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/128176
IIThat was absolutely brilliant. Letters to the editor should be sent to Voices. Cycle News. Congratulationsl Colin Edwards. 11 P.O. Box 5084. Costa Mesa. CA 92628· 5084. faxed to ISDE Blues It seems like America just missed its chance with the latest running of the ISDE. Our guys have always been saying that they needed a tougher event in order to really shine, and when one finally comes along we don't have the support and resources to send our very best for those conditions. You'll notice that the top American this year was an "Old Schooler," and he was on a 125 when it sounds like conditions would've favored the bigger bores. Would we have done much better with guys like Lafferty and the Javelin there to represent our honor? Or is it just a case of the ISDE not being our cup of tea and none of this would have made a difference anyway? I guess we'll never know. Paul Threlkeld VIa the Internet Alarming Tactics Several times now, I have read through both the letter titled "Alarming Tactics" by Mr. Bell in the October 2 Cycle News and the guest column by Mr. Tolleson from the previous issue regarding the BlueRibbon Coalition's proposed Back Country designation. I am still completely at a loss to understand where Mr. Bell is coming from in his criticism of Mr. Tolleson's column. His comments regarding forest management and forest fires, and his attempt to relate fire hazards in his East Bay neighborhood to the devastating fires that have destroyed Eastern California, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Idaho and Montana in the past few years are uneducated and inaccurate, but I'd be willing to let them pass as such. However, his statements regarding the BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC), his misstatement of their purpose and his viewpoint that OHV enthusiasts should "separate" themselves from the BRC is incredibly misguided. The BRC has a clearly defined mission and purpose, which is available for review on their website at www.sharetrails.org. In their mission statement, they state their purpose as defending "shared outdoor recreation access and use," as well as promoting responsible land management and balanced resource conservation. They work collaboratively with all trail users to maintain our rights to access public lands. At no time has the BRC ever "made a lot of money from government land," and their whole constituency is OHV related. In fact, I believe that the BRC stands for the same things that Mr. Bell says he and the riders he knows do - conservation of public lands, protection of the areas that we can ride in, responsible use of those areas, and most importantly the defense of our rights to recreate in those areas in the future. Furthermore, I believe that the BRC is the most effective organization available at this time to lead this effort. I thought that Mr. Tolleson did an admirable job of comparing the Wilderness designation (which the enviro's feel is the only way right now to completely protect the land) and the BRC's proposed Back Country Recreation designation. The Back Country Recreation plan can be used protect the land, allow OHV use as well as other mechanized and nonmechanized uses and access, and allow the agencies tasked with administering our public lands to do their jobs. It's past time for the OHV community to become proactive in our defense of our rights to recreate on public lands. Throughout the last decade, anti-OHV activists have been one step ahead of us in the entire process; they have elected people friendly to their cause, raised incredible amounts of money, manipulated the media, and enacted legislation that eliminates our use and enjoyment of our public lands. The BRC is the strongest voice the OHV community has at this time; every user of the trails on our public lands should be a member. For years, the OHV community has been "small and devoted." It's time to join together and muster our resources to defend our rights to access and recreate on our public lands. Chuck Worley Yerington, NV The World Cup On Sunday, September 29, I was a witness to the love, passion and dedication for the sport of motocross in America. I feel fortunate to live, ride and race in Southern California and be part of the supercrossjmotocross scene. On World Cup day, I was honored to be part of what took place at Glen Helen and took only one week to organize. The power struggle and greed that affected this year's "des Nations" really is sad (but that's another story). However, people who truly love the sport (and you all know who you are) rose to the occasion and made it happen for the "love of the sport" not "greed" (and you know who you are). To those of you who could not make it to this event, it was not just another race - it was an opportunity to meet and talk to many of the icons of our sport in a low-key atmosphere. It was an opportunity to see these athletes race against each other. And for what? Money, of course! How much? Not enough! These athletes never get paid enough for what they dol So why do they compete at an event like the World Cup? For the love of the sport. To see current, future and past World and National Champions compete against each other is something most people will never be able to witness. I feel lucky, very lucky, to witness moments like Greg Albertyn never running lower than seventh (until he blew his motor), Tim Ferry and Chad Reed hammering each other, Doug Dubach grabbing the back of Jeff Emig's arm (playfully) before the left-hander leading up to Shoei Mountain, seeing Ryan Hughes between motos with a swollen and bruised right ankle so bad that most people would go to the hospital and then come out and race to a second place, Lewis and Hamblin's go-for-broke attitude, Mike Healey stopping on the track (after the second moto), dismounting and drinking a fan's beer in true Euro style! These were the things this event was made of. And why? For the love of the sport. That's what it's all about. It's really sad that that the powers to be of the AMA, Doma and FIM don't have the same love for the sport that Roger DeCoster, Rick Doughty and all the other people involved in the World Cup of Motocross have. These people made a difference and saved face for the United States. To all the international fans (and there were a lot), I am the one who greeted you and said welcome, thanks for coming. To all the athletes, thank you for the racing. To everyone who helped make it happen - thanks for the effort. To FIM, Dorna and the people at Competition Park, thanks for nothing! Eric Fetherston Huntington Beach. CA 714/751-6685 or e-mailed to Published letters do not necessarily reflect the position of Cycle News. Inc. Letters should not exceed 200 words and all are subject to editing. Anonymous letters will not be considered for publication. All letters should contain the writer's name. address and daytime phone number... Editor. • en Colin Kudos What a champion. That was absolutely brilliant. Congratulations, Colin Edwards. I can honestly say that, in 26 years of following World Championship racing, I cannot remember a more worthy champion. The way you came back from a 50-point deficit was nothing short off exceptional. Has anybody there at Honda taken notice off the talent you are giving away to Ducati? For God's sake, wake up and give this guy a MotoGP RCV ride right now. Nothing against Nicky Hayden, but it is my humble opinion the ride should belong to one off the most talented riders to ever through a leg over a motorcycle - as well as being one of the nicest guys around. The way Colin held his composure throughout the first half of the season when the Bayliss freight train seemed like it was unstoppable was incredible. A lesser man would have surely long thrown in the towel. No doubt that this has been one of, if not the, greatest comebacks off all time. I sincerely hope there is still a glimmer of hope. Honda, you must give Colin his just reward. Sean Mc6lo1n, Yonkers, NY Who is the most petty? FIM, Dorna or the AMA? What have they done for the spectator recently? What have they done to sell products? I don't think too much. The FIM and Dorna give the Motocross des Nations to McCassy without contacting the AMA? But then after the event is canceled, they bar the AMA from sanctioning an event on the same date. Who is professional racing about? Racers? Sanctioning bodies? Promoters, or manufacturers? None of the above! It is the fans. The fans buy the products that the manufacturers sell. The manufacturers hire racers to promote the products. The promoters and the sanctioning bodies give the manufacturers and the racers a forum to peddle there wares. The racing would not happen without the fans. How messed up is the current situation with the sanctioning bodies and the promoters inability to bring to fruition a race with a long and rich history of international competition. The current GP series has been limited to one moto in each class. Does this give the spectator a better I ft) chance of viewing the products for sale, or pad the pockets of Dorna with more TV money? The motorcycle enthusiast who purchases the products that the manufacturers have for sale seem to be getting the short end of the stick. Flip forward. No ·FIM, no Dorna, no AMA. The World Cup of Motocross provided the spectator with a grand experience. Open pits, great racing, three motos - all of these things made for one of the best days of spectating that I have ever been a part of. It is quite amazing when the greed of the current sanctioning bodies gets removed from the equation, a great spectating event can be held. QlfrRanney Costa Mesq. CA The World Cup II cue editor~i cyclenews.com. < 0 _. n ;;;r.- n • _ S • OCTOBER 16.20025