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/128227
"Kurtis, getting your first Superbike win is just a matter of time." Laguna Observations Thanks so much to Cycle News for years of providing me with awesome coverage. That out of the way, I have some observations of riders' behavior that isn't very becoming. I was at Laguna Seca for the entire World Superbike/ AMA Superbike race weekend, and I wanted to point out some first-person observations. Firstly, the camping sites that I had reserved, for $120 per car, were already gone when I arrived on Thursday night. Yes, they were reserved for me, in the turn 10 area but they were not reserved when it came down to it. And the showers were ice cold, even though there was a propane tank on the shower trailer. Also, my all-access tickets passes (all areas) still were not good enough for the bleachers, which required extra cash. Luckily, my friend works for Yoshimura so there was less to pay this year, but other years have been simply prohibitive. By way of comparison, I saw a GP at Le Mans and was able to camp in the middle of the track and wander basically everywhere for one price. I don't have to get into the traffic issue at Laguna Seca. Secondly, the corner workers were certainly spaced out in the turn four area. For example, I watched in shock and horror as a rider's engine let go, spilling oil on the track. The next rider by immediately fell in the mess, and then Giovanni Bussei had the closest thing to a highside I've seen in a long time - just barely saving it, yet crashing a few turns later. Still, nothing was being done by the workers. This stirred me up so much I nearly jumped over the fence to signal riders. This is life and death, or at least serious injury stuff that is being neglected. I could go on about this corner for a few days. Thirdly, Friday I was in the turn four area, with the live feed screen (in the bleacher section I had. to pay extra for) watching practice for World Superbike, and was amazed at what I saw. Neil Hodgson came out, followed by Aaron Yates, who was riding on the ragged edge all weekend. Yates purposefully ran up on his ass, got in his way and passed him in that same ragged way, obviously messing up Hodgson's rhythm and setup time. Then, when Hodgson next came out, Mat Mladin followed him out and just rides his ass, checking him out and then blasts past, only to wait for him in the turn four area again and get on him, razz him and pass him again. It wasn't some respectful gesture, in any of these cases. It was clearly a case of proud ego bullshit. Hodgson obviously wasn't enjoying the harassing. Later in the session, he highsided in three. I was amazed and annoyed to see two of the AMA's finest acting like egotistical jerks. And I noticed that Mladin straight denied it in the coverage in Cycle News. Those riders are good enough to not need to do this. And I have to say that I love all three of these guys, although I am beginning to feel different about two of them. Fourth, in the start of the World Superbike race one, I saw Yates clearly get in too hot on the inside white line and take down Eric Bostrom, Chili and Hodgson and screw up a few others. It was obvious that Yates' impatience and lack of respect for others around him got the best of him. It was kind of funny to see Chili get up holding his wrist, only to forget about it and run down the whole of the front straight upon learning there would be a full restart. The cameras were in the various pit garages at this time, and you could read the look on Hodgson's face and the words that looked to be coming from his mouth - it wasn't sweet, and I bet he was annoyed. On the start line, when everyone was waiting for the restart, Yates looked to be in deep contemplation, especially after realizing that Eric Bostrom wouldn't be making the restart. The cameras showed Chili going over to Yates and he seemed to be saying "Don't worry, it's cool." Interesting that Chili went on to win the race - must be something to that instant karma. He was a true gentleman in the pits, also. Too bad that this incident messed up Eric Bostrom's chances for the AMA title this year. I just hope that ego and bad attitudes, as well as stupid and dangerous riding behavior to prove a point, don't go on too much more amongst top riders in the AMA. It is getting embarrassing to watch. Andrew VIctor Naboglez Los Angeles, CA Speed Woes As an avid motorcycle television viewer, it came with great dismay when Larry Maiers told me on TV that I had just watched my last "Bike Week" on Speed Channel. I would personally like to thank the corporate gurus at Fox Network for now driving the last and final stake into the heart of the old Speedvision as we knew it. I quit watching Motoworld on ESPN2 because the corporate minds at ESPN haven't figured out that viewers of weekly programs like to find them at the "same bat time, same bat channel" every week. Bike Week had it all - personalities (Dave Despain, Maiers), content (travel, interviews, profiles of famous motorcyclists) and, of course, racing highlights. First the "Lost Drive In" took the hit, then "Motorcyclist on TV," then motorcycle race re-airs on Sunday night so that if you were actually at the race you could watch it that PHOTO BY STEVE BRUHN night (without taping/TiVoing). Now Bike Week is gone. Congratulations Fox - the NASCAR transformation is almost complete. To Chet Burks and company, I hope your next cable/satellite TV network for motorcycles, boats and airplanes is in the works. Leave the car crap to Fox. Then we can start fresh with people who know motorsport (not just four-wheel roundy-round racing) programming again and get back to the original "vision" of true motorsports programming. Please take all the good racing (all the road racing - AMA , MotoGP, World Superbike) with you when you leave Speed. It will leave them with more time for their new "core programming" - NASCAR. Speedvision, R.I.P. You are truly dead now. . Brown. The flagger in the S-turn immediately before the jump also had his flag out. Both Michael Byrne and Hughes ignored both flags, but Byrne was able to jump over the top of Brown. Hughes pushed the second flagger off his spot and ran directly over Brown. In amateur racing, both riders would have been penalized a lap or black-flagged. Hughes is rewarded and commended on a nice ride by announcer Erv Braun. In my opinion, Hughes owes Brown an apology as a minimum. Lee Uvesey Benton City, WA Kurtis Fan Kurtis Roberts makes the AMA· Superbike Championship worth watching, even though he is struggling a little bit. He is a former 600cc Supersport and Formula Xtreme Champion and will in time win the Daytona 200. Mat Mladin may win more races, but he will never win the hearts of American fans. Thanks for the human side of racing, and hang in there, Kurtis - getting your first Superbike win is just a matter of time. Alex Rossborough Cleveland, OH Flagging Error? You refer to the incident between Mike Brown and Ryan Hughes as a flagging error. I was right there and would be hard-pressed to call it a flagging error. Brown was gaining on Bubba Stewart and clipped the top of the jump before "Horsepower Hill" and he went down. The f1agger was out on the track immediately, putting himself between oncoming riders and cue I e Maurice McCoy Marlfnsvtlle, IL n e vv s AUGUST 13, 2003 5