2013 AMA Pro Roadracing No-Spoiler Catch-All Thread

[DogBoy]

Didn't see the WSBK option coming. Are there any good, or even halfway decent, seats left for this World Superbike season?

[Pantah]

Somehow I sense money has something to do with the change. Is Team Hammer still supported by American Suzuki? How about Geico? I thought I read somewhere (maybe here) that Hammer was trying to do something with American Honda...

I am pretty sure all of Team Hammer's contract riders were paid by Suzuki. Seems like Suzuki has lowered their commitment to the grid, which was the principal source of funding for several privateer teams over the years.

Very puzzling...

[HarveyMushman]

Originally Posted by yooperbikemike

Team Hammer Releases Martin Cardenas

“We recognize that Martin’s heart is set on racing in the Superbike World Championship, and that the best way to help Martin achieve his goal is to allow him to take advantage of another opportunity now."


Hmmm...

I assume this is an acknowledgement that there is no way in hell Martin will attract the attention of WSBK people as long as he's stuck on DMG 600's, and that John Ulrich is doing him a solid by clearing a path to the Yosh ride.

[Pantah]

Originally Posted by HarveyMushman

I assume this is an acknowledgement that there is no way in hell Martin will attract the attention of WSBK people as long as he's stuck on DMG 600's, and that John Ulrich is doing him a solid by clearing a path to the Yosh ride.

Pretty smart speculation. That makes a lot of sense to me.

[wpbarlow]

Interesting that the word is that World Superbike will be moving to a more production-based ruleset in 2014 to better differentiate between that and MotoGP and help contain costs. At least according to Soup.

So I guess DMG was a bit ahead of the curve on this.

I like trick machinery as much as the next guy, but I like close racing more. I guess people will say (as mentioned in the article) that it makes WSB pretty much a glorified "national" series, but that's not so bad; especially if the national/world rules are rationalized so that they're very similar. I'd like to see the AMA guys go against the WSB guys on equal machinery. And if the rules were similar enough, the WSB races could count for AMA points which would make for a good sized grid. Same would apply for other national series.

Lots of upside potential imo, with minimal downside risk.

[wrk2surf]

Pegrams new show superbike family is on speed tonight before arenacross and supercross

[HarveyMushman]

Dane Westby. Chris Ulrich Racing & Team Hammer. Honda.

[UngaWunga]

Originally Posted by wpbarlow

I like trick machinery as much as the next guy, but I like close racing more. I guess people will say (as mentioned in the article) that it makes WSB pretty much a glorified "national" series, but that's not so bad; especially if the national/world rules are rationalized so that they're very similar. I'd like to see the AMA guys go against the WSB guys on equal machinery. And if the rules were similar enough, the WSB races could count for AMA points which would make for a good sized grid. Same would apply for other national series.

Lots of upside potential imo, with minimal downside risk.

Yes, equal machinery. AMA needs to adopt the WSBK rules to see any sort of parity between the series, and to allow riders/teams to switch between them.

[stk0308]

Originally Posted by HarveyMushman

Dane Westby. Chris Ulrich Racing & Team Hammer. Honda.

I thought for sure this would set the monkeys chattering here.

[DogBoy]

Originally Posted by stk0308

I thought for sure this would set the monkeys chattering here.

I was busy checking the temperature in Hell.

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadu]

Originally Posted by HarveyMushman

Dane Westby. Chris Ulrich Racing & Team Hammer. Honda.

The press release does not read that Team Hammer is completely switching to Hondas, just Chris Ulrich Racing, LLC.

Dane Westby will be the lone Honda, on a CBR600RR in the DSB class, supported by Team Hammer. Team Hammer looks to be supporting two different brands out of their shop [John's team will still race the Suzukis, Chris' the Evil Empire bike].

With no announcement about his SBK effort, it would appear that Chris'll be back in SBK on a Suzuki, too.

This is great news for the AMA paddock. All that's missing is a season-long presence by a Kawasaki team [Attack still leaving?], because now there's Honda, Suzukis, Yamahas, KTM, Ducati, EBR, BMW and Triumphs.

[DogBoy]

John responded to questions on the WERA forum indicating that Chris will be on a Honda and that they are not running two brands out his shop this season.

[Tom W.]

Any news ( or I'll accept vague rumors ) on what Pegram will be on this year?

Is there any chance we'll see any Ducs or Aprillias?

[yooperbikemike]

Originally Posted by DogBoy

John responded to questions on the WERA forum indicating that Chris will be on a Honda and that they are not running two brands out his shop this season.

Honda says in this weeks Cycle News that this deal does not mean that Honda is getting back into roadracing, but they had no comment on how Hammer will be sourcing the bikes.

[Pantah]

Originally Posted by yooperbikemike

Honda says in this weeks Cycle News that this deal does not mean that Honda is getting back into roadracing, but they had no comment on how Hammer will be sourcing the bikes.

What exactly would Honda call it...ballroom dancing?

This must have something to do with GEICO. I would think it helps their cause to be the only Honda's on the grid. American Honda has to be in there in some way, though.

I don't quite understand what Chris Ulrich Racing LLC is. It looks like GEICO contracts with Chris Ulrich Racing LLC and that company contracts Team Hammer. Seems like some sort of oddball revenue sharing arrangement.

Maybe Tim has some thoughts to help me out.

Any word on Martin yet?