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/200817
VOL. 50 ISSUE 43 OCTOBER 29, 2013 while, was – as ever – hilarious (and in Marquez's case even balletic) to watch. It was also, of course, a full-race maneuver that required excellent technique: both Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden passed two riders in the pits. Also, thankfully, safe – at least by the acid test that nobody got hurt. Some riders complained bitterly (Alvaro Bautista, for example, insisted that he'd already run 22 safe laps in practice on the softer tire … it was the wheelspin-prone hard one that overheated, a view with which Rossi concurred). Others enjoyed it. And for fans… well, what a spectacle. So here's how MotoGP can learn from this. Firstly, all premier-class races should be flagto-flag, with at least one bike change. (Or even two, with longer races, suggested an only partially mischievous Rossi.) In this way there's another dimension to the riding, an interesting mid-race fiddle-faddle with the lap charts, and pure entertainment in pit lane. More than this, it would free Bridgestone from having to make endurance tires, which would in turn free the riders from the perpetual risk of slow-warm-up highside crashes. It could also preserve the authorities' newfound right to make things up as they go along, by adding a whole new layer of potential infringements and consequent penalties, giving management a handy tool to manipulate the results. It may be scurrilous to suggest that Marquez's extreme penalty for a relatively minor error was applied purely to spice up the championship - but if you're selling a TV sport, it's not a bad idea. The Moto2 race was a predictable hoot as well; a brawling sprint with a worthy winner in Pol Espargaro. Keep that as well. It's only a personal view, but there's just so long I can listen to that noise, and watch those poor top riders on donkey-powered bikes without feeling slightly dirty. Half-race is about it. Just don't mess with Moto3. The only fulllength race of the day was, as ever, brilliant. Lesson learned. CN P111 LOOKING BACK 40 Years Ago November 6, 1973 An artistic image of speedway star Mike Bast was featured on the cover 40 years ago for recapturing the U.S. Speedway Championship at Costa Mesa... Adolf Weil, Hakan Andersson and Sylvain Geboers filled the podium during the Florida Trans AMA Series at Orlando… We tested the Carabela 200 Enduro. 30 Years Ago November 9, 1983 Larry Roeseler shows off his photomodeling expertise on the cover of Cycle News 30 years ago, as we tested the all-new Husqvarna 510 thumper… The final round of the CMC Trans-Cal Series played out at Saddleback Park, where George Holland, Jeff Hicks and John Whelchel secured the Proclass championships… Kim Douglas was crowned champ at the Womens' MX Championship at Saddleback. 20 Years Ago November 3, 1993 Those who rode the Six Days in Holland in 1993 still cringe, and you can see why from our cover 20 years ago. William "Wild Bill" Rush digs himself out of a sticky situation in a Dutch cornfield. Poland won that year… Scott Russell won the World Superbike in Portugal… Fred Andrews clinched the GNCC Championship at Starvation Point. 10 Years Ago October 29, 2003 Nicky Hayden was rewarded with a cover photo for making the podium at the Australian Grand Prix alongside Loris Capirossi and Valentino Rossi. Neil Hodgson and Ruben Xaus were also featured on the cover for their wins in World Superbike… Donnie McGourty and Jeff Emig were the stars at the Kawasaki Race of Champions at Englishtown. Subscribe to nearly 50 years of Cycle News Archive issues: www.CycleNews.com/Archives