Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

The riders show a great lack of concern by ignoring the flaggers PACE and dirt track Since 1978 I have been attending the GNC Dirt Track events, but never before have I observed so many changes in the schedule. I think it's time that Chris Agajanian and PACE Motor Sports quit playing games, so the GNC schedule can be set and the faithful fans can set "their" schedule. For those who have never attended one of these events, this is one of the greatest forms of racing around. Where else can you observe something like Springfield, where 18 of 20 bikes in the lead group draft for all 25 laps of the feature race? It would be a shame to let differences between promoters and sanctioning organizations be the cause of a lack of interest in the fans in a sport that has been a standby for decades, and that has so much potential for the future. Anyone who has not witnessed Jay Springsteen, Steve Morehead, Scott Parker, Chris Carr, Rich King and others bang footpegs at 140 mph probably doesn't understand all of this. But those of you who have know my heartfelt disappointment when I see this kind of turmoil within the sport. jeff Covert Little Rock. AR Obey the floggers I just watched the Indy round of the Supercross Series on the deuce, and I couldn't believe what I saw happening. During the 250cc final, McGrath and Windham were in a battle for the lead when Isaiah Johnson went down at the finish-line jump. Despite the abundance of yellow flags at the entrance and exit of the preceding tum, and the f1agger at the top of the jump, both McGrath and Windham did the double. landing in the middle of people trying to get the rider and bike out of harm's way. And they did it the following lap, too, sending the track personnel running for cover. I understand that the stakes are high when these guys are dicing for the lead, but surely it wouldn't have cost them a position, since passing under the yellow is also prohibited, and the riders behind them were rolling the jump. All riders are supposed to roll the jumps in a yellow-flag situation, no matter who they are or where they are running, at least at all the tracks where I've raced. The previous week in the 125cc final at Houston, Casey Lytle was penalized a position for the same infraction. I think the riders show a great lack of concern by ignoring the f1aggers, and PACE does the same by not mandating across-the-board penalties. It shouldn't matter who you are or where you are running; rules are rules, and they are there for the safety of the riders and of the people on the track assisting. Mark McGowan Bakersfield. CA We spoke to AMA motocross manager Duke Finch on this issue. Finch explained that yellow flags simply mean caution, and do not specifically prohibit jumping. That said, any time one rider endangers another rider, it is an infraction, but since McGrath and Windham were both looking at the crash scene on the previous parallel straightaway, then landing as far away from Johnson as possible, Finch didn't judge their actions to be dangerous (though he did admit that "it was close. "). On double, triple and quad jumps, the AMA also has red-cross flags, which signal that riders must roll the jumps and not pass one another. In Houston, Casey Lytle (inadvertently) jumped while under a red-eross {lag, overtaking another rider in the process. Finch penalized him one position (the one he gained with his illegal move). Finch also added that since the finish-line jumps are getting quite large, he has now added a red-cross flag there (Johnson was down on a finish-linejump) ...Editor MC des Nations As I'm sure you know, there has been much criticism of recent American efforts to regain the title of Motocross des Nations champion. Our overall superiority in the world of motocross has been questioned. This criticism has in some respects been unfair (pre-race sessions proved that last year's team was clearly fast enough for the win), and in many cases seems to overlook the fact that the rest of the world (particularly France) is indeed getting more and more competitive. Nonetheless, there is little doubt that theU.S. effort at this event could use a boost. While I respect Jeremy McGrath's decision to race supercross exclusively during the regular season (though I don't necessarily agree with it). I wish he would reconsider this policy as it relates to the MX des Nations. With the situation as it stands, having the absolute best riders in America on the team is paramount. Any list of riders has to include McGrath. I don't know how many more years McGrath plans to continue in the sport (his competitors probably hope not many), but with all his accomplishments, it seems he would have room left on his mantel for another of what many consider to be the top prize in his chosen sport (I still consider MX and SX to be two parts of the same discipline). Stephen E.. F' arendl SfarenellObigplanet.com Warren's piece There are some things that this year's Supercross injuries have in common. Most occur on the landings of double and triple jumps, and occasionally on square-edged rhythm sections. Are these sections just too difficult? No. They're technically easier than a slip- pery off-camber comer or a deep-rutted, bumpy berm. Multi jumps are timing sections. When something screws up your timing, you mess up your takeoff, and A) you break your wrist or ankle from the impact of landing short; B) you land short but save it, only to be landed on by the guy behind you because you stopped so suddenly, and he was already in the air (and the flagmen could not have possibly reacted quickly enough); C) you land short and save it, but your feet flail out from the impact, you grab a hapdful of throttle and hit the next obstacle completely out of control, laying on the seat, and get launched into orbit (I could show you sequence photos of myself pulling this one at the '84 Oakland SX; it hurts just thinking about it); D) you jump too far and land on the face of the following jump (see A for injury possibilities). All of these scenarios ended with a body going thud. What breaks body parts is the sudden stop against the face of a jump or the face of a rhythm bump. In the early days of SX and U.S. MX, if you crashed, you tumbled. Nowadays, you stop instantly. Things are a little better the last couple of years, since they started rounding off the tops of the landing jumps, and timing isn't nearly so critical. It seems that the AMA and PACE are constantly making changes to make it safer. It is a rough sport. People will get hurt. It will gradually get safer with improved tracks, safety gear and better trackside warnings. Hey, AMA, call me. I've got a bunch of ideas. I'm a member; you've got my number. market research on such a show. I'm sure many of the major industry sponsors such as the Big Four motorcycle manufacturers, pickup truck manufacturers and other affiliated companies would be quick to take advantage of the marketing opportunities such a show would present. How do we as fans facilitate and express. support for this endeavor? Is there someone in particular at these networks we can lobby? David Bailey and/or Rick Johnson would make excellent hosts. By the way, your new format is a very positive change. Keep up the good work. Allen Harrington Charlotte. NC Try calling the networks' viewer comment lines: ESP/'!/espn2, 860/5852236; Fox Sports, 3] 0/369-91] 1; Speedvision, 203/406-2637; TN/'!, 203/965-6000.. .Editor War-ren "Reid Williamsport. FA Harley vs. Buell Reid was an AMA pro in Supercross and motocross {rom 1975 to /986.. .Editor Harley Davidson is racing the VRI000 in AMA Superbike, but I thought race bikes had to be production-based. Harley sells cruisers, and Buell sells sport bikes. Why doesn't Harley race Buells in AMA Superbike and build a production-based VRlOOO Buell (and why not a VR750 Buell) using the knowledge gained from their Superbike program? That way, Harley sells cruisers and Buell sells sport bikes. If the answer is that Harley wants its name in Superbike racing, then call the bike a Buell by Harley Davidson. Harley needs to play by the same rules as all manufacturers, and fans should have the opportunity to own a VR 1000 or VR750. By the way, when the PACE Superbikes come to Portland, I will definitely be there, and I hope PACE and the AMA do not join forces. The AMA has not been the best promoter for professional dirt track or road racing. It's a real shame that the riders of both series are not paid more, and that they don't race on safer tracks. New show? Supercross, motocross and off-road racing are enjoying unprecedented popularity and participation in this country, and most fans are very interested in the professional personalities and their respective inside stories and news. Cycle News is by far the best publication for keeping up to date with what is happening in our great sport. I think it would be extremely healthy for the advancement of Supercross, motocross and off-road racing if a television network like ESPN were to produce a weekly, hour-long show that was devoted to the news, personalities and inside stories of the sport. epsn2 does a good job with MotoWorld, and they also try to insert some personal-interest stories during the weekly race coverage, but I would think a network would want to produce a show with a format similar to TNN's "Inside Nascar". I would be very surprised if some networks (ESPN, Fox) haven't done feasibility studies and cycle Mark Begin E.ugene. OR n eVIls • MARCH 8, 2000 5

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