Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

VOICES "No other sporting event I have been to has this concentrated, sustained, and commercially driven barrage of products." History Lesson tl I enjoyed the way Frank Santiago's letter started out, especially when he said, con- cerning American champions, "King Kenny Roberts - enough said." ldon't know if there is a bigSer KR fan out there than me, so I got a kick out of that remark. But as I read on, I kind of got the idea that what he had to say about the other champions was as if it were required in order to make his first and last points: that Kenny Roberts was the best and Nicky Hayden is not a "World Champion contender." On point one, as difficult as it is for me to actually type these words, Kenny Robens may not have been America's best road-rac- ing World Champion. Going to Europe and winning three consecutive (hampionships was a great feat, no doubt. And the first year he rode the 250cc clas.s as well, primarily to get track time in preparation for the 500cc class. He was leading that class in points when Yamaha pulled him out midway through the season. He may very well have won that class that year too. The distinction of being a double champion goes to Freddie Spencer, who did it a few years later. Eddie Lawson, being a four-time World Champion, becomes the third person to be considered America s greatest road-racinS champion. What makes Kenny Roberts the "King" is not road racing alone. Two con- secutive AMA Grand National titles and the fact that he completed the grand slam twice, once within a single season, con- tributed to it, Cycre News concluded that he is the greatest motorcycle racer America has ever had by naming him the "Rider of the Century" I concur wholeheartedly. On point two, lfind it laughable for someone not to consider Nicky Hayden a contenden The pro8ress he's made in the short time that he has been riding in a class that features the best riders in the world, ridin8 the most powerful bikes raced, has been way ahead of the curve as far as I am concerned, One must bear in mind that Valentino Rossi is not the aver"ge champion. Every now and then someone very special comes around, someone who is destined to go down as one of, if not the greatest, rac- ers who ever lived. He's that good. He may even eclipse Hailwood and Agostini. lf Rossi weren't racing now Nicky would become quite a bit more than iust a con- tender. I expect Hayden to finish a strong second this year and ifthat's not considered contending, I don't know what is. Dan Henr,l Encinitos, CA Less Announcing, Please ljust attended my fourth Supercross (Araheim lll) last weekend and was amazed at the constant stream of products, com- mercials, and giveaways being force-fed down my throat, along with the other 40,000 fans. I know the sponsors need to make money, but this is ridiculous. Even up to the time the gate drops, Terry Boyd is hawking some kind of "oflicial this" or "oflicial that" (boats, T-shirts, pro- grams, etc.) in his relentless stream of pitches. Question: ls he on commission? A few years ago they played the previous weekend's race on the big screen. Now it's noastop commercials. No other sporting ev€nt I have been to has this concentrated, sustained, and com- mercially driven barrage of producs, and the ratio of race time to commercials has never been so lopsided. I've noticed that this gets worse every year. Talk about a captive audience... You know what? Suddenly watching Supercross at home seems to be a better option. And please bring back Jamie Little. Mike Tondberg vio the ,ntemet Less Announcing !! Why must parng fans be bhdgeoned to death with ads and sales pitches at Super- cross evens. I know it pap the bills and all, but it's overkill. Too many times throughout the night. the 45,000 fans are not being entertained ... at all. They sit watching ads on the big screen, or watch Terry Boyd whoring out product after product (at times even when the racers are already at the gate). No orher sporting even( does rhis to irs fans. Thank God for the people that smuggle in those inflatable beach balls, because at times that is the only entertainmenr going on (until the ushers take them away). Supercross is one of the greatest shows on earth, but the event promoters can do better. Also, can someone please write Erin Bates some new questions to ask the KTM Junior riderr. Rick Jocobso, North Hollyr,,od CA The Tracks The REM track must look a lot different from Mr. Greer's house in Springfield, Missouri, but I don't recall any triples or rhythm sections or thigh-deep whoops the last time I rode it. Everyone seems to be in an uproar over making the tracks easier - I like to see as well as the next guy the skill of a Stewart or Reed or Carmichael in bliuing a gnarly set of whoops or clearinS a section others won't attempt. But I also like seeing all of the top riders healthy and on the track rac- ing. I remember Soing to Supercross races where more than halfthe factory gqa were out injured and the semis were empry. lt's not good for the sport when fans show up and their favorite rider is injured and does- n't even have the opportunity to compete, regardless ofthe difficulq/ ofthe track. (Get well soon, "K Dub!") So what ifthey take out a set ofwhoops or smooth out an inside berm to make the track less one-lined? lt's still motocross and a far cry from a TT track. Personally, I would pay to watch LaRocco, Ri€ky, "Bubba," Chad, Nick Wey and "Hot Sauce" race the REI'4 track if you put it in Edison Field. They're the best at what they do, regardless of the difflculty of the track. But it would need to be televised so Mr. Greer could see (from his livinS room in Missouri) the vast difference between the "tamest" of this year's Supercross tracks and the REM track. fuody Olson, Yu.diPo, CA The ltalian Blues? It seems almost weekly that some drastic change to the financial background of the Italian motorcycle indus y is reported in Cycle News. To be honest, I am so confused as to the state of that industry that I find it rather useless to keep up and try and under- stand whar's really going on over there. lYy friends and business associates all share the same consensus: The ltalian motor- cycle industry seems to be hanging on by a thread, and that total failure seems imminent. This seemingly unstable industry plays a maior part in our decisions to forsake pur- chase of ltalian-made motorcycles, and it's not that the product fails to meet expectlr- tions, but that factory service and suppon seems lacking. Frankly, we wonder if the local Italian dealer is 8oin8 to be open next week. We believe that is the reason why ltalian bikes are so expensive and elusive to us. To be truthful, we want the product, but we are unwillinS, in most cases, to deal with the baggage that comes with such a marque. Plost customers want simple loSistics, so they go down and buy a reliable, inexpen- sive lapanese motorcycle (or an expensive American-made machine). As I walk through and inspect my humble stable of two-wheeled steeds, I must admit that my heart rate increases dramatically as I pass my lovely ltalian machines. But as I stride further on, it is painful to look back and reflect on the heartache of the parts avail- ability and support; and like an old girl- friend, I chose to stay with an old reliable - albeit less glamorous - bike, and forsake the hassle of the exotic. Not that we dont want to be seen with the exotic ltalian! But we are afraid of being dumped by hea and we are not sure we can handle the ernotional srrain of it all in our sim- ple litde min&. ln closing, perh+s us simple American folk don't desen e such ma

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