Posted on Tuesday, March 26, 2013 - 04:28 pm:

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I’ve never met Kevin Schwantz, and if he fell over me he wouldn’t have a clue as to who I am. Despite this, I’ve found myself jumping to his defense in the very ridiculous brouhaha in which he is pitted against CoTA. Unfortunately, it will probably require the courts system to unravel this mess, assign blame, and place a large black, official smudge on the reputations of both parties. I take no sides with this legal issue as it will prove to be a Hydra-like, and I have zero facts at hand. So why do I care?

I care because it is emblematic of the way we so often treat our motorcycle icons. In the greater scheme of things, motorcycle racing rates a very tiny blip on the radar of importance. In this country, in particular, it rates far below any number of stick-and-ball games. Those of us who are close to the sport --be it as a participant or a fan-- understand the talent and dedication it takes to race a motorcycle successfully. And to reach the pinnacle that Schwantz has scaled, places one in the very rarefied air of elite athletes… and then some.

“There are but three true sports--bullfighting, mountain climbing, and motor-racing. The rest are merely games.”
While the origin of this quote is debatable, its basic truth is not. When you race a motorcycle, be you a rank amateur or a world champion, you put it all on the line; your skill, your determination, your life. Do it poorly and you’ll either leave the sport quickly, or get hurt. Do it well and acclaim awaits you …right up to the point where you no longer do it.

Kevin Schwantz has very successfully carved out a post-racing career for himself. He is a teacher, a mentor, and an inspiration. He is also an exception, as most professional racers fade …or are faded… from the public’s consciousness. More correctly, they are often shoved aside. The business of racing is brutal; you either win, or you pack up your helmet. And that is the way it should be, as trophies for just showing up are worthless. But unfortunately, we the fans often treat these riders the same way; lose on Sunday, get lost on Monday.

One of the more egregious examples of this is Miguel Duhamel, a hugely talented, charismatic multi-champion that seemingly disappeared overnight after his last race in 2008. Ask the average race-goer today who Duhamel is, and you’ll likely get a blank stare. Personally, I believe our two-wheeled champions deserve more respect than that. Don’t misunderstand, I’m not a fan of hero-worshipping, nor do I suffer fools gladly, be they in or out of a helmet. But I am big on respect; if duly earned, it should be duly given. Kevin Schwantz has earned respect, and it is due him from the motorcycle community.

Why “respect?” Because respect provides continuity and credibility to our sport. Because respected champions are role models and mentors. Because respected champions are the link between the sport itself, the general public, and potential sponsors.

CoTA’s decision to bar Schwantz from the track was a stupid one, on any number of levels. Yes, there are the legal issues between Schwantz and the track, but smart management would have kept them under wraps. Someone should have said, “Hey look, we gotta problem with this guy but if we bar him from the track, we’re gonna end up with egg all over our face. Let’s smile-up, and let the courts navigate the legal swamp.” Instead, they let their lawyers and their egos make a bad decision. I wish no ill will towards CoTA, but this level of arrogance should not go unnoticed, nor unpunished.

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Posted on Wednesday, March 27, 2013 - 11:16 am:

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Leo Vince USA has stepped into the Kevin Schwantz frey, and I applaud them for taking a stand. This can be a dangerous thing for a company to do. They most assuredly have earned my respect and my future business."
Visit the Leo Vince USA FB page and let them know how you feel.

They wrote, in part...
"I do not know this author but I do know Kevin Schwantz. He was one of the few people who welcomed LeoVince at the race track when we showed up in the USA almost ten years ago. He has been tireless in his promotion of Road Racing both here and abroad and is truly an ambassador of the sport. I to am not a hero worshipper but Kevin Schwantz has EARNED his spot in this sport and as motorcyclists and racing enthusiasts he deserves our respect for the entertainment he brought us and the graciousness he has shown as a champion and mentor of young riders. Currently he is assisting our sponsored Team Attack Performance as the riding coach of Blake Young our CRT Pilot this year. During the recent tire test, although properly credentialed, he was escorted off the Circuit of America Property by security, threatened with criminal charges for trespassing and told not to return. Yes there is a pending lawsuit between Kevin and CoTA, but the owners should have shown considerably more decorum than this, this could have been managed gracefully not forcefully. He indeed deserves better than the Treatment CoTA showed in their actions. I guess everything is bigger in Texas, including bullies and bastards."

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