Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

"John Hopkins' early success in 6P is just the beginning." Likes Traffic just finished watching a tape of the Superbike at Brainerd. What a reat race to watch. Kudos to Eric ostrom for riding the hell out of that awasaki - he almost pulled off the win. There is one comment that I wantd to make. This race had a lot of apped traffic involved, as do many of he races. I know many 'complain bout this in racing, especially the acers themselves. I must say, howver, that it can make the racing xciting for the fans. Some might think it is not fair ecause a lapped rider can wreak avoc on leading riders, and even poil a win for someone. I say that his is just part of raCing. When a guy oses it in a corner because he went n too hot on the brakes and takes ut two other riders in the process, do e call this unfair? No - we call it racng. And unfortunately, like life, it ometimes isn't fair. As long as the apped riders follow the rules and do heir best to get out of the way, they eserve to be out there racing. What's next after you tone the jumps down, Mr. Rigdon, smaller whoop sections? Do all of us riders a favor and stop whining. Mike Tandberp Via the InffHnet The last On Video 6ame n response to the letter from Michael igdon (Voices, Issue #27, July 10) oncerning motocross tracks: Please on't create another victim of Least ommon Denominator disease. Making tracks safer for guys who can't control their impulses or throttle hand 'ust ruins it for everybody. Americans are fixated on saving people from themselves. If you can't handle that jump, then don't do it. If you bin it, it's not the jumps fault. I see a lot of guys at Lake Elsinore [California] who have no business being on the big track, they jump every table halfway, and G-out on every double face. Are we going to design the track around them? I'm a 40-Plus Novice, and I know better. I ride on the vet track, I have a blast, and I go home healthy. My two sons ride the big tracks (Elsinore, Competition Park, etc.) and have a great time. The track owners know that, if they dumb down their track, they're going to lose business. We've gotten phone calls and e-mails from members who've seen your TV ads for the "Freekstyle" computer game. I also have a copy of an ad for this product that ran in the July issue of Racer X magazine, and we've heard from members about that ad as well. While I don't have a copy of the "Freekstyle" game, I did check out the information on your Web site promoting it. There appears to be no connection between the game itself and the questionable advertising being shown on TV and in print. Our organization is a coalition of over 600 member organizations, and nearly 500 member businesses, many of whom are off-highwaymotorcycle related. We work hard to promote responsible use of off-highway-vehicles (OHVs) and to protect our access to public lands for their enjoyment. The attitude depicted in those ads "a happy little place with happy little creatures - until, one day a bunch of freekstylers found it and it wasn't happy anymore" gives the impression that motorcycle riders are out to destroy the world. Those ads are just the kind of ammunition that OHV opponents love to use to portray all OHV recreationists as irresponsible destroyers of the environment. I urge you to stop the advertising campaign that so grossly misrepresents the off-highway motorcycle community. I hope you act quickly so the damage to OHV recreation's image can be minimized. Please give me a call on this or reply to this message via e-mail. If you would like additional information about our organization, I urge you to check our Web site at www.sharetrails.org. Thank you! John Cox VIa the Intemet Dark Collins VIa the Internet Shane McCarthy Tucson,AZ Tracks Okay Tracks Okay II In regards to Mr. Rigdon's letter, in which he states that the track owners should tone the jumps down to reduce injuries: My answer to the problem is simple - don't do the big jumps. No one is forcing anyone to jump something they do not want to do. If you ride over your head, then maybe you deserve to walk with a limp for a few weeks. Also, please keep in mind, Mr. Rigdon, that what you think may be a big jump, some people can do in their sleep. Letters to the editor should be sellt to VOices. Cycle News Forgetting Hengeveld I know that not all letters sent you can be published, but I am very disappointed in the fact that nothing was , """".'.~"."" .... ~j ... , •.. ' . " Mesa CA 92628· even mentioned to the fact of Steve Hengeveld being a major rider in the winning team of the Baja 500. And a bigger fact is that Steve was the rider who finished the race! Steve seems to put a lot into the team, but is not recognized for this. I hope in the future you can print something that shows that Steve has people out here who are supporting him and recognize his talents as well. Courtney Spalse Hesperia, CA New Rules 5084. faxed to 714751,6685 or e-mailed to editor 1c cyclenews.com. Published letters do not necessanly rellect the position 01 Cycle News. Inc. Letters should not exceed 200 words and all are subject to editing. Anonymous letters will After reading the release about the proposed 2003 AMA rules, I wonder, why keep the Formula Xtreme class? With 1000cc four-cylinders in Superbike, why bother with FX? Dropping Pro Thunder is fine by me. I like the idea of dropping Formula Xtreme and keeping 250cc. DavId W. Funk Pleasanton, CA All Hall Hopkins I'd like to see some more coverage of John Hopkins and his amazing results. Think about it: In his first year on the "for experts only" 500cc twostrokes, he is regularly outqualifying and finshing better than vastly experienced and supposedly skilled GP riders (Bayle, Jacque, Kato, Barros, McCoy, Abe, Nakano, Gibernau, etc.). If it weren't for the rather boring storyline of the four-strokes winning everything and Rossi's masterful but excruciating-to-watch domination, Hopkins would probably be hailed as the second coming. In the latest GP at Assen, he qualified a second (think about it - one second) out from Rossi, arguably one of the most talented racers of all time. And Rossi is on the rocketship Honda, while Hopkins is supposedly "learning" the outdated and second-fiddle Red Bull Yamaha. That is amazing. Give that boyan M1 and let him rip! Next year, he would be dicing with Rossi, since he would already know the tracks. C'mon Yamaha, get rid of two-stroke junkie Biaggi, who has never been able to change his riding style, and give his bike to Hopkins! Bill WIllis Hunttngton Beach, CA After reading the "Nicky Who?" article in Cycle News, I am compelled to correct the record writer, Dennis Noyes. Mr. Noyes incorrectly states, "the only recent example of talent from the American Championship ... 18-year-old John Hopkins, from Ramona, California, whose only claim to fame is a Formula Xtreme title." Hopkins spent only two seasons competing in the AMA. However, he earned an AMA Championship in each of those seasons. In 2000, he was the 750cc Supersport Champion. cue ."~ ~ _ . PO Box 5084. Costa All Hail Hopkins II Collins is the executive director of the BlueRibbon Coalition. The letter above was sent to Ms. Jillian Goldberg, director of marketing, EA Sports Electronic Arts Inc. The advertisement, according to EA Sports, is no longer running... Editor . . 7.};I.· I e not be considered lor publication. All letters should contain the writer's name. address and daytime phone number .. Editor. C) &. ".""':".' .~ _. n - -'-~ (I) en In 2001, he was the Formula Extreme Champion. He was also the Aprilia Cup Champion in 1999, as well as the 600cc Suzuki Cup Finals Champion. I can't think of a teenager in the history of road racing in the U.S. with a better record. Two seasons in AMA, two championships and now he's right to the head of the class with a Red Bull Yamaha ride in MotoGP - that, in my book, is a pretty darned good claim to fame for young Hopper. DoUr/1m Gonda Gonda is Hopkins' manager... Editor Nicky Who? Good article from Dennis Noyes about Nicky Hayden. The first priority is that Nicky needs to ride a Honda V-five next year, without question. He'll be ready for MotoGP after earning this year's U.S. Superbike crown and should stay with Big Red. Colin Edwards was and probably still is faster than Rossi on the same bike, but Nicky should be faster and more motivated than Colin at Laguna Seca. If this happens, Nicky Hayden will then beat Rossi in MotoGP by the end of 2003 on the same bike. John Hopkins' early success in GP is just the beginning. As American riders slowly arrive in MotoGP, it is virtually a mathematical certainty they will dominate. AMA racetracks are more demanding, dangerous, and technical than those abroad, plus good weather and a healthy selection of big, difficult motocross and dirt tracks will continue to breed more aggressive, skilled, and, dare I whisper, physically stronger future GP winners. One interesting question might be what Ducati will do with Troy Bayliss in 2003 - World Superbike or MotoGP? He just may be faster than everybody. Tom Resnick neVIl's san Franc/seo, CA JULY 17, 2002 5

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