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/128209
11 ••• reod s-I-o-w-I-y. It... was... 11 0 ... joke. Track Changes? As big supporters of motocross and supercross, I'm sure that many of us have to be asking ourselves about the state of our great sport, specifically when it comes to injuries. I'm not sure this comment is going to make our great weekly in Cycle News, but we have to sit back and ask ourselves why so many of our riders are getting injured. This equates to about 50 percent of the riders who can actually win! This is not to take away from all the up-andcoming young riders, but there's something going wrong here, gang. There will always be injuries, and I'm sure we've all gone through multiple episodes, but we have too many pro riders as well as amateurs getting seriously hurt. I believe it's the design of the tracks and the limited-time formats. What's wrong with doubles or table-topping the jumps, and who the hell came up with rockers (instead of whoops) that take their toll on a rider's season? And how did our supercross race formats go down to an average of about 13 minutes for the 125 and 250cc mains? What the heck, a rider in the supercross main now has to go from back to front in about 12- 15 minutes, which is a heck of a lot of pressure. My point is to tell the AMA and Clear Channel that this is not a "circus" sport where people are there for the carnage - it's a sport where young men turn into champions based upon long-term goals and commitment. Let's tame the tracks and keep our great riders "riding" which will result in longer careers, older and wiser riders (LaRocco, McGrath) and build this into a great and lasting legacy. George stephenson /I vta the Internet Jeremy And The ISDE I was just reading the May issue of Dirt Rider and saw that Jeremy McGrath was helping with the 24hour torture test... wouldn't it be awesome if Jeremy would take up offroad racing and become a member of an ISDE team? He is still very young, and look at how many ex-motocrossers in the last 12 years or so have been top American at the Six Days. Ty Davis and Rodney Smith come to mind, Moto guys have the ability to light it up for the special test so they know how to go fast right now. The Americans are the best enduro riders in the world, but unfortunately the ISDE is more about special tests with riders having as much as 10 to 15 minutes to rest before entering a special test. Jeremy could help teach our riders the mental psyche it takes to be able to go wide open without having a chance to get into the groove. At one time or another we Americans have dominated every aspect of two-wheeled racing, but never the ISDE. Let's change that now, and Jeremy could be the start we need. After all, he is the best ever! Dave SChlabaras vta the Internet Hoppers Plans I've just read about John Hopkin's plans to publicize and promote MotoGP in the U.S. You've gotta love enthusiasm. I wish him all the luck in the world. But to borrow the movie title, The World Is Not Enough, I happen to share John's enthusiasm and was lucky to attend the U.S. GP at Laguna Sec a - part of a crowd of 100,OOO-plus. The event returned, to ever more dwindling crowds, until the promoters deemed it no longer cost effective. Then it went away. And let me remind people, this was at the height of American domination in GP raCing. Yes, John, MotoGP is exciting, thrilling racing, exhibiting a high degree of technology seen nowhere else. Yes, I and millions of other Americans will continue to follow the sport via any outlet available to us. But, no, John, now is not the time to spend your money to promote it in the U.S. Wait until we've accepted a more worldly view. Watch for the time when we send more tourists than soldiers abroad, and try it then. DavId J. Diehl Son Jose, CA Hoppers Plans II Hey, I'm all for more - a lot more MotoGP coverage - but men's magazines aren't the way to get it on broadcast television or anywhere else. This is a sick fact, but if you started putting shirtless photos of Colin Edwards, Valentino Rossi and the other ripped MotoGP stars in mags like Vogue, Redbook, Vanity Fair and the like, MotoGP would grow so fast it would make your head spin. Capture the females, the males will follow .... Go look at the demographic of who the main NASCAR watcher is. I heard it was women! Shawn McAtee Orange, CA Obey The Law III? In regards to Richy Hutchins' response to Don Ross' letter on the riding situation in Honda Valley and the Rib Cage: Richy, have you had one too many falls on your head? After reading Mr. Ross' letter again, it still seemed obvious to me that he was being sarcastic. Of course off-road enthusiasts do not load up their trash and dirt bikes to go riding. I know many people who live in the Hesperia area and have been riding there for over 20 years. The residents there are tired of having their limited city budget spent chasing off-road riders while more important things go unattended. The trash problem, along with other problems, seems to be of lower priority. I sensed that Mr. Ross is getting frustrated with Duhl Mr. Hutchins, though your credentials, the son of those who once raced and grandson of someone in the industry, are very impressive, as is your tax bracket and knowledge of our local real estate, you totally missed the point. Richy, and I am sure there are others, read s-I-o-w-Iy. It... was ... a... joke. The purpose of my letter was a jab at local law enforcement and their misguided efforts to rid these areas of trash, etc. (you seem to have grasped that part), and the trouble makers bothering local residents. Did you not feel Officer Bentsen's letter was totally ridiculous in laying blame on these families and others camping and recreating in these areas? As far as criminal activities, this is exactly what these policies and many others throughout our state are turning our sport into. When you or others bring your families to these areas and get caught, how do you explain to your kids that it is okay to break this law but not that one? Kind of ridiculous. Many fine people from Hesperia and even La Mirada ride the high desert and, like it or not, are breaking the law. Unfortunate, but nonetheless. Next time perhaps I will try to make it a little more black and white as to not offend the humor-impaired. Don Ross vta the Internet What A Start this and would bet that he has a garage full of dirt bikes! Alan Nichols Wow! Biaggi second to Rossi, Colin in sixth, Nicky in seventh and Ducati on the podium! What a beginning to the MotoGP season. DavId Bell LaVerne, CA oakland, CA cue I e n e _ S • APRIL 16, 2003 5