Ups & Downs

Ups & Downs

ROUNDUP

UP: To Danielle Martin, for putting her priorities in order. The 25-year-old amateur motocrosser, model, surfer, TV personality and UCLA softball standout was runner-up in last October’s Miss World United States beauty contest, but would rather ride her Kawasaki KX125 than traipse down the catwalk. About the pageant experience, the Californian told Surfer magazine, “The smell of two-stroke gas in the air is much nicer than 50 different perfumes in one room.”

UP: To Jimmy Button, for landing on his feet. Following a career-ending spinal injury at last year’s AMA Supercross round in San Diego, the former factory Yamaha rider faced an exhaustive rehabilitation process with no guarantee he would ever walk again. Though he won’t be saddling up any time soon, Button is back at the track working for Bell Helmets and “feels pretty good.”

DOWN: To Richard Etenson, for using bikers as bowling pins. This past March, the 44-year-old Daytona Beach, Florida, resident was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, reckless driving and driving with a suspended license after he allegedly sideswiped a truck, ran over several parked bikes and then smashed into six motorcyclists. According to the Daytona Beach News-Journal, three people were taken to the hospital. “He didn’t stop,” claimed one victim. “He just kept the gas to the floor.” Etenson told police he became outraged when heavy Bike Week traffic made it difficult to reach his place of business.

UP: To the Yamaha FJR1300 USA Petition Page, for pushing the issue. Located at www.geocities.com/revin_rev/, the site’s goal is “making sure the FJR1300 comes to the good ol’ U.S. of A.”