I don't think you understand the concept of performance indexing.
Performance indexing is adjusting the performance of the bikes based upon finishing position. The index doesn't focus on horsepower which is part of the reason Ducati have left. It was painfully obvious that the air restrictor was choking their top end regardless of their finishing position.
AMA has never had a performance index. DMG homologated artificial rev limits and weight limits for bikes that were awkwardly out of place amongst the traditional AMA Supersport 600s. How does the 1125RR make 50 horsepower more than the 1125R? Both bikes have the same engine. DMG simply imposed an artificial rev limit and probably regulated compression so that the
Buell made roughly the same power as a 600 in AMA Supersport trim. That's not a performance index. Roger Edmondson might have been applying a bit of competitive balance tactics, but I suspect that cost him his job (amongst other things).
No one supports performance indexing b/c everyone understands that the rider is a big part of the finishing position. Performance indexing is only necessary when the technical rules are inadequate. The Flamminis wrote the rulebook in 2004. Unless Ducati told Paolo to change the rulebook in 2004, Paolo can only blame himself.
I wonder about you, Povol, b/c you've never understood the AMA argument. You believe you are the keeper of the spirit of racing (I don't necessarily disagree) so when someone wants to change the sport you love, you conclude that they must be morally repugnant. If someone wants stock parts and production relevant mods for SBK, surely they are trying to make bad riders win. If someone wants more bikes at the front, surely they must think performance indexing is a good idea (nevermind that WSBK has many bikes at the front most of which are not performance indexed).
You're only undermining your own credibility by putting these thoughts in the public domain. Everything that happened in the AMA happened b/c of money. Money is an issue b/c the motorcycle market and AMA viewership have collapsed. All of the changes during 2008/2009 were an attempt to create competitive racing at a much lower price point. Some ideas were good, some ideas were not good, but there was no conspiracy to ruin racing, only differing opinions about reducing costs and encouraging competition. You never participated in that discussion b/c you were to busy determining the moral fortitude (or lack thereof) of the people involved in the discussion.
It is little wonder that you still don't understand how the AMA works or what rules DMG have chosen with input from the AMA board. As I've told you on numerous occasions they use
Supersport rules in SBK and AMA SS rules in DSB. Where is the problem? You've got no beef with AMA SS. You don't lampoon WSS for being low tech crap. You're only pissed with the AMA b/c there is no money for high tech bikes. The manufacturers are the only place for you to direct your rage. They are broke. They managed the series when it fell apart. It was a miracle that Edmondson talked DMG into buying the AMA for $10M. You should build a statue of the man in your front yard.
Thankfully, I don't have to worship the man like you do b/c I really only cared about his ideas and not his benevolent overpayment for a handful of AMA series that were losing money. The only man who thought the AMA was worth $10m has been fired.
This would make a hell of a Greek tragedy.
