Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

I would like to respond to Marcus McBain’s opinion (4/11/2004 A Racer’s Opinion On Declining AMA Pro Road Racing Participation):

Marcus McBain offers some interesting opinions on responsibility for the decline in participation in AMA Pro Racing’s road racing program. I agree with some of them, most significantly “everyone is to blame.” I think that he is misinformed in other aspects.

McBain wishes to paint AMA Pro Racing as pro-factory, anti-privateer. Given the circumstances, this would seem reasonable, as the AMA’s organizational structure grants significant representation to motorcycle manufacturers, and manufacturer’s executives that control factory racing budgets sit on both the AMA Pro Racing board and the AMA board itself. The problem is that the bias isn’t supported, and when he tries to slip “lack of integrity” into his criticisms, he lacks the substance to back up his position.

Many of us have participated in racing organizations that blatantly lacked integrity, where track records set by infrequent participants were erased, or homeboys were literally given different rules. The person who made the profit off the entries was the same person who officiated – and heard appeals. The manufacturer who sponsored the series controlled the television coverage, and when the wrong brand won, it didn’t get covered.

AMA Pro Racing has demonstrated their integrity by avoiding these influences. I have personally seen race officials stand by officiating decisions in the face of the influential manufacturers’ executives who sit on their own board. I have heard presentations to appeal boards where the AMA strictly limits their position to the facts, treats the appellant with respect, and avoids the issues and politics, while the appellant shows no such discipline. Despite their influence, I have seen the factories lose appeals – a reflection of AMA Pro Racing’s integrity. Most recently, I have seen Aaron Yates effectively given the “death penalty”, in a situation where no one wanted that to have to happen. The AMA’s integrity came through. The integrity of the sport was more important than a competitive season’s points chase.

We have seen AMA Pro Racing offer various privateer spiffs, such as top privateer qualifier, fastest privateer lap, etc. We have seen privateers exempted from tire compound rules and practice restrictions. We have seen the 1000cc Superbike rule that eliminates factory modifications that were common on the 750 Superbikes in order to help reduce the gap between factories and privateers. I have seen the AMA give free season entries to club racing champions.

The success of road racing is limited to what promoters wish to pay for, and in turn, what people want to pay to watch (and during which advertisers want to place their ads.) I have consistently heard that the promoters are not interested in classes that do not feature the big names and personalities of racing. They do not want to give up the track time, pay the fees or purses or offer up the television coverage for a race that doesn’t have Miguel DuHamel or the Bostroms in it. Somehow, I believe that this, rather than AMA Pro Racing, is why “privateer classes” are not treated in the way McBain wishes. The crowd and the television want an exciting two hour show. Improving the market appeal of the premier class racing product is the way to improve participation, and subsequent sponsorship and support throughout the racing hierarchy.

My personal opinion is that the television coverage needs to improve. We need an announcer who understands racing well enough to realize that Mladin’s lap times are three seconds a lap better than DuHamel’s, and that DuHamel will be passed in the pits at the current rate, rather than the contorted explanation that we listened to while watching Daytona. We need support shows that highlight racing personalities in a fun way, not Greg White’s “I’m a stud” attitude. (Imagine Steve Crevier as a host. We’d be tied to the tube. Your mother would be tied to the tube.) We need NASCAR-style ads, that make you actually want to see them, not Japanese-style fantasy ads.

Privateer classes at nationals are definitely not the answer.

Jay Sherritt
Boulder, Colorado

(Sherritt is a former racer and team owner…editor.)



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

Regarding your post, 4/7/2004, AMA Pro Road Racing Participation Declining:

A brief comment on the continual decline in the AMA pro road racing. Our 100% privateer race team ran AMA Pro Racing series for eleven years. I may be under an incorrect ASSUMPTION BUT, during that time there were an astonishing number of road blocks from a variety of AMA Pro Racing management and selected corporate supporters of the series that continually popped up stalling and some times stopping us from participating. Lack of dissemination of information to the NON- FACTORY teams, unavailability of selected equipment, tires, engine parts to non-factory supported groups. Unique interpretation of rules or regulations not specifically listed in the AMA rulebook, then when a 100% privateer actually does good and sets up a non-industry sponsor, not affiliated with the selected group, Bam! a new rule change only affecting one rider AFTER the season starts and you’re left on the sideline. Seems like that has happened more than once.

After Daytona 2003 we basically pulled out of the AMA series and our rider took a position with a motorcycle company overseas as a test pilot. We no longer directly participate in the AMA series but do provide some support for riders in several other road racing series and the AMA MX/SX/AX series.

Justin & Bruce Blake
Caledonia, Michigan