Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

1III m a firm believer that the 999 will sell like ftapjacks on a cold Sunday morning in Nome. 11 What About Gobert? Why is Anthony Gobert stuck wasting his talent in the U.S.? Yamaha needs him on the M 1. How can they let him get away from their company? He has resurrected his career with Yamaha, and has been a great representative for them. He deserves to be in Grand Prix instead of overriding the Yamaha in the U.S. and getting hurt. That's just my opinion, Lance Wlggert Via the InffHnet It Sure Is I have a bizarre idea. How about if MotoGP or World Superbike added additional challenges (special sections) like they have in the ISDE? The event I have in mind is drag racing. Imagine if on Saturday night, prior to the main event, the riders were motivated (through points and money) to compete in the quarter mile? It could make for some interesting racing (imagine Valentino Rossi popping it off the Iinel) and add to the weekend's enjoyment. I also think that qualifying would be much better if it were run with heat races and semis like American dirt track - five riders, five laps. That would have to result in some cool racing. Davtd8el1 Castro Valley, CA I'm sure the FfM and Dorna will be contacting you shortly... Editor The 24 Hours I just wanted to share my experiences from the 24 hours of Glen Helen. I entered the race with five other committed riders, two Honda XR650s, and a great sponsor. Our sponsor, John Burr Cycles of Fontana, assisted us in preparing the bikes for the event. The first six hours went pretty smooth. When nightfall came, our troubles started. One of the bikes blew a counter-shaft seal, and the other lost a clutch. Just when I thought my amateur experience was over, Team Honda Off Road came to the rescue. Roger Ashby and Chuck Wagner, the "Pit Gods" of Team Honda, showed us how to change the counter-shaft seal in record time. A short time later, we were forced to get the bike with the bad clutch out of impound. One of our riders crashed and sheared off a foot peg. We went to the Honda pits looking for some advice, and Bob Rutten and Bruce Ogilvie gave us a new clutch and put us back in the race. Glen Helen put on a good event. The 10-mile course was fun and challenging. However, the course deteriorated during the night and I thought the staff was a little slow as far as designating alternate routes. I am sure it is difficult maintaining the course for 24 hours. I can let the course slide, but running out of finisher pins? Well, that bites I We worked hard for that little pin, not to mention the expenses incurred just to be there. I was told the pins would be sent out in the mail right away. A week later, nada! What happened to "feel the speed"? Enough said on the pins. Thanks to the wonderful people of Honda, my experience and that of my teammates was a positive and memorable one. See ya next year. .. Shannon Dicus Hesperia. CA Apology Accepted Bruce Armstrong's letter begins with an apology, which is accepted. Ducati, like many European companies, started with other products even if they don't have a pretty set of stacked rifles for a trademark like BSA. However, the traditions developed by any company continue, even as the product changes. Mr. Armstrong then points out that, despite his original letter, the intention was not to call Alan Cathcart a twit, but that title was intended for Carlo Talamo. Since the original reason for writing was in regard to the previous note chastising Sir Alan, it is good to know that Mr. Armstrong had not intended that purpose. Thank you for the clarification. As for your other comments about not knowing of any governmental help that the Japanese government provided to the motorcycle (and many other) industry, may I suggest following backward along the reference trail from books such as Japan, Inc.? You will find information about an entirely different way that business/governmental interactions are used in Japan than is possible in the USA. During the post-war years, as U.S. citizens helped Japan re-invent itself, these businessmen followed a formula for success that was denied in the USA, but worked like a charm in Japan as government took an active role in developing and encouraging businesses. Not bad, necessarily (in fact, considering the growth of the Japanese motorcycle industry, for one example), it actually can be a good thing, just not the USA method of interaction as evidenced by the public sentiment about a simple loan to Chrysler or short-term protection to Harley-Davidson, both of whom have justified those actions by returning as healthy companies and have repaid their debt many times over in taxes. Peter Bonner PlacJtcs, NM Where's Ricky? In a word, I am "disappointed" with the cover shot on Issue #36. Not to take anything away from Yamaha and its new YZ450F, but I believe it palls in comparison to the accomplishment of Ricky Carmichael. I mean, to score a perfect season is infinitely more significant than the release of a new model. I am aware of only one other similar feat in the history of professional sports, and that is the undefeated season of the 1974 Miami Dolphins. I realize that a large portion of your revenue dollars comes from the manufacturers through advertising in your publication, and a full cover shot of one of their new models equals many weeks of centerfold advertisements, which keeps the owners happy. But I'll bet next week's profits from Issue #37 that Davey Coombs would have had a different cover shot. handles far and beyond many bikes these guys think are superior looking. Personally, I think this is as good as it gets - in both performance and looks. These guys fail to realize that this brand-new 999 is probably a bike far more advanced than any of the Ducatis that Carl Fogarty won his three World Championships on. I would own this bike in a New York minute, and I'm not even a Ducati fan. Hey, fellas, give it a rest will you? Worry about things like the new Moto Guzzi, okay? Hey, maybe I've got you all wrong. Maybe you're using UGLY as an acronym: Ultra-Gorgeous Light Yuppy-mobile. I'm a firm believer that the 999 will sell like flapjacks on a cold Sunday morning in Nome. T7mmyLeque san OUenttn. CA John Bavarskas Via the Intemet Remembering A Friend I would imagine that, since Racer X doesn't feature product testing, you would be right in predicting that Davey wouldn't have run the Yamaha on his cover. However, as far as I can tell, no other publication has had Carmichael on its cover 11 times already in 2002, including a cover shot just a few weeks before when he wrapped up the title... Editor Our good friend Tim K. Saueressig (sausage) passed away on August 30. He was a longtime member of the Checkers M.e. and So. Cal. M.e. Tim was a motorcycle enthusiast like no other. He spent many years on the Southern California desert scene and always helped out at many different events, including pitting many different riders in Baja. He was a true friend, a true Checker, and a Vietnam War hero, serving two tours. He had no family, but is survived by his friends, his Harley, a totally cool old Triumph, a Honda XR400 and an old Husky. Memorial services will be held at Eternal Valley Mortuary on September 21 at high noon in Newhall, California. I will miss him dearly, like many others. Godspeed, Tim. Likes The 999 Like I do each and every week when I receive my Cycle News, I went to the Voices section to see who is complaining about what. Now it seems there are a few inc:tividuals out there who are losing a little sleep over Ducati's brand-new 999. In fact, so much so that they are calling it such despicable names like "ugly" and the "ugliest" bike they've ever seen. Not only is the 999 one of the most aesthetically pleasing bikes out there, but it is most likely a bike that cue I • n anrThomas VIa the Internet e _ so • SEPTEMBER 25, 2002 5

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