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/807150
CN III VOICES W H A T Y O U A R E S A Y I N G "Watching the top riders at Qatar drifting through the turns followed by clouds of smoke was freaking awesome, and a spectacle that would likely be absent without all the modern electronics." Atlanta Half Mile Mees and Halbert "came" togeth- er? Mees knocked Halbert down. Not much of a way to win. Ellsworth Elly My hat's off to the New "Indian Wrecking Crew" for their sweep of the podium in Georgia. People are commenting on the Mees/ Halbert [incident] but if you look, the Indian's front wheel had just come off the ground meaning he was on the gas and in the lead. As for the XR holding its own against the FTR750 Scout, was that a factory XR? No, Harley is trying to update to the XG750R and they just haven't figured out that made- for-India in India product. You know this is not the first time Harley has been in this situ- ation with a new racer that just wasn't ready for primetime. Back in 1952 when Harley released the KR750 flathead with unit construc- tion (engine transmission in same housing) they had the same prob- lem. The WR750 flathead was a winner with guys like Jimmy Chann and Paul Goldsmith, but when they were given the KR, they just couldn't get them to run as good or turn as good as their WR's. Harley's main competition were the Indian "Big Base" Scouts of the original Indian Wrecking Crew of Bobby Hill, Bill Tuman and Ernie Beckman who were not factory sponsored (like Sammy Halbert). So, here we are repeating history, which has already played out once between Indian riders and the Harley Factory, but the difference this time is the Indian Wrecking Crew has full factory support. Indian is committed to winning; they are young, profes- sional and very enthusiastic about their racing program and the sport of American Flat Track. So let the battles begin and please, one of you manufactur- ers give Sammy a factory ride, he deserves it. John Holman Good close racing. I look forward to seeing who has the fastest bike on the mile and half mile. Kathy Matt Maybe the racing will get better on the big tracks. So far I'm not impressed James Edward Zeiser Archives: George Everett Just finished your [Larry Law- rence] great write-up on George Everett, and I really enjoyed it! As a kid, I used to get George Everett mixed up with Everett Brashear. Imagine that. Not sure whatever happened to Everett Brashear, but he may have passed away also. It seems like both George Everett and Everett Brashear both rode BSA at some time in their careers, hence my interest in them at my young age at the time. It seems like George may have started rac- ing just a couple of years before Everett, as I seem to remember Everett Brashear racing at the old Heidelburg Speedway (near Pitts- burgh) in the early '60s, but I can't recall seeing George Everett race. Clark Francy Brashear was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2016. He has also been inducted in the Trailblazers Hall of Fame and the Sturgis Motorcycle Muse- um's Hall of Fame. Brashear is 90 and currently lives in San Diego. – Editor Qatar MotoGP What a great race! Zarco was amazing, and Vinales, as pre- dicted is "the man," although it kind of highlights how user-friendly modern MotoGP bikes really are. I guess it's great and makes for great racing, but to me it lost some of its allure because of it. There used to be a learning curve when moving up to the pre- mier class, even great names like Rossi and Doohan took a while to win a race. Of course the great downside to that era was inju- ries, as they were too violent and sketchy for almost everybody. But watching the top riders at Qatar drifting through the turns followed by clouds of smoke was freaking awesome, and a spectacle that would likely be absent without all the modern electronics. So, I'll take the smoke! Howard Halterman 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