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/128226
"Your coverage of the AMA Supermoto at Laguna Seca was, weil, excellent." Josh Rules As a long time Cycle News reader, I wanted to drop a short note to you folks. I met Josh Hayes when he rode the back roads of southern Mississippi for eight to 10 hours every Saturday with my husband and the rest of their pals. We were stationed at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi, and I can't count on one hand the number of times he ate spaghetti in my living room or you at a terrific advantage. I think it's pretty arrogant that you then turn around and slam the heroic efforts of the bulk of the guys filling the gtid behind you who aren't so privileged. Supermoto competition: I am all for being paid out entirely to the priva- career longevity in Pro racing, but teers because I think that would do a Supermoto seems to be an off-the- lot to help them compete against wall, identity-crisis of a sport that you. In fact, why don't you do your cannot decide if it is off-road or pave- part and give your Laguna Seca ment in nature. I hate to see factory purse money to the one guy who was teams spending scarce resources on out there slowing you up the most. Supermoto racing when many strug- Brent M. Bradley Felton, CA months that we lived there. excellent rider. Now, he seems to have retained that same kindness and turned the excellent rider into an awesome racer we have enjoyed watching and following for years. I want all of your readers to know that even though I am biased to a different bike manufacturer, this family will always support Josh wherever and for whomever he rides. Jon and Gillie OlIVer Lorena, TX Lappers Just some thoughts about the rise of I'd really like to see the purses crashed on the couch in the short 14 Then he was a sweet kid and an Supermoto Ponderings gling privateers in more mainstream MX racing could really benefit from sponsorship. To be fair to Mladin, he's not the first neglect the career of the phenomenal Bob Hannah? Also, I'd like to see more Time rider to point out that the extreme closing speeds between the fastest Ken Dunn Spring Valley, CA Remembered pieces with '70s MX professionals, such as Tommy Croft, and slowest riders on the track are Rex Staten, Preston Petty, Barry Hig- nothing short of dangerous. And we gins, Don Kudalski, Rich Eirstedt, would also refer you to another com- Bruce McDougal, Jim Ellis, Chuck ment Mladin made in this year's Simple, really. We expect to see most of those guys at the next Supermoto... Editor Bower, Gary Ogden, Brad Lackey, Laguna World Superbike program Buck Murphy, John Banks, Pierre where, on the same subject, he stated Karsmakers, Marty Tripes, Ron Turn- ..... that's not a knock against the er, Warren Reid, John DeSoto, Tim guys in AMA - they have a right to Lunde, Gary Jones, Bob Grossi, Bill race, and I realize that we [factory rid- Silverthorne ... And how can you Likes Sir Alan I just wanted to write a quick note to thank you for employing Alan Cathcart. His articles, whether about ers) are on better equipment than bikes, racing or people, are always informative, perceptive and literate. His recent interview of Federico Mino- they are ... " By the way, we're pretty sure that somewhere, someplace, I read Mat Mladin's comments regard- sometime, Mladin was once a priva- ing the issue of timed practice at teer, too ... Editor Ii is a perfect example of a reporter who thinks of and asks interesting questions and then communicates the information clearly. Laguna Sec a and the role that lappers had to play in determining the starting grid. I find Mr. Mladin's com- Loved Supermoto ments rude and insulting to say the I've been reading and enjoying your least. As an amateur racer, I pay to fine publication for over 30 years. I race. I pay for my own tires. I work on have a quick suggestion to keep up my own bike. In addition, I have a your good editorial quality: Don't put full-time job. I'm sure I could go Ed Robinson Houston, TX the names of racers' hometowns and Where's Jen? take for granted are also the ones and excellent pieces, your coverage I'm a longtime flat track fan and a longtime subscriber to Cycle News. Maybe I missed something, but I don't think I've heard anything about Jennifer Snyder. Has she not recovered from her injuries? I hope so. I really admired her efforts on the showing up and paying $40 a ticket of the AMA Supermoto at Laguna track. to watch him race. Seca was, well, excellent. faster if my entire life revolved states in photo captions - like you did around racing and someone else was footing the bill. Those of us who pay in the otherwise excellent piece on the AMA Dirt Track Grand Champi- for the stuff Mladin and Company onship. Speaking of championships I recognize and appreciate that the ~veRhoads privateers who turn Pro and are doing Ed Leary Santo Clara, CA vta the Internet Snyder has kept a pretty low profile since returning to racing last year. Her participation has been limited to Formula USA nationals and a few AMA what they can to compete are worthy of respect and admiration, not the Thanks for the compliments, Steve. disdain that Mladin and others heap As far as the Grand Championships upon them. To make things fair, Mr. story goes, the captions were done Mladin, why not ensure that every pri- that way because the photo selection was, shall we say, rather limited, and vateer gets the same parts and support you do. Make sure they're out Where's Windham? very few winners were shown in the there when your sponsors rent tracks singles nationals. She has not yet made a main event in 2003 ... Editor story. We thought our approach was so you can test tires and other parts. best way to identify those kids and I'd bet you turn at least 100 laps at show what parts of the country they What! Kevin Windham beats Ricky Carmichael at Unadilla and he doesn't make the front page? someone else's expense per lap that had come from. It won't become a a privateer turns. The equipment and habit, unlike our Supermoto cover- free practice time that you get put age ... Editor BMHenry vta the Internet cue I e n e vv s AUGUST 6, 2003 5