Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

leltefs 10 the editor should be sonllo Voices, Cycle News, PO Box 5084, Cosio Meso, CA 92628-5084; foxed 10 714-751-6685 or emoiled 10 editorOcycienews.com. Published letters do not necessarily reRect the position of Cycle News, Inc. Letters should not exceed 200 words, end all ore subject to editing. Anonymous letters will not be considered for publication. All letters should conloin the writer's nome, address and daytime phone number... fduO'. Abrams' Response Years of tireless bloviating have deprived Steve Mclaughlin's brain of much needed oxygen. That's the only conclusion I can draw after suffering through his rambling tirade on the state of American road racing. That someone who attends the occasional AMA race can be so expert is testament to his boundless wisdom. A point-by-point rebuttal is pointless. Suffice it to say he has no idea what he's talking about when he goes on the offensive against me or Mat Mladin, a rider who doesn't need my defense, or just about anything. That said, one glaring error must be addressed. He writes that I'm not worried about 200 mph. That's a lie, plain and simple, a fabrication from his florid imagination. For the record, the line I wrote in my column was: "Forget about the sheer insanity of riding 196-plus mph mere feet from a waiL" To spin that into McLaughlin's world requires powers of interpretation that very few people outside of institutions possess. In my opinion, it is lunacy to race modern motorcycles on the current Daytona configuration. Where else in the world do bikes go that fast that close to a wall for that long? The Daytona column McLaughlin attacks has generated more positive responses than anything I've ever written. I've heard from former team owners, National champions, crew chiefs, riders and industry people who rarely write. All agreed that Daytona was a sham, a black eye for the AMA and the Speedway, a new, previously unachievable low point. I should point out that in my nearly three decades in racing, I've been successful in my effort never to meet Mr. McLaughlin. Given his current state of lucidity, I'm hopeful my efforts to avoid him last another three decades. Henny Ray Abrams via the fnternet Unhappy With Rossi I'm writing to express my dismay at the unwarranted and uncharacteristic move by Valentino Rossi in the last corner at the Jerez MotoGP. He may be the most talented rider in the field, but that only increases the mandate that he conduct himself properly. Foot on the ground, obViously overcooking the corner; Am I the only one who thought that he could not have made that corner if Sete Gibernau were not there to bank off of? Come on, Valentino! You're better than 8 ..I do not remember Rainey, Schwantz, Doohan, Roberts, Lawson, etc. running wide on the brakes numerous times every race." that and can win championships without endangering your competitors. I, for one, think that the officials should become involved in this one. A warning at least? Additionally, [Sete] Gibernau handled himself in an utterly respectable manner in the rider interviews under very frustrating circumstances, to say the least. Hats off to Sete! Ironically, I must mention the surprisingly polite and clean racing that we witnessed at the Pontiac Supercross. It was a strangely unexpected reversal of what we have come to expect in the two sports. David Bissett Fredericktown, OH Unhappy With Rossi II Rossi lost the Spanish GP at Jerez on the last lap when he ran wide halfway through the lap. He knew he was finished and his only chance for victory was to force Sete Gibernau out of the way. Rossi pulled an unfair move and was lucky that they both did not go down. It was clear that he was using his left foot as a foot brake (balance) on the tarmac and was anticipating the collision. (Rossi later said he was adjusting his foot for shifting - that explanation is for a novice rider.) The race was still excellent, and I have a lot more respect for Sete. Is Rossi the best ever? I do not remember Rainey, Schwantz, Doohan, Roberts, Lawson, etc. running wide on the brakes numerous times every race. J. Born via the Internet And Again I feel that the move in the last corner at Jerez gave Valentino Rossi a bit of a black eye. His move was very similar to the one that Max Biaggi put on Vale in Suzuka a few years back as they came on to the front straight. Max put his elbow out and ran Vale off into the dirt, and everyone had a fit about it. Max's move did not affect the outcome of the race like Valentino's did. It is too bad. I feel that Sete Gibernau should have won the race that he led flag to (almost) flag. You could tell that Vale was struggling a bit and he was going to win or crash trying (or make someone else crash). Neil Potter via the Internet APRIL 27,2005 • CYCLE NEWS Mike the Hype? Mike Alessi was seen racing the Loretta Lynn's qualifer at Glen Helen a few weeks back, which was actually one week prior to the start of the FIM World MX Championship Series. He supposedly came home then because he was too ill to race, but then he raced anyway at Glen Helen. Now he is supposedly hurt again and will not finish out his commitment in Europe. It just leads me to wonder where we'll see "Mike the Hype" racing this weekend. Jon Ebstien Agoura, CA GgcleNews Volume Sharon Clayton - President MichaC'1 KlinRN Publuher EDITORIAL Paul Carruthcl"S EdItor Kit PaimN - Off-Road Editor Scott Rousseau - Managrng Edrtor BlaKe Conner - Associate fdrtor BrC'ndan lutes - Off-Rood Assiltant Editor HC'nny Ray Abrams - Contributing Editor Alan Cathcart - European Editor David R. Holther -- Regional Events Editor KimbC'r1y PellmAn - Copy Editor ADVERTISING' WESTERN STATES i714', 7)1,7433 Terry Pratt - National Accounts Manager M.uK Thome, Forrest Hayashi. Dan LegetC'. Rod Hipwell - Western Sales Managers RhondA CrAwford - Advertising Coordinator Ashlcigh Klein - ASSIStant ADVERTISING' EASTERN STATES Ino, 279 0304 CArtA Allcm - Office Manager & Advertising Coordinator Sheri Russell. Sl.uzie Smith Eastern Sales Managers No Vintage Whiners This is to Tom Sharp, who was whining about the lack of coverage of the Vintage races from Daytona. Well, he just had no patience, because it was covered in Issue 12. What he should cry for is the Vintage dirt track races and the Southeast dirt track Amateur Nationals! C'mon man, two issues later and still nothing. Well, I'll just have to read the motocross results from Armpit, Arkansas. Jim Malloy Eastchester, NY MARKETING' PROMOTION Mart< Thome - Director Forrest Hayashi - Manager Aaron Austin - Support BUSINESS AND CIRCULATION DEVELOPMENT Kirk Holland - Manager NEW MEDIA DEVELOPMENT Kory Klinger - Site Manager CLASSIFIED ADS A~hleigh Klein GRAPHICS· PRODUCTION Kathleen Lawlor - Production Manager Sunju Kwon, Robert Martin. Chri~tina Pendon - Grophic Artists We Love This Guy would like to respond to Tom Sharp's sharp criticisms of your coverage of local and AHRMA Vintage Daytona races. While I share in his pain of the mainstream media's ignorance of motorcycle racing, I think he is attacking the answer to the problem - not the cause. Cycle News has consistently been running AHRMA race reports, as well as giving coverage to the budding racers in local communities around the nation. I have had the honor of announcing and reporting for AHRMA and motocross tracks and have been treated well - even seeing the reports and pictures appear in CN. Meanwhile, I have had countless hours of race reporting wasted when my reports and pictures have been rejected by New Orleans and Baton Rouge newspapers and TV stations, yet CN has consistently treated Louisiana and Mississippi motorcycle racers with respect. We all know the mainstream media can't see past the "bouncy ball" sports and are basically too lazy to come out to the tracks. Fortunately, things are changing with the advent of TV chopper shows, Extreme Games, NASCAR and Bubba Stewart. The corporations will drag sportswriters kicking and screaming to our sport - slowly. Thanks, Cycle News, for all the motorcycleracing coverage over the years. You can't please everyone, but you're as close as you can get - especially for the young racers and their families in (Tom's words) Armpit, Arkansas. Roy Jenkins Covington, LA XLI. 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