Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

..Without Mladin, the quality of an event would be lowered. Don't blame him for speaking the distasteful truth." CgcleNews Volume Sharon Clayton - Preiident Michael Klinger - Publisher leiters to the editor should be sent to Voices, Cycle News, PO Box 5084, Cosio Mesa, CA 92628·5084; foxed to 714·751-6685 or emailed to edi'or@cydenews.cam. Published letters do not necessarily reflect the position of Cycle News, Inc. letters should nol exceed 200 words, and all ore subject to editing_ Anonymous letters will nol be considered for publication. . _ -.....- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - All leiters should contoin the writer's name, address and daytime phone number... Editor. Lap Time Comparo The Cutoff· Explained McLaughlin Waste Occasionally I find it interesting to compare lap and race times. I'm not sure, as an example, what AMA Formula Xtreme is supposed to be about based on comparisons with Supersport lap times. It seems redundant to me. A more interesting comparison exists with lasts year's Valencia MotoGP and the just-concluded World Superbike round. If last year's Laguna Seca round of World Superbike and AMA Superbike racing is a marker, current AMA Superbike specifications are faster than the Flamini boys go on their Pirellis. That said, Troy Corser just ran laps that would have gotten him into last year's MotoGP show at Valencia, and probably would have netted him some points. Fact is, Mat Mladin and his GSX-R I000 on his preferred tire of choice most likely would have been a top-10 contender! Maybe they should start a new class called MotoExtreme and let fully prepared Superbikes compete against the current crop of exotic one-offs at the top level. Just a thought. Paul McKendry lakewood, WA As an AMA Superbike/Superstock racer, I felt the need to clarify the qualifying requirements. I have not made the grid on a few occasions, so I know the rules/ requirements quite well. The AMA Superbike Series qualification process is really quite simple. Two things must be considered to determine who will be on the grid and who will not. First is track density, which determines how many riders can safely fit on the track. The track denSity determines the maximum number of riders who will be allowed to start the race (most tracks have 40-44 grid positions available, but some have more or less). Second is qualifying time. After qualifying is complete and all times are in, the fastest lap of qualifying is used as a measuring stick to determine who will be on he starting grid or not Supers port, Superstock, and Formula Xtreme has a I 12-percent rule. Superbike has a I 10 percent rule. For example: At Barber Motorsports Park, track density is 44, which means there are 44 grid positions available for each race. The Superbike class had 46 riders in the qualifying sessions. At least two riders would not make the grid. Mat Mladin had the fastest lap (I :25.047) in qualifying. The I 10 percent rule produces a cutoff lap time of I:33.552 for all riders. Four riders in qualifying had lap times above the cutoff. This means that the field was limited to 42 riders, leaving two grid positions empty. Please try to reserve your "Guest Editorial" for contributors who at least make a pretense of logic. The No Farce (Issue # 15 response to Henny Abrams' column) editorial was the most ridiculous waste of newsprint I've seen in years. Thank God the postman did his usual job of mutilating the front and rear covers of my copy of Cycle News so I wasn't subjected to every word. Okay, the AMA may be trying to "get it right," but Daytona is an anachronism and, new layout or not, should be cast aside. The small crowd they get is generally, with all respect to those who make the annual pilgrimage specifically to see the races, a few cruiser folks who heard there's something going on inside the big track. The "evidence" of more spectators at the 200 isn't an indication of greater interest in the FX race - it's because the people didn't know any better! In case Mr. McLaughlin hasn't noticed, every racer - motorcycle and automobile complains of a lack of grip at the end of a race. The more stick you're given, the more you want. And racers always need something to blame other than saying, "I just wasn't fast enough." As for the constant cry of "200 mph is too dangerous," "200" is just a number. It's no more dangerous than 199 mph or less dangerous than 20 I mph. The tire makers have a task to address, and they'll step up. (Remember when Mark Donohue was knocking on the 200-mph door at the Indy 500? Analysts were treating it like the sound barrier. Would the car fly off the track as it reached 200?) Berating Mat Mladin and suggesting he return to Australia is childish, stupid and worthy of a Bush campaign spin-doctor! Without Mladin, the quality of an event would be lowered. Don't blame him for speaking the distasteful truth. NASCAR's real attraction is the fact that the cars run around in a circle for 500 miles, bumper to bumper, turning left only, in a facility where the spectators never lose sight of Dale Jr. for even a second. Is there any road-racing fan who wants to begin follOWing NASCAR's sucesss story by racing in circles, or changing the rules five times a year to make sure nobody wins all the races. If you want to see a 200-mph parking lot, turn on NASCAR. Personally, I'd rather watch paint dry! The universal opinion is that the 2005 Daytona 200 sucked. Period. Formula Xtreme is not the future of our sport. Slower will never be better, because it is the antithesis of "racing." Eric P. Maurer Tucson, AZ GP Preview Fan The Grand Prix preview issue (# 14) was super. Galactic MotoGP preview coverage with tech update and the Duke Desmosedici test thrown in. Great Briefly info, plus the usual epic In the Wind savvy. An absolutely super issue! J. lacey via the Internet No Stopping Mladin Who has an answer for Suzuki? After having witnessed the first two AMA Superbike races of the year, I can only imagine the concern that Honda is experiencing. Not only is Mat Mladin riding flawlessly on a superior machine, but Ben Spies, Aaron Yates and the Jordan Motorsport riders are also often outperforming the factory Honda guys. Miguel Duhamel gives his usual great effort, but the Honda is suffering. It doesn't help that Kurtis Roberts seems to have lost his mojo, typically circulating mid pack rather than racing. Ducati bringing in Neil Hodgson was brilliant because Eric Bostrom can't seem to figure out how to ride the Ducati fast. Seems that Eric was his best trying to tame a wild beast (CBR929 or RC45) rather than a refined superbike. Mladin leading start to finish is a big yawn. Mat, give us fans a break! Give everyone a one-lap headstart and then put your head down. That would make for some great racing and you'd probably win anyway! Tom Catron Nashville, TN 6 MAY 11,2005 • CYCLE NEWS James Kerker via the Internet Liking Hacker Thanks to Cycle News for chOOSing to do an interview with Mike Hacker (Issue # 15, April 20). My son and I have had the privilege to cut some laps with Mike at his practice track during the winter. Mike works, trains, and rides tirelessly to go fast and win races. He is also a great ambassador for the sport of dirt tracking, always helping young racers at the local level. Mike remains unspoiled by his success and is a very approachable and likeable professional. His winning the 2003 Du Quoin mile, his first race back after a serious leg injury, was, in my opinion, a remarkable accomplishment. You chose not only a great racer but also a great person to interview in your magazine. Best wishes to Mike for a successful 2005, Greg Koontz Chesterfield, VA XLII EDITORIAL Paul Carruthers - Editor Kit Palmer - Off-Rood Editor Scon Rousseau - Managing Editor Blake Conner - Associate Editor Brendan lutes - Off-Rood Assistant Editor Henn)' Ray Abrams - Contributing Editor Alan Cathcart - European Editor David R. Holthcr - Regional Evenu Editor Kimberly Pellman - Copy Editor ADVERTISING' WESTERN STATES (714) 751-7433 Terry Pratt - Notional Accounts Manager Mark Thome, forrest Hayashi, Dan legere. 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