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/128399
"You all are class acts, and truly something for American motocross fans to be proud of." leMers 10 the editor should be sent 10 Voices, Cycle News, PO Box 5084, Coste Meso, CA 92628-5084; faxed 10 714-751-6685 or emailed 10 editorilcyclenews.com. Published letters do not necessarily reRect the posihon of Cyde News, Inc. lders ,hould not exceed 200 words, and all are subject 10 edihng. Anonymous letter, will not be considered lor publicahon. All letters should conlain lhe writer's nome, address and daytime phone number... EdifOf. .--..".------------------------ Say What? ISDE Thanks I just finished reading the interview with John Hopkins in the "In The Wind" section (September 21, Issue #37). Since I live in California and John grew up here, he has been one of my favorite riders, along with the other two American MotoGP riders Colin Edwards and NiCky Hayden. I have read many of Hopper's articles both in this publication and in Road Racing World, and have always admired his talent and his candid musings. However, my jaw dropped when I read his bold and, in my opinion, unfounded statements concerning NiCky Hayden. He stated: "In my eyes, I just don't think he [Nicky] is up to the job. I Simply think I am a better rider..." "and on the same machinery, 100 percent I could [beat him] now." My research reveals that John has won an AMA Formula Xtreme Championship and an AMA 750 Supersport Championship, neither premier classes, plus one fifth-place finish in four years of MotoGP racing. A very good resume for any young rider. However, the rider - Nicky Hayden that he has accused of "not being up to the job" has won an AMA 600 Supersport and an AMA Superbike Championship - both premier classes. Nicky was the only rider to beat Mat Mladin in the last seven years for the Superbike Championship. Also to his credit is one MotoGP win and seven podiUms, as well as MotoGP Rookie of the Year. In addition to his road-raCing accomplishments, Nicky has won numerous dirttrack Nationals on half mile, short track, and TT courses. He has been honored as AMA Sportsman of the Year and Speed Channel Pro Athlete of the Year. I Simply cannot imagine what logiC Hopkins is using as his basis for such strong comments. Is he implying that every bike he has ridden is inferior to Nicky's? Is he trying to make himself look good? I think he used poor judgment by trying to discredit any rider with the above credentials. Then John went on to say: "It's better not being friends with him. The basic fact is if it comes to a point that he has to go off the track - so be it. No guilty conscience over it." I realize it's difficult and maybe not recommended to be best buds with your competitors, but to make a comment that you would have no gUilt about harming a rider or ending his career? For that threatening statement, I nominate him for "Most Unsportsmanlike Rider of the Year." I'm no longer a fan of Hopkins. Glenn Rose Oakland, CA I would like to thank Team USA's sponsors, riders, and support personnel for their unrelenting effort at the recent International Six Day Enduro, held September 13-18 in Povazska Bystrica, Slovakia. First, to our corporate sponsors, thank you very much for your continued support in helping Team USA with a generous supply of product and monetary donations. We couldn't have done it without you! Thanks to Arai Helmets, PJ I Lubricants, Malcolm Smith Racing, Kenda Tires, Mitas Tires, Best in the Desert Racing, Jafmar Racing, and Beaverton Honda-Yamaha. To the riders representing the United States, great effort by all in a very tough event, and a fine medal count of 24 medals out of 34 riders. Congratulations to Kurt Caselli for being "Top American" once again. J.D. Hammock was awarded the Valencia Cup traveling trophy - for the USA rider who overcomes the most adversity and still finishes. Congratulations to Jeff Fredette for finishing every ISDE he has started - 25! Thank you very much to all the volunteer support crew made up of family and friends of the riders. It was because of these people's hard work that Team USA was awarded the Watling trophy - for the team that persevered in the face of adversity. Without the hard work and sacrifices these people made, it would have been impossible for any rider to finish the Six Days. I would like to make speCial mention of some of that support crew: The check point/gas stop captains were Bob and Tony Agonis, Chris Hardy, Chuck Steahly, Bill Ducray and Rex Powell. The parc ferme (start-finish pits) captain, Scott Neff, along with helpers Tammy Hall, Derek Toberman, John Wells and Ross McClellan, kept things organized and running smoothly throughout the competition. The riders all got spaghetti at the end of their ride each day - to reload their tired bodies with the carbohydrates and nourishment they needed - prepared by our chef, Beth Neff. Thanks to Trophy Team manager Drew Smith for all you do, including keeping the riders pumped up and proceeding forward. Thanks to our friend Igor Oulehla for relaying to the riders what type of terrain and schedule they would have to maintain every day and for his expert assistance with everything else he did. Thanks to Pat Noel, not only for sending back story and pictures to the AMA's website, but also for staying up late every night, 6 OCTOBER 12,2005 • CYCLE NEWS making up the time cards used by all the riders and check crews to keep everyone on schedule. Thanks to Gunny Claypoole, who has worked tirelessly for the USA ISDE effort for more than 25 years. This year he restocked the container with tools and supplies, packed the motorcycles, and shipped the container we all worked out of for the week. He was also Team USA's Jury representative to the FIM and this year's AMA representative. Stephanie Draughon was our tour coordinator on site this year and did a fine job of working with the tour partiCipants to overcome any problems that arose in Slovakia. Thanks to the media for helping get the word back to the States:· Steve Berkner, Mark Kariya, and Marshall Rose - great job. And thank you to all I would like to mention, but don't have room. I look forward to working with many of you again at next year's ISDE, to be held November 14-19, 2006, in Taupo, New Zealand. Bruce Wakeley Team USA Manager via the Internet MX des Nations Thanks Just a quick note to say thank you and congratulations to Ricky Carmichael, Kevin Windham, Ivan Tedesco and the rest of Team USA for winning and doing us proud. You all are class acts, and truly something for American motocross fans to be proud of. I was at Unadilla for the 1987 Motocross des Nations, and watching Bob Hannah pull it out for the team while riding a Suzuki RM 125 was amazing - so I can just imagine what it was like being there this year. Thanks again, guys. Dave Weeden via the Internet MX Fatty? I am amazed that the AMA is going to call the 125 class "MX Lites." They would create more excitement and cause less confusion by renaming it what it is - the 250cc class - and by bringing back the 5OOs. They could, of course, get FMF to sponsor the 2S0/450cc class and call it "MX Fatty." Daniel jendre Prairie du Chien, WI