Cycle News

IN THE WIND P32 HOESS CALLS IT QUITS L ast year, Jeff Fredette declared it a career, having ridden his 34th Six Days. This year, Fred Hoess said 25 is enough. He rode his first one in 1984 in Holland—the first year "ecology tires" were mandatory—but DNFed (one of only two times he failed to finish). Since then, he's been one of the most prolific gold medalists in Six Days history, and he earned his 19th in Kosice, Slovakia, last week, his score putting him fastest of the Americans in C1 at 10th. That makes him the man with the most gold med- als in history, breaking the tie at 18 he shared with Paul Edmondson of Great Britain. (Edmondson earned all of his gold medals as a member of Ju- nior World Trophy and World Trophy teams.) And that was on top of skipping Argentina last year and not being able to ride or train due to an Achilles injury that's nagged him since last December. "It was a hard road to get here so emotionally it's been tough," Hoess said right after finishing in Kosice. "I think I got a gold; 19 would be the record, which would be cool. That's kind of what I was kind of trying to do because I can't do this any more—it's too taxing! Twenty-five, 19, two odd numbers—seems good; I'm done." The only thing that might lure him out of retire- ment? "If they do a vintage [class] and it's six days [long] next year, I'll do it, because '85 [in Spain] was my first one I finished. I had a phenomenal ride as a kid there. I won a couple tests and I think I was second overall behind Gilles Lalay five or six times. I was beating [Stephan] Peterhansel! When I look back, I didn't even know who he was! I would love to come back on the same bike (a Husky 250 WR) 31 years later. It'd be great!" Mark Kariya After 25 ISDEs, Fred Hoess is through searching for gold. He has officially retired from ISDE competition. PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARK KARIYA MALCOLM SMITH HOSTS BRAD LACKEY MOVIE NIGHT M alcolm Smith Motorsports in Riverside, California hosted another movie night, this time in honor of first American 500cc World Champion Brad Lackey. The night wasn't only Lackey's, as Malcolm Smith was on hand to sell copies of his new autobiography, Malcolm! Malcolm hosted a meet-and-greet with fans, and autographed the books purchased. Following the book signing was a viewing of Brad Lackey's episode of "The Motocross Files," chronicling his decade- long journey to winning the world championship. For information on future movie nights at Malcolm Smith Motors- ports, or on the new book Malcolm! please visit www.MalcolmSmith. com. CN Brad Lackey (left) and Malcolm Smith shared the spotlight at the recent movie night and book signing at Malcolm Smith Motorsports. PHOTOGRAPHY BY SCOTT COX/RESMARKET, INC.

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