jwfzr

Just read about this. What do you think?
http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Apr/080415x.htm

jwfzr

Does no one have outrage about this? Granted AMA racing hit an ice berg some time ago and has been sinking ever since but this is like trying to save the sinking ship by filling the ballast tanks with full bottles of mountain dew and fried chicken.

RVFR

Boo Hiss I say. Who are these douch bags anyway?

MichelinMan

3 of the 4 want the 1000cc class. How is it dead?

vtwin

"I made it clear that we are not in the motorcycle business.We're in the entertainment business," Then they should start a reality show, now go away...
Notice no "talk" with Ducati, Bmw, or Buell I hope Suzuki pulls a Ducati and threatens to not run.

jwfzr

Just because they want the class does not mean the AMA management will have it. It sure looks like the 600s will be the new superbike. I've been trying to maintain my support for AMA racing but it's looking like it's going from bad to worse. I'd bet a couple of them will pull out if this comes to fruition.

Avboden

well crud, what are they going to do with the amazing new BMW S1000RR?

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Articl...ID=6262&Page=1

jwfzr

Looks like WSBK will be the only game in town.

MadManx

Maybe it will just fall apart and something new will get started by others.

gixer_racer

Yeah, not that ducati or aprilia (or to a lesser extent buell, bmw, ktm, etc) have a huge ama presence, but shunning them seems pretty insulting. Even more so when it's clear that they want to center around the 600cc class which the others don't really have a bike to fit in there (depending on how the 848 falls of course)

vtwin

Im pretty sure 2 BMW`s placed in the top 7 , that should make them just as important as Ducati. 6 different manufactures in the top 10, i guess thats 2 too many

jwfzr

I'd love to see an alternate series started by the big 4 or someone. My AMA membership is done with for sure now. King Kenny was going to put together an alternate series at one point when he was racing. If scared the bejesus out of the FIM and they acquiesced.

vtwin

Yea like how INDY/cart split

Hypnotiq

Yeah, I was pissed when I read this earlier today.

They want FX to be the premier class. Despite what the manufactuers want. DMG needs to realize this is NOT car racing and the same principles cannot be applied.

Sure, changes had to happen in AMA racing. However, the things they are thinking will absolutely KILL the series. MotoST? Give me a effin break!

Tdawg

guessing these Nascrap dudes are master negotiators and things will change. Suzuki doesn't want to lose their monopoly on the liter bikes, yet, DMG gives yamaha the impression that there WILL be a 1000cc class. IMHO this just may be tactics
Honda's already left the AMA table, could be they're trying to force out mfgs and bring in non-bike sponsor ship.

Is it bad if?
they sell more tickets and bring in more fans
If competition is better with less mfg series ownership
If ticket sales and TV revenues increase (ie. direct impact from fans)
Enough revenue to fix some of the tracks

How many watch the AMA live the last few years anyway beyond MotoGP? (recorded them)

The top class better be a 1000cc class

Don't forget the daytona 200 has been run by 600s lately. Trend or unsafe tracks maybe.

Don't like some of the proposals either but nascar doesn't seem to be doing bad.
They better not think of a bike-of-tomorrow, don't think motorcyclists will support that at all

just playing devils advocate and trying to be optimistic

PeteN95

I was concerned and hopefull when I heard DMG was taking over AMA racing. They have made NASCAR into the most successful car series in the US, but the rules require vintage technology and spec bodies. The Grand Am series has made top level sports cars into low tech spec racers too. This anouncement reduces my hopes. Following the FIM classes is really the only way to go, even if they have to limit the power a bit more. Almost all other national series follow this theory.

600 Superbikes will make the divide between factory bikes and privateers much wider because it will be advantageous to get every bit of extra power from a 600 and this will be very expensive. Limited mod 1000s would provide a much more even field IMO. I would also keep the Supersport class, as it fits with the FIM 600 class. It also makes little sense to ignore the 1000 class when Aprilia, BMW, Ducati, KTM, and several others are releasing brand new bikes just for this class! Roger Edmonson is a pretty sharp guy, I sure hope he figures this out.

GixxerPete

And I'd hazard a guess the 4th is Kawasaki, as they pretty much suck in Superbike as it is. Why would they care if it went away?


Oh well, the AMA always has been retarded, and now that retardation has been mixed with NASCAR inbreeding, making for inbred retards... a truly winning combination!

GixxerPete

If NASCAR is the model and target to shoot for, motorcycle racing as we know it is dead and gone. They will ruin it and turn into another reality show parade of personalities, where the cars err... bikes are the commodity and riders are interchangeable.

NoQuarter#121

Suzuki has done a great job with the AMA SBK's. TOO GOOD ITS SEAMS!

I love watching the SBK's and I'm happy to watch the 2 best riders battle with the 2 best bikes.

And WSBK is the best racing around.

They are gonna dumb it down so that lessor riders on lessor bikes can get in the mix. Can you say Moto GP!!! IT WILL SUCK FOR REAL ENTHUSIASTS, but the average joe scmoe that tunes in from the nascar event will prolly like it better...

They did this with Moto GP!!! The racing is soooooo much better on the 800's.... All that last lap, last corner passing.....

Oh yeah that was the 990's!!! oops. my bad.

These guys have been saying all along that they intend to eliminate the possibility of 1 team running away with it. And they have essentially been saying they DON'T CARE what the big MFGS want.

They have also been talking about 600's as the premier class.

GREAT!!! Mladin and Hodgson riding mini bikes... that will be cool.

DJ Nathan V

That is hot.

jwfzr

Mladin will retire if the 600s are the premier class.

vtwin

Hes gone soon as spies leaves...

jwfzr

So either way after this season then?

vtwin

yup, hes old enough.. Hes already said hes only here because of the competition (spies), and when thats gone hes gone. Watching Mladin over the 8 years, you've seen a cry baby Aussie turn into a Man looking for the fun of competitive racing. Dont know if it was having the child or what, hes turned into a good guy/racer.

Hypnotiq

Mladin said he would stick around more year after Spies left so that Suzuki still has someone competitive on the bike. Now if AMA ditches the Superbike class, then I can see him leaving altogether.

eurospeed

nascar will be the end of the AMA championship.