DMG Blinks

http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=33116

I guess a little revolution is a good thing.

1000cc's. Hopefully this rumor is true and not the spec bike style rumor we first heard.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Hayden Fan @ Jul 4 2008, 02:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>1000cc's. Hopefully this rumor is true and not the spec bike style rumor we first heard.

The spec bike was not a rumor,it was strait from the horses ...,er mouth that is running the show.

yep, with the announcement that suzuki, kawasaki and honda were going to play hardball DMG figured out they were the tail trying to wag the dog.

Interesting.

Good and the hell with DMG trying to reinevent the wheel. They only know Nascar and that is a boring geriatric racing that has very little talent and merit in my opinion. I have been to the Nascar races and was happy with the experience but the race just seemed to be ancilary to the whole party thing there. I hope if DMG gets their act together and has the presence of mind to realize that it works in WSBK that maybe they should follow suit and do what they know how to do: promote. And this time they have something decent to promote instead of the boring left turning crap that is nascar.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ROCKGOD01 @ Jul 5 2008, 11:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Good and the hell with DMG trying to reinevent the wheel. They only know Nascar and that is a boring geriatric racing that has very little talent and merit in my opinion. I have been to the Nascar races and was happy with the experience but the race just seemed to be ancilary to the whole party thing there. I hope if DMG gets their act together and has the presence of mind to realize that it works in WSBK that maybe they should follow suit and do what they know how to do: promote. And this time they have something decent to promote instead of the boring left turning crap that is nascar.
Real spot on post. I'm a firm believer in adopting WSBK rules, it makes comparing cross-series that much easier and promotes wildcard rides. Also, living with NASCAR, those people know how to promote. In that regard, road racing is in very good hands. With regard to the rest I'm fairly certain road racing in the states is in loads of trouble.

Honda apparently doesn't like those rules either (even though they haven't officially been announced).

They said they want to go into the 2009 season with the proposed and approved "pre-DMG" 2009 rules in place.

Bah, this is going to get ugly.

Once again the Japanese prove they are here to loot and pillage.

They have been begging DORNA for years to run spec 600s so they could take over the smaller GP classes. Now DMG asks them to run spec 600s and they balk.

Obviously, the cost of producing as 600 is not significantly less than producing a 1000. The Japanese would like to continue to jam 1000's into our garages so they can enjoy the higher margins.

In Europe, where people ride many different types of small displacement machines, the Japanese are trying to put a 600 I-4 in everyone's garage.

Completely classless.

As in almost all crises, people are completely clueless who the enemy is. The manufacturers have put their hypocrisy on display and people are still cuddling up with them. As I have said before, the manufacturers have been running the show for quite some time, they have led the AMA to it's current nadir. The AMA is on the way out if something significant doesn't change. Media coverage is one of the mandatory ingredients missing from the AMA. Manufacturers who actually give a damn about racing is the other missing ingredient.

So far, I'm more inclined to believe DMG will make good on their end of the bargain, even if their end of the bargain isn't exactly what I would like.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ Jul 7 2008, 10:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>As in almost all crises, people are completely clueless who the enemy is. The manufacturers have put their hypocrisy on display and people are still cuddling up with them. As I have said before, the manufacturers have been running the show for quite some time, they have led the AMA to it's current nadir. The AMA is on the way out if something significant doesn't change. Media coverage is one of the mandatory ingredients missing from the AMA. Manufacturers who actually give a damn about racing is the other missing ingredient.

So far, I'm more inclined to believe DMG will make good on their end of the bargain, even if their end of the bargain isn't exactly what I would like.
That's because it's the manufacturers who put the money into the sport to make it watchable. Take away all the technology and the talent goes away, whether they go to BSB, WSS, WSB, 125, 250 or MotoGP is another debate but the talent leaves. When the manufacturers threaten(ed) to pull out, what were (are) the rider rumors? Everyone of talent is looking for a WSS/WSB ride.

I agree that it's no fun to watch the manufacturers run the show as their own infomercial but without them, production-based racing is nothing.

Geez, what's up with Honda? They must have quite a bit of R&D done on the pre-DMG '09 rules package, why else would they complain about SBK rules and no spec tire? Seems like DMG offered a big olive branch (informally, anyway) to keep the manufacturers happy.

Run the world superbike rules for 1000s - Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki and Ducati all have bikes built to that specification. Plus, BMW and Aprilia are building bikes to that specification.

The only thing I see is the SBK-spec 1000s will certainly be the main show - the Daytona Superbikes will have lots of privateer support with big fields, but they will definitely play second fiddle to the big bikes.

So far my venom has been aimed at DMG.If in fact they are offering WSB rules and Honda has a problem with that,.... them.Thats a good compromise.If someday FIM-WSB goes to 600's as their superbike class,so be it,but right now every superbike class on the planet is 1000's and it wouldnt bother me to see every countries superbike rules be the same.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ Jul 8 2008, 04:49 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>As in almost all crises, people are completely clueless who the enemy is.

You shouldn't be so keen to make enemies. All parties in these discussions want to go racing, they are all trying to provide you with something (for their own benefit of course).

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Jul 9 2008, 01:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>You shouldn't be so keen to make enemies. All parties in these discussions want to go racing, they are all trying to provide you with something (for their own benefit of course).

I'm talking about the enemy of the fans. I know DMG and the manufacturers want to go racing, they've got products to advertise and seats to fill.

So far one party has increased rider pay (the real thing keeping/attracting riders in the AMA), leveled the playing field (to increase the amount of competitive machinery and attract more riders), and will probably bring advertisers and TV cameras.

The other party won't even show up with bikes b/c they can't pump the products they want to and they are too unimaginative to brand. Furthermore, one manufacturer won't be able to use the technology they created to circumnavigate the rules (the only AMA tech innovation in the last half decade). Instead of thinking about the American series, the manufacturers try to turn the AMA into test lab for WSBK parts. Why? Because they don't want to make an investment in our national series!!!!

The progression of the series after DMG's original plan is so simple a damn toddler could follow it. Reduce to 600s temporarily to alleviate safety concerns, bring more venues into play, and level the playing field. Up prize winnings to keep riders around during the tumult. Once the necessary revenue streams are generated, and new manufacturers have been given a cheap look at the series, update the facilities AND THE BIKES. In the long term, use the success of NASCAR to pressure circuit owners into building road racing circuits (or at least nice infields) for the AMA.

The AMA will be the only series in the world INCREASING displacement for all participants if DMG gets its way. Hopefully, TC will still be banned during the progression and the racing will be more fun to watch.

They are practically preparing a filet mignon for moto fans. It's gonna take a couple of years to cook, but if you can't see it coming, you're blinded by DMG's NASCAR ties.

I hope your right but I really don't see it working out that way. The manufacturers dump so much money into that series (whether it is a fraction of GP or as a test bed for WSB is irrelevant) that without them it could be disaster. Who advertises during those races? The manufacturers. They run the show because they pay the bills. That's why I'm very skeptical of anything that they are not in tune with.

But don't get me wrong, I'm all for competitive racing. That's why I'll be happy if they adopt WSB spec rules.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Austin @ Jul 14 2008, 07:23 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I hope your right but I really don't see it working out that way. The manufacturers dump so much money into that series (whether it is a fraction of GP or as a test bed for WSB is irrelevant) that without them it could be disaster. Who advertises during those races? The manufacturers. They run the show because they pay the bills. That's why I'm very skeptical of anything that they are not in tune with.

But don't get me wrong, I'm all for competitive racing. That's why I'll be happy if they adopt WSB spec rules.

I agree the manufacturers have been dumping money into the sport and it seems odd that the AMA (who had little to no control over the sport) could sell the sport to a new marketing/governing entity. The AMA was so weak, they barely had enough power to sell the series, imo. The manufacturers should have revolted when they heard of the sale, not after a new investor dumped an ... load of money into rejuvenating the sport.

In my opinion there are two things causing a disconnect:

1. One Rupert Murdock is fighting with another Rupert Murdock over the biggest bargain in all of motorcycle media. DMG probably got the series for pennies on the dollar. The manufacturers paid nothing. Both are planning to use the series as a media spectacle to pump their own products.

2. The Japanese are completely incompetent when it comes to branding. So much so, that any time they need to utilize brand identity they have to spin off a subsidiary (or buy one) then turn it over to American or European management. Think Lexus, Acura, Infiniti, Technics, Aiwa, etc. Obviously, the manufacturers are going to be resistant to the idea of selling a brand rather than an actual product.

I can't see any reason to find complete fault in DMG. At this point they seem optimistic and ready to move. I don't like the trash talking to the riders, but the change isn't going to be easy. Some people's feelings are going to get hurt.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ Jul 15 2008, 10:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>ISome people's feelings are going to get hurt.
I certainly hope so.