Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

VOICEs "He will never be on par with Montoya, Raikkonen, or Alonso - much less Schuey." Amick Amok? Like a partasan politician, Bill Arnick felt it necessary to take a dose of denial therapy after reading Henny Ray Abrams' opinion piece on the CEO crisis at AIYA Pro Racing. l'4r. Amick wrote that he has no dog in this fight and then takes up a fight with l'4r- Abrams, Amick wrote that it is not for himself or Abrams to say if the current CEO crisis was handled well, but fails to suggest who is qr-ralilied to say if it was handled well. Worse, Amick seems to suggest that the leadership of AIYA should not be harshly criricized based on the fact that the organi- zation has survived for 80 years. Amick wrote that he has put in 30 years at the AMA overceeing communications (what?) and pro{essional racing, yet is not priv/ to what is goinS on behind the scenes. And after admitting to being out of the loop, Amick scolds Abrams for never con- tacting him for fact checking. Amick's assertion that Abrams practices "self-congratulatory talks with those who sup- poft his opinions'' w"s pure nectar. I can iust see Abrams mumbling to himself like Ozy Osborne while writing his opinion pieces. Amick claims that Abrams' unfair criti- cism of the AI4A extends back to the time Amick oversaw communications for the AMA. Amick further claims that Abrams never called him. never wrote a letter or e- mail, and never approached him at the many events they both attended. Amick, if communications for the AMA was your responsibility and you did not like what Abrams was writing, it is your respon- sibility to call, write or talk to Abrams. Just remember these four words Amick: "What would Woodward do?" Amick states that the readers of Cycle News deserve better. I agree. I would love to read moTe hilarious lefters from the admittedly uninformed Amick. Keep 'em cominS Bill! Trocy Hogen Edino, MN Chicanery I just wanted to say thanks for the great edi- torial (this week's "Chicanery"). I love the fact that Cycle News is not afraid to tell it like it is. Unfortunately, the AMA, especially Al'1A Pro Racing, could care less about what AIYA members wish for. lf they did, we'd have the Loudon Classic back and I would- n't have to call VIR my local Superbike race. They mi8ht have also helped out 300 card-carryinS members with the debacle that happened in August 2004 at the Red Fox Turkey Run in Townsend, Vermont. Unfortunately, they just wrote a letter say- ing that the sheriff's department shouldn't have done what they did (th.ow us all out of town) and then they went back to fight- ing for loud pipes and no helmets. Thanks lor being the voice for those of us who ride and race. Motk Leiqett vio the ,nterret Bush Bashing? I could not be more offended by the "No Comment" article by Mr, Abrams, and it has nothing to do with the AMA. The pages of Cyc,e News are not the place for him to expose his political beliefs. His offensive comments about Dick Cheney, Richard "Dick" Nixon (why does he call him dick?) and our sitting President George Bush - all prominent republicans, by the way - are out of line in a motorcycle magazine. I am particularly concerned in regard to his comment about Al-Qaeda. Does he wish they did befter PR? Perhaps Mr. Abrams should appt for a job at lhe New York limes. I'm sure the readers of that publication would appreciate his Bush-bashing editorials. Dove Eorll Yalencia, CA Engine Correction As a thoroughly modem motorcyclist of the old school, I feel compelled to correct Scott RousseaL.:'s description of the Ninja 650R engine - i! is not a venical twin, because 'veni- cal" means the cy'inders stand straight up, like those on the Triumph Bonneville. \Mat pow- ers the Kawasaki is an inclined parallel twin, with the inclination being about 20 degrees. Pr ofestor Clement Solvgdo ri Atascodero CA Kid's Racing Correction Regarding the article in "Briefly" on Graves Motorcports' .losh Herrin. lwant to con- gratulate .losh for moving up the ladde. to AMA racing and don't want to take anything away from his accomplishments, but the facts are that Tommy Aquino was the top American at the World MiniGP Festival in Valenica, Spain. Tommy and Josh went together that year and Tommy out qualified and beat Josh in the two races. I think as a newspaper, the facts should be reported correctly. As you know in racing, results are hard enough to come by let alone havinS some- one else claim them for their own. I hope a correction will be printed. The ,,quino Fdinitt vio trre ,nte.net Raculmuto A-Okay I iust read the story "ln The Wind" by Gordon Ritchie talking about the Alex Barros World Superbike test. lt was a very nice story except for the last pan where he states the track is more suited to go-kaning than to Superbikes. The track itself is almost the same size as Pikes Peak lnternational Raceway and wasn't that one used for years on the AMA calendar? I would suppose that racers go where they are least likely to encounter a huge number of raging fans hamperinS their test- ing, hence the reason to come to Sicily. Some friends and I who are stationed here in Sicily went to the test and watched in amazement as Barros slid both the front and back, looking for the limats of tires and bike. lust seeing how smooth he was with everything was a treat. Thou8h we weren't allowed into the track, we did watch from the hills surrounding the track. We regularly do track days at that partic- ular track, and for a mere 50 euro we get a whole day of riding. I could be wrong, but I believe here in the very near future the track called Raculmuto will be a pan of the CIV Championship (the equivalent of AMA Superbike). I don't know if lYr Ritchie was at the test or not, but he is more than wel- come to come to come out with us for a track day and see how many people who are racing use this track for practice. Thank you for your time and for produc- ing a great magazine. lohn Mdbry vid tha ,rrtarDet Rossi And Ferrari I wouldn't get too misty about Valentino Rossi's testing performance since a there are a number of key points a non-F I person might not know. Although he was driving a restricted Vlo-powered car, it was for the purpose of leveling the playing field with the new smaller displacement VBs. This motor, which will be permitted for use with the smaller teams and further restricted, is nonetheless more powerful in peak power and torque. (Mclaren ninning a restricted Vlo in last year's car topped the timesheets for quite some time.) Rossi was also in a 20O4 chassis that, despite being two years old, is of a superior aerodynamic configura- tion. Such a car is no longer permitted to race since 2005-06 regulations require a front wing height increase of 50mm and a forward shift of I 50mm for the rear wing. This, along with smaller outer channels in the diffuser and an increased minimum heiSht o{ the turning vanes forward of the floor's tea tray, make for substantial decreases in performance to the 2006 cars- Rossi's lap times are impressive for not being an F I driver, but he is still seconds-a- lap shy of any competitive driver in a prop- er spec car. and hasn't demonstmted any competency over a race distance. lf he tests more frequently over the next year, he might achieve this capability, but he will never be on par with Montoya, Raikkonen, or Alonso - much less Schue/. Domon Moron vio the tnternet tettflr to heedibr should be sent lo voices, Cycle News, PO Box 5084, Costo Meso, CA 92628-5084; Ioied to 714751i685 or emoiled to edibr@cyclsnews.com. Published lnc. should 200 publicolion 6 MARCH I,2006 . CYCLE NEWS Egoleflews Yolrlme xf lll ADYERTISING . WESTERN STATES (7 t t\ 751-7a13 TGE, E .t -iLrin l &.eatr}llodiu t'l.rt Th.m, Forrcl |i.Irhi, ryiNt n{I-W.n m'ald M$ogdt Rh.nd. Cr.wfod - ,lodond AnG i,ha Co ttkdr.t AhlEhh Xibin -Arin@. ITIARKETING . PROI.IOTION ilok Thcre - Drerd tomn H.y&hi -l4na!s NEW XEDIA DEVELOPMENT Xory ICinCE - sft. Mo.ad GRAPHICS. PROOUCTION K.tnl6 kwlor - tulcrio /M.E!l Suniu Ksn, Ro6.n n.rtln, chri.tb. P6.l6n - Gr+hk trtkE ADI.IINISTRATION ludy rchgs - Cddlndtot Pem K.i. - ld,"iniirot E tt n@. ACCOU]IITING ' OATA PROCESSING Doni ArFtuOiamod - rui C@rdi,.tn c.n.v. B.p.s - Iadnl st&y RF. - Crer,t iudra.. CItrCULATION Am Anguie - ClruldtLn iYddSE. C.rol Mragio - Prrcsira Cdrdlro.or S da RodriBE! - O.d,., Cerditu or SERVICE . SUPPORT t{i.hdl. V€i. - Rc.p.iorin nob.n Esid.r - S,vrd rrd SllPon NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS !50t1'l Cadilla. Ae.. CosE M6a cA t2626 Po. ld 1084, Coitr lrler.. CA 916 .5044 O14)751,74!r. 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