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/128197
"In any case, if they want to boo him, let them boo him." Carmichael ys. Pastrana As a long-time motocross and supercross fan, I take great exception to Steve Cox's editorial concerning the recent incident between R.C. and Travis Pastrana at Anaheim. I understand clearly that contact during a race is not only acceptable, but most often entertaining. This does not mean I have to like the outcome of such contact, nor does this mean I shlould feel obliged to cheer for the racer who comes out ahead. If I choose to show my displeasure during a race by booing a certain individual, that is my right as a race fan. I choose who I cheer for and who I boo against. Because Ricky Carmichael is the current Supercross Champion does not mean I will jump on the "R.C. is The Greatest" bandwagon. If Steve Cox ever attends an Oakland Raiders football game and sits in The Black Hole, he may someday understand the fine art of booing and its effect on the opposition. I challenge him to approach any Raider fan caught booing and suggest to that fan that badminton would be more to his liking. Until then; "Give R.C. hell, Phoenix!" Noel Undemann via the Intemet Carmichael ys. Pastrana II I take great exception to your admonition of my and my fellow fans' demonstration of our dislike for Ricky's racing behavior (not necessarily Ricky). He is among the greatest racers our beloved sport has ever seen and is inarguably the best in the world today. I admire and greatly respect him for what he has accomplished, the countless records he has established and the groundwork he is laying for the future of our sport. He is also, however, one of the best at the "slow-race," something that other pros victimized by Ricky's slow-racing have commented on in post-race interviews. Brake-checking and slowracing, I believe. have no place in racing. Ricky often resorts to his slow-racing tactics to fend off a competitor by whom he feels threatened. Travis was clearly faster than him at Anaheim in that section of the track as well as the whoops. But in my mind, the minds of the majority of the fans who were around me and my family, and the minds of Travis, MC, LaRocco and the countless others who have fallen victim to Ricky's race tactics, this particular tactic is unprofessional and immature and should be left at the pee wee tracks. This type of racing only slows the race down and creates ill feelings. You would never see the King of Supercross, or Hurricane, or Bailey or many of the other greats of our sport racing like that, because that's not racing. They would race to pass, just as Travis did on that fateful night. If Ricky can't race like a professional and a man, you and he should both take up badminton. Gentry Kramer Temecula. CA Carmichael ys. Pastrana III Great article on the Carmichael/Pastrana "incident." All the Internet prophets seem to think they saw the event one way (with Ricky as the bad guy), but I hope your article helps clear their perception. Like you wrote, Travis even admitted that he tried to knock Ricky down - it wasn't the other way around. I'm not a huge Ricky Carmichael fan, but I certainly would never boo him or any other rider who even has the ability to qualify for the night program at a supercross. Any of those guys has more talent on a motorcycle than I (or 99.9 percent of the other people in the stands) could ever hope to have. However, in America it is a citizen's right to boo or cheer as they please. Many people say they boo for reasons that go beyond this latest event. Ricky "selling-out" for Honda is the most popular excuse, followed closely by the fact that he's somehow viewed as not being very "fan-friendly." I think that unfortunately it boils down to simple jealousy. We as a population always seem to build up the underdogs and then make a sport of knocking them back down once they get on top. I'm sure that one day the same will happen to James Stewart or someone like him. I've been around long enough to hear Hannah, Johnson, Stanton and even the King of Supercross - Jeremy McGrath - get booed. If it can happen to legends like them, no one is safe. Richard Sawlfskas via the Intemet Carmichael ys. Pastrana V As I read Steve Cox's editorial, I wonder if he is also the president of the Ricky Carmichael fan club. Let's break it (the editorial) down. Supercross is a contact sport. Agreed. However, once attaining factory-rider status, and especially when you're a National Champion, you are expected to rise above this sort of thing. As a former national privateer, I'm familiar with "the dirty pool, old school moto" and a brake-check is a dirty move - pure and simple. A brake-check is not used to gain time but is used to get revenge. Looking back is to add insult to injury - as if to say, "Take that." It is yet another example of the demeaning on-track behavior RC has exhibited when someone threatens his dominance. As far as the booing goes, how many supercrosses have you attended, Mr. Cox? Perhaps you were watching badminton when I was racing, but at every supercross I have attended there is a vocal crowd that will cheer any time anyone goes down. This is due to the portion of fans who regularly watch the WWF and the monster jam and who do not go to the outdoor nationals (hence the difference in crowd size between the two series). They "come to see some crashin'" and are an unfortunate side effect of the success of supercross. Lastly. I couldn't help but notice how much air time RC got to explain his take on things while Pastrana only got his post-race interview. And then you did some thinking for him by adding that he was upset by the move. To borrow a phrase from a popular news source, is this "fair and balanced?" Or has the media bias crept into my favorite periodical? Ricky Carmichael, who is exactly what a champion motocrosser should be: hard working, patriotic and friendIy, is absurd! Ricky don't change who you are or how you ride that would be more disappointing. ChIp Crowther via the Intemet Carmichael ys. Pastrana VII If overpaid, spoiled and whiney supercross racers can't handle being booed, then they should find another sport more suited to their delicate nature. Also, you might want to refrain from telling the fans that we have no class. If you don't like that riders get booed, find yourself another sport. Kevin Newell via the Intemet Carmichael vs. Pastrana VIII Bravo! I couldn't have said it better myself. I would have added one thing, however. Would these so-called "fans" have booed Hannah? He was twice as aggressive and three times more cocky than RC. That's why we loved him. Mlke O'Shaughnessy Antioch, CA Steve Cox's edilorial was just that an edilorial. It does not necessarily ref/ect the views or opinions o( Cycle News. There(ore, media bias doesn't (actor into this discussion ... Editor Carmichael ys. Pastrana IV Carmichael vs. Pastrana IX Carmichael ys. Pastrana VI I think your take on RC is wrong. I have been riding since I was five, and RC took Travis out. Period. You don't look back unless you're looking for results. Leave it alone; they'll work it out on the track. And quit trying to make Travis look bad. I thought he handled his interview with class. Yes, that's my opinion, but that's what makes USA the greatest country in the world. Todd Wuchevlch via the Intemet My wife and I just returned from the Anaheim Supercross. It was a great show with great racing and some really disappointing fans! We expected more from this hotbed of motocross, thinking that these fans would be more educated in racing to understand the difference between a take-out move and a simple block pass. Furthermore, to cheer when a rider crashes is sickening for any sport. In addition, for people to boo P. stroud via the Intemet cue I e You acknowledge that Pastrana accepted the incident as just racing, yet you almost make it sound like it is his fault that the fans are booing Ricky. Maybe Ricky is being booed because he's got an arrogant I-ownthis-game attitude. Maybe the crowd just doesn't like him! In any case, if they want to boo him, let them boo him. He can take it. Maybe you should try badminton. Marco Goncalves via the Intemet n e vv s JANUARY 22. 2003 5