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50 Years Ago December 23, 1965
Fifty years ago, Cycle News was just a few issues old, beginning life as Mo-
torcycle Journal before changing its name to Cycle News just three issues
later on October 14, 1965. Issue number-one of 1966 has gone MIA from our
archives (but we have the rest!), so we'll start the new year off with the previ-
ous issue, the final 15-page issue of 1965, which featured mostly topics close
to home, like racing in the Southern California desert and scrambles racing
from local tracks, such as Perris Valley. Sprocket's TT in Bakersfield was
also a hot spot. Each issue of Cycle News set you back 15 cents and a used
Honda Super Hawk sold for $600.
20 Years Ago January 10, 1996
Suzuki unleashed its new 2006 GSX-R750-T
at Homestead Raceway, where we got the chance put in some laps on the
bike. We also put it on the cover, along with Troy Corser from Daytona. He
was the quickest during Michelin's two days of tire testing… Contributing test
editor Alan Cathcart told us what it was like to ride Max Biaggi's champion-
ship-winning Aprilia RSV250. He was impressed to say the least.
LOOKING BACK
40 Years Ago January 13, 1976
Young gun Tony DiStefano was the talk of the town starting off the new year. The
Pennsylvanian finished off 1975 as the hottest motocross rider in the U.S. and
had just signed a factory contract with Suzuki, and he was featured on the cover
40 years ago to accompany our interview with Tony "D," which was written by
now-editor of Motocross Action magazine, Jody Weisel… There was concern in
the industry that motocross in the U.S. was losing its appeal after experiencing
a drop of spectator attendance in 1975, and author Jim Gianatsis explored the
subject… A memorial motocross race was held for Jim West, a popular California
MXer who had recently passed away following a crash at Saddleback Park. His
good friend Gaylon Moiser, who also lost his life four years later in a training/
bicycle accident, won the event.
30 Years Ago January 15, 1986
Holland's Kees van der Ven was pictured on the cover of Cycle News 30
years ago for winning the opening round of the Florida Winter AMA MX round in
Gainesville, Florida. Guy Cooper and Billy Liles also did some damage that day
in the Florida sand… Four-strokes invaded Carls-
bad Raceway where Brian Myerscough won the
Open Pro class at the CMC Four-Stroke Nation-
als on an ATK 560. He battled Johnny O'Mara
on a very trick Honda XR500.
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