AMA new direction - your thoughts

[Cajun]

'According to Daytona Motorsports Group's Roger Edmondson, the deadline he imposed on the factories to commit to the Factory Superbike class passed today with no commitments from the factories. Hence the Factory Superbike class will not be a part of the 2009 AMA Superbike series, according to Edmondson.

Edmondson said tonight that DMG/AMA Superbike will have two Daytona Superbike and two American Superbike races at each round of the series in 2009 and a $200,000.00 purse will be split among the four races.

Edmondson is leaving for a cross-country motorcycle trip in the morning, one which will culminate at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma where Grand AM is holding a race also where he will meet with the new AMA Superbike promoter group.

Rumors persist that the Japanese manufacturers will race a series sanctioned by the Motorcycle Industry Council.

So that pretty much makes AMA have two classes, 600cc Daytona Superbike class, 1000cc American Superbike, with each class having 2 races at a race day.

[scott411]

http://www.cyclenews.com/ShowStory.asp?HeadlineID=12821


looks like Suzuki and others are planning another series, look at the damage the split did in open wheel racing in the US, they seem to be in a huge fight over this, sure will be interesting over the next few months,

[Cajun]

some interesting directions in the new eligible equipment list that just been released for the ama

'No chains, sprockets, triple clamps, windscreens or brake master cylinders listed
only one brand of rear shock: Ohlins.
Two brands in front: Traxxion Dynamics and Ohlins
Only non-standard wheels American Superbike are Marvics.
Hot competition in steering damper category sees Ohlins and GPR both represented. '


superbike eligible equipment
http://www.amasuperbike.com/assets/A...pment_List.pdf

aka exhaust m4 (only)
ecu - bazz or pc3 (only)
stock cam/pistons only

Daytona superbike list here -> http://www.amasuperbike.com/assets/D...pment_List.pdf

Supersport equipment list here -> http://www.amasuperbike.com/assets/S...pment_List.pdf

(please note that is the current list of mods that is eligible for AMA this year, there are more in pipe line, aka penske say they have lodged all the documentation & products and waiting to hear back they are confirmed)

[vtec]

I think the Nascar people could make a huge positive improvement. But looks like the manufacturers have started swinging their bollocks around and will stifle this attempt to make it a spectator sport. Knowing who's going to win every race is boring, and obviously due to unfair vehicle advantage.

[slowpoke]

Knowing who's going to win every race is boring, and obviously due to unfair vehicle advantage.

I disagree with the "unfair advantage statement".

Mladin and Spies are head and shoulders above everyone skill wise and have a fantastic team behind them. Honda have won the WSBK championship with their bike and despite slightly different rules should be more than competitive.

Jamie Hacking has shown how bad the Honda and Yamaha efforts have been by putting that mongrel Kawasaki, the generally acknowledged worst factory bike in the field, on the podium. Same goes for Yates on the privateer Jordan machine.

The best team has won and isn't that the way it should be?

[Yankee Doodle Dandy]

Well now that the 09 season is long gone and DMG has started making announcements for the 2010 season I figured I would resurrect this thread from the dead.

Seems like DMG really blew it in 09 and it doesn't look good for 2010.

[denill]

Well now that the 09 season is long gone and DMG has started making announcements for the 2010 season I figured I would resurrect this thread from the dead.

Seems like DMG really blew it in 09 and it doesn't look good for 2010.

You're Right - It Doesn't Look Good:

[gammaguy]

Bit like trying to make the 125's the 'top' class in Moto GP.

it is the top class

its the only one where the most powerful and suitable engine for the size of the bike is used,to the exclusion of commercial and market driven agendas .

That was the original idea of Moto GP .
It has slowly been eroded into nothing more than a showcase of perceived street available models(which they are not)racing round and round for the best return financially for all the vested commercial interests involved.
leading edge engineering and technology are being eliminated at every turn,in the interests of keeping racing close and exciting for joe public(allegedly).

The AMA changes are merely another step in this direction.

strike another victory for the almighty dollar,and another loss for innovation and bravery to try something different.

If John Britten was alive today(and i knew the man,so i am qualified to say this)i wonder exactly WHERE his machine would race on the world stage?the way things are going,the answer to that is:NO WHERE

maybe we need more bikes like his to bring innovation and ingenuitity back to the sport at this level.At the moment where is the incentive for anyone to even start?

rant over