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/148526
CN III VOICES LETTERS TO THE EDITOR P20 "This year there were six Kawasakis, two Triumphs and a Ducati in the 18-bike final…" Cross Rutted What a great article Jean Turner wrote (Cross Rutted, Issue 30, July 30). I really enjoyed reading it. I grew up in the Torsten Hallman, Joel Robert, Roger DeCoster era. Raced many of the same tracks and events they did in So Cal (Corriganville for one). I was in the press box at the first ever Supercross in Southern California. Young kid, 16 years old, I think, won it. Marty Tripes. In 2012, my wife and I were in Jackson, California, for lunch. Sitting next to us was Bob Hannah and some friends. I just nodded to acknowledge who he is. A quick hi. He was eating lunch and on a ride the weekend before Hangtown, just like my wife and me on our two bikes. Pretty neat, though. When we got back home, my wife went right to the computer to Google Bob Hannah. She knows nothing about Bob. I know lots and lots. Great story and flash back. Please, keep this stuff going. Dick West Via the Internet The Rise Of Kawasaki I think Cycle News makes it seem that Bryan Smith has won the last three Sacto Miles on the Crossley Radio/Howerton Motorsports Kawasaki. Smith has won the last three, but he won the 2011 event on an XR750 Harley-Davidson. He took the lead from Chris Carr on the last lap to win by .042 of a second, thus denying Carr a win there in his final season. There were only two Kawasakis in the final that year: One was ridden by Aussie Luke Gough who was embroiled in a battle with Brad Baker (Ducati), Kenny Coolbeth (HD) and Jeff Carver (H-D). Apart from Gough, the other Kawasaki was 11th placed Shaun Russell while the other non-Harley rider in the final was Triumph-mounted Shawn Baer. This year there were six Kawasakis, two Triumphs and a Ducati in the 18-bike final, meaning half the final field was on something other than a Harley. Changing times? his expressed opinion in last week's letters regarding Tom Sykes intentionally blowing his engine at the Moscow World Superbike race. I also saw the Moscow race on BeIN TV (awesome coverage - thanks BeIN!), but as you point out Tom Sykes certainly has to be happy with his Kawasaki team and bike to have renewed his contract this early in the season for 2014. Knowing how professional Sykes is, and his being at the top of the points battle for the 2013 World Superbike Championship, and knowing the race bikes have rev limiters, I'd like to think Tom was just hoping to clear our some rain in the electrical or fuel system so he could get back in the race. Or at the very least, confirm the engine was broken internally so the team would give him a new engine for race two. Either way, it made for great TV! And like everyone at World Superbike and in the sport, Mike Esdaile Via the Internet our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends Defending Sykes of racer Andrea Antonelli, who I'm good friends with Thad died in the Supersport race at Wolf and have the greatest Moscow. respect for him as a racer, Jim Gianatsis test rider, bike builder, and for Via the Internet