judge, jury and executioner. Robert Boume vtathe/~et Fight Club III Has Stephane Roncada ever watched this year's TV coverage of supercross? I attended four rounds this year and watched every round on TV. After watching Roncada ram his way through the pack on several occasions, I am surprised it took someone this long to get even. David Bailey, whom I have never heard badmouth anyone, has made several comments regarding Roncada's riding style. One thing I love about motocross is that most riders ride clean because they know that they will be paid back. Congratulations to Jeremy McGrath on his first podium this year, and I am looking forward to a win real soon. :John Foster vta the IntrHnet Fight Club IV Being a longtime racer/rider and Cycle News subscriber, let me tell you how I feel about the Vuillemin/Roncada altercation. Stephane needs to get over it, and Vuillemin needs to keep racing. Championships are won through giving all that you've got: determination, commitment and heart. End of story. Darryl Chudomelka vtathe/~et Team Green Thanks While racing in the Unclassified race at last weekend's Adelanto Grand Prix, I had the misfortune of stripping the splines out of my countershaft sprocket. The Desert Vipers brought me back to the pit area and dropped me off at Team Green, where we immediately went to work on my KX 125 and got me ready for the 125cc Expert race - making it with only minutes to spare. I would like to thank Tom Wells, Jeff Dillon and his dad, Johnny Braasch, and especially Larry Roeseler and my dad, Dean Wood. I couldn't have done it without them. These people and this team are a true credit to the sport, and I thank them all. Nathan Wood Apple Valley, CA Not Fair· Okay, I have sat by and watched this long enough! World Superbike racing is turning into a "battle of the twins." Just look at the times from the tests. I know attempts have been made to adjust the rules, but it wasn't enough, and Suzuki, Yamaha and Kawasaki don't stand a chance. I can't put all the blame on World Superbike, however. The factories that are not willing or can't afford to run a twin in World Superbike are also responsible. This has been slowly happening year after year. When did an inline four last win in World Superbike? Scott Russell in 1992. And out of all the races that have been held since, how many times has an inline four been on the box? I think if you got out your handy race-to-English conversion calculator, you would find: 1. Either the rules need to be drastically changed; 2. We all need to buy a Ducati; 3. Three of the big four need to get off their butts and get with the program; 4. Do away with World Superbike and bring back the U.S. GP and keep it. If Mat MJadin al')d Eric Bostrom can finish one-two in the AMA Superbike Series on inline fours (the Kawasaki being dated), it can be done. :JofH H &-own 5acr'atnMIo, CA Safer Tracks I couldn't agree more with David Alexander's letter (Issue #9, March 6) and compliment him for voicing his concern on this controversial subject. In addition to the professional racers he listed, I wanted to point out there are scores of injured amateur races across the country at this very moment due to gnarly track obstacles, and some of them won't be returning to racing. Last month I met a retired 24year-old amateur racer from Ohio who broke both ankles a year ago without crashing upon casing a triple at a local arena cross. He said his doctor told him by the time he is 40, there will be numerous complications due to the severity of his injuries. A friend of mine's 31-year-old brother used to race until getting hurt on race day at Gorman six months ago when he came up short on a double in practice. He broke both wrists and a femur and has retired from racing. As Alexander mentioned, racing is an inherently dangerous sport - but that doesn't mean steps can't be taken to make it safer and in the process help the sport continue to grow. If we had more tabletops and longer, less-peaked landing areas this would go a long way in reducing injuries, and it would keep racers in the sport instead of quitting racing to pursue safer hobbies. Personally, I would rather see safer supercross tracks with timed (not based on laps) main events, plus removing supercross-type track obstacles from motocross tracks, especially on the National circuit. MIchc»f RIgdon vta the InIwnM With that said, I say excellent piece on the Honda Silver Wing. East Coast dealer delivery is said to be March 6. I put my deposit down back in October. Anyway - I enjoyed your lively rhetoric. Mlk. Whattey Alexandria. VA Doughboy Fan Kudos to Shirley Hertel (Voices, Issue #7, February 20) - I understand what she means. Her son worked hard and yet was unrecognized. How many amateur races do you go to and see these "special riders" taking two and three practices. They are also the ones who get their names in print. After eight years of motocross racing all over the country, I'm still waiting to see a word or two on "Doughboy." I thought that winning that last moto at Loretta's and getting a third overall might get a sentence or two, but no. At the Winter Olympics he won the supercross championship, motocross championship and the Olympiad and every time he passed the stands the cheers were louder than the bikes - but still not even a sentence. These cheers that I hear make me feel great about Brad, but it's not the same as a few words for someone who has really worked hard. We all work and sacrifice for our kids and in this sport a little recognition would be nice - especially if you are a 240pound motocrosser like "Doughboy." Next time you see him on the track, I hope you will also cheer for "Doughboy." If he's off the rack, stop and talk to him. He is a nice young man and I should know - I'm his dad. l.Ifa 8«nItfr J.aktfIand,. R. RoIIer-Moto Looks like everyone's in the mood to brawl this year. Thain center-punches Gosslear. RC knocks over Travis. laRocco rips Travis after breaking his wrist. Ron-Ron and DV duking it out in the pits. The stakes must have ratcheted up a notch, because it doesn't look like anyone has any interest in playing nice. Roller-Moto is here. ChrtlDoyie vta th. IntrHnet Silver Wing Customer There are not enough good writers in the motorcyclecycle-magazine business. (Hell, for that matter, good writers "are hard to find, period.) cue I • n __ • • MARCH 13.20025