Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

letters to the editor should be sent to Voices, Cycle News, PO Box 5084, Cosla Meso, CA 92628·5084; foxed to 714·751<>685 or emoiled 10 edilor@cyclenews.com. Published letters do not necessarily reRect the position of Cycle News, Inc. letters should not exceed 200 words, and all ore subject to editing. Anonymous letters will not be considered for publication. ·._.... AU letters should contain the writer's nome, address and daytime phone number... Editor. .... He's Next Liked Willow I am writing to, once again, say a huge thankyou to you and the staff for making my motorcycle world come alive every week of every year. I read your publication like no other and am very thankful for its perspective and existence. As well, I'd like to give all the racing fans out there a shout, especially those MotoGP fans. It is here that sportsmen truly put their jewels on the line every day at work, and do deserve the big money they receive. I'd like to make a prediction in regards to the future of MotoGP. We are all wondering about the future, without our dearest Valentino Rossi. .. what will happen to the ultimate road-race prototype class? Who will fill the void? I don't believe that anyone has shown true brilliance and precision in his talent, as an up-and-comer, the way that Chris Vermeulen is performing right now. He has the class, smoothness, personality and diligence to be the next top dog, in my humble opinion, and I can see him coming. At his young age, he is accomplishing much, in a very straight-up and clear-headed way even his build is similar to Rossi's. Even if Rossi continues to race on two wheels, it will most likely be Vermeulen who will give him a run. A bit of time in the paddocks with Suzuki, and I believe we'll witness much greatness. He is the next Aussie sensation, through calculated, positive and realistic action and self-belief. Watch him attack. Andrew Victor Nabagiez Los Angeles, CA Iwould like to take a second to thank everyone for a great weekend at Willow Springs. We had a ton of touring Grand National Pros who made the trip out to California for Eddie Mulder's two-day event. Congrats to Johnny Murphree (Saturday's winner) and Kevin Varnes (who won on Sunday), and to Jared Mees, who won the $1 500 Dash For Cash on Sunday and ran second on both days in the main event. And a big thanks to Varnes for a nice, safe victory lap on Sunday. I was ready to give up my lap after the ride with Murphree on Saturday. I don't usually "nut-up" when on a bike, but when you are sideways (and using one hand to hold the checkered flag), you have a lot of time to think about little things -like "he has a helmet on and I don't." Eddie and Jodi, you two are the greatest, and your staff is A-I. To all who made it possible, thanks for making an old guy real happy. Digger Helm Bakersfield, CA We Suck Okay, let me see if I've got this straight: Juha Salminen comes over to the USA and shakes up the GNCC, beating all the top U.S. guys in the biggest news in GNCC in more than a few years (the GNCC is the premier off-road racing series in the country and it gets bigger every year) and the Cycle News issue that tells me about it showcases two cruiser bikes on the cover? Heck, Salminen didn't even make the cover anywhere, not even a small photo shot or text mention! The lead shot in the inner article, with Rodney Smith graciously handing over the number-one plate while shaking hands with Juha, screams "cover picture." Only the boys who picked Valentino Rossi as the "hands-down, slam-dunk, nocontest" Rider of the Year in 2004 (ooooh, he changed bikes to the second-best manufacturer and did lose some races) over Ricky Carmichael (came back from major surgery and didn't lose a single moto!) could be responsible for this travesty. Keep up the good work, guys - at least you are consistent! Paul Kosciuszek Weare, NH Hey, who is that on this week's cover?... Editor 6 Never Happy It amazes me that they (UnClear Channel and the American Moron Association) just can't seem to ever put the complete package together. First the races had good announcers but were on a second-rate ball channel. Then they went to horrible announcers on the second-rate ball channel, then one good announcer but on a fishing channel, and now finally they are at least on a motorsports channel, but with horrible announcers again. Now I just finished watching the U.S. Open Vegas race with Robbie Floyd and whoever those other idiots were, and I don't think they shut up for even one single second the entire time. Solid wall-to-wall blabbing, and most of it involved stupid things being repeated over and over. It was maybe the worst broadcast I've ever seen. For once I didn't go ballistic because of getting pre-empted yet again, this time by clone cars follOWing each other in a circle for hours on end. Art Eckman, David Bailey, Jamie Little we won't settle for less! Lewis Greer Springfield, MO The Carr's Not Broken It's October 24 and I just received my renewal from AMA Pro Racing for 2006. I'm a GNC dirt tracker, but I'm not sure if there will be a GNC next year - 450, Lites, 750, 1000... whatever. We don't know anything? I'm supposed to renew a license for a nonexisting series? Dirt track is broken. There are less riders, less fans - and it's now an Illinois series. But I can fix it. Easy. Dirt track is too low on the totem pole at the AMA. It needs a new boss. Chris Carr is a great rider, but he would make an NOVEMBER 9,2005 • CYCLE NEWS CgcleNews "Pay the guy what he makes now, raise my dues if you have to... problem solved." Volume Sharon Clayton - President Michael Klinger - Publisher EDITORIAL _ even better boss. Make him the head dog of dirt track and leave him alone. Pay the guy what he makes now, raise my dues if you have to... problem solved. Greg Tysor via the Internet Paul Carruthen; - Editor Kit Palmer - Off·Road Editor Scott Rousseau - Managing Editor Blake Conner - Associate Editor Henny Ray Abrams - Contributing Editor Alan Cathcart - European Editor David R. Holther - Regional Events Editor Michelle Baird - Copy Editor ADVERTISING' WESTERN STATES 171-41151-74]) Terry Pratt - National Accounts Manager Mark Thome, Forrest Hayashi. Dan Legere - Western Soles Managers Rhonda Crawford Notional Advertising Coordinator Ashleigh Klein - Assistant Go Nicky We are lucky in America because we have seen so many great racers represent us to the world. Now again we have another Nicky Hayden! After Will Davis lost his life, the very next AMA Superbike race that Nicky won, he dedicated it to his friend, and you could see he had a tear in his eye. This last race in Turkey, while he was on the podium, he dedicated this finish to one of his friends who just found out he had cancer. I think we should all be proud he represents us to the world of motorcycle racing. I was lucky to meet Nicky at the Del Mar short-track race a few years back and have followed his progress. Go Nicky, Go America! Frank Vaughn San Diego, CA The Future I'm not one to write in a commentary to magazines, as I guess, like so many others, I prefer to grumble and say, 'Someone needs to do something about this or that.' But a statement in "Last Man Standing" by Henny Ray Abrams begs reply... begs reaction. Where is the young North American motorcycle road-racing talent going to come from? It is all about money and the guaranteed return. There is young talent out there, but this young talent needs opportunity, and opportunity costs a lot of money. I have seen the struggle and have lived it. In a counlry where the motor-racing sponsorship money pie is so dominated by NASCAR. there is but a sliver left over for motorcycle road racing. NASCAR wasn't big until it made itself big. The AMA, however, has lost the vision, assuming that it ever had it. The AMA seems content with maintaining its guaranteed return on investment, while allowing greatness to fend for itself. If you want a bigger piece of the motorsports pie, it will take more than the AMA is willing to risk. The fact is, for neasons I do not assume to understand, the AMA has built up obstacles to the cultivation of young road-racing talent in the United States. I think it is time for North American motorcycle road-racing enthusiasts to speak up. I think it is time for a North American Motorcycle Road Racing Association; an association willing to do what it takes to promote our sport at the level needed for it to reach its full potential. If we don't promote our young talent, the sport will die. Rod Girard Palmdale, CA XLII ADVERTISING' EASTERN STATES (770, 279-03G4 Carla Allen - Office Manager & Advertising Coordinatar Sheri Russell, Suuie Smith Eastern Sales Managen MARKETING' PROMOTION Mark Thome - Director Forrest Hayashi - Manager NEW MEDIA DEVelOPMENT Kory Klinger - Site Manager CLASSiFIED ADS Ryan Merrill GRAPHICS' PRODUCTION Kathleen Lawlor - Production Manager Sunju Kwon, Robert Martin, Chriuina Pendon - Graphic Artists ADMINISTRATION Judy Klinger - Coordinator Ashleigh Klein - Adm;nistrative Assistant ACCOUNTING' DATA PROCESSING Oonna Bryan.Oiamond - A/R Coordinator Geneva Repan - Assistant Stacy Ryan - Credn Manager CIRCULATION Alma Anguiano - Circulation Manager Carol Maggio - Processing Coordinator Megan Carmona - Dealer Coordinator SERVICE' SUPPORT Robert Escandon - Service and Support NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS )SOS·M Cadillac Ave" Costa Mesa, CA 92626 P.O. Box S084, Cona Mesa. CA 92628·S084 (114) 7SI·14)) • FAX (114) 7SI-6685 EASTERN OFFICE 217S Cruse Road. Suite 260) Lawrenceville, GA )0044 (170) 279·0)04 • FAX (170) 279·0)60 E·MAIL • INTERNET www.cyclenews.com editor(i~cyclcncws.com subscribe@cyclenews.com advertising@cyclcncws.com c~(:~ Ife... " ':JSPS 1~1·3~UI '\ ~,,,,~ lIef"I, "'~ef'l !'.~ . ,q :1 l'~ tdlte·,jar )~ar l·" S'>il '0) po'l If'" tl-, C',,:!e I.j~\',. ',~ ,~e~~,5 350S·M Wd·I·ac. Pa>d at A,~·ll.e Co~ll '}"'-4to::il:, 1r~~1"d!1I)(',·1 p'Jl)I« ~".-..,<; POsr'IASllR 5eM a~re,~ 'lw19'" (D"tl Me'><1. Gil. 916n·:.rtF,.l Ie: C(,I,.. t,;"", PO B'.• ;.\~ T~ ~eTp,m,nF tMe e'p'l~l.~n ~"te o! 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