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/128198
"Welcome the new champ to the throne - King Carmichaell" Confused Is the THQ/AMA Supercross Series a part of the THQ World Supercross GP Series, or is it the other way around? nyway, if the U.S. rounds count oward the GP Championship, how is it that Chad Reed leads the GP series but Ricky Carmichael leads the U.S. series? In fact, RC doesn't even show up in the top lOin points for the World Supercross title. Did the FIM/Clear Channel implement a rule that if a rider (RC) didn't contend either European round he isn't in the World Supercross points chase? JanWamer via the Intemet Since Carmichael didn't compete in the two European rounds, he is not eligible for the World Championship... Editor More On Carmichael! Pastrana This year's Ricky Carmichael story and Paul Caruthers' Jeremy McGrath tribute were great. But what's with Steve Cox? Rubbin' is racin', and we love aggressive riding. Crashes are part of racing. But Newfoundlands and Rottwei/ers don't bite undeserving people; they let yappy, neutered toy breeds do that. Real champions respect their competitors, because without competitors, there's no race. I watched Bob Hannah get knocked down and repeatedly run over at Red Bud. Almost a lap down, he flew a mangled wreck past the whole field. He didn't take people out - it just served to fire up the Hurricane. Jeremy McGrath won with talent, style and personality. The California man spent hours in frigid winds in Minneapolis signing little kids' autographs, talking to them through chattering teeth, making smiling eye contact, and genuinely treating fans as friends in the few seconds he had. He didn't try to crash RC to preserve his glory. RC works hard and deserves to win. But he's not the Mac. His relative lack of personality is part of why he gets booed; we miss MC! Travis is fast, talented and somewhat personable, but he can't beat RC because of his jack-of-all-trades nature. Sad thing that rather than work harder and focus, it appears he's going for cheap shots. You say McGrath built the sport and made it sell out most venues. Why revert to tactics from when it was a sideshow where no one made a decent living? RC's a little aloof, but maybe he or Chad Reed or Bubba Stewart can be the next one. We want a hero, not a zero. Steve Cox should cover "professional" wrestling or write reviews of "Motocrossed" until he sees the light. Bumper cars are for little kids at a buck a ride. Real racers competing with honor are the key to our future. DennIs Squires Rhinelander, WI Agreeing With Cox I would like to make a few comments to you and the majority of the booing "Supercross fans." Your article was well developed with supporting evidence to explain to the ignorant crowd of people who attend supercross. Most of these idiots haven't the first clue as to how you even turn the gas on, let alone ride the bike (and I mean ride it). Being a woman racer and growing up in the sport of motocross all my life (20 years), I surprisingly know the difference between dirty riding and aggressive riding. Obviously, these once-a-year spectators should obtain an education before forming a conclusion and freely expressing it. If they knew half of what it takes to get from racing at the local tracks to picking up sponsors and making it professionally, I highly doubt that they would form such illogical conclusions. Motocross is one of the most physically demanding sports on earth. I wish more people would take a stand in respecting all riders who are out there risking their lives and living their passions. Allsa Walllngsford via the Intemet Another Cox Fan I want to buy Steve Cox a beer, even one of the S1OO-per-four-ounce Anaheim beers if he wants. It's nice to see an opinion rooted in fact, rather than emotion. Shawn McAtee Yorba Undo. CA Badminton Rules I agree with Steve Cox's assessment of the Pastrana/Carmichael incident in his piece "Contact Sport." However, as a motocrosser and badminton player, I object to his intimation that it's some sort of wimp sport. It's true, there is generally little contact between opposing players, but when played at a high level, it is incredibly fast and physically demanding. In Asia it is extremely popular, and if you've ever seen an Olympic badminton match (you won't here in the U.S.), you will see incredible athletes hitting the birdie at speeds up to 100 mph. And just like supercross, when the birdie hits the ground, the point is made. Dan Radlauer via the Intemet The New King Jeremy McGrath has helped the sport of supercross to grow more than any other champion. Point one of a percent of his doing that can be attributed to his timing of dominating the competition at a time when promoters who had a vision for the sport held the helm. The other 99.9 percent of the equation was Jeremy's talent and ability. The only thing Jeremy left on the table was his ability to grow the outdoor series (the roots of the sport). We will all miss him off the track. Even though Jeremy's Southern California fans hate his replacement, an entire region from the other side has always quietly said: "Who the hell cares how they do it in California?" Welcome the new champ to the throne - King Carmichael! RlckSplvey via the Internet that I have not been really fair with Travis Preston. The stress and the want of doing well for this race are responsible. Since the beginning of this season I have not been really lucky. During the main event, everything was going for the best and I just took over the second position. I was feeling very comfortable on the bike. Then I started to feel the pressure behind me and began making mistakes. I think that I killed my clutch at this point; I was not part on my race anymore (sic). The first block-pass on Preston was totally normal and clean. On another hand, I abused him when I tried to block Travis again, since I knew that I could not follow the pace anymore. I was not able to clear the timing sections anymore. I was taking unneeded risks. I wanted to keep my place at all cost even though it was not possible. When you spend an entire winter working your ass off and everything is not going the way you wanted it, it is very frustrating. Of course that is not a n excuse or a good reason to give me the right to behave the way I did. Travis is a clean rider, very quiet, and I respect him a lot. I feel very bad. I do not consider myself as a dirty rider. I just had a bad night, and it all went bad from there. I wanted to publicly apologize to Travis, to my team, Kawasaki, Pro Circuit, my sponsors and the publiC. I love the USA, and I enjoy riding supercross. I love to treat myself on the track, and the Sorby that you saw at Anaheim II is not the usual Sorby. I hope that I wi/I do better next weekend and show you who I really am, and not a bad loser. Not A Dance Fan Shame on James Stewart. Bubba, save the crotch-grabbing victory dance for MTV. Supercross is a family sport - let's keep it that way. Randy Naylor via the Intemet Bud Light Was Larry Brooks serious when he said that Bud Light was "kind of using our sport to get to a personality and not on board with the sport?" If this sport wants to get propelled into the big time, it needs team managers who aren't so ignorant as to why mega corporations get involved with sports and its personalities. It is time the big business of supercross started seeing some business people who are motorcycle enthusiasts run some of these teams, not former racers with the title of manager and no business or marketing savvy. Brad Thompson Conroe, 1)( I'm Sorby After my disappointing race at Anaheim II, I had some time to sit down and think about my actions: I admit cue. e Ertc SorlJy MurrtefrJ, CA n e vv s JANUARY 29. 2003 5