CN
III VOICES
W H A T Y O U A R E S A Y I N G
"Andrea Dovizioso and Team Ducati are
a class act bar none."
Andrea Dovizioso
One of the most inspirational
moments in my motorcycle life
was when I watched Andrea
Dovizioso ride into the Ducati
pit lane after circulating in fifth
place for most of the Valencia
MotoGP and eventually low-
siding into a gravel pit in a race
that he desperately needed
to win. His team rushed out to
greet him; they gave him high
fives, hugs and pats on the
back. You'd think he'd won the
world championship!
Honestly, I'm left with the
impression that it would have
been no different. Shortly after,
the entire Ducati team walked
over and congratulated Team
Honda.
We viewers were told that
Lorenzo had disobeyed team
orders and refused to let "Dovi"
pass, yet Dovi never once
criticized his teammate and
officially stated that it wouldn't
have made any difference.
Marc Marquez is quite likely
the most talented MotoGP rider
we will ever see and a solid
candidate to threaten Agostini
records, but Andrea Dovizioso
and Team Ducati are a class
act bar none.
Congratulations to a fantas-
tic season. I'm left with a true
sense of pride with simply be-
ing a Ducati owner.
John Gerhardt
Electric Bikes
I'm with Frank Lackey on the
electric bikes. (Voices, Issue
#45) They'll have to pry my
cold, dead hands off the bars
before I give up riding my real
motorcycles.
Bill Hyde
Barcia And Yamaha
The last time Barcia rode Yama-
has—for the JGR team in 2016—
he finished up the last seven
rounds of the 2016 AMA 450cc
Nationals with 11 top-fives in 14
motos along with six podium
finishes, including the last four
motos of the year, where he
went 3-3-2-2.
Seems like a good fit to me.
Gregory Eddinger
Bam Bam is the modern day
Bob Hannah. Or Ricky John-
son (without the champion-
ships). I personally love his
attitude and his hard-core riding
style. Those that hate Barcia
would have felt the same way
for Hannah. Hopefully Barcia
will finally live up to expecta-
tions.
Howard Halterman
Non-Stop Tom
Echo the column (Friendly Fire,
Issue #45).
I specialize in providing
commercial insurance to the
moto industry. Tom was my first
account back in 1984 when
he and Dan [White] were in
Stanton.
It was a few months later that
Tom introduced me to Mitch
Payton, Glenn Dickerson with
RD, DG performance, etc.
With over 50 accounts in the
moto industry, I owe a lot to
Tom. Thirty-three years later I
still handle his business insur-
ances, etc.
He was genuine. Nothing
made you feel better when
talking on the phone or at the
track and Tom would say, "Hey
Buddy!"
All of the moto stars came
out to Glen Helen last Saturday
to honor him and I am sure Tom
was looking down on all with a
big smile.
RIP, Tom.
Steve Surber
Thanks for the great story,
Steve. Though I didn't know
Tom as well as many of you,
he often took time to comment
on a post of mine online and
always responded to any PM I
sent. He's a true ambassador
of the sport and an incredible
human that I am happy to have
known. My best to all of his
friends and family.
RIP, Tom. I'm glad you had
the opportunity to get some rid-
ing in and be with the folks you
loved before you passed.
I hate that we keep losing
the "good guys" like Tom, and
Mike Patrick who recently
passed away.
Mark Ctune
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
