Edmonson Addresses the AMA Congress

Lex I appreciate you taking the time to post that link. Unfortunately I can't be bothered to take the time to listen to what that ..... has to say. Considering no riders know if they'll be racing in the US in 2009, I will stick my head in the sand and pretend Superbike racing in this country, at the very best, is in a coma. At the very worst, dead.

Hopefully US Superbike racing will recover from this coma and I can resume following such a sport. Until then I can continue to hope that someone from WSBK will get smart and come to Road America.

A little off topic, but Roger, if you loved sports car racing, then why did you present a series devoid of ANY of sports car racing's desirable traits?!

Well, it sounds like things are together now for 2009.

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Oct/081022a.htm

-All factories are "on board" for 2009.

-Supersport will be reserved for riders aged 16-21. They will be allowed three years in the class and will then, in Roger's words, "go pro or go home."

-The news journal states that the 200 will be run on the "classic 3.56-mile" circuit. Does this mean a return of the old configuration? If so, how did they get the riders to agree on running the oval turn 2 again?

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJour...cMOTO101908.htm

As for Grand-Am being the "number one road racing product in this country," good luck ........ Tell that to all the fans decked out in Audi and Acura apparel. Tell the guys wearing yellow and black wigs with corvette racing tattoos on their backs that Grand-Am is "number one."

Wow. It appears nobody cares.

Looks like you've already lost Roger.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ Oct 23 2008, 11:14 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I care, I just don't know what to make of this mess anymore.

Edmonson has compromised beyond reason, or maybe it was the manufacturers who caved.

All they needed to do was dispel the myth that the AMA had anything to do with production development, increase parity across the machines by creating simple rules, then go racing.

Why does the new program get infinitely more complex with each passing meeting?

My guess is that they didn't like the idea of replacing the event sponsor money paid by the factories.

Grand-Am hasn't been a success, so maybe they're trying something different this time around?

i'm taking a "wait & see" attitude.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ Oct 23 2008, 04:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I care, I just don't know what to make of this mess anymore.

Edmonson has compromised beyond reason, or maybe it was the manufacturers who caved.

All they needed to do was dispel the myth that the AMA had anything to do with production development, increase parity across the machines by creating simple rules, then go racing.

Why does the new program get infinitely more complex with each passing meeting?
The main goal of everyone in SBK is to make the rules as clolse to each other as possible. The fact that the world stage is more competative and has the eyes of more spectators should mean that they would want to be on the same level at least. So that little thing I just read somewhere about how the AMA now wants to try and make the series as closed in rules with the FIM. That bodes well for the US series and how they need to stay in touch with the rest of the world.