Americans: Which do you prefer?

ive not voted cos im english but im very interested to see the results of this poll.

I think I'd enjoy AMA more if the Speed announcers were replaced, but that's a whole other story...

It's a close call, but gun to the head I'd have to go for the 125/250 battles.

125 and 250 all the way. Racing is way better, always has been, and always will.

well u know my opinion but i'll say it again. 125s/250s all the way!

I voted for AMA just because I can relate to the bikes. The racing is not the same though. The 125 and 250 are an amazing race to watch even better so than the 800cc most of the time. Wouldn't you agree? However there is something that is different about the 800cc bikes that attract me in the same way that the AMA Superbikes attract me even the Supersport bikes are pretty good. There is something about the bikes of the 125 and 250's that is missing. Is it that they sound less manly that my 25Hp lawnmower? Don't know.

Rog, when you are at Laguna be sure to check out the Superbikes, I think that you will be impressed.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SackWack @ Jun 24 2008, 10:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I voted for AMA just because I can relate to the bikes. The racing is not the same though. The 125 and 250 are an amazing race to watch even better so than the 800cc most of the time. Wouldn't you agree? However there is something that is different about the 800cc bikes that attract me in the same way that the AMA Superbikes attract me even the Supersport bikes are pretty good. There is something about the bikes of the 125 and 250's that is missing. Is it that they sound less manly that my 25Hp lawnmower? Don't know.

Rog, when you are at Laguna be sure to check out the Superbikes, I think that you will be impressed.
before my tv package changed i used to get motors tv that showed AMA and i loved it, that was quite a few years ago no, it was in nicky haydens day so im very much looking forward to watching them. im lucky because ive seen 125 and 250's race so i will have been very lucky to have seen both. i feel sorry for the peeps who can only go to laguna so will not experience the small strokers.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (whiteboxer @ Jun 24 2008, 08:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I think I'd enjoy AMA more if the Speed announcers were replaced, but that's a whole other story...

I agree completely with you on this. The announcers for AMA seem more interested in chatting about whats going on with the riders outside of the race rather then on the actual racing action. I have always felt the Eurosport (Brit) announcers watch the races like I do, with my eyes glued to the action ready to jump at a pass that you just know is coming or be suddenly wowed when a big crash happens. For some reason though in America they think we all want this overdone drama crap (ie - ....... reality TV overdramatization bs). Just give me the facts, follow the race action, comment during down time, don't miss when something happens.

That said, back to the topic, I do enjoy watching the 125/250s more then the AMA Superbike/Supersport/Formula X. AMA Superbike is a two man show, but to give it credence Moto GP is not far from being a similar spectacle. Supersport can often times be some great racing. I just think it is a big jump for a lot of up and coming kids to get into. Personally I would like to see a lower cc class (450 4 strokes?) to get some of the youngsters in there racing at an early age. Or have a class based on the modified dirtbike 4 stroke engine/chassis. Not saying I want to see a lot of kids out there but when you have guys racing 2 classes, there seems to be some overlap going on. Formula X seems to be just filler. The upcoming changes to the AMA will be interesting.

Back to 125/250s the racing seems more unpredictable (who may win), closer (tighter packs), more action (lots of passing), and its Gran Prix (big spectacle on famous tracks with international riders). They should have kept the 500cc "man class" though for some real ballsy racing in addition to the new "prototype" factory racing 4 strokes.

I grew up watching AMA races so am familiar with the riders and teams and have grown fond of a lot of the people in the series. How can you not root for the Boz Bros. and Jake Zemke and Ben Spies etc.? Especially now that this is the farewell tour of Superbikes in this country, it's hard not to prefer watching the AMA.

But, the governing body has shown its repeated incompetence and with no disrespect to the great people in the AMA (riders, mechanics, engineers, teams etc. not the actual AMA or its racing division), the talent lies in 125/250. As much as I love watching AMA, grand prix racing is pure motorsport the way it was meant to be.

it's neck & neck!

I voted AMA, because that is what I ‘prefer’. However it must be qualified. I like motorcycle racing, and watch everything I can get here, which isn't much. So, I voted for the AMA because I'm a homer (that means I root for the home team). I don't know .... about the guys running around in 125/250. The only thing I know is a few names, usually the front runners (thanks to TV coverage of them only) and that is it. We get the lower GP classes days and sometimes weeks later, if at all. It’s almost like asking the Euros, ‘hey what do you prefer watching more, GP lower classes or AMA’ (assuming they get some of our races).

AMA Superbikes (& Superstock) haven't been all that exciting for years, it’s really just a Suzuki cup. But Supersport and Formula Extreme have been very competitive and exciting. I watch all the 125/250 races, and they are as interesting as the AMA Supersport & Formula Extreme for me. If it were just a question of 'racing' well the GP lower classes are more exciting. However, I can relate to the machines that are run in the AMA. (I don't know if it’s the same in the UK & Europe, but we hardly ever see a two-stroke road machine, if ever on the road). On top of that, there are zero Americans to root for in 250s and only one token project-KR American in 125.

I'm not happy about the GP lower classes are not running at Laguna. I think all three classes should travel as a whole. It’s a good thing they will be at Indy. I think interest here is hurt by not having Americans in the lower classes (except for Bonsey). Its NOT like there is no talent here, so this begs the question, why is that? I have personally (perhaps with bias) answered this question as follows: GP is not interested in budding American talent, and those who made it to the premier class simply couldn’t be denied by virtue of talent. So my reaction is of course, .... them. So I don’t go out of my why to follow the GP lowers.

So basically, I think it’s a matter of lacking Americans, little to no coverage, strange bikes, and I don't know .... about the backgrounds of the lower class riders. That is all the opposite of the AMA. I can relate to their bikes, we get better (but still not Euro standards) TV coverage and we have seen them race since youngsters.

Today we are on the cusp of a real a dramatic change to American motorcycle racing. Those entrusted in running the AMA have made the decision to either elevate or destroy motorcycle racing in the United States by handing a battered gauntlet to a group of individuals who so far threaten to dismantle (or advance) this sport. By most all accounts, this may be the end of what was once a great showcase and producer of talent. If our fears are realized, then racing everywhere will be hurt. I'm not fond of Dorna either, so perhaps, WSBK may reap the benefits of narrow-minded greedy and political mismanagement of this sport.

Disclaimer: Now I know some of you will be tempted to answer the question by erroneously thinking the inquiry is: ‘what is better’, but that is NOT the question.

I grew up watching 125/250. AMA has some good races, but for the most part, it just does not appeal to me. As long as I have been paying attention there has been an instability around the series. Grand Prix has not had that, until last year with Honda pulling out and Aprilia not happy about the 250-600 deal.

Plus living most of my youth in Europe did help.

Jumkie, you are right, there is a lack of America talent in the lower series to creat interest. Bonsey is there, but in a 25+ bike field in 125 and a whole 250 class without an American, what does it sell to us? Plus 125's and 250's are not common bikes on America roads either.

In AMA you have star across the board. The Box Bros. Josh Herrin, Spies, Mladin, Zemke, Duhamel. Some might not be American, but they have races here so long, we have adopted them into our country.

I'll take 250gp, 600 supersport and superbike.

oh wait...that's the 90's AMA lineup

I don't know why they ever changed it. Pitch formula xtreme and superstock.

I voted 125/250. There is no comparison. These classes race across the world with world talent.

I pull for US riders just like the rest of the people here who are blinded by nationalism, but the AMA has many problems. I raced AMA endurance series in the 80's and the AMA treated us like dirt. Their entire operation struck me as complete bush league and the tracks were fckn dangerous and still are today except for the most recent builds. I am still bitter about it.

It's no wonder USA racing does not have much new talent as they treat all new comers with such contempt. How are you going to develop new people when you have to constantly break down barriers to get into the sport and feel welcome.

Didn't the AMA farm out the series next year to Roger Edmondson's company because they finally fessed up to the inability to manage the series?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (whiteboxer @ Jun 24 2008, 02:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I think I'd enjoy AMA more if the Speed announcers were replaced, but that's a whole other story...

Spot the .... on


I'm not gonna vote...cause i have a bad condition called motorbikefagitis....And the only treatment is motorbike road racing....doc said i only have a few decades left to live...it's very sad.

But the point is kind of moot.

Next year will probably be the last for 250's...to be replaced by 625cc Inline 4 strokes (dumb)

Why don't they do something like 500cc twins like harald bartol suggested

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kawzx7R @ Jun 25 2008, 08:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>But the point is kind of moot.

Next year will probably be the last for 250's...to be replaced by 625cc Inline 4 strokes (dumb)

Why don't they do something like 500cc twins like harald bartol suggested

cause 2 strokes are DEAD my friend....look at ALL the manufacturers, how many strokers do they have.

I watch both but favor the 125/250s, but my husband definitely leans toward AMA. Unfortunately, SpeedChannel doesn't usually broadcast the 125/250 races until days later. By then, they get stale. I have the Donington 250 DVRed because they aired it Tuesday around noon...but I haven't gotten around to watching it. Like I said...after a few days, the anticipation isn't quite what it might have been on race day.

I watch any kind of motorcycle racing so I love it all, but I feel the 125/250 is the more exciting race to watch simply because it takes more talent (IMO) to ride a smaller cc engine than a bigger one.
More of riding the bike, making it goes fast because you're skilled instead of just being on the bike, and it going fast because it's powerful. There's more skill required to ride a smaller engine sized bike at high speed vs. than needed to ridie a larger engine bike with alot of power at high speed, which makes 125/250 more entertaining.
Now remember we're only talking about ama vs. 125/250 Gp, NOT MOTOGP.

I liked the AMA for some time. I had watched them any chance I had growing up when it was on TV. Until recently the AMA has lost out on its own competativness because there are really no factory efforts. Daytona Motor group has purchased the AMA now and will be revamping the series. You can go online of course and look at the details regarding the new series. Litre bikes will no longer be called superbikes and 600's will now be called Daytona Superbike. I for one have loved the 125's and the 250's for a long time as well. Since they race on gp tracks the racing is much better and competative. I think that they are getting rid of the 2 strokes going to a 600cc prototype in the near future so we shall see.