Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Via e-mail:

To Tony Ianarelli

First off, I sincerely apologize to you for name-calling you. You obviously care for our sport passionately. It was wrong and it was inconsiderate. I’ve since consulted with my computer friend to rig my computer and not allow me to speak spontaneously to Roadracing World anymore. My computer guru said there’s no guarantee it will work, but he’s on it!

At my own expense, and possibly some of yours Tony, a lot has happened since we hit the “SEND” button to voice our opinions on RW. Very interesting reactions to my comments about your post on RW have brought public opinion to the surface where I can see it finally. Now, if I may explain, when I used the word “idiot”, (you’re from New England,) it’s not the end of the world, it just means I didn’t understand your motive to blow a whistle on Yates and I had to disagree with your efforts to encourage a penalty on another rider, especially Yates. That job is the AMA’s.

We as riders can never stick together in our small community of people, it seems to me, and I’m sick of it. When I tried to unite the riders in 1991 to get some serious issues dealt with, it revealed to me the politics and the division amongst the ranks. When I logged on and saw your comments encouraging the AMA to levy heavy fines against AAron, I think I blew a gasket, sorry!

Yates has got his reasons for lying in the track and I have mine for sticking up for him. Mine mainly, because I tried to put myself in his place, fathom the season he’s had this year. Witnessed his regard for the other riders’ safety in his off-track efforts to address safety issues. He risked persecution for speaking out, despite the fact he’s factory contracted, etc. That was the only way he could show the world that things need to be different next year and beyond and we are so close to achieving a big change.

Yeah, he overdid it; yeah, I over did it. But someone has said it’s because Yates and I are close, we’re not. I don’t know Yates outside the racetrack. You can speculate what could have happened, waving yellows were displayed so no one was racing for position, but in the end, nothing happened.

At Mid-Ohio I was devastated by Yate’s ordeal. We have the ability with the SPEED cameramen crew to get so close to the action. In my private monitors (ISO) Aaron’s arm looked like a shark bit him, a big shark! Those images didn’t go over the airwaves. I saw Yates handle that entire situation with so much grit it was incredible. The commercial break covered most of time that Yates pulled off his leathers and saw for himself what happened. I had every angle of his incident in front of me. It made me nearly sick to watch him wait under the bike and wait again for help. I thought what if that thing lights up, what’s he going to do? After the race I couldn’t stop thinking about Yates and the way he handled himself. He tossed his bike down in an effort to keep from hitting the bike ahead. After impact, he lost close to two pints of blood. Then he came back in two weeks after his wife gave birth for the second time in his life to race the final at VIR.

Any of us would have excused him under those circumstances. Aaron Yates defines my interpretation of a Motorcycle Racer, he’s Just Like Randy P. Renfrow, “Built to Race.” I can’t help but to think about “Cool Hand Luke”–Nobody wants that to happen to Aaron.

Most people completely misunderstood my comments about the 750 class. I’m not saying that everyone should not race a Supersport bike in the Superbike class. I’m saying turn the same lap times as the front-running Supersport guys consistently and then, if you want to race the Superbike class with the same Supersport bike, at least put some fresh slicks on it that will go the distance when it calls for slicks and maybe modify it enough to cut a faster lap time. Just a few tenths per lap can help you from being lapped, anything to reduce the closing speeds from the Factory Bikes.

And yes I’ve stated on TV and it is the general rule for the faster factory rider to find his way around a less experienced privateer, but the privateer has got to leave an opening for the closing bike if they are headed for apex together. Deatheridge is probably the best at being heads up. Next year’s rule changes hold the key to this problem, we’ll have to see what happens. I wasn’t rich as a privateer, but I had a Superbike along with a dedicated Supersport bike. Look again at Woody Deatheridge, or Parriott or Livengood. And there’s a lot more names who race with Supersport bikes, some on DOTs and they don’t cause trouble. Some don’t get lapped! They have great battles and we go to them if Bostrom and Nicky and the others aren’t all over each other. The grids are not going to be 9 or 10 factory bikes alone. The privateers will always be welcome there, it’s just the closing speed is too high, too tempting for the factory guy.

By % of pole time or however it’s decided next year, the grids will be more exclusive. To get there you’ll have to be considered one the best, rider and machine. That’s what will bring in the “outside” financial backing everyone is so desperately seeking. Now, when I bring a guest to the track who is new to Superbike, they ask, “Why is that guy (the poor privateer) able to run with that guy?” (Joe Factory) Most newcomers don’t see the logic of it and neither do I. I listen to the factory riders and I listen to the privateers. I’m way more privateer than factory rider, always will be.

Remember, my job is to talk to the pictures on the screen. If I could direct from my chair, I’d show Opie Caylor more often having the “Ride of his Life” or Parriott–He’s blazing a trail this year!

Anyhow, as far as TV goes. We get it from all sides, can’t please everyone.

Yeah, I make mistakes on TV and try to correct myself when there’s time in the show. These shows are live and I’m the analyst, Drebber is the Man at “play by play,” he’s got the stats. I watch the screens, listen to the producer’s directions “mid-sentence” and call the action on the fly. I’ve got one shot at getting the right call and sometimes I blow it, just like I did when I posted my comments and used the word idiot.

Anyhow Tony, this may be what I’ve been looking for for a long time. I consistently ask the “Powers That Be” if I can improve with my broadcasting. They told me to “Pick-up the Excitement Level” last year and that comes easy for me. Outside of that, everyone with whom I speak with regularly, the seasoned fans, the industry insiders. Everyone seems to encourage me and are thrilled with the shows. Some give me bits and pieces to improve my style and give pertinent information, others say it rocks as is! This debate we started opened up a lot of critics’ opinions and one that troubles me is the guys that say I should step away from the booth. Believe me, if I’m hindering the growth of the sport or causing it any harm by doing what I do in TV, well I’m defeating my heart’s desire to see motorcycle racers receive the highest honors in sport and I will gladly step away. This has been quite a journey if I remain, or if I go, regardless.

Good to see everyone getting active about safety, though, isn’t it Tony?

If you’ll forgive me, I’d be indebted to you.

“Ski”

David Sadowski