The Official 2008 AMA Roadracing Thread

[yooperbikemike]

Of course, we don't know that it's going to be called the AMA anything for very long, right?

Apparently, rumors have been floating about that a buyer has been found for the series and a deal will be in place prior to the Daytona Opener. Speculation is that there are number of potential suitors ranging from former AMA employees to sworn enemies and international playas.

Whatever happens, for good or ill, this year is sure to be a transition year, both on and off the track. On the track, competition in the Superbike series looks (hopefully) to be more even across the board then it has been in years. In addition to the Suzuki dynamic duo of Mat Mladin and Ben Spies, Honda is introducing a all new bike and a revised rider line-up. Yamaha and Kawasaki will have the benefit of a year's exposure to the class and Kawasaki has a an all-new ZX-10 to campaign.

The 600 class(es) will be as competitive as ever, perhaps more so, with Jake Zemke returning to the series from Superbike and Chaz Davies getting a near factory ride from Kawasaki.

One could hope that new ownership of the series and increased competiveness will silence the folks that criticize the series as boring and bing increased support in the form of sponsorship bucks. Whatever happens, this is a season to anticipate anxiously.

[yooperbikemike]

TEAM HONDA CONCLUDES TESTING AT MAZDA RACEWAY LAGUNA SECA


The 2008 Honda CBR1000RR spends two full days on track

MONTEREY, Calif. - Team Honda riders Miguel DuHamel and Neil Hodgson concluded spent two days testing their new 2008 Honda CBR1000RR AMA Superbike at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The pair will race in two separate events at the track during the 2008 season. AMA Superbike will race on Sunday, July 20, during the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix featuring the MotoGP World Championship, and at the Corona AMA Superbike Finale featuring the AMA Superbike Championship on Sunday, September 28.

"Testing at Laguna Seca is a real priority for us," said Team Honda rider Neil Hodgson. "It's the only venue we come to twice during the AMA Superbike season, so we want to make sure our bike works well around here." He added, "Also, we're running the new CBR1000RR. With it being an all new bike, we need to make sure it works." Miguel DuHamel was also on hand for testing. He commented, "It's great to be back here. Monterey is a lovely area, and I enjoy the venue. The track itself is world class." Miguel went on to say, "This test is very important to us. We did well here last year, but we need to improve if we expect to win."

Honda and other motorcycle makes including Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and will all be racing at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca during the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix and the Corona AMA Superbike Finale.

[Pantah]

Based on the enigmatic Edmondson letter to Moto-ST teams recently published:

http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/...?article=31014

Moto-ST might be the leader in acquiring the series.

I hope not. It seems to me the sport would be better served by the WSC folks or LiveNation. Both have brought more spectacle and showmanship to their respective series then the AMA Superbike Series has ever enjoyed. Both seem to know how to attract sponsors too.

If it is true the mfg's are unhappy with the AMA's direction as has been widely reported, it must have something to do with Edmondson (Moto-ST/NASCAR) or Hollingsworth (Hardcard Sports?).

Certainly they don't have a probem with LiveNation, since their SX series is the best thing the big four have going in North America. They get packed stadiums, TV and lots of glitter. Certainly they don't have a problem with WSC, since that series is rising again, chock full of great venues, great riders, big crowds, and of course, excellent TV coverage.

That leaves Edmondson, who has a tough reputation and may have done them some dirt back before the AMA fired him so long ago. Or maybe former Wall Street banker Scott Hollingsworth did them poorly during his reign at AMA Pro Racing. It will be interesting to see how this unfolds. I am surprised it's being kept so quiet, though. Road racing in North America is a pretty small world.

[Mr.Moose]

im looking for Mat mladin to take the championship this year. he was so close last year, i believe if they had the final race anywhere but laguna mladin would have won. but thats racing and spies pulled it out. I see a different story this year. i think mladin will have the wraped up before the last race.

[barefoot]

Mladin's got mad skills, no doubt. Heckuva racer. I got no respect for the man, though. Six AMA SBK championships is an achievement for sure, but it's akin to have a home run record in the minor leagues - who cares if you don't move up to the majors? I have a lot more respect for Nicky (even if he hadn't won the '06 title) who finished mid-pack in MotoGP for 3 years.

I like Hodgson, he's good folk and I'd like to see him do well. As much as I like Miguel, I think he's on a skid and won't do well (and I dare him to prove me wrong!). Elbowz is in his prime - he needs to finish his contract well and move up to the majors. The Bostroms are always capable of winning on a given day, but they're both a bit flaky. I'd love to see Tommy and Rog do better - they're good folk, too. Jamie needs a SBK title to go with his others - I hope he ramps up his game. Josh 'Rossi' Herrin should be fun to watch.


I could go on, but that should be sufficient to fan the flames...

[Pantah]

Originally Posted by barefoot

Mladin's got mad skills, no doubt. Heckuva racer. I got no respect for the man, though. Six AMA SBK championships is an achievement for sure, but it's akin to have a home run record in the minor leagues - who cares if you don't move up to the majors? I have a lot more respect for Nicky (even if he hadn't won the '06 title) who finished mid-pack in MotoGP for 3 years. I could go on, but that should be sufficient to fan the flames...

What flames? You're smack in the middle of the bell curve!

Few fans like Mladin, but I will take issue with your low view of him anyways. First, he did race in the big leagues aboard a POS called a Cagiva. I think he finished his lone season about 6th.... Or maybe he finshed a race or two as high as 6th. In any event, he was a kid, fast on a pooch, and that's the only shot he got. The team folded. So how do you fault him for that?

He came to the US and was an instant success aboard a Ducati. Suzuki picked him up; he won them their first title, so they gave him structure and he emerged the highest paid motorcycle road racer in their system. While I really don't know, I'd bet the only motorcycle racer Suzuki has ever paid better was that #4 fellow on the Makita SX/MX machines.

Meanwhile, during Matt's prime the Suzuki GP team was nowhere so they had nothing viable to offer. Besides they obviously felt their money was better spent by keeping him in AMA. KRJR suddenly won Suzuki a GP championship, but it obviously was a right-place-right-time deal and he made hay with it. It's not like Suzuki went out and invested a bunch for that championship.

During that period Matt was swallowing championships like they were Chiclets. Only Nicky broke his string. As much as Matt would have loved to try the 1 liter MotoGP formula, Suzuki obviously said no. They (just as obviously) went with the lower cost talent they had.

As much as we'd have preferred to see Matt go to MotoGP when it was a literbike, Suzuki did the right thing. They own US road racing because of that decision; their GSX-R is probably the best sportbike on the planet (ask BMW), and he produced Ben Spies. While the Ben thing was unknowing, he did it just the same! I say Bravo! Matt Mladin gave us the GSX-R, which universally improved the breed. How good is that?

Other then the Mladin call, your other comments are dead on. The series needs new talent. Unfortunately, the only newness we have among the factory contenders is Neil and Josh. Hopefully, MV and BMW can change that the next two seasons.

[RichBeBe]

Originally Posted by Pantah

As much as we'd have preferred to see Matt go to MotoGP when it was a literbike, Suzuki did the right thing. They own US road racing because of that decision; their GSX-R is probably the best sportbike on the planet (ask BMW), and he produced Ben Spies. While the Ben thing was unknowing, he did it just the same! I say Bravo! Matt Mladin gave us the GSX-R, which universally improved the breed. How good is that?

That is sort of like saying "Tom Brady gave us the superbowl" he is hot and winning but the superbowl just like the GSXR was around long before Mladin or Brady. I remember the Ragin Cajun winning the AMA superbike championship in 89 on a GSXR.

[stk0308]

Originally Posted by Pantah

What flames? You're smack in the middle of the bell curve!

Few fans like Mladin, but I will take issue with your low view of him anyways. First, he did race in the big leagues aboard a POS called a Cagiva. I think he finished his lone season about 6th.... Or maybe he finshed a race or two as high as 6th. In any event, he was a kid, fast on a pooch, and that's the only shot he got. The team folded. So how do you fault him for that?

He's not being faulted for the colapse of the Cagiva team. He's being faulted because he never went BACK to GP.

During that period Matt was swallowing championships like they were Chiclets. Only Nicky broke his string. As much as Matt would have loved to try the 1 liter MotoGP formula, Suzuki obviously said no. They (just as obviously) went with the lower cost talent they had.

Suzuki doesn't make Matt's racing decisions. Matt does. He chose to stay in AMA too long. When he finally started saying he was good enough for GP no one would take him. Whether it was age, temprement or money, we'll never really know.

Other then the Mladin call, your other comments are dead on. The series needs new talent. Unfortunately, the only newness we have among the factory contenders is Neil and Josh. Hopefully, MV and BMW can change that the next two seasons.

Neil and Josh? Josh who? Neil is far from new.

[Pantah]

Originally Posted by RichBeBe

That is sort of like saying "Tom Brady gave us the superbowl" he is hot and winning but the superbowl just like the GSXR was around long before Mladin or Brady. I remember the Ragin Cajun winning the AMA superbike championship in 89 on a GSXR.

I never thought about it that way. Come to think of it, there were no superbowls before Brady, were there?

Today's GSX-R 1000 seems remarkably above the competition in recent AMA seasons. Only in WSC is the GSX-R not so superior, and we all know it's because they don't have many rules in WSC. I'd wager Mladin/Yosh had a lot to do with the development of the GSX-R1000 for quite some time. But you're right.

[Pantah]

Originally Posted by stk0308

He's not being faulted for the colapse of the Cagiva team. He's being faulted because he never went BACK to GP.

Suzuki doesn't make Matt's racing decisions. Matt does. He chose to stay in AMA too long. When he finally started saying he was good enough for GP no one would take him. Whether it was age, temprement or money, we'll never really know.

Neil and Josh? Josh who? Neil is far from new.

The poster said he didn't respect Mladin because he played in the minors. I simply pointed out that Mladin actually played in the majors one season and performed well.

Regarding his decision to stay with Suzuki; yes he could have done like Randy Moss when he broke his gazillian dollar contract with the Raidah's, for a chance to play with Tom Brady for practically nothing. It could have made for great lore. On the other hand, 99% of all motorcycle racers do not make career money. Take the 'Ragin' Cagin' example offered earlier for example. Isn't he trying to start some sort of race school or something? Then you have guys like Doug Polen trying to do the same thing. It seems Mladin is a little bit more concerned about his long term security then most. Smart guy.

Josh is Josh Herrin, and Neil is that elderly Englishman that HRC hired to replace the Hawaiin kid. While he's not young, he is new blood for the AMA Superbike grid. Maybe he can mix it up some.

[yooperbikemike]

Originally Posted by Pantah

The poster said he didn't respect Mladin because he played in the minors. I simply pointed out that Mladin actually played in the majors one season and performed well.

Newsflash: Mat Mladin doesn't give a Flying Fuck what anybody thinks. He has made more $$$ in the "minors" then all but the top MotoGP and WSBK riders.

Originally Posted by Pantah

Josh is Josh Herrin, and Neil is that elderly Englishman that HRC hired to replace the Hawaiin kid. While he's not young, he is new blood for the AMA Superbike grid. Maybe he can mix it up some.

I didn't think that Herrin was going to be in Superbikes this year.

[TTTom]

Originally Posted by yooperbikemike

Newsflash: Mat Mladin doesn't give a Flying Fuck what anybody thinks.

That's why I like him. Works hard, loyal, no emo bullshit.

[yooperbikemike]

Pegram To Race Factory-supported Ducati 848 In 2008 AMA Formula Xtreme Championship

[Pantah]

Originally Posted by yooperbikemike

Pegram To Race Factory-supported Ducati 848 In 2008 AMA Formula Xtreme Championship

I would think a desmoquattro with a 40% displacement advantage should be enough to give those Honda's and Kawasaki's fits in FX. DucatiNA should give Barney a 2nd bike for a one-off. Between the two they could win the Daytona 200!!!! It would be a first!

I also noted Ducati is paying pretty decent club contingency and emphasizing the 848. At most regional venues, they pay every single race weekend! Loudon has 8 weekends and the Middleweight Superbike class pays 848 riders $3k for a championship; $750 per sprint win, $450 for 2nd; $300 for 3rd. Then he can take that same bike and chase Ducati money in Supertwins too. Add in a few well placed product contingencies and a top club racer could cover a lot of his expenses riding an 848. If he has a good tire contract, he may break even.

Most mfg's pay only on select club dates, but they pay 2x or 3x. That leads to a handful of opportunistic riders travelling around the country in a van and cherry picking (just like the olden days, and very cool). Ducati's deal seems intended to encourage dealers to field a bike or two at their local track and run the season. If they perform, DucatiNA shares the cost...sort of....

I am surprised they are not also paying for the DOT tire classes, but hey...

Duc's money program for club racers: http://racingcontingency.ducatiusa.c...08schedule.pdf

[HarveyMushman]

Originally Posted by TTTom

That's why I like him. Works hard, loyal, no emo bullshit.

Exactly. The rest of the paddock should be embarrassed after being so comprehensively owned by Yosh Suzuki, Mladin, and Spies.