Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

leite" to the editor should be sent to Voices, Cycle News, PO Box 5084, Co>to Meso, CA 92628-5084; foxed to 714-751-6685 0< emoiled to edilorilcyclenews.com. Published letters do not necessarily reflect the posiNon 01 Cycle News, Inc. letters shou\d not exceed 200 words, ond 011 ore subjeclto editing. Anonymous letters will not be considered foe publicoNon. All letters should contoin the wriler's nome, oddr... ond daytime phone number... Ediloc. Happy With Rossi Valentino Rossi won the first round at Jerez. If anyone else was in the same position in the last corner of the last lap, would they have settled for second? Settled is the key word and that is the difference between champions and everyone else. They don't settle. I'll admit, from Gibemau's point of view, I gained even more respect for him because of the way he handled the situation. But Gibemau did run it a littie wide and Rossi saw the opportunity and took it. His foot did come off the peg, and if you review some earlier laps, his foot came off the peg then, too, except Gibernau was in the lead. He wasn't out of control then. So he would've made that corner even if Sete Gibemau were not there to bank off of. True, Rossi was running wide on the brakes numerous times during the race, but keep in mind that he is on an underpowered bike compared to the Rev. so he is pushing himself to the limits (on the backup MI, I might add). What about his smirk? If you don't have the pscyhologicaJ advantage, you don't have anything. Therefore, Rossi is the best ever because it takes the best to overcome any obstacles that come your way. Paul Nguyen Narwalk, CA Happy With Rossi II Just wanted to drop a note concerning the first Mota GP race of the year. First of all, I can't disagree more with Mr. Scott's assessment of what happened in the final corner of the final lap between Valentino and Sete. Sete left the door wide open, and when Rossi came up the inside, Sete turned in on him and caused the collision. One can clearly see from the sequential photos in the article that upon entry to the comer, Rossi is close to the white line and maintains his position next to the white line, and one can clearly see that Sete is the one who caused the collision. Sete had to know that Rossi was next to him, as one can clearly see from the sequential photos that if anything, Rossi is ever so slightly ahead of Sete as they came to the apex. Also, look at the lean angle of Sete's bike: He is clearly trying to slam the door on Rossi, but way too late. I had recorded the race and have watched it over and over to come to this conclusion. Several of my friends who I showed the race to also came to same conclusion. Further, on several other occasions earlier in the race, Rossi, in the final corner, was putting his foot down as he did when the collision occurred between him and Sete. And to address comments made in an article in the Voices section of of Cycle News, to say that other greats of FIM road racing would not be seen running wide on the brakes into a comer is unsubstantiated, as Mario Andretti once said about racing: "If everything is under control, then you're not trying hard enough." Dale fie" Covington Sunland, CA Learning Stuff I'm reading the book John Penton and the Off-Road Motorcycle Revolution, by Ed 6 MAY 4,2005 • CYCLE NEWS "Motorcycle racing needs a 'benevolent dictator' to make the sport profitable, someone like Bill France, the founder of NASCAR." Youngblood. I am learning a lot about Cycle News' history and how important your newspaper has been to the industry and its growth. Keep up the good worlk! One last tidbit of infonnation that I didn't know - the Austrian finn KTM stands for Kronreif, Trunkenpolz (Erik Trunkenpolz) of Mattighofen, Austria. Seems simple, but' had never heard it before. Thanks, Ed Youngblood, for the book - I'm enjoying it! Joe Wahrer Fryburg,OH Liking McLaughlin I enjoyed Steve Mclaughlin's piece in Cycle News. Our goal in starting superbike racing was based on the "NASCAR template." Sell seats and give them a show they would enjoy. The problem as usual is the whistle-dicks, armchair wannabes, corporate execs and personal goal seekers (with them lacking the knowledge of the real goal) getting in the position of making rules. They have redirected the sport in "their" direction, and what has been the result? Nada, zip. It's just gone backwards! I know Mclaughlin's view of the current state of the sport probably will not set well by the current AMA organization (who makes the rules), but motorcycle racing needs a "benevolent dictator" to make the sport profitable, someone like Bill France, the founder of NASCAR. How did he do it? He kept the competition honest, marlketed the show and had a vision. Ducati, Aprilia, MY Agusta, Harley/Buell... they all have "racer support programs" that could bring a lot more diversity to the starting grid for some real racing if the rules weren't stacked against them - hey, maybe even Triumph. This ain't a Japanese-bike-only club. Over 50 percent of all big bikes aren't Japanese so why do the Japanese control the AMA? I still follow/watch/analyze the activities, progress and results of the current state of the sport, and I am waiting for a leader in the tradition of "Big Bill" to emerge and bring it into a marketing-driven business for the races, the racers and their sponsors. Loyal Truesdale via the Internet Supermoto Complaint I'm writing to remark on the weak race report for the Stateline Supermoto Challenge. There was a lot of racing at this event, but Mr. Lutes only cares to talk about the Open Pro main. Our rider, Leonardo Bagnis, won both his heat races, including Open Pro main and Pro 450, as well as the Pro 450 race. He was also on pole for the Open Pro main - only to be knocked off in the dirt by an overly aggressive Steve Drew. I was pretty surprised to read the race review and see the one-sided coverage with not a mention of the rider who won the most races. Thanks for your attention. Paul Lima via the Internet Uma runs GP Motorcycles in San Diego, California... Ediror Kudos, Kawi My name is Tyler Vanderlip. I am I I years old. I race a Kawasaki 85. I would like to thank Kawasaki's Team Green and their mechanic, Matt. I have been racing the WORCS series. Last week the race was in Payette, Idaho. The first lap of my race my bike just quit. It would not restart. My Dad couldn't start it either. I rolled my bike over to the Team Green trailer. I asked if they could help. To my surprise their mechanic, Matt, took my bike right away and began to work on it. He checked everything on my bike and determined that I had broken a piston and damaged the bottom end. Matt rebuilt my motor that day. I really am thankful to Matt and Team Green. It's nice to know they are there at the WORCS races suporting me. Thanks, Matt. Tyler Vanderlip via the Internet Way to go, Mar!... Editor C'mon Igor, Lighten Up Regarding Igor Pelse's letter in last week's voices: Jeez, Igor, why do you find it so important to rain on someone else's parade? Do you have unresolved childhood bully issues? Did some guy with a higher-dollar Schwinn regularly beat you to the comer on your Royce Union? Get help, man. I'll admit, Ducati's pretty good at the "hype machine," as you so eloquently put it. If you're commanding the kind of dollars for your product that Ducati does year after year, decade after decade, surely the hype has to be there. But if your hype doesn't match your reality, if you overpromise and underdeliver, especially in this relatively small industry, you could get yourself in trouble. The reason Ducati is nor in trouble is because Ducati's always overdeliver. The first time I rode a Ducati, way back in the '70s, I immediately understood why people paid extra for them. My first thoughts were: "How could something this powerful, be so smooth?" Special then, special still. Then, 20some years later, when my understanding of motorcycling was more than just skin deep, I had the pleasure to "own" an ST-2 and a 900SS. My thoughts now? These bikes read your mind; they invite you to go deeper; go further; ride harder: ride more. They're the most fun a person can have with your clothes on. They become so much a part of you the looks become secondary. I think that's largely the case with the Multistrada. I say "largely" because I'm one that likes the looks of that bike. And judging from the roads around here (Northern California - the nation's capitol when it comes to motorcycling), so do a lot of other enthusiasts. This is Ducati's top-selling region. So, Igor, lose the chip on your shoulder. Start becoming one with whichever Ducati you say you own. And start having fun with the rest of us happy Ducatisti. Duffy Collin Oal

• Cover