Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

During 2001 and 2002, AMA Pro riders have purchased gate passes for girlfriends, wives and friends because they were not told they were entitled to a free season guest pass if they pre-entered the entire road racing season.

A secret policy to issue a season-long guest pass valued at $625 to any rider who pre-entered for the entire road racing season was put into effect prior to the start of the 2001 season but was never publicized or included in the rulebook, entry mailings or Competition Bulletins.

AMA Pro Racing staffers did not volunteer the information when riders called AMA headquarters, and the policy was never announced in a rider’s meeting.

As a result, an unknown number of riders have purchased individual event guest tickets and season guest passes they shouldn’t have had to pay for.

Asked in a phone call made earlier this year if such a policy existed, an AMA Pro Racing staffer said “Yes.”

Asked why the policy was not included in the rulebook, entry mailings or Competition Bulletins, the staffer said, “Oh, it’s an internal policy.”

Asked how riders were supposed to know about the policy, the staffer said, “The riders know. All the riders who call here know about it.”

But the majority of riders contacted by Roadracingworld.com knew nothing of the policy and have been buying passes for guests.

The problem of riders paying for passes they should have gotten free was brought to the attention of an AMA Pro Racing Director early this year.

In April 2002, the problem was brought to the attention (in writing) of the entire AMA Pro Racing Board, the entire AMA Board and the President of the AMA, as well as to AMA Pro Racing CEO Scott Hollingsworth.

Yet a public announcement of the policy still has not been made and AMA Pro Racing has taken no known steps to refund riders who paid for passes that were supposed to be free.

The situation was not publicized earlier by Roadracingworld.com in the apparently foolish hope that AMA Pro Racing would do the right thing and correct the problem on its own.

AMA officials have often criticized Roadracingworld.com for what they see as negative reporting on AMA Pro Racing management and operations.

But in this case, when AMA Pro Racing was given the chance over a several-month time frame to correct a problem without being publicly prodded, nothing happened.