Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

An attempt to dissolve the Pro Racing Board of Directors and take direct control of AMA Pro Racing failed today during a meeting of the AMA Board of Directors in Irondale, Alabama.

The proposal, put forth by North West Region Director Dal Smilie and seconded by North Central Region Director Jeff Smith, was defeated by an 8-4 vote.

South West Region Director John Ulrich and Corporate Director Mel Harris of American Suzuki voted with Smilie and Smith in favor of the motion.

South Central Director Jeff Nash, South East Director Carl Reynolds, North East Director Rick Gray and Corporate Directors Ray Blank (American Honda), Mike Buckley (Dunlop Tire), Croft Long (Kawasaki), Ken Sutton (Harley-Davidson) and Davey Coombs (Racer X) voted against the motion.

The vote came after a lengthy discussion of AMA Pro Racing’s relationship with race promoters, race teams and individual racers as well as operations at AMA Pro Racing events.

Proponents of the motion wanted wholesale change in the way AMA Pro Racing conducts business.

AMA Pro Racing is a for-profit subsidiary of the non-profit AMA and is governed by a separate 9-man Board of Directors appointed by the elected 12-man AMA Board.

Six members of the AMA Board are elected by individual members and six are elected by corporate members such as American Honda and Dunlop Tire Company.