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/128204
"It's looking like Ducati has a pretty good shot at the Ducati Cup..." Obey The law I am writing you in hopes that you might consider publishing a public service announcement in your magazine for me. I am Sergeant Nils Bentsen with the San Bernardino County (California) Sheriff's Department (SBSD), and I am assigned to our Hesperia station. We are located in Southern California at the beginning of the Mojave Desert. The 1-15 freeway runs through this area which brings hundreds of thousands of travelers through on their way to Las Vegas or the Colorado River. Over the years many dirt bike riders began to ride at an area called the "rib cage" in the area of 1-15 and State Highway 395. It is not legal to ride in this area, and yet hundreds of riders continue to do so after being warned numerous times. I am a rider myself and am in charge of our Off Highway Enforcement Team. People and families come to this location in Hesperia to ride, coming from as far away as San Diego and Ventura. It is not legal to ride at the "rib cage" or "Honda Valley," which is another problem area in Hesperia. We have begun to issue citations and at times we have been forced to tow away trucks and motorcycles. We would rather have voluntary compliance with the law than to issue citations to families trying to enjoy the weekend with their children and motorcycles. Some riders in the area have started fires and left large amounts of trash behind. This kind of activity is beginning to give the local residents a bad impression of "off roaders." I would request that you publish in Cycle News an announcement letting the riding public know that it is not legal to ride in the area of SH 395 and 1-15 Freeway commonly known as the "Rib Cage" or the other area in South East Hesperia commonly known as "Honda Valley." We are aggressively enforcing all laws in these areas. Hopefully this announcement will alert the law-abiding riders, and they will not use these areas. We will take care of the others. Nils Bentsen. sergeant SBSD vfa the Intemet The Ducatt Cup Why is the Boxer Cup like World Superbike? Because we already know what kind of bike will win each series! Bruce Armstrong Sante Barbara, CA The Ducat! Cup II It's looking like Ducati has a pretty good shot at the Ducati Cup... oops, I mean World Superbike Championship, again this year. Their chances have, of course, been bolstered by the fact that all of the opposition has quit, but given that almost half of the field will be mounted on Ducatis, the odds looked pretty good regardless. It does make me wonder why they spent all the time and money to develop an even faster bike when, in all probability, they could easily win the championship with last year's bike. I don't envy your job. It won't be easy trying to manufacture excitement about a series that shows every sign of becoming one-design. Didn't they try this with Buells? Pat Rtzgerald vfa the Intemet Not Enough Results I am an avid reader of Cycle News and look forward to it each week. I was especially looking forward to issue #7, as I thought it would have the Hollister National results. Unfortunately, I did not get that issue. I was surprised, since it's pretty much like clockwork. When I went out to the mail box last week and saw issue #8 in there without mention of the National, I called your offices, and they promptly put one in the mail. That was the first time that has happened - great service. I am a Senior rider who truly loves this sport. I look forward to the National every year since it's a great race and it's in my backyard. One of the other things I look forward to and something that is truly motivating, is placing in the top three so you get your name in Cycle News. Us old guys are easily amused. I was truly disappointed that you could not find room for all the riders who placed. I realize that you were trying to cram the reporting of the event into two pages, but the real story was the other 800-plus participants who were looking for their 30 seconds of fame. This is not really a criticism as much as it is a disappointment. I love Cycle News and look forward to next year's reporting of the National. Ed DattIlo vfa the Internet Where's Aaron? After reading the Daytona Preview article by Mr. Henny Ray Abrams, I have come to the conclusion that the writers at Cycle News think Aaron Yates has retired, left the planet or both. The article has quotes and opinions of the new Daytona track layout from DuHamel, Mladin, Eric Bostrom, both Goberts, Jason Pridmore and Josh Hayes (who?). Heck, even Gary Nixon, but not Aaron Yates. The only mention in the article of Aaron, the 2002 Supersport Daytona winner and 600cc National Champion, was an implication that Aaron was given the race when Kurtis Roberts screwed up in the chicane. Furthermore, you have printed interviews with all the major 2002 champions except Aaron Yates. What is the problem? MIke Jackson Forf'son. SA As much as we'd like to, we simply can't interview every rider for every story. As for interviewing all the champions from last year, you're wrong. Yates isn't the only one who hasn't been interviewed. In fact, while defending AMA Superbike Champion Nicky Hayden was interviewed, Superstock Champion Jimmy Moore was not. Ditto for Formula Xtreme Champion Jason Pridmore, 250cc Grand Prix Champion Chuck Sorensen and Pro Thunder Champion Kirk McCarthy. We'll try to get to all o{them if possible... Editor road event, in which incidents from the February 2 off-road event were mentioned, began on page 16, and the February 2 event began on page 20. Again, it seems to me the February 2 event should have been before the February 9 event. Maybe, after finishing "In The Wind" in the back, I'm supposed to read from the back to the front, which would put the aforementioned articles in order of their occurrence. I guess the whole world is backward nowadays. The article on the Toronto Arenacross in issue #7 talks about Sunday's races before Saturday's races. While I am infected with the "Mad Cox Disease" in issue #7, the article "Smets Is King of Qatar Again" never says what he was riding. The second place finisher De Reuver was riding a 250cc two-stroke, and the third place finisher Vico was riding a big fourstroke. On page 10 at the end of the first paragraph of the qualifying sidebar, it says ... "but Carmichael answered Reed's speed in the second heat with a race time barely over a second faster." According to the times published, Reed was faster than Carmichael but barely. The difference was only .164 of a second. Lastly, on the subject of the post office and delivery, I usually receive my copy a week after it is mailed. But if it has the thicker, glossy cover, it is usually here by Saturday. I realize that you don't have any control over the post office and delivery, but this is just something I have noticed. Maybe the stiffer covers are more post-office friendly. Thank you for listening to my concerns, and thank you for Cycle News. I do enjoy it and look forward to it every week. James Doehring Newark Valley, NY Wanting Road Racing I have to echo Bill Swenson's comments (Voices, February 26). How is it that the Loudon Classic (America's oldest motorcycle road race) could be forsaken after all these years? AMA Pro Racing may have a couple of problems every now and then, but the fact is - the Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Series is the only motorcycle racing series that fans will flock to by the thousands. Like it or not, the Loudon Classic will never be worthy of its name until America's premier motorcycle road racing series comes back to New Hampshire. SteveScoft vfa the Intemet Meet The New Editor I have noticed some stuff in Cycle News that I can't keep to myself anymore, and I would like you to know about it. When I read, I like to start at page one and continue, one page at a time, in numerical order - until I have reached the last page. I do not like to be directed to the back to finish an article that began in the front. I get disoriented. For a while now, "In The Wind" has started in the front and finished in the back. I remember a time when it was started and finished in the front. How I long for the old way. I have always wondered why "continued 10 or 100 pages from here" is used. I assume the dailys use it to get more articles on one page, but a quality publication such as yours? In issue #6, round 17 -18 of the Arenacross Series began on page 14, and round 15-16 began on page 24. It seems to me that round 15-16 should have been on page 14 and round 17- 18 on page 24. In issue #7, the February 9 off0: U 0: I • Send your resume to Mike Klinger, publisher, 3505-M Cadillac Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626... ex-Editor n e _ s • MARCH12,20035