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/128154
"Integrity comes from Within, and either you are a fair competitor or you're not." Team Green Says Cheating Response This letter is written on behalf of Kawasaki Team Green, in response to the "Voices" article (Issue #17, May 1) titled "Down On Team Green." First off, I would like to extend our deepest concerns over any negative feelings you may have incurred from the presence and or the actions of the Team Green Riders and staff that attended the AMA National Hare Scrambles event in Milliken, Colorado. Since its inception, the Team Green program has prided itself on being highly approachable and supportive at any event our riders or staff attend. We also try to offer our Kawasaki consumers the comfort of knowing that, when one of our Team Green support trucks is present at an event, emergency parts or technical assistance they may require is available to them. Team Green tried in every way to help promote the event. Along with posting the event schedule in Team Green News, Team Green also attended a local dealer open house. This helped to boost event awareness throughout the community and involve our dealer in the race activities. Our technicians were able to assist a number of riders with mechanical needs that would have left them otherwise unable to participate in the race. Fortunately, we were able to make necessary repairs that allowed the riders to compete in the race. Setting the record straight in regards to Team Green filing a protest with the AMA, no one in Team Green or anyone affiliated with the Team Green program filed a protest at this event. You were, however, correct in stating Team Green did not attend the podium presentation. Traditionally, in motorsports racing, it is customary for the top three finishers to attend the awards ceremony. Uncharacteristically, we did not finish on the podium. Hence, we did not attend. This is normal in motorsports, and it certainly was not meant to disrespect the winners while enjoying their time in the limelight. I would like to thank the Two Rivers Racing facility and the Leahy family for hosting the second round of the AMA National Hare Scrambles Series and for their exceptional effort in making this event safe and fun for everyone that entered. I only hope that next year we can put a Kawasaki on top of the podium.... Jason Smigel I am writing in response to the letter by Scott Hunt ("Voices," Issue #17, May 1) issue on the topic of cheating at round three of the AMA National Hare & Hound series. I was the race referee for that race and would respectfully submit that those who would like to question the decision need to first spend the significant amount of time and effort that was put into researching this protest and submitting a detailed report with the AMA. In addition, the $25 protest fee is reqUired by AMA rules - it is not assessed nor kept by either the club or me. It's important to understand the rules if one is going to question how they are administered. Furthermore, without input such as Mr. Hunt's at the time the decision was being made, I made the best decision I could on the evidence and facts available. Neither the Sage Riders M.e. nor I are intimidated by national racers. A few years ago, we disqualified a prominent rider who finished second at our national for cheating. Four experts were immediately disqualified off the start this year for not going through the banners as instructed at the riders' meeting. I worked for attorneys for many years and learned you must prove your case with facts, not your heart or opinion. Those who know me personally know I don't care who you are when cold facts and provable evidence are against you. The facts I had were: 1) the conflicting comments of adrenalinepumped competitors in the heat of the start; 2) 400 tracks to contend with spread out in multiple alternate lines at the spot in question after the fact; 3) a video which only showed them coming through the banner as instructed, the rest was blocked; 4) no club witnesses (they were watching the other way to make sure racers went through the banner); 5) no spectators who came forward with facts; 6) the fact that alternate lines are not illegal. The distance from the course and/or advantage of the lines has to be proven. What became unprovable was the hard evidence surrounding an alternate line. I spent a lot of time at the start dunes with club officers/racers and even one of the top-10 finishers who witnessed Ty Davis' line but couldn't duplicate it. No disqualification should be made on "maybe." I would have welcomed evidence from Mr. Hunt and dragged him out to the start with me if he had come forward at the race. Itvtne, CA Smigel is the off-road supervisor for Team Green... Editor In fairness, I also consider this an incident that might have been avoided with a different start. We will change certain aspects of our start next year so this situation is not repeated. We learn something every year, and like every club, we work hard to put on a good race. Desert clubs survive on volunteers. There are simply not enough of us to be everywhere at once. We have to rely on large numbers of non-racers to help us because so many racers literally refuse to be involved in clubs and give back to the sport they so willingly take from. What concerns me most is what I heard after the protest. I talked to some key people in desert racing because of this protest and heard repeatedly that "cheating" has become standard procedure for some of our top racers. I said "some" - not all. But "some" is too many. I have always held this sport - and racers with the integrity to follow the rules in the highest regard. I am ashamed of those who feel they have to cheat to win - and who think that it's okay because they didn't get caught. It's not okay. It will never be okay - even if you get off on a technicality or lack of evidence. Please don't blame clubs for lack of integrity among certain racers. Integrity comes from within, and either you are a fair competitor or you're not. If cheating has become rampant, it is because some very talented racers are afraid to rely on that talent - but somehow not afraid to abuse their integrity. No Fear? Then prove it and win clean. KIm Omdorff VIa the Intemet Orndorff is the Sage Riders M.e. race referee... Editor The Last Word After reading the recent letters to the editor column - about six weeks after the AHRMA race at Daytona - I thought I would say what happened in the race. I was not gridded behind the Harley. I was on the third row behind a Moto Guzzi. The M3 Honda that I was racing had a new Barnett clutch instead of a 30-year-old clutch - and it gets off the line really good. It has great brakes and stops as good as the three-cylinder Triumph that I raced at Daytona in 1970 - and it's legal. I'm not sure where Chris Marshall was gridded, but I do know that Yvon DuHamel was on the outside of the second row. The only guy that I saw in the lead cue I e was Jon Shultz on the Harley XR750. I wanted to make sure that John saw me before he turned left at the first corner. When I passed him, I didn't see anyone on my right side. As far as I knew, I was leading the race. I still have good hand-eye coordination and peripheral vision. I don't know Chris and I sure am sorry he got hurt. I'm not sure if Chris has ever been in the first corner at the start of a race at Daytona before with a pack of racers. From what I've heard, a guy on a blue Ducati was erratic and caused the crash. If Chris was all set up to go to the apex of turn one and I suddenly showed up, he should have shut off or turned right a little - I left enough room. My admired friend Yvon DuHamel said on the microphone that Nixon on the blue bike caused the wreck. My M3 Honda is red and it had no tire marks on it. After talking to Rob Iannucci, I feel the same way he does: They need to start the faster riders in the front rows, or go to the chicane like we did in the old days. We're not going 199 mph. After just watching the inconclusive video as to how the crash started, I can see that the little bump I felt was Chris' bike sliding on the ground by my M3 Honda in the spot that I felt the little bump. I saw an unbelievable photo of Yvon launching off Chris' body and we thought his helmet hit my rear tire. After viewing the video, I see that Yvon's helmet did not hit my rear tire. Gary Nixon VIa the Internet Nixon is... well, you all know who Gary Nixon is... Editor n e vv S • MAY 15, 2002 5