This is a very good thing executed very very poorly, and, frankly, I'm terrified to see what the new strategy will be when the AMA withdraws.
First, these guys were going to be fired one way or the other. They were part of the race directors group and they won't be needed now that AMA isn't going to continue race promotion. As I understand it, they want to be the governing body for all two-wheeled American racing--which seems good on the surface. Plus, they are shaking things up so they need to go out with the old--it would have been nice if it could have been a bit more dignified though.
Furthermore, I'm happy they are pulling out of the marketing/management aspect of racing because they suck at it, and I want them to focus on lobbying (the only reason I ever send them any money)--particularly against CARB.
AMA super(insert suffix) has been dysfunctional for a while b/c they are dedicated to keeping the sport amateur (good in my opinion) while keeping manufacturing money rolling in--a difficult balance
As Jordan has shown, being a competitive privateer squad is difficult and as Suzuki has shown, it has no interest in putting its relatively meager income stream at risk by sending factory parts Jordan's way.
The two competing strategies from what I understand are to go spec-style, advertising, homegrown racing with an emphasis on the rider and his WINNINGS (wow, winnings making up a majority of a rider's salary? wierd
while marketers compete to assemble the best team for marketing purposes. OR try to make a miniature version of WSBK.
I happen to believe that the enormous cost is what's keeping it from being competitive right now, and the only way to make AMA sanctioned events legit is if they gain global attention for their ability to produce world class riders. Therefore, I think the AMA should go spec-style with few mods and passionate/dirty amateuresque racing for big paydays, while bike manufacturers figure out how to cut racing costs and boost marketing appeal.
Run it just like NASCAR only no scripts and no 50 bike pileups every 2 times around the oval. All teams private, run whatever you want. I go so far as to say, don't even limit them to running one manufacturer in a season. If they buy a lemon let them run out and buy a new homologation machine. If the rider is exalted and the machines are nothing more than spec rolling billboards that marketers figure out how to glorify, the competition will be fierce and the world will take notice.
Sure, running an entirely stock bike seems really stupid and undoubtedly the first few years would be plagued with blowups and wrecks, but thoughts of the homologation specials that would hit our shores are enough to make any moto enthusiast salivate.
Look what Duc can build for $72,500. Set a price cap at 50,000 and let the manufacturers compete for superiority. If you build the best bike and it's cheap you might even earn a profit on your race machines!!
I also think they should do weird stuff like make a supermono class for all the youngins trying to get to the higher classes. It would revitalize small companies like Cagiva, Husqy, KTM, maybe Duc. Fun times would ensue if the Japanese threw their hats in the ring.
