Edmondson speaks

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>That's why it doesn't pay for us to listen too much to the mindless screaming that takes place and in fact try to separate from that the good voices out there that are using logic and common sense.



<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>It was quite clear from the ratings and from the advertising support that was already not sufficient to continue with live broadcasts on SPEED, we knew that with the economy taking a dive, any chance we had of maintaining live broadcasts was going to go away for 2009.

That sucks

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>Now the fact that you see Tommy Hayden riding so well in second place -- Tommy may be just as good a talent as Mat but that's not been established yet. So then you see that and see other riders doing well on the Suzuki and maybe you come to the conclusion that the motorcycle does have an advantage. But again, if it's built in according to the rules then we're going to allow it to run like it is.

How in the hell are they going to judge wether its the bike or the rider? That has been the debate of the century in every level of racing.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>The fact that the field gets bunched up is cannon fodder to those who want to point to the 'NASCARization' of road racing but they forget that the field gets bunched up under a red flag and then you've got another clutch start for those with very questionable clutches. There are several angles to look at this but unfortunately the naysayers have got the biggest targets on the safety car issue.

Interesting. I still don't understand the safety car at Daytona when they had a supposed lights issue though Also, didn't they come to a complete stop that race? So all the tires get won' get cold, engines won't heat, etc means?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>But when the behavior of one of these individuals is so far off the reservation of what's expected from a professional athlete, then it's our responsibility to step in and we did. And we will do so in the future.

I don't think that we are getting the whole picture with the Hacking debacle, or maybe I am giving Edmon too much credit

Well, not being an expert, I've held judgement. But now hearing Edmondson speak I have to say... What a corporate shill - he has no racer or love of racing in him, its all about product. I wouldn't let him advise kids on mini-motos much less run a national series. If this is what y'all want for the AMA, more power to you... but the motorsports version of "Slamball" ain't for me!

As I've said before, I am willing to forgive most everything DMG is trying to do with the AMA so long as I can see the races in a reasonable time. Reasonable for me is either same day or next day. 2 - 4 week delay is a complete joke. Edmonson said it himself when talking about the grid walk, it's all about the fans, but if the fans aren't even watching the racing, what's the point?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>By requiring people to race what they sell and requiring the availability of everything to ever other competitor, what we have on the track now is truly representative of what the street guy can go out and buy. Now we're not suggesting that he try to do on the street what they do on the track, but he should know that the things he's buying and used at our races are race-proven and I think there's an important message there.
So it really is all about selling more Gixxers and Icon jackets to squids. This isn't the concept of Superbike racing, that's one of my biggest gripes with RE. If he wants the rules to be this way, so that any schmuck can go out there and buy all the parts to turn his Gixxer into Mladin's bike, that's fine. But don't call it Superbike, because it isn't. Superbikes are unobtainable for your average fan, unless they have hundreds of thousands of dollars to burn. A template like this already exists, it's called Supersport.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>The problem I've had is that they've been carrying the burden on their own. I believe it's the wrong burden. From my standpoint, for a healthy sport, I would rather see the manufacturers show up with 18-wheelers full of demo bikes and marketing materials and displays, than 18-wheelers full of race bikes. That is the job of the racing industry. The manufacturers should be free to use these events as a medium to sell motorcycles. Where they have to provide the athletes and the machines, they're going to do it in a 'take-no-prisoners' mode and when they do that, it chases out the private teams. And without the private teams, you've got no infrastructure.
I don't understand what's wrong with the manufacturers showing up with 18-wheelers full of race bikes. They're following the rules, what else does he want? He says he's not anti-factory yet he says he wishes they weren't involved in their current capacity. That's the point of a factory effort, if they weren't involved in their current capacity then they wouldn't be any different from a satellite or privateer team. Do try to keep your pandering straight please, Mr. Edmonson.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>It just happens to be right now that the Aprilia 1000 is the fastest motorcycle in the field but it's not finished any higher than sixth. The Buell that did so well at Fontana was not on the pole and did not set the fastest lap in either race. In fact, if you took the average of the two fastest in each brand, the Buell was third fastest.
Probably because the Aprilia has 20 pounds on the Buell. Just a thought.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>I will say we told the manufacturers both in Superbike and SportBike that if you bring a bike that is built exactly according to the rules without any special allowances -- requested or given -- then that bike will not be changed as an individual model throughout the year.
So we can expect the Buell to change then this season?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>But typically our approach is not to make changes that allow everyone else to go faster because usually that involves everybody spending money, but more than likely, if we had a bike that we felt was the overdog and it was provable that it was the bike and not the bike/rider combination, we would try to slow that particular motorcycle down a little bit.
Again, so we can expect the Buell to change this season?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>But on the other hand, part of being a professional is being able to put that aside and remember why we're there and we're there for those fans more than we're there for ourselves.
It's all a game to him. He honestly thinks these guys are there to collect a paycheck and to entertain us. Mat Mladin is there for one reason, he wants to win. He could care less if Suzuki sell 38 fewer bikes because he doesn't want to talk to people 20 minutes before the race. That's his time to prepare. I'd imagine RE wouldn't be too thrilled to have 300 of us asking him about the safety car and Buells 20 minutes before he had a meeting with the France family.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>We had an alternate view and that was that the fans that wanted to come see Superbikes were going to come see the world's best and there was nothing for us to be gained by running national championship-level Superbikes on the same track on the same weekend as world championship Superbikes. There was no way people weren't going to make the inevitable comparisons and frankly we weren't going to come out the best on that.
But who cares what the fans want, the series would have been embarrassed. Probably because we have taken Superstock bikes and labelled them Superbikes and the casual observer wouldn't know the difference. I can understand him not wanting people to make the comparison but it's what the fans want. I'm no longer a paying fan of the series, but when I was, I didn't spend my money to go see Danny Eslick. I spent it to see Mladin, Bostrom and Hodgson.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ Apr 6 2009, 08:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>If you've been listening to me you already know all of this.

Well Lex, I see why you like it and why you think you have been on pulse with DMG, I would liken Speed's interview to something very similar seen by your pal Hannity toward some republican on FoxTV. Less anyone forget that DMG and Speed are NASCAR bound. Geez, could the questions and obvious spin of answers be any more in collusion!?!

Where to start.... In short, it was just a PR interview to make Edmundson sound like Mother Theresa. At very least, the one thing I'm taking from this is he realizes that he needs to have some damage control, which should serve to buffer his aggressiveness (I hope). Perhaps the pressure will make significant changes. He is right in some of his assessments, and true that the AMA was in disarray before DMG, but he's making the red herring argument that the nostalgia for yester year means he has actually made it better (cheap ... tactic). He has alienated the manufactures, and now he tries and sound like he is doing it for their benefit so they don't have to "shoulder the burden" oh please; I'm gonna use that one tonight, 'hey sweetheart, I'm ....... the next door neighbor's daughter so you don't have bother and this way you can concentrate on making dinner. The Miller explanation has people like Lex swallowing hook, line, sinker, and the tackle box to boot. The softball question asking why he wasn't bring Superbike to the show and his laugh out loud explanation should have been enough for anybody to stop reading the interview; (that is except to be amazed how much he could actually insult our intelligence). So you're not bringing superbikes because us dumb fans can't tell the difference between WSBK and AMA? WTF! Uhm, newsflash, they ran together last year, different courses. Not much fodder about comparing the two. And so what if they do, who gives a ...., that is why one is called "World" super bike and the other is a national series. And where was he going with the Suzuki thing, geez, just come out and say it already, you think the bike has an advantage and stop soft balling fake ... praises of Mladin, if followed by a list of other riders on Suzukis you are not sure about if its the rider or the bike. I'm not buying his explanation of Hacking's suspension/fine, DMG's full of .... on this one. Yeah, he's really gonna convince me that Hacking's questioning on the rules structure just rolled of his shoulder, yeah right. This whole interview smacks of defensiveness (lots of coaching by PR image firm this is).

I've said it before, I'm hoping for the best. Having said the above, I still think that the man is arrogant enough to make some good changes...changes the AMA needs.

Go ahead Lex, continue your defense of DMG and how we have it pegged all wrong…

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ Apr 7 2009, 10:53 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Edmondson is trying to remove the burden of funding the AMA from the manufacturers so they can focus exclusively on marketing and advertising. If this were WSBK or MotoGP it would be an ignoble demotion for the manufacturers, but the AMA is just a national feeder series for the time being.

Oh poor manufactures, they are soo "burdened". Why do you think they call it a "factory" effort? Hello, these guys are in compitition with eachother. You cite the activity of "marketting" and "advertising" but you fail to see the most compelling marketting message: We beat the other guys so ours is better so buy our ....! Hello genius, this is why they are willing to spend million in factory efforts in MotoGP and WSBK. The costs of doing this in the AMA would be a fraction compared to the millions they spend at world levels. We know the privateers can't afford the bad-... stuff, they can't at any level. Dude, when was the last time a privateer won a title at any level national to world? (Don't go saying 01 Rossi, you damn well know that was a factory spec bike for certain reasons). This is why we have a privateer's trophy. There would be way more bang for their buck if they spent the money in the largest market in the world for a fraction that it would cost running an actual superbike! (Again lex, you don't know how markets and economics work).


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>RE knows that people are passionate about racing. He is trying to segment these people into their own groups so they remain insulated from the pulls of the manufacturers and the governing body. Manufacturers in the AMA are only there to sell. For many years it has appeared that the manufacturers were genuinely passionate about racing, but in truth, they were the only participants capable of employing the engineers, racers, crew chiefs, etc. who love the sport. In the end, the manufacturers only care about black numbers. They are corporations, it doesn't matter what beliefs are held by the individuals, corporations exist for 1 and only 1 reason.
Lex, are you secretly RE? Ah, thanks, now I see, so he his herding us sheep into groups to protect us from the evil manufactures? Great, he's so nice to us.

Yes, there primary goal is to sell. But to do this they understand that the most compelling message is they are better. So they compete. However, they are also involved in development. Its a stretch to say we are enjoying trickle down motoGP technology, but its much more reasonable to see development from a national series like the AMA to trickle down to production equipment.


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>By increasing privateer participation he is removing the passionate participants away from the influence of the manufacturers where they are not so prone to the influences of profit. However, in return for being liberated, the privateers must make nice with the sponsors. Prisoners frequently struggle to become independent after being released, the people who've become dependent upon the American distributors will have a bit of difficulty adjusting as well. When they need something they will have to go out and get it for themselves, no more "yes" or "no" answers from a central authority.

Ah grandpa DMG. So the privateers are being "liberated"? Ok, so let me see, before DMG there were several manufactures in competition with eachother where the privateer had a choice to use their brand and benefit from contingency money, now there is just one Japanese manufacture with full factory support and this has liberated the privateer because they have exchanged the contingency money to a purse? Newsflash, the brunt of the "purse" goes to the winner, probably not going to be a privateer. No Lex, I can't believe you can't even see what DMG has just told us, they want to slow down the top guys so the slower ones can compete. That is not liberation but rather more like communism.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>Edmondson is going to make the sport dependent upon the passionate participants.

Uhm...okay Mr. Edmondson. Got it.



<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>As fans we have lost a lot. No live coverage, relatively cheap equipment, poor racing, and loss of valuable racing properties like FX and SS.

The difference between those who support Edmondson and those who despise him is rooted in the past.

By "past" do you mean last week? Because last I check we still don't have good racing, live coverage, and an honest conversation with the fans of the sport.

You say this:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ Apr 7 2009, 12:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I'm not defending Edmondson, just his ideas.

Then you say this:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>He's a bit of a control freak, but he's not a bad person He's not the wrong person for the job.

You say this:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>People dislike Edmondson is because he doesn't treat most people the way they like to be treated.

Then you say this:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>Even when he's being considerate, he's really thinking that the inputs of production (riders/teams) don't function if they aren't happy.

Then you say this:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>He really couldn't care less about people, he's worried about getting the incentives in place. He's working towards a goal.


You say this:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>He's not being disingenuous when describing Mat,

Then you say this:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>but he is trying to praise Mat for being an income producing asset to the series.

You say this:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>Also you miss the greatest hypocrisy of all---the man has no PR skills yet at times he expects people to behave like walking/talking billboards. He only gave the interview b/c he felt the need to defend himself.

Then you say this:

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>He also wanted to show people the simple logic of his decisions and the pragmatism of his leadership.




<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>Do you want to look back and say you were the guy who cried like a little ..... when the AMA changed way back in 2009? or do you want to say that you were the person who supported the AMA and helped rebuild it during the bad times?

Crying? As in voicing a dissenting opinion to a direction that is flawed? Did you see Schwantz interview OnTheThrottle? Its obvious he has a differing opinion to what is on the field, so by him having this opinion, is he "crying"? No, quiet the contrary, its becasue we recognize here is an opportunity to voice our opinion and hop that is its heard to better the product we enjoy. If anyboy sounded like they were "bitching" its Edmondson because we won't play along like robots to his commands (or as you call it "vision"). Like I said, its not all bad, but Edmondson has left a wake of alienated people because of an arrogant approach (or as you say "pragmatic leadership") while holding the reins of change. He keeps yanking on the bit and wonders why the horse is protesting.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Apr 7 2009, 12:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'> the most compelling marketting message: We beat the other guys so ours is better so buy our ....!

I found this little gem in roadracingworld.com (LINK). Its an article in a local Milwaukee, Wisconsin newspaper, home of the Buell. It looks like the local news has got wind of Buell's success (at least that's what the gullible people will believe) but those of us who suffered threw the last 8 years of propaganda embedded news stories by our own government will recognize this as nothing more than product placement.

Anyway, the reason I'm posting this is to remind Lex why manufactures race! As he believes DMG is simply trying to "unburden" the Japanese manufactures from having factory efforts on the AMA grid and allowing them to concentrate on "marketing" and "advertising" (see recent SpeedTV article on this thread).

Here is the link to the "news" article: LINK

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>Fresh off Sunday's win in Atlanta, Buell launched an advertising campaign tied to the victory and two others the weekend of March 20 in California.

"What wins on Sunday sells on Monday," said George Bruggenthies, president and general manager of the Road America racetrack at Elkhart Lake.


Well Lex, its nice of DMG to "unburden" the Jap manufactures from winning too.

"The fact that the field gets bunched up is cannon fodder to those who want to point to the 'NASCARization' of road racing but they forget that the field gets bunched up under a red flag and then you've got another clutch start for those with very questionable clutches. There are several angles to look at this but unfortunately the naysayers have got the biggest targets on the safety car issue."


How is having a safety car circling the track an improvement over having a caution/no passing flag out on the track? What ........! When that yellow flag with the red stripes is out riders automatically slow down for the sake of avoiding an oil spill, bike parts on the track or and ambulance transporting an injured rider. They do it for sake of the injured rider and for the sake of their own safety without having some dipshit in front of them in a Chevy Nova. And when the green flag comes back out they can safely resume racing without worrying about going around the pace car. Moreover the green flag can come out simultaneously at all points on the track with one call on the walkie-talkies. But if the pace car has just gone past the finish line - the race won't resume until the car make a whole other circuit around the track. Very inefficient.

No Lex, I can't believe you can't even see what DMG has just told us, they want to slow down the top guys so the slower ones can compete. That is not liberation but rather more like communism.

Or Socialism,sound familiar

Welcome to the Republican Party Buddy.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (povol @ Apr 7 2009, 05:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>No Lex, I can't believe you can't even see what DMG has just told us, they want to slow down the top guys so the slower ones can compete. That is not liberation but rather more like communism.

Or Socialism,sound familiar

Welcome to the Republican Party Buddy.

So Nascar/DMG/crappy beer drinking hillbillies are Socialists? Hmmm... might help them when they have their 8th kid with their cousin.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (povol @ Apr 7 2009, 02:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Or Socialism,sound familiar

Welcome to the Republican Party Buddy.

Touche.

(Good one)

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (povol @ Apr 7 2009, 05:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>No Lex, I can't believe you can't even see what DMG has just told us, they want to slow down the top guys so the slower ones can compete.

Read Vonneguts's "The Monkey House" and know the future (as Edmonson sees it) of the AMA.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SackWack @ Apr 7 2009, 10:40 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>How in the hell are they going to judge wether its the bike or the rider? That has been the debate of the century in every level of racing.Any team who hires 2 really good riders, unless one is Mladin, is probably screwed.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ Apr 7 2009, 07:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Some day people will learn to discriminate between private business endeavors (works of creativity) and government (social contract).

But they do run on the same principles. Same with the NFL, NHL, and NBA and the salary cap. It is a socialist idea to keep teams from just outspending everyone else and stacking their rosters with all the leagues best players.

Money rules the sport of motorsports and you cannot do a damn thing to change it.