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/697689
CN III VOICES L E T T E R S T O T H E E D I T O R "It will be interesting to see how AMA Pro Racing develops rules that keep the other brands competitive into the future." Oklahoma City Mile Just flicked open the latest issue of Cycle News and read the report on the Oklahoma City Mile. The photos indicate a track with very wide (safe) turns with a variety of possible lines, which you'd think would lead to close racing. But the loose surface seems to have been a factor that worked in the opposite direction. So, we end up with only six riders on the lead lap, four of them Kawa- saki 650s, one a Ducati 1100, and the winner on a venerable XR750 Harley-Davidson. Congratulations to Jared Mees for finding traction in the corners where others struggled. And congratulations to the late Dick O'Brien for the original development of the XR750 from its 883 Sportster roots, to Harley-Davidson and its dealers for continuing to fund them and to tuners like Bill Werner who have been instru- mental in keeping them running so hard over the years. There is no little irony in the fact it was Werner who opened everyone's eyes to the pos- sibilities that existed in the neat, compact 650cc parallel twin Kawasaki engine. The Kawasaki can clearly be tuned to produce competitive power and retain great reliability, which is doubtless why so many competitors have made the switch. Eight of the 18 starters at Oklahoma City were on Kawasakis, six were on Harleys (five XR750s and one 750 Street), two were on KTM 950s, with one Triumph Bonnev- ille (940cc?) and one 1100cc Ducati. Now Indian has developed a purpose- built racing engine and will join the ranks, competing against rivals using production-based engines. It will be interesting to see how AMA Pro Racing devel- ops rules that keep the other brands competitive into the future. The rule makers need to be vigilant to ensure there is no repeat of the domination of a purpose-built race engine. They only need to go back to the 1980s and look at how the old AMA allowed the racing- only Honda RS750s into the class. By the time they had finished, the spectator seats were almost empty. Finally, congratulations to Larry Lawrence for producing his fascinating Archives series. Always a great read. Thanks. Michael Esdaile Dutch TT What a ride by Jack Miller! He took chances and it paid off! He showed everyone today how to ride in the wet. Garrett Robson It's nice to see a new face on the top step of the podium. Tommy Long Good on Marquez. Kept his head in check and did the right thing and collected the points when his far more experienced rivals lost their minds. I hope he takes the crown for doing wonders on that Honda. Well done Jack Miller and Marc VDS team, too!. Dean Rye 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 P6 Jack Miller celebrates his first MotoGP victory. PHOTOGRAPHGY BY GOLD & GOOSE