Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

liThe racers have not helped IS ave the Salt/ If anything they have been a hindrance/I l One Man's Plan ith recent announcements that olin Edwards might leave HRC to ride for Ducati, it seems timely after his most recent "double" at Assen hat Honda might take a longer look at what next year, and their overall racing program, might bring. I would guess the following might make more sense: run Colin Edwards on the Vfive and smoke everyone, including the current "golden boy" from Italy. Replace Colin Edwards with Makato Tamada and Nicky Hayden, in a twoman World Superb ike team that would add excitement and a little "international flavor" to what is already a great racing series. At a time when manufacturers and others are promoting the demise of World Superbike, and suggesting that MotoGP is the only racing venue of merit, I would suggest that both are the future. This past race in Holland, with modified street bikes running times close to or superior to MotoGP bikes, it's obvious these two series can compete and thrive at the same time. I hope all of the major manufacturers realize what a great opportunity exists to compete and market successfully with the racing products World Superbike and MotoGP afford together, rather than separately. A MotoGP grid comprised of the current entrants, with the addition of Colin Edwards, Troy Bayliss and Eric Bostrom would make that series a lot more fun to watch and a heck of a lot more competitive. I would guess Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki might take another look at the international Superbike series with rules changes favoring their current liter bikes, by sending folks like Anthony Gobert and Mat Mladin, along with a yet unnamed Kawasaki rider, back to a series that more closely matches their individual skill levels than does the current U.S. Superbike Championship. It will also be fun to see what Foggy Petronas Racing comes up with in both machinery and riding talent! I just hope the manufacturers and the rules guys at World Superbike work together and continue to produce the same excellent product and racing series that has set them apart for so long. It's a good bet next year's MotoGP racing will surpass what we have seen so far in 2002. It has been a great year, but, with the addition of the KR-V-five GP machine, Ducati's new V-four, and improved bikes and riders from Yamaha, Aprilia, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and possibly MZ, it promises to be even more exciting. With luck, both series will expand and flourish without the demise of the other. Paul McKendry Benq, OR Saving The Salt I am a long-time subscriber to Cycle News, a member of the BlueRibbon Coalition, a member of the AMA, and an avid motorcycle enthusiast for 35 years. I've run motocross races and desert races, and I still own, ride and maintain 10 dirt bikes. I am also a resident of Wendover, Utah - a small town just three miles from the Bonneville Salt Flats. While reading your August 28, 2002 issue (Issue #34), I came across your article entitled "Feelin' the Need." Of course, the article is of particular interest to me as my home is so near the salt flat where the annual "Speed Week" event is held. Overall, Rae Tyson wrote an interesting synopsis of the outstanding motorcycle runs of the week. Still, I have to take exception to the paragraph in your article which states, "In recent years, racers have raised money to maintain and improve the once-deteriorating Salt Flats." While technically the statement may be accurate (the racers may have raised money), the statement is misleading. The sentence suggests the racers also spent the money to rehabilitate the salt flats. The fact is, Reilly Industries and the Wendover employees of Reilly have shouldered virtually the entire financial burden. What was supposed to be a joint effort between the BLM, Reilly, and the racers has not turned out to be that way. About the only thing the racers have done is insult, blame, and press the BLM and Reilly. The racers have not helped "Save the Salt." If anything, they have been a hindrance. Don 'Chano' Hemandez Wendover, UT More On Travis I'd like to comment on the Travis Pastrana motocross/freestyle debate. In your August 28 issue, Bob Cole wrote, "if Travis wants to race, do freestyle and run for president, he should be able to." I couldn't agree more, but I'm pretty sure the minimum age for a presidential candidate is 45. Travis is free to make any choice he wants, good or bad. By the same logic Suzuki is also free to send him to the unemployment line. If Travis wants to keep moto fun by mixing it up with the freestyle crowd, then more power to him. He's not going to win any more races with that ethic, though. Natural talent and a have-fun attitude won't get you near the podium these days, let alone close enough to smell Ricky Carmichael's exhaust. The pace has been upped so much it's going to take someone as motivated as an assassin and twice as mean to beat Carmichael. I hope all of the top 10 guys are sitting at home grinding their axes getting ready for next year. It's not that I'm not an RC fan, I am. I just want to see a good title fight next year, and I'd like to see Travis be a part of it. $om Klstler Denver, CO Battle Cry For 250s Now my son and I are known for our disagreements on the McGrath vs. Carmichael issue. And those debates too often end up with my wife assuming the role of mediator. And since the family mediator was not present, I nodded and agreed. However, in my head I was screaming... "Go Mike, you can do it. You're still the man!" The race ended with Mike taking the win and Kurt placing second. My son couldn't control himself as we walked back to the car making remarks such as - "Did you see Kurt clear the step jump?" and "A couple more laps and Kurt would have caught him'" At this point, I was biting my tongue. I was right on the edge of admitting to him that McGrath may still have a few supercross wins in him, and backing down from my "Nobody's going to beat RC" position. It was then that my son made a comment that set me back. He said, "I'm going to keep working hard at school and racing just like Kurt, I want to be like Kurt when I get older." I was silenced and amazed. We occasionally run into Kurt or Rich Caselli at our local bike shop or race, but I had no idea that my son was absorbing the conversations. It was a moment of reassurance, that as parents my wife and I had made the right choice when we got our son involved in motorcycle racing, and that the people around him at the races were making a positive difference. Mike, thanks for being a longtime role model and reminding me that youth is not always king. Kurt, as a parent, I'll always be grateful - thank you. I'll show Jimmy this letter when he graduates college or gets his first sponsor and let him thank you then. I just wanted to express how deeply disappointed I am with AMA Pro Racing's decision to discontinue the 250cc GP road racing class. The 250s are the only true purpose-built racers remaining in the AMA lineup. The competition is always exciting and the bikes are a thrill to see, hear and smell! With the changes in the so-called "Superbike" class looming, I am sure they will continue to be even duller and less competitive. Robert Leuer Fremont CA Insplnng Generations We trekked out of the desert recently to check out the WORCS race in Gorman, California. It was nothing too unusual, just a bunch of desert racers sneaking out of the house on Sunday morning avoiding the same Honey Do's we've been dodging all summer. Well, it turned out to be much more than that. The Pro race ended up being an inspiring race for my son and I. At the start, Ty Davis was in the lead with Mike Kiedrowski in tow. Making his way through the pack was Kurt Caselli. At this point we were both rooting for Caselli to take the win, but at some point during the next two hours my mind started to wander. I started asking myself questions like .. ."How old is Ty Davis?" And ... "How old was I when Mike Kiedrowski was the King of the 500s?" I was already aware that Kurt Caselli had youth in his corner. By this point, Kiedrowski had gotten around Ty and it appeared that Caselli would be doing the same soon. My son beamed as he said "Kurt's gonna do it Dad, he's the man!" cue I • n :JIm Kea1fng Lancaster, CA e _ s SEPTEMBER 18, 2002 5

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