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/128201
"Are these people able to smell. the sewer stench we had to put up With leaving the stadium?" What Were They Thinking? Poor parking, track setup problems (delicate grass and 40-second lap imes?), difficult freeway access, inadequate sound/monitor system, and now the neighbors want the dirt checked for contaminants? Are these people able to smell the sewer stench we had to put up with leaving the stadium? MatkNason Reno,NV Vulllemin And The Jump I I waited to write this after speaking with the AMA and seeing the latest issue of Cycle News, covering the San Francisco Supercross. The event was a sellout, and all of us had a great time. Thanks for bringing the Supercross to Pac Bell. We hope to see it again next year. Now why did we boo David Vuillemin? After Ted Campbell went down coming out of turn two, all of us seated in the "rider section" witnessed exactly what took place during that qualifier. Here is why he was "booed" by the crowd there: When the redcross flag comes out, and the yellow accompanies it with the flashing red lights, a rider "may not clear jumps he cannot see the bottom of." Okay, well he may have not been violating that rule, but he certainly put at risk the officials on the track, the EMTs attending to Ted Campbell, (thank God he is okay) and himself. You see, Ezra Lusk and Chad Reed didn't find it necessary to put all those people at further risk by "clearing the lead-up jumps to the triple" (a set of jumps - the triples - that no one was allowed to take at full speed because of the rule in place). All of us witnessed David almost landing on an AMA official who was boldly putting himself between the riders and the medical staff on the track (good job Bub, although it almost got you killed). We were still proud of you and pretty chilled at David Vuillemin! That is why he was booed by us, the riders, who would rather not risk injuring a track official, EMT, or an obviously hurt down rider, just to take a first in a race that advances the first nine riders to the main event. Our hats are off to Ezra and Chad, who rode like men, did well and transferred to the main without putting their comrade at further risk. Bad Vuillemin, no biscuit! One miscalculation and you could have killed one of those EMTs who did not sign up for that ride. Congratulations on your podium finish and a good clean ride in the main. It's risky enough without the performance we saw in the qualifier. Brlan Schmeltz Son Frandsco, CA these children's day. These guys who did this will always be heroes in my eyes. It's people like you who give this world hope. Thanks. Michael J. Allsup via the Inf9met Vuillemln And The Jump" It Works Both Ways I've been a long time customer of your magazine, and you guys do a great job! But what gives? I've written you several times regarding Supercross track safety for the riders and the SF Supercross which gave the customers (fans) 12- and 15-minute final motos respectively for the 125cc and 250cc classes on a 45-second lap track! Why can't we look at timed races (15 and 20 minutes, plus a lap) like the nationals so people and the riders get their money's worth? The mains need to be at least five minutes longer to let the riders who don't holeshot achieve their objectives. Also, you guys never said anything about Vuillemin, who tripled three times in his heat under a yellow flag with the red cross flag (and who should have been put down a lap), or Walker's obvious take-out of Travis (which would never be tolerated by any other motosport at least without an investigation). I know you have some very important commercial accounts and have to delicately address some controversial issues, but come on, you never publish what I feel are valid critiques of these events. You've invested so much in your great reputation of covering races most of us would never hear anything about, and God bless you for that. Why not help change some things that will keep the sport honest, exciting and stand the test of time. George stephenson. /I via the InhHnet Actually, we did mention the Vuillemin incident in our qualifying box in the San Francisco coverage. According to the AMA, Vuillemin broke no rules because that particular jump was not one of the big triple jumps, and AMA rules only prohibit jumping over the big triples when a medical flag and/or the warning lights are flashing ... Editor True To the true men that went to Loma Linda Hospital and visited with the children and families: I am rarely one who writes in or comments on much, but this is one time when I feel compelled to speak up. I am extremely proud of the racers who took the time out of their busy schedules to make Please explain something to me. I subscribe to the weekly Cycle News and a variety of monthly motorcycle magazines (and one internet publication). Yesterday, I received both Cycle News and Motorcyclist on the same day. Cover story for both: First Ride CBR600RR. Maybe I am wrong with my observation/impression here, but it seems that new bike coverage comes out at the same time, regardless of publication. I would think the time lag for publication of a monthly magazine would be significantly longer than a weekly magazine, therefore I would expect that Cycle News would be able to get a story to the stands sooner from any given day than a monthly rag. So if there was a press introduction by Honda on the CBR600RR in December, Cycle News could easily get it in press (a la their weekly race coverage) the very next week, not February 1. Do the manufacturers require publications to consent to fixed earliest possible publication dates to level the playing field for the monthly and weekly (and internet) publications? If "Yes," it must kill you guys to sit on these stories until permitted to release them. I hope there isn't a "gag order" involved so that I will never know the answer to the question. Nice Save The members of AMA District 37 would like to thank all who contributed to the "Save our Trails" fund that was created almost a year ago to boost the Legal Defense Fund of D37 to help them in their fight to keep riding areas open. AMA's Ed Moreland and newly elected trustee John Ulrich were instrumental in starting this fund, whereby the AMA pledged to match contributions dollar for dollar up to $50,000. The fund has received more than $38,000 to date, which has been matched by the AMA, sending over $76,000 to D-37. The AMA is committed to matching another $ 12,000 before the program ends April 1, 2003. AMA Western States Rep Nick Haris states, "District 37 is working hard to stop efforts in California to shut down riding areas to off-highway motorcycles and ATVs. Riders in California and across the nation need to support the District's efforts to show opponents of motorized recreation that we are united in force, no matter where our riding areas come under attack." For the past two years, a portion of the entry fee to all District 37 Competition events goes to the Legal Defense Fund, and this contribution not only helped keep riding areas open but has been used for appeals to reopen areas that were illegally closed. This program will continue at all D-37 events. Tom Catron Nashville, TN The manufacturers will often impose "embargo dates" which limit the release of news on specific models for which they often provide information to all publications well in advance. You are correct in guessing that it sometimes kills us when we, as a weekly publication, are "gagged" and cannot release the information when we first receive it. We are especially peeved when some publications disregard the embargo dates and run the info early (it happens), often with no real repercussion from the manufacturers. On the other hand, as was probably the case with the CBR, sometimes our deadlines simply fall right in line with one or more monthly magazines' ship deadlines, thus they squeeze their info in, and everyone releases the same story at once. By the way, we rode the CBR on a Wednesday, and the full test was in the Cycle News by the following Mon· day ... Editor cue' e If you wish to support the "Save our Trails" fund, you can still have your contribution doubled by donating online at the AMA's website at www.amadirectlink.com. or send contributions to: Save Our Trails, AMA, 13515 Yarmouth Drive, Pickerington, OH 43147 ... Editor n e _ s • FEBRUARY 19, 2003 5