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/128214
Irrhe AMA had better wake Up.11 The Nationals just read the news regarding the MA considering cancellations of our of the National Motocross events, nd I'm livid! Glen Helen, High Point aceway, Southwick and Kenwory's have hosted some of the greatst motocross races ever. With tracks eing closed because of the EPA, ow I have to worry about the AMA nd I'm a life member. Mr. Scott Hollingsworth and John arris of the AMA better consider the acklash on this one. If they think hey're going to cut down on NationIs and combine them with Superross, then they don't understand the amifications of this decision. George Sff1phenson, II vta the InffHnet The Nationals II hope your paper continues to push he AMA on the National Motocross issue. I continue to be blown away by the lack of forethought by the AMA on issues such as these. I'm starting to wonder about the ability, or inability, of those in charge of AMA Pro Racing. Scott Hollingsworth needs to take a class on professional courtesy because here he is putting the AMA on the hot spot because his lack of communication. If I ran my car dealership like the AMA is run, my community would run me out of town. Once again, not smart. Adam Graham vta the In~met The Nationals III I just read the article about the AMA's possible decision to drop Mount Morris from the outdoor motocross series after 2005. If that's the case, then I'm not going to have any more races to attend within reasonable driving distance! They took Braselton, Georgia's track away from us years ago, which by the way is the best track on the East Coast. Then they had the nerve to take Gainesville. If you happen to live in the Southeast, you're going to be further out of luck. The AMA should keep a balance, and I know there is definitely a huge spectator market for High Point and especially the Georgia outdoor track where motocross has grown very tremendously since being dropped almost 20 years ago. If the AMA only lets the dollar drive its direction, then motocross and supercross will become like NASCAR. They built a few huge tracks which are all the same and look just like the Charlotte Motor Speedway. The racing became bor- The Nationals V There they go again... the AMA trying to fix what isn't broke and alienating and angering the true enthusiasts of our sport while doing so. I wish the factories, who ultimately are the ones holding all the power and also have the most to lose, would organize the Nationals and the Supercross series without the AMA, FIM or any other entities that care more about money than the fans or our sport. No national at Glen Helen or the other tracks mentioned is unthinkable. lewis Greer via the InffHnet The Nationals VI I strongly oppose a change of venue from the High Point or Glen Helen Nationals. The promoters of these events have done a great deal for the sport of motocross in their respective regions. The manner in which the AMA broached the subject of possible venue changes was heavy handed and arrogant. The motocross public is at odds with your perception of "marketing" as some sort of Holy Grail. You are running roughshod over the heart of the sport with little or no appreciation of the value that tradition brings to the table. Do the Yankees or Dodgers change ballparks like so much dirty underwear? The AMA had better wake up. A ground swell of support for a sanctioning Please listen up, AMA, and please give us fans in the Southeast an out- body far more responsive to the motocross public could be the result of just looking at the "numbers." John Narby Aspen, CO door race. Atlanta, perhaps? ScoftBrown HIckory, NC Narby sent his letter to AMA Pro Racing... Editor ing, and fan attendance dropped off. The Nationals IV The AMA would be killing history if it considered deleting those events from ed Supercross to help ensure that the outdoor Nationals live on as they proposed class is an abomination, and a dangerous one at that. Every- have in the past. If there is a safety issue, then AMA Pro Racing should cut loose with some of the cash in their pocket and help the track owners meet requirements. They (AMA Pro Racing) seem to have enough cash to play games with Clear Chan- one has seen at the club racing level that mixing very different bikes, with different weight, power, capacity and handling characteristics leads to dangerous racing. It seems to me the AMA has just realized they didn't want to give up licensing and entry fees for all the racers they were going to turn away, so they decided to make up a new class. Oliver rightly suspects that 600s will sweep the class. MIchael Grove Ridgecrest, CA helped out along the way - subscribers, readers, advertisers, people who donated money, and especially all of you out there who wrote stories for free and gave us killer photos. No thanks to those who keep forgetting to pay for ads they sent in. No thanks to all the companies who were happy to constantly send press releases but never had any interest in running ads. My sincerest apologies go out to all of our readers and contributors. I hope to continue freelancing for Racer X, Cycle News, Moto Playground, and Mother Jones Magazines. Thank you and enjoy your oxygen and war coverage! Joey Cosey via the In~met A Harley Drag? I've just read Rich Oliver's comments on the "new" AMA class. In fact, this look bad. I am excited to announce that due to overwhelming debt and frustration, Practice Track Magazine is officially no more. Thanks to all who have The New Formula Xtreme the National series. I've even support- nel and their bid for the spotlight. Hell, I thought the politics of vintage motocross was bad, but AMA Pro racing is making the whole sport No More Practice Track Mag Richard Haas vta the In~et cue I e Am I the only person who's wondering what Byron Hines' V-twin drag bike has to do with a Harley V-Rod? I realize that the Suzukis and Kawasakis that dominate the class are based on noncurrent model engines, and I'm sure they use a lot of high-performance engine parts that aren't produced by the original manufacturer, but at least they're similar to available motors. The "V-Rod" Pro Stock bike has about as much in common with a Harley as a flat tracker powered by a Rotax single would have. Oh, wait, now I understand. DIck Rsk vta the n _ vv s In~met MAY 14, 2003 5