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/128346
"So here are some kudos to the AMA for executing such a phenomenal show on t he streets of th is small city." L etters fa the editorshould be senl lo Vo ices, CycleNews, PO Box 508 4, Cosio Mesa, CA92628·5084; foxed to 714·751-6685 or emciledto ed;tor@cyclenew, .com. Published letters do not necessarily reflect the position of Cyde News, Inc. letters should notexceed 200 words, and all are subject10 editing . Anonymous letters will - - -- - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - ;. -'..... Photo By? Godspeed, Whitney I really e njoyed the article (Go lde n Graham) that you wrote on Ricky Graham . Ricky was one of the most talented ride rs I have eve r see n. Being a dirt track photographer for over 30 years, I have stood in many corners and seen a lot of riders slide in front of my lens, and I've seen Ricky do things on a motorcycle that I just could not be lieve. I have never seen a rider that held it on longe r and drove it in deeper then Ricky. His corner speed was amazing. One night I was walking through the pits after one of Ricky 's heat races and I said, "Hey Ricky do you ever shut that throttle om" He laughed and said, "Y eah, when I come in the pits." He didn't always have the fastest bikes, but it was very rare that anyone passed him through the corners. Ricky was a friend and an amazing rider. I miss him very much . However, the main reason I am writing th is letter is about the photo you ran with the article . It's my photograph! I took the picture at Pomona at the last race of Ricky's incredible 1993 season. I'm not upset about you running the photo, but how about a photo credit! Greg Newgard via the Internet Whitney Murphy suffered a motocross crash last week and as resu lt is no longer with us. Unfortunately, this is becoming much more common lately and , of course, we all live with the knowledge that this is a dangerous sport that we love to do . Wh itney did love it and loved doing it with his father, Tim. Every time I saw one riding he was with the ot her. You cou ld tell that they were best friends . Whitney was "o ne of the good ones" (working and going to school) who rode because he en joyed it and liked spending time with his father and the sport. My prayers are with Tim and his remaining family and I know that Tim will someday see Whitney again. I'm glad that I have had the pleasu re to call Whitney and his fathe r, Tim, my friends. God Bless Jay Clark via th e Int ern et Photo by Greg Newgard... Editor No Politics, Please Regarding a recent issue 's In the Wind section and the article on the conservative senatorial candidate setting up a booth at the Glen Helen motocross race . After such a politicallycharged segment, I hope you are planning to prov ide an opposing viewpoint; perhaps a rebuttal from Senator Boxer. Wha t I really feel is overwhelmed by all the politics in the media - particula rly right now. I don't want to be con fronted by it when I'm reading a bike rag. I realize the issue of trail or land closures is relevant to the Cycle News readership, but that piece was simply publishing the sound bites of one right-wing politician attacki ng another politician. Let that cand idate try and get a plug in News week. So... stop. Keep the politics out of your paper. Dan Kerr Port land , OR We were careful to put quotation marks around everyth ing in that press release . And if Senator Boxer wants to set up a booth at a Nat ional Motocross . we 'll run that release as well... Editor Where Are the Yanks? This past weekend (O ctober 1-3), my brother and I (both AMA members) took a couple of friends w ith us to the Motocross des Nations at Leirop in th e Netherlands and had a great time . The worst part of the weekend was the fact that there were no American riders. We are deployed National Guard Soldiers from Ohio and were e xcited by our one chance to see the best riders from the USA whip the world on the track. I have been a motocross fan for about 30 years , and one of the dreams of any die-hard motocross fan is the Holy Grail - the Motoc ross des Nations. The track was similar to an American ou tdoor track in the Southeast - lots of sand and whoops . Not having an American team to root for was tough, but the tough est part was dea ling with the react ions from the other fans. The Irish fans wanted to see Ricky Ca rmichael , the British did, the Swedes did , and eve n the Belgians wanted him there. They wanted some good, o ldfashioned racing - . the best against the best. I saw as many Carmichael lunchbox es for sale as I did for World Champion Stefan Everts. All motocross fans look pretty much the same and wear pretty much the same Fox hats and sweatshirts. The event was a lot like going to the mini-Nationals at Gatorback . The peop le were friendly, the weather great, the racing awesome . I'm sorry it happened th is way, and I hope it doesn 't happen anymore. Rob Thatcher via t he Int ernet Loved Reno In all my years of racing, few spectacles have amazed me as much as the Supermotos I recently wa tched in Reno. So here are some kudos to the AMA for executing such a phenomenal show on the streets of this small city. The place was packed with spectators - many, I'm sure, seeing motorcycle racing for the first time. Watching these world-class riders perform their huge slides, almost within an arm 's reach away, had my jaw dragging. To those of you who have the opportunity to watch this series - don 't miss it for anything. It will have even the most jaded race fan yelling "holy &%$#" every single lap. And thanks to all the friendly, approachable racers who put on such a great show and took the time to appreciate fans like myself. I know the Reno event brought many new fans to our sport. M ark Dieter Gardnerville, NV Kudos to Bussei After a huge highside left Chris Vermeulen stranded and injured on the race track dur ing the warmup lap at Imola, Giovanni Bussei showed ultimate respect and sportsmanship by escorting his fellow racer back to the start grid with in seconds of the waving green flag. That was a beautiful and moving sight to behold . To add to the drama, seeing Chris limp off to jump on his spare bike after everyone has left the grid and watch him charge up the field to finish sixth (despite his injuries) was phenomenal. Then to hear that Ducati wants to punish Bussei for ass isting Vermeulen ... shame on Ducati. www.cyclenews.com nol be considered for publication. All letters shouldcontoin the writer's nome, address and daytime phone number... Editor. Shame on anyo ne w ho sees it fit to punish the ultimate gesture of kindness and good sportsmanship, even in such a competitive environment. Kim berly Preuss Cypress, CA Ricky to the Rescue I am sen ding this letter to recognize a compassionate and great human being Ricky Carmichael. You see , we are the Los Angeles Old Timers' Motocross Association and fee l the need to write this letter. We have had two Maste r Bracers die in the first five months of this year. The first being David Williams, who was a great Master B rider and great friend. The second was Daniel Scharf, an equally impressive Maste r B rider and great friend. We have had two memorial rides to benefit the families of these two gentlemen . O ur friend and fellow LAOTMX club member Mike Gosse laar was given a task to see if anyone cou ld donate anything toward our auction and raffle at the memorial ride for Daniel Scharf. He total ly came through for us with a little help from Ricky Carmichael. You see, Ricky heard the story of how our rider was injured and then later died from his injuries, and decided that there was one thing he could do . It would be to donate the gear he was wearing in the Unadilla National. All of us felt the compassion he showed for our rider, who was not a pro but just another fellow motocrosser. Ricky took the gear right off his back and gave it to Mike to give to us for the auction we had at our memorial on July 2S. Daniel's wife was flabbergasted that someone in Carmichael's position would care about the little guys like us. I think now she understands that this motocross business is like one big family. We look out for each other and take care of one another in a time of need . Our hats and hearts go out to Ricky Carmichael for being such a kindhearted and compassionate human being. I think we could all us a little more compassion for our fellow riders . I, for one , look out for everyone on the track no matter where we are . I'll be the first one to you if you fall down on one of my local tracks. Ricky Carmichael is a hero in the eyes of Tyson Scharf, who is Daniel's 16-yearold son . Next time you look at Carmichael, take a good look - you might see that guardian angel he has on his shou lder. It's Daniel Scharf. Christine Grah am via the Internet C YCLE N EWS • OaOBER 20, 2004 5