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/870143
CN III VOICES W H A T Y O U A R E S A Y I N G "No need to panic about how we are falling behind the Europeans." U.S.GP Overall pretty impressive results from the few AMA guys who raced, no need to panic about how we are falling behind the Europeans. Andy Kemps I was there and I can say first hand that RJ Hampshire schooled them! Jim Sheldon Springfield Mile Even when Harley's were win- ning all the time it wasn't the factory team all the time, many private teams won. Now, for the most part, if your not on a factory Indian you're racing for fourth. Remember when Honda did this, and once they decided there was nothing left for them to prove they dropped out of the series. This all looks way too familiar. Jay Jacobs I think it's pretty clear that Mees is the best rider of this era. And [he does the best] victory wheel- ies to boot! Good job, Jared. Mark Kern Why? I have a story that that I need to get off my chest. It starts with a little boy learning to ride a two- stroke motorcycle back in 1982 and ends with the question, "Why?" I would like to share my story because of the question that made laugh and think "Why not?" Learning to ride a two-stroke in Ensenada, Mexico, back in the early 80's was one of the coolest things in the world. My brother and I would ride our oil-injected two-stokes all day if we could. Three or four fill-ups of gas per day were not uncom- mon. Depending on how hard we pushed the motorcycle we could foul a plug in one day. Flash forward to the early '90's and my first club ride. A rival spin-off club was started around the same time as the Coyote Trail riders. The Conejo Trail riders invited a man named Tim Johnson, and he invited me. Not having a motorcycle, I asked my best friend if I could borrow his older brother's motorcycle for the upcoming ride. When Tim saw the motorcycle, he told me I was going to need a fresh back tire for the sand washes in the desert. After spending the night in a tent, it was time to gear up and ride. Starting someone else's 465, 490, 500 was a bitch. This part of the story is where the "why" makes sense. After failing to fire it up, other club riders helped. It was like they wanted to, not just to help the new kid, but to feel the power of a monster two-stroke. I made the ride only because every club rider helped me start my friend's motorcycle. Flash forward again to 2017 ordering parts for 1982 Yamaha IT 465 J. A local motorcycle mechanic took one look at the carburetor I was holding, low- ered his glasses to look me in the eyes and asked, "Why?" I love reading Cycle News! Keep up the great work. Simón David Kagan 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