AMA Round 2 FONTANA (Spoilers)

Observation:

One thing's for sure, we've chatted more about the AMA after only 2 races this year then several of years pasts combined.



<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Mar 24 2009, 05:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Look, I have been much more effected by this than you since I already purchased my flights and tickets to WSBK Utah where this man just canceled the AMA combined event because he (Roger E.) was too ....... shrewd to compromise in a dire economic climate with the track owners. He demands way too much considering they don't show the races live whereby significantly reducing the value of the the show! And now he ...... me out of the double header WSBK/AMA too!

I'm still erked about Miller and the AMA cancellation. I was looking forward to seeing Mladin's last season (my opinon), watching a Forum member race (Noodle), and watch that .......ization of a class, Daytona Sportbike. Oh well, at least WSS is coming this year.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (povol @ Mar 24 2009, 11:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Edmondson has to realize that he is negotiating from a weak posistion.You either suck it up,strengthen you posistion for the next time around or not play at all.He chose to not play at all.The biggest question out there, is if he has contracts with the tracks at the stand alone AMA events or is he depending on letters of intent like he obviously has with the tracks that are hosting joint events.

Both of them are weak. AMA is hurting for sponsorship money, Miller Motorsports Park has never turned a profit.

Miller and DMG were going to lose no matter how the deal was structured. Both of them seemed to prefer AMA withdrawal to spending money they didn't have.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ Mar 24 2009, 12:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I'm sorry to brag, but am I a clairvoyant son of a ..... or what?



There it is, the real reason. No ticket rip for 2009.

Miller want to keep the Ben Spies premium, DMG are getting the boot as a result.

You <span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%can't really blame Edmondson for refusing $150,000, but his decision not to run sbk is<span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100% a bit suspect

Lex you are wrong on this! You skipped the most important parts. The track doesn't want to pay the ticket cut because:

1. DMG isn't showing the thing LIVE; THEREFORE, INATE LOSS OF VALUE for the entire show! Hello.
2. The economic climate has CHANGED but DMG still want LAST year's premium! WHAT DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND ABOUT BASIC ECONOMICS?
3. The track did not make money, has not, and you insist Miller to still pay for what is a depleted show with a major loss of value!

Lex, I've call you skitzo before, actually several times because you do this again and again, you talk like you know the value of money but then say .... like this. You claim to understand the economic power struggles and negotiations but you fail to understand something very simple here. You even have alluded yourself; the DELAY is an extreme, EXTREME LOSS of the very important component of sports viewing, perhaps the ultimate rule--people tune in to sport because of the unknown. Why do you think Superbowl ads are so excessive? While they are riveted, the advertisers are busy making impressions on our soft brains through commercials! NO LIVE AUDIENCE=NO COMMERCIAL VALUE. YET, DMG still want it as if nothing has changed. So there is an American in WSBK, newsflash, that is NOT enough to compensate for the implication of not showing the thing LIVE! Dude, and we haven’t even thrown in that DMG wanted to feature the Daytona Class--something presently mired in controversy!

So again, here we have a situation where the track is still willing to present a reasonable premium, in a climate where the purchasing power of Americans is at an all time low, perhaps even attendance should suffer, advertisers are more shrewd than ever and want REAL VALUE in what they pay for commercial…and Mr. ....... Edmundson wants the same premium as during the boom years? For a lousy 65K he cancels the show and leaves us all in the dust. He cancels the show in one of very few American premier venues, at a World event no less, making the international community laugh in disgust. The thing is two ....... months away man, and this fool just canceled the thing. And me, I’m stuck holding my .... in my hand. WTF are you smoking?

C'mon Lex, WTF.

ROGER EDMUNDSON HAS NOT YET COMPROMISED SIGNIFICANTLY IN ANY AREA SINCE HE HAS TAKEN OVER AMA. THIS MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT NOT TO ASSIGN ARROGANCE TO HIS CHARACTER. THERE IS VALUE IN COMPROMISE!

You have to spend money to make money.Sometimes you have to lose money to ultimatley make money. With all of his failures in the last 6 months,could the powers [France] be questioning if they hired the right guy for the job. He has become such a lightning rod of controversy that he may never get people on his side , even if he scrubbed the Buell Experiment and and introduced a set of FIM rules and lured Ben Spies back to America. There is a genuine hate in the motorcyle community for this guy and sooner or later he wiill be called to the carpet. Ray Blank said it best, while being interviewed,he was asked why Honda was still holding out even though almost all of their demands had been met by Edmondson. He replied [maybe i just dont like the Mother ......]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Mar 24 2009, 03:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Lex you are wrong on this! You skipped the most important parts. The track doesn't want to pay the ticket cut because:

1. DMG isn't showing the thing LIVE; THEREFORE, INATE LOSS OF VALUE for the entire show! Hello.
2. The economic climate has CHANGED but DMG still want LAST year's premium! WHAT DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND ABOUT BASIC ECONOMICS?
3. The track did not make money, has not, and you insist Miller to still pay for what is a depleted show with a major loss of value!

Lex, I've call you skitzo before, actually several times because you do this again and again, you talk like you know the value of money but then say .... like this. You claim to understand the economic power struggles and negotiations but you fail to understand something very simple here. You even have alluded yourself; the DELAY is an extreme, EXTREME LOSS of the very important component of sports viewing, perhaps the ultimate rule--people tune in to sport because of the unknown. Why do you think Superbowl ads are so excessive? While they are riveted, the advertisers are busy making impressions on our soft brains through commercials! NO LIVE AUDIENCE=NO COMMERCIAL VALUE. YET, DMG still want it as if nothing has changed. So there is an American in WSBK, newsflash, that is NOT enough to compensate for the implication of not showing the thing LIVE! Dude, and we haven’t even thrown in that DMG wanted to feature the Daytona Class--something presently mired in controversy!

So again, here we have a situation where the track is still willing to present a reasonable premium, in a climate where the purchasing power of Americans is at an all time low, perhaps even attendance should suffer, advertisers are more shrewd than ever and want REAL VALUE in what they pay for commercial…and Mr. ....... Edmundson wants the same premium as during the boom years? For a lousy 65K he cancels the show and leaves us all in the dust. He cancels the show in one of very few American premier venues, at a World event no less, making the international community laugh in disgust. The thing is two ....... months away man, and this fool just canceled the thing. And me, I’m stuck holding my .... in my hand. WTF are you smoking?

C'mon Lex, WTF.

ROGER EDMUNDSON HAS NOT YET COMPROMISED SIGNIFICANTLY IN ANY AREA SINCE HE HAS TAKEN OVER AMA. THIS MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT NOT TO ASSIGN ARROGANCE TO HIS CHARACTER. THERE IS VALUE IN COMPROMISE!



They are not asking for last year's premium. DMG requested $215,000 with no ticket rip. It's not arrogance If they ran AMA Superbike and DMG Sportbike, the purses alone would total $250,000. Right now with just DSB and SS the purse totals are just shy of $140,000 PLUS DMG WERE BRINGING THE FIM CREW. I suppose you can blame Edmondson for paying the riders too much.

Miller hold all of the cards this year b/c of Spies and they know it. They already got what they wanted from the AMA---early ticket contracts with the wholesalers and a reason to bump up the rate on concessions. Those contracts are signed and done.

All Miller had to do was make lowball offer slightly above the purse. They knew DMG would refuse then Miller simply refuse the counter-offer. It gets them off the hook with the fans, sponsors, and concessions vendors. Fans are falling for it hook, line, and sinker.

At $150,000 wasn't an offer it was an insult. Miller knew it was below the purse payout and the cost of an FIM crew. Miller are pissed b/c they lost American Honda sponsorship and they blame Edmonson for causing Blank to leave racing.

I'm schizo if schizophrenic means I read the rule book and the purse payouts.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ Mar 24 2009, 07:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I'm schizo
Lex, I usually make the mistake of overlooking your contradictions when you manage to string together a few good post. But you always manage to regress. Stupid me. So I’ll keep it short. You’re wrong. (No need to debate this for obvious reasons…well at least obvious to me.)

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Mar 24 2009, 05:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>ROGER EDMUNDSON HAS NOT YET COMPROMISED SIGNIFICANTLY IN ANY AREA SINCE HE HAS TAKEN OVER AMA. THIS MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT NOT TO ASSIGN ARROGANCE TO HIS CHARACTER. THERE IS VALUE IN COMPROMISE!

Did he not keep the superbikes? Remember, he initially wanted to have what is currently known as the Daytona Sportbike class, Supersport, and Moto-GT.

I already Think Edmondson is arrogant, given the things he said and did while transforming Grand-Am. However, I think the factories can be blamed almost as much as DMG for this difficult transition.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Mar 24 2009, 08:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Lex, I usually make the mistake of overlooking your contradictions when you manage to string together a few good post. But you always manage to regress. Stupid me. So I’ll keep it short. You’re wrong. (No need to debate this for obvious reasons…well at least obvious to me.)

I'm wrong for saying Edmondson couldn't take $150,000?

Everything I said about TV contracts had to do with negotiations between the TV networks and DMG, not DMG and the venue owners. How does the venue owner benefit from live TV coverage?

They don't really. If anything, venue owners might benefit from delayed coverage the same way local sports teams benefit from blackouts. Without live TV coverage, they have a monopoly on the event.

No live TV coverage means DMG won't accept a low ball offer because DMG can't fall back on TV money to make up the difference. It has little or no impact on the increase in ticket sales that may result from having AMA events on Saturday.

Miller are just covering their ..... so the fans, sponsors, ticket wholesalers, and concessions vendors don't tear them a new one for canceling what would have been an eventful Saturday.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Mar 24 2009, 08:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Lex, ... (No need to debate this for obvious reasons…well at least obvious to me.)
If I need to explain how this benefits the track then...^

Anyway, perhaps there can be a silver lining. LINK

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Mar 25 2009, 07:23 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>If I need to explain how this benefits the track then...^

Anyway, perhaps there can be a silver lining. LINK

Yes, you do need to explain how live coverage benefits the track; especially since standard practice usually compels local venue owners to request blackouts.

Miller benefit from additional ticket sales (probably too late because they've already sold them to the wholesalers/retailers). This year Miller doesn't need DMG b/c Spies inked with Yamaha in WSBK and he's won 75% of the races. The stands will be full.

WSBK will pull the fans this year all by itself, DMG can't provide much additional revenue that they didn't already provide by allowing Miller to list them when they sold ticket packages to the wholesale companies. Unfortunately, Miller are missing out on the real Spies premium b/c they contracts they made with the wholesalers/concessions/sponsors were many months before Spies' performance.

DMG's high price can be blamed onthe lack of live coverage, but not Miller's $150,000 offer. Miller's $150,000 has little to do with the AMA and everything to do with the recent popularity of WSBK and Ben Spies. Obviously, they can't say they are lowballing DMG b/c they already have strong ticket sales, they'd run the risk of lawsuits and angry fans because they've been advertising AMA as the underbilling for many months.

They had to blame it on DMG so they used the controversial lightning rod that has made so many AMA fans angry----delayed TV coverage.

It worked. They're off the legal hook and the fans are blaming DMG. The gen pub are played for fools 24/7/365 and they love every dramatic second of it.

Oh it looks like Miller are now accepting Wild Card riders so they can still bring the AMA stars without paying DMG a penny. I think it's pretty obvious now to everyone what is going on. Miller wanted to send DMG packing but they couldn't run the risk of falsely advertising the weekends events thus garnering hatred from the fans. Instead they constructed this elaborate ruse. That's what it takes when you have to deal with the general public, they don't digest the truth very well. Better to make an entertaining lie.

Sounds like the AMA has plenty of drama on its hands, maybe it will escelate to soap opera levels seen in F1!! But lets hope not.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Mar 25 2009, 09:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Sounds like the AMA has plenty of drama on its hands, maybe it will escelate to soap opera levels seen in F1!! But lets hope not.

There is no drama, trust me. Now that Jumkie has revealed the source of the delayed coverage, the picture is complete. Please let me bring you up to speed so if you are forced to engage in an AMA discussion with a common troglodyte you can enlighten them.

Two things have changed hugely since 2008: 1. The AMA 2. American interest in WSBK. Right now, the AMA and Miller Motorsports Park are trying to reach a deal, but the likelihood they were going to succeed was relatively slim. DMG has doubled the purse and lost TV revenues, Miller has gained Spies and the ticket sales it needs to have a successful weekend.

Unfortunately, one of these parties has benefited from listing the AMA as part of the weekend's festivities. They have huge incentive to deflect blame so as to avoid law suit and ire from the fans. Miller has intentionally let things leak out and they have placed blame on the AMA by justifying their lowball offer with the lack of live TV coverage. It is a ruse.

On a large scale it works because Edmondson is viewed as arrogant. He's not, but he is extremely proud. There are 2 types of pride, A and B. Type A pride is an inner belief in yourself and your ideas, it causes you to try to spread your philosophy to others. Couple type A pride with intransigence and you have the appearance of arrogance.

Type B pride is hubris. Hubris is the calling card of the major American distributors who seek to inflict maximum damage on others because of a perceived superiority and self-importance. Now that we know why AMA coverage is delayed (few manufacturer advertisement dollars), we can understand the big picture. Edmondson has compromised and attempted to reconcile differences between DMG and the American distributors. How do we know? Because he needs their support to maintain proper publicity and TV coverage.

The manufacturers on the other hand, do not need the AMA in any way. They have actively sought to stop Edmondson and to impair any investment DMG have made in American motorcycle roadracing. Why? Because they know how worthless the AMA is, they've been running it for the last decade.

Actions speak louder than words so all of this "drama" is simply revealing what no one wants to say. The AMA was utterly worthless in it's former state and Edmondson (though he is doubtlessly a flawed leader) was the only person pushing for it's rehabilitation. The manufacturers indifference towards successful relations with AMA racing is an admission of guilt.

Edmondson is apparently NOT an easy man to work with; however, it is not his incompetence that has lead to the recent problems. You can only blame the man for doubling the size of the AMA purse, is anyone ready to throw him out for that?

Your argument regarding the DMG vs Miller negotiation is simply wrong. (Haha, your last salvo is more like a little firecracker that blows up in your hand, 'increasing the purse', uhm yeah, the Daytona SportBike class, have you NOT been paying attention to the news while you were reading the rule book in a cave? An while you're reading the rule book at its 5 addendumbs, feel free to mix in an economics class, start with the word VALUE. BTW, your entire argument is based on "live" coverage, haha, newsflash, same day/weekend coverage is tantamount to "live" in US motorcycle racing buddy. Try again.) Enough said.

However, I will discuss the rest of your post regarding DMG's CEO and the relationship with manufactures. We need to make a distinction here of WHICH manufactures, something you have failed to do. (BTW, I agree partly with your assessment of Edmondson’s leadership, but his character is debatable, BTW Lex, I smell Jim France in alot of this) but lets shelve this for a moment).

Ok, well if we are talking about DMG and the Japanese manufactures of Suzuki, Honda, and Kawasaki. Well they are not happy. Yamaha, being the lone full factory effort, we can extrapolate that they are somewhat willing to work with DMG.

Now Suzuki and Kawasaki have withheld advertising dollars. Yet, they continue to have success in the AMA, still wining superbike and a second place in Daytona Sportbike. Perhaps this is why both their top riders feel bold enough to voice their unsatisfaction with DMG, as Hacking did this last weekend. Their jobs are secure despite DMG's attempt to censure.

Honda is still sitting on the fence, both providing advertising dollars but no factory effort. Their rider is hurt but his job is secure.

Yamaha, well they are in completely, both with a full factory effort and providing advertising dollars. They are enjoying some level of success by wining the opening round in the Daytona class (albeit perhaps by default since the Buell fell apart.)

Now lets take a look at the manufactures that are enjoying a better relationship with DMG: Buell, Aprillia, and Ducati. All of these stand to gain under the current rules structure in this class which DMG has decidedly tried to feature! Though Ducati under Pegram racing is doing it under Superbike. But I can see a bit from somebody in Daytona Class in the future. (Haha, this has me laughing at your comical understanding of the DMG vs. Miller situation again). You see Lex, despite DMG trying to force-feed you Daytona SportBike, most people tune in to see SUPERBIKE. This is the established elite standard of American racing. (Or has DMG already completed mind control on you away from truth, after all, you have some history in this regard...). The fact that they renamed this class "Daytona" is a message you also fail to detect. There is a message in the "doubling of the purse" which it seems you have missed. The considerable purse is for Daytona Sportbike, the class that they want to force-feed Miller into accepting at the same VALUE as Superbike. (Don't know why I'm saying it, I know its useless and you won't understand).

Ok, so why are these brands happier? Well its obvious, they now get to feature their bikes under "more" competitive rules, and to the casual fan (the type that DMG is going after) it looks like they are going to win straight up. Haha, again, I'm reminded of some of my friends who come over to watch a MotoGP race and declare; 'ah the guys winning are simply better'. And now they will make the same assessment when they see Daytona SpotBike racing. Welcome to the herd Lex.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Mar 25 2009, 01:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Your argument regarding the DMG vs Miller negotiation is simply wrong. (Haha, your last salvo is more like a little firecracker that blows up in your hand, 'increasing the purse', uhm yeah, the Daytona SportBike class, have you NOT been paying attention to the news while you were reading the rule book in a cave? An while you're reading the rule book at its 5 addendumbs, feel free to mix in an economics class, start with the word VALUE. BTW, your entire argument is based on "live" coverage, haha, newsflash, same day/weekend coverage is tantamount to "live" in US motorcycle racing buddy. Try again.) Enough said.

What are you saying? Daytona doubled the purse and halved the number of "major" classes. The classes are roughly 4x as expensive to operate (very roughly). Daytona have doubled the expense of a race weekend and they've lost the ticket rip and the advertising dollars that would allow them to take a chance on a low bid.

Obviously it's a simple case of irreconcilable differences, but Miller have incentive to make up a phony reason for dropping DMG after promising AMA races to the fans and concessions vendors---no live TV.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>Now Suzuki and Kawasaki have withheld advertising dollars. Yet, they continue to have success in the AMA, still wining superbike and a second place in Daytona Sportbike. Honda is still sitting on the fence, both providing advertising dollars but no factory effort. Their rider is hurt but his job is secure.

That is exactly my point. The manufacturers don't need the AMA and Roger Edmondson has still provided them a place to race, win, & advertise. Yet these clowns, Blank most of all, continue to withhold advertising dollars until Edmondson adopts most of the old rules back for superbike. It's right in front of everyone's faces and they still don't see it One party has done most of the compromising the other party has done almost all of the instigating.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>Now lets take a look at the manufactures that are enjoying a better relationship with DMG: Buell, Aprillia, and Ducati.

Lock and Buell are both on the AMA board of directors so it was inevitable they were going to get a few kickbacks. Lock scored WSBK equipment for Pegram, Buell got........well we all know. Williams from Kawasaki is on the board as well, I don't know why he's still on the fence. Kawasaki need a showing in Superbike badly.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>The considerable purse is for Daytona Sportbike, the class that they want to force-feed Miller into accepting at the same VALUE as Superbike. (Don't know why I'm saying it, I know its useless and you won't understand).

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE ("mylexicon")<div class='quotemain'>You can't really blame Edmondson for refusing $150,000, but his decision not to run sbk is a bit suspect

Tada. Your response:

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>Lex you are wrong on this!

Only one of us is schizophrenic. If anything I'm annoying because I say the same thing over and over again.

At $150,000 the AMA can't show up no matter what they bring (unless it's SS and GT). Miller aren't going to raise their offer for American Superbike because they already have the sales they need. Who knows? Maybe DMG intentionally canceled Superbikes b/c they wanted AMA riders to race as wild cards for cheap AMA publicity. I'm sure Miller are happy to oblige because it's cheaper than running a Superbike race.

Like I said, when resources are tight there is a lot of cost cutting, cooperation, and IOU's. Miller dumped on DMG for lacking live coverage so they could insulate themselves from the rancor of Saturday's crowd and concessions vendors. Edmondson has done well not to fire back.

I suppose we could take it at face value and assume the press release was accidentally leaked. Not my style, but if it makes you happy, go for it.

Here is a little homework assignment for you to better understand DMG's agenda and how you might be able to make a connection to the failed negotiation with Miller, and where DMG places its value Lex. Go on to their website and click the "ABOUT" AMA pro racing. Find me a sentence in that entire page (and its considerable) describing themselves and what they are "about" that mentions the status of "SUPERBIKE". Count the number of sentences that promote "Superbike" the class. Hells count the number of times they use the word "Superbike".

Now count the number of times they mention the word "Daytona". Look at the adjectives they use in those sentences. You will find these words like: "showcase, fast-handling, head-to-head, featured class in America’s premier motorcycle, legendary, first premier category, the history, prestigious racing history, major event," etc. Take a good look at these descriptions and find me something as bold and alluring for superbike. You will be shocked to find only ONE sentence mentioning "Superbike". And in that sentence, you will find its mentioned only in passing, the rest of the paragraph is all about Daytona SportBike.

For most of American racing fans, we look to the superbike class and its riders as the "premier" class, that is the class of 'value' by virtue of perception and rider prestige. Find anything in that entire page that mentions this in any capacity.

ABOUT PAGE


What does that tell you? (probably nothing, but it does me)

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Mar 25 2009, 03:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Here is a little homework assignment for you to better understand DMG's agenda and how you might be able to make a connection to the failed negotiation with Miller, and where DMG places its value Lex. Go on to their website and click the "ABOUT" AMA pro racing. Find me a sentence in that entire page (and its considerable) describing themselves and what they are "about" that mentions the status of "SUPERBIKE". Count the number of sentences that promote "Superbike" the class. Hells count the number of times they use the word "Superbike".

Now count the number of times they mention the word "Daytona". Look at the adjectives they use in those sentences. You will find these words like: "showcase, fast-handling, head-to-head, featured class in America’s premier motorcycle, legendary, first premier category, the history, prestigious racing history, major event," etc. Take a good look at these descriptions and find me something as bold and alluring for superbike. You will be shocked to find only ONE sentence mentioning "Superbike". And in that sentence, you will find its mentioned only in passing, the rest of the paragraph is all about Daytona SportBike.

For most of American racing fans, we look to the superbike class and its riders as the "premier" class, that is the class of 'value' by virtue of perception and rider prestige. Find anything in that entire page that mentions this in any capacity.

ABOUT PAGE


What does that tell you? (probably nothing, but it does me)

I've read the page many times, it tells me something very simple.

DMG doesn't run American Superbike the manufacturers still do, albeit under DMG's rule package. So obviously Edmonson is running an unsafe class he probably can't afford to pay the insurance on, but he's doing it to keep the manufacturers and hardcore fans involved.

It's further proof that Edmondson has made such huge compromises that he willing to run Superbike for the sponsors, manufacturers, riders, and privateers even though it doesn't fit with his plan.

I rue the day Edmondson finds sponsorship dollars to replace those he's lost from the manufacturers because he might do something stupid and cancel Superbike outright.

Why do you think I'm so enraged at the manufacturers? They have done nothing but further imperil liter bikes by attempting to topple DMG rather than investing money in protecting Superbike. Superbike is still their club, but with different rules. They can still do whatever want as long as they give/sell their prototype parts to a third party manufacturer who then retails them to all participants.

The manufacturers continue to go for Edmondson's jugular because the herd creatures handed them a blank check. The manufacturers win if they participate in the new Superbike class, they win if American Superbike goes bust b/c the fans will revolt against Edmondson. Unfortunately, you have made yourself their unpaid lackey.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ Mar 25 2009, 03:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>So obviously Edmonson is running an unsafe class he probably can't afford to pay the insurance on, but he's doing it to keep the manufacturers and hardcore fans involved.

It's further proof that Edmondson has made such huge compromises that he willing to run Superbike for the sponsors

I rue the day Edmondson finds sponsorship dollars to replace those he's lost from the manufacturers

Why do you think I'm so enraged at the manufacturers? They have done nothing but further imperil liter bikes by attempting to topple DMG

The manufacturers continue to go for Edmondson's jugular because the herd creatures handed them a blank

made yourself their unpaid lackey.

OMG, Roger Edmundson = Mother Theresa according to Lex!

Dude, if you had a shred of credibility you just lost it all. Debate over!

Here is the video of Sunday's activities. Enjoy.

LINK


(BTW, if you haven't seen day 1 & 2, its basically the same key words except the date).

Hey, can anybody give me a pointers on increasing the quality of the video on YouTube? Geez, it looks good on my Mac computer, but once uploaded it looks like crap. Is there a setting situation, or perhaps a 'pay' option for better quality?

Thanks for the video Jum. What was the reason for the FCY during the Sportbike race? And another rolling start? How many long-time bike racing fans are going to keep watching when they feel their sport is being .......ized by outsiders? Did Roger learn nothing from Grand-Am? He literally said he wasn't concerned with then-current sports car fans, reflecting those sentiments in his decisions. What did that get him? A well-supported club series with little fan interest and sponsors transplanted from nascar relationships.

These arbitrary nascar touches stand a good chance of dooming the series to being a well-subscribed club...just like...drum roll...Grand-Am!

I'm glad someone wants to make the AMA an arena for good racing, instead of a factory advertisement with slow riders making up the numbers. However, DMG needs to ditch these weird touches that awaken road racing fans' associations with NASCAR, which will ultimately marginalize the series in their minds, leaving few to spread the word about the series and bring new faces to the track.

DMG can sell a series focused on private teams and equipment parity, but if these ugly surface warts from nascar land make the fans recoil in disgust, then the new AMA may stall and never recover.

Thanks for posting Jum.