[Surffrog]

Originally Posted by bettingpython

This guy is a mental giant

Don't you mean giant mental?

[TKDmasterZ]

Here we go... Suzuki responding to AMA's new structure. Rumor has it that Suzuki is pulling out of AMA next year. I've seen many rumors mentioned by SuperbikePlanet.com to come true.

I believe AMA's rule change has a lot to do with Suzuki's undisputed dominance, so I'd think this is only logical. I wonder if the other manufacturers will be on the same side with Suzuki. Or is this something they have been waiting for?

Soup :: Suzuki Pulling Out Of US Racing? :: 06-07-2008

[Surffrog]

Okay, so no one likes to know who will win a race before its started, let alone the championship, but still. Just make some rule changes to level the playing field, you don't have to turn the race series into something fans won't recognise or like!

[jkobflys]

man i hope this comes true....

This just in from the Motorcycle Industry Council, which encompasses all of the OEMS here in the United States:

Motorcycle Industry Council Evaluating Issuance of
Request for Proposal for U.S. Road Racing Series
IRVINE, Calif., June 26, 2008 - The Motorcycle Industry Council, on behalf of its 300-plus members, is evaluating whether to issue a request for proposal seeking a series promoter and sanctioning body for a premier professional road racing series in the United States.
"Our members are better served by having alternatives to the changes for the AMA Superbike Championship that the Daytona Motorsports Group has so far described," said MIC President Tim Buche. "We fully appreciate the expertise, hard work and connections the DMG may bring to motorcycling. However, the independent interests of the manufacturers call for a racing series that helps promote specific motorcycle brands. Historically, motorcycle makers have boosted bike sales based on their success in racing. It makes little sense for bike manufacturers to heavily invest in any competition that highlights sponsors and teams and downplays the machines themselves, as well as their technological development. So we are obliged to investigate alternatives that could do a better job of meeting our members' respective marketing needs. This is especially true given that it's now late June and there is still uncertainty over the DMG's 2009 rules."
The MIC intends to consider input from key industry stakeholders including racetrack owners, riders, interested sponsors, and enthusiast and trade media.
The MIC wants a racing series that best promotes rider safety, competition, innovation, racetrack attendance, television viewership and ridership. The MIC also wants a championship that ultimately benefits the consumer - an exciting, popular series that develops new technology that finds its way to production motorcycles. The series should be clearly recognized as the top level of U.S. road racing, drawing both world-class riders and upcoming stars.

from suprbikeplanet news.

[skwyd]

All hail the Motorcycle Industry Council!

[TKDmasterZ]

I read that yesterday and I thought it's a great consideration! It'll be interesting to see AMA and this 'MIC' series running together!

[jkobflys]

hey guys i just read this on the souperbike planet website......

The news emanating from the DMG/AMA vs the manufacturers schism seems to be growing worse by the day. Last week the manufacturers announced through the MIC that they were mulling over issuing an RFP for someone to start a rival series that they could race in. Since then, well-placed sources have it that Suzuki, Honda and now perhaps Kawasaki will drop out of the series after the Fall Laguna Seca round.
Both Honda and Suzuki are threatening to pull all support from the DMG Superbike series if they are not given WSBK-style rules for the 1000cc class.
"All support" means, presumably, that the factory teams would be gone, and so would their support spending, meaning they would no longer sponsor events, offer contingency, support privateers/satellite teams or buy TV commercials. DMG could quite easily self-support their own television package, support events and the like but what they can't do is homologate motorcycles.
The most recent draft of the 1000CC DMG Superbike rules I have seen states that all motorcycles will be homologated by each respective manufacturer wishing to race the class. All machines eligible for participation in American Superbike must be approved by AMA Pro Racing and homologated by the manufacturer.
If Suzuki, Honda and perhaps Kawasaki leave AMA Roadracing to start their own series that's one thing, but if they also refuse to homologate motorcycles for the classes, that is quite another.
There doesn't seem to be any middle ground. Suzuki and Honda want WSBK-style rules and Kawasaki seems to be leaning towards that viewpoint. The rules issued by DMG are more Superstock than Superbike. Yamaha reportedly is ready to race with the DMG rules, but if they are the only Japanese manufacturer that homologates motorcycles for the 1000cc class, then the grid may look more like 1977 than 2009.
Yamaha dominated US racing for a period in the 1970s when Honda and others left the series.

[nedro]

Man, I hope the factories put a slap on this A-hole so hard that the hand mark never goes away.
Damn, now I sound like a 16 year old.

[bettingpython]

Originally Posted by nedro

Man, I hope the factories put a slap on this A-hole so hard that the hand mark never goes away.
Damn, now I sound like a 16 year old.

WERD!!!!!

[ozerionblade]

Guys the real reason Matt Mladin wins so much is simple.

It's cause he's Aussie.

Nothing more need be said.

[ozerionblade]

[jkobflys]

Even DMG is not that stupid, and had to rcognize that without the manufacturers sponsorship and support, to begin with. plus the posibility of a competting series with that missing support and backing that the manufacturers carrie, it would be dissaster for their series.

Do you guys think they can pull this one out of the fire?
and would you rather have World Supperbike specs? or AMA Superbike specs.?


DMG/AMA To Offer "Factory Superbike" Class In '09?
by dean adams
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Well-placed sources from within DMG say that late last night a change was made to the format that DMG/AMA races will have in 2009. These sources tell Soup that in addition to the Daytona 600 Superbike class and the American Superbike (formerly Liter Bike) series, DMG will also offer a class called "Factory Superbike."
Sources are telling Soup that "Factory Superbike" class will offer full World Superbike technical rules--and possibly not require spec tires!
DMG's Roger Edmondson, reached for comment on his mobile phone this afternoon, would not comment, saying he could not confirm or deny the rumor of a "Factory Superbike" class and that he and his people are in the midst of preparing their final rules package and weekend format for DMG/AMA races in 2009.

[bettingpython]

World superbike is fine, beats the piss outta that abomination they are calling daytona superbike.

[jkobflys]

If the rest of the manufacturers see it the way Honda sees it.
2009 won't be very interesting......

While Daytona Motorsports Group has not yet confirmed or released plans to offer a third Superbike class in 2009 named "Factory Superbike" American Honda doesn't seem terribly interested in it.
Asked to comment on a AMA/DMG class which would include a class with FIM World Superbike technical rules and without a spec tire of fule requirement, American Honda Senior Vice-President Ray Blank stated, "Looking at the current state of affairs and how much needs to be accomplished, and the current status of teams, promoters, plans, contracts and budgets, I think we need to take a new tack."
"My concept requires that we move World Superbike rules and regs down a notch to allow a wider field and some economies. I think all concerned would like that. Then, hopefully, British Superbike and Japanese Superbike adopt these. Then we have our global rule platform. How long will it take to get this agreement with the alphabet soup of organizations (WSB, MSMA, FIM, etc.)? Longer than we can draw out this thing for the parties above."
Blank's solution is this: "Propose that 2009 stays unchanged. Use now thru next year to accomplish the new concept global program. Get everyone on the same page. We need to do this right."

[TKDmasterZ]

This DMG/AMA rule change is going through so many iterations that it seems like any speculation is pretty much a waste of time. The two magazines I read most closely, Sport Rider and Road Racer X, they also have opined very differently. Sport Rider pretty is pretty much against the DMG proposal, while Road Racer X believes that DMG's proposed rule change will help privateers, like Jordan Suzuki, to be more competitive. In an interview, Michael Jordan said that no matter how good you are, unless you are the factory, you cannot win the superbike series in current configuration. I personally also was curious to see how DMG's modification would look like since I have MotoGP, WSBK and WSS series to watch major motorcycle manufacturers fight.

Well, now that Honda suggested that nothing changes for 2009, and if they still have a 'say' in what DMG will do, perhaps nothing will change next year.

[TKDmasterZ]

Latest 2009 Rules from DMG, not featuring a total of three Superbike classes; Factory, American, and Daytona Superbike. It also includes provisions for World SBK type of rules to be adopted for later. It sounds like AMA road racing will stay similar except for the Daytona Superbike class.

Soup :: DMG: 2009 Rules Released :: 07-19-2008

[slickwill]

Originally Posted by TKDmasterZ

Latest 2009 Rules from DMG, not featuring a total of three Superbike classes; Factory, American, and Daytona Superbike. It also includes provisions for World SBK type of rules to be adopted for later. It sounds like AMA road racing will stay similar except for the Daytona Superbike class.

Soup :: DMG: 2009 Rules Released :: 07-19-2008

Overall sounds pretty good.

This part is interesting.

Daytona Superbike departs from the traditional displacement and weight regulations and introduces power-to-weight and dynamometer controls to limit horsepower. This class is expected to be contested mostly by 600cc four-cylinder motorcycles, however the rules will provide for close competition with 675cc triples and up to 1200cc twins.

So technically since it is power-to-weight and they are allowing up 1200cc twins they could detune a Ducati 1098R to run the class. I'd almost like to see that.

[redheadedrider]

i can't stand f'in nascar and i don't want motorcycle racing to be not one damn thing like it. nascar is so borring that most people i hear takes naps during the race so whats that tell you

[lanbrown]

Originally Posted by TKDmasterZ

I read that yesterday and I thought it's a great consideration! It'll be interesting to see AMA and this 'MIC' series running together!

Originally Posted by slickwill

Overall sounds pretty good.

This part is interesting.

So technically since it is power-to-weight and they are allowing up 1200cc twins they could detune a Ducati 1098R to run the class. I'd almost like to see that.

That is not good. Imagine the flast curve you could make the 1200cc bike? From idle to the top you could almost have a nice flat curve. The 600cc won't be able to compete. DMG must stand for Dumbass Management Group.

[slickwill]

Originally Posted by lanbrown

Imagine the flast curve you could make the 1200cc bike? From idle to the top you could almost have a nice flat curve. The 600cc won't be able to compete

That's basically what I was thinking. The curve would be REALLY cool. That's why I find it interesting that they made the comment about that class being, "be contested mostly by 600cc four-cylinder motorcycles." I think they are going to be surprised when that doesn't work out so well for them. They are going to have to put in additional weight penalties or something I think. I don't think straight power-to-weight limits with a maximum hp cap is going to make things even.

[lanbrown]

Their best bet if they want competition. Get the bikes closer together; 600cc I-4's and 1,200cc twins don't mix. Next, when a rider wins, weight is added to their motorcycle, but only their motorcycle. The more you win, the more weight you accumulate. This allows the slower riders to compete with the faster rider. The faster riders have to work harder to stay ahead. Not the ideal solution, but much better than what they pulled out of you know where.

[skwyd]

Originally Posted by lanbrown

Their best bet if they want competition. Get the bikes closer together; 600cc I-4's and 1,200cc twins don't mix. Next, when a rider wins, weight is added to their motorcycle, but only their motorcycle. The more you win, the more weight you accumulate. This allows the slower riders to compete with the faster rider. The faster riders have to work harder to stay ahead. Not the ideal solution, but much better than what they pulled out of you know where.

Then Ben Spies new outfit would look like this then?