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/434045
CN III VOICES L E T T E R S T O T H E E D I T O R "It's a wonderful thing to see current MotoGP Champion Marc Marquez, who was the Grand Marshal at the Indy Mile, give DT a shot in the arm." Superprestigio Superfan I was hoping for a Mees, Baker, Marquez battle in the final with an American coming out on top, like last year, but we can't have everything. Marquez earned his win and it was an exciting event. More please, with all three Hayden brothers next year! Lance Holst via the Internet Great Expectations I've learned many things from the old timers and have come to the conclusion that marketing of Amer- ican Dirt Track (DT) racing in the states has fallen quite a ways. But DT has become very popular in Europe with a vintage cham- pionship series run in Germany, Spain and Italy, not to mention the event shown this weekend. It's a wonderful thing to see cur- rent MotoGP Champion Marc Marquez, who was the Grand Marshal at the Indy Mile, give DT a shot in the arm. People love the action in DT just as I did in the late 70s before it became the Harley- Davidson show. We need to promote DT to what it once was, back when the first race of the year was the Short Track and TT held in Houston. The Astrodome used to be full, and it was a two-day event. We need Troy Bayliss as the Australian ambassador, Marquez as the Spanish ambas- sador, Valentino Rossi as the Italian ambassador and have Freddie Spencer, KR and Chris Carr as the U.S. ambassadors and promote a four-race series during the off-season—one event in each country with the U.S. round the last race to be held for the World Champion- ship of DT, held in Las Vegas at a large casino venue like the MGM Grand. Get Monster Energy involved (for the eye candy) and crowd fund these. Can you imagine the frenzy to see Vale banging bars with Marquez and Baker along with the rest of the field? Get Biaggi involved for more torment. Motorcycle racing fans are fanatical and would love to see these guys race. The first night a short track and then the sec- ond night add a low jump with a switchback (TT), and keep the point system they used this weekend. Dealers from each country would supply the stock motorcy- cles and then the rider would be allowed to change pipes, handle- bars, wheel size and suspension to fit their style. After the races, auction off the bikes for charity. Now that would be an event! What do you think? John Holman via the Internet Cianciarulo Out Bummer! This dude has the chance to follow in the footsteps of JM2, RC4 and RV1, but if he's going to break like fine china every time he falls, it's not going to be much of a career for him. Really want to see him out there. Heal up, dude and try drinking some milk. Ronny Higginbotham via the Internet The last time I asked this (why aren't riders wearing modern lightweight, high-density shoulder pads like you see in hockey/ football) was when Ben Spies biffed his shoulder for the second time in his first race back (which incidentally put an end to his ca- reer). No one ever responded to my comment, so I guess shoulder pads and motorcycle racing does not even rate as a topic of serious conversation. Caleb Gilbert via the Internet Scrambler Scrutiny What "sport" would they be new to? Sport implies competition and there is nothing "competitive" about riding on the street (unless you include dodging clueless cagers). I like how they paid hom- age to a relatively light, relatively low-priced bike from the past with a 400-lb $8500 one. I guess that is inflation for ya. On a positive note, the new one does look pretty nice in its own right, and the sensible riding position looks pretty good for scooting around town. The price is indeed pretty reasonable, too, considering what you get and compared to other bikes like the FZ-09 and the new GSX-R750. Alex Rossborough via the Internet Letters to the editor can be sent to voices@cyclenews.com. Published letters do not necessarily reflect the position of Cycle News. Letters should not exceed 150 words and are subject to editing. Anonymous letters won't be considered for publication and each letter should contain the writer's name, address and daytime phone number… Editor P34