<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Loose Rod @ Dec 16 2008, 05:57 PM)
<{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Lexi
You always seem to have well thought out well written posts.
But I don't get how you can keep on defending this nimrod Edmonson and this silly amadmgnascar approach to racing. I don't like honda anymore then you but for a different reason. That would be their lack of support for riders that get crippled racing for them, but that is another argument.
You stated,some posts ago, that to suggest that a conspiracy could happen within ama was just paranoia.
Were you around when the British bikes were trying to race dirt track in the U.S.? Or when ama went to bat for harley to get the prices on jap bikes up to what a pos harley cost through tariffs? Conspiracies indeed by what ever name you want to call them.
Edmonson and the whatever you want to call it organization had racing in the U.S. on the ropes. The economy threw the knock out punch. The only thing left of the ama is the silly how far can you fly indoors series and outdoor mx. The outdoor series will be killed next year with their dumb ..., nobody does it, the world is laughing, one moto format.
I was suggesting
at this time that the AMA is probably not going out of its way to injure the Japanese so there probably isn't a conspiracy by DMG/AMA.
I know the AMA has made a fool of itself in the past by intentionally embracing a nationalistic stance when writing the rules. I think it's obvious they threw that policy out the window many years ago b/c the only manufacturers in the series are the Japanese (more or less). Rightly or wrongly, I believe the Japanese have always been hypersensitive to nationalism by other domestic series' and in many ways they have put a fence around the racing series' they have conquered.
I don't believe that DMG are going out of their way to PROMOTE Buell or Ducati or KTM or Aprillia or any other small manufacturer. First, it's not DMG's style. Second, only a bone head would try to deliver titles to an American manufacturer when the Japanese manufacturers own (figuratively speaking) the sponsors and most of the privateer network.
DMG are about maximizing participation. Remember how pissed the fan base was when NASCAR let Toyota in? DMG don't care who is racing because their goal is to contain performance and cost with strict regulations. Max participation pulls in more fans and sponsors.
Edmonson knows enough about motorcycling to know that spec bike isn't feasible at this exact moment and it may not be the best way forward for the sport since it doesn't provide for a myriad of riding styles and rider setups, etc. Instead, Edmonson opted to control the performance of the engine in regards to machine/rider weight.
In effect DMG are trying a new type of spec racing that still has a healthy amount of variation. The purpose of the spec racing is to suppress cost and increase participation. Edmonson has gone out of his way to invite Buell, Ducati, Aprillia, KTM, Triumph but he hasn't attempted to hand them a title.
Furthermore, I believe a trend towards spec bike premier classes would be amazing. Why?
1. It is a racing model not currently used anywhere else on the globe so it's viewership and profit potential are extremely high if it is successful. It has the ability to make the AMA the premier racing league worldwide; especially if we head into a sustained economic downturn and sponsorship dollars wane.
2. It would accomplish the dreams of the American distributorship---an American sportsbike, built for Americans, to be ridden by Americans in America.
3. It reduces costs and encourages brand marketing
Imagine if the AMA commissioned the production of an American sportsbike and a few major motorcycle manufacturers decided to give it a whirl. It would be designed to hold a human being with an average height of 5'10 and weight of 175-180 lbs (WSBK and MotoGP seem to be creating smaller bikes all the time). The bike could be designed as a marketing device as well as a racing machine so it could be easy on the eyes and comfortable for competitors and consumers.
Personally I think it should be a 750 and just to make it interesting, it should be turbocharged and have no traction control. A turbocharged 750?
Talk about a bike that would sell and be a 21st century beast on the track.
Just thinking about a turbo 750 race bike is scary. I can't even imagine what it would be like to ride the thing.
