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/133062
VOL. 50 ISSUE 21 MAY 29, 2013 Unlike his compatriots, Marc has personality. Pedrosa is dour. Though privately amusing and certainly likeable: but he has no interest in stardom, and shows it. Lorenzo is a puzzling and remote character, a perfectionist, but not a darling to the crowds, much as he tries to do everything right. Marquez by contrast is good-humored and highly engaging, at least in his youth. Yet more similarity to Rossi. The almost overwhelming success of Spanish riders, this unstoppable force, owes a great deal to Dorna, but not everything. Dorna has only contributed to what was already in place. In this way the Spanish national series, the CEV, became the replacement for the defunct FIM European Championship, one step below the World Championships. Ezpeleta also told a radio interviewer that Dorna had never helped Spanish riders. True enough, if you can forget management services and lavish TV time given to Spain's first premier-class champ Alex Criville in the late 1990s. More recently Dorna's largess has rather gone to teams with (for example) French, German or British riders – in the interest of building TV audiences in those countries. In a slightly different way, Nicky Hayden's U.S. passport has been invaluable to keeping his Ducati ride, though it's also true he's been invaluable to Ducati. Dorna can, should and doubtless will cut down the number of races in Spain. Portugal has gone away; last year was sadly the final visit to the alwaysinteresting Estoril. This leaves Jerez, Catalunya, Aragon and Valencia. Two of them will have to go. But even Ezpeleta's powers aren't up to the task of trying to stem a tide of Spanish talent. This is one time where the show-business side of racing has to give best to the sport. Riders decide who wins and who doesn't by using the throttle. Just watch Marquez. And imagine how much poorer MotoGP would be if he had fallen foul of the quota system, and not been allowed in… for being too fast, and too CN Spanish. P133 LOOKING BACK 40 Years Ago June 5, 1973 We couldn't resist showing you the "ultimate repair kit" on the cover 40 years ago... The Bad Rock Two-Day Enduro in Oregon was a dry one but not too dry for overall winner Jack Penton… Jim Pomeroy finished fifth at the Yugoslavian MX GP… We tested the Yamaha MX 360 MXer, saying it was the most reliable racer we've ever tested. 30 Years Ago June 8, 1983 We compared the latest 250cc dual purpose bikes from Japan and they were featured on the cover. The winner? The Honda XL250, of course… Mark Barnett stole the show with his last-to-first ride in the 125cc class at the Mt. Morris National MX. Bob Hannah won the 250cc division. 20 Years Ago June 2, 1993 Robert Castledine was featured on the cover 20 years ago to accompany our report of the National Hillclimb in Indiana… Kevin Schwantz took over the World Championship points lead with a win at the Austrian GP… Rodney Smith outdueled Scott Summers at the Brownsville GNCC in Pennsylvania… Danny Hamel clinched the Hare & Hound title in Wells, Nevada. 10 Years Ago May 28, 2003 Many racers landed on the front cover 10 years ago, but the headliners were Aaron Yates and Mat Mladin for their wins at the Road Atlanta doubleheader… Kevin Windham broke Ricky Carmichael's moto win streak at 30 at Hangtown. Thirty-year-old Ryan Hughes won the 125cc class. Subscribe to nearly 50 years of Cycle News Archive issues: www.CycleNews.com/Archives