Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Submitted via e-mail:

Despite being kept from the grid for Sunday’s race (750 Superstock) at Infineon Raceway (due to the constant rains preventing AMA from holding qualifying sessions), I did get out on track for enough practice laps to get some birds-eye views of the “goings-on” that happen on track. This was my first real exposure to AMA pro racing, despite having road raced at the club and WERA endurance series level for the last 13 years. One aspect of what I saw on track, concerned me enough that I felt it worthwhile to share it publicly on the Roadracingworld.com website.

All of us have seen occasions in TV footage from the AMA races, where certain top racers (especially those known to be more on the aggressive side) have used some form of body action to publicize their distaste for having been slowed in their progress around the track by slower privateer riders.

One of the more commonly seen body actions, is what I’ll refer to as “The Kick.” This consists of the passing AMA top-level rider taking one leg off their footpeg as they’re passing the slower rider, and kicking their foot directly in the rider’s direction. It appears that the kick usually doesn’t make actual physical contact, but comes very close, and is apparently done to project a message to the slower rider of “Get the Hell off the track and out of my way from now on.”

During one of the practice sessions this weekend, I saw one of the top 10 AMA pro riders, Jason DiSalvo, in the 750 Superstock practice just ahead of me. I was totally amazed to see him perform this very “Kick” action to a slower privateer, as he was passing him. From my vantage point I had observed the being-passed racer had done absolutely nothing erratic or wrong in their riding, holding a normal line, riding at a reasonable pace (though slower than DiSalvo on superior equipment), and not making any conscious efforts to keep anyone behind him.

In my opinion this “Kick” action by this top-level racer was TOTALLY inappropriate, and what I consider unacceptable behavior for anyone circulating a racetrack at speed ….. even at the club level … much less behavior shown by a “Professional.” Seeing this event up close and personal on track, only served to drive home the point that this form of “get out of my way, I’m a factory fast guy” physical aggression behavior is becoming more and more “the norm” these days. The fact that this “kicking” pro racer was a very young racer, only served to show that he’d likely learned this behavior from observing other older, and more long-term professional, AMA fast guys.

I can’t imagine the AMA condoning an environment on-track where all of the less-than-lightning-quick privateers (riders who do, however, more than meet the 112% lap time rule set down by the AMA) need to be in constant concern for being kicked, bumped, and punted off the track by the top pro team’s “fast guys.” In my opinion that would be nothing short of total lack of responsibility on the part of the AMA pro racing organization, to look the other way in addressing such behavior.

Thanks for letting me vent on this issue, as I suspect it’s something that many other AMA privateers can relate to, from their own personal experiences on track.

Gary Jaehne
AMA #231
Santa Cruz, California


And now a reaction from another racer, submitted via e-mail:

After reading the response of another viewer/racer, I would also like to comment on the behavior of the “fast factory” riders.

Ben Spies, a former favorite of mine (mainly because he’s not a midget, rides hard and rides a Suzuki) acted like a spoiled kid gesturing to other riders and shaking his head at them, as if to say, ‘Way to go, loser,’ during the 600 race last weekend.

Sorry, Ben, you’re not the only show on the track. If the factory guys think I would show up to see 10 bikes go around the track they are nuts.

Cory Mann
Citrus Heights, California


And now a reaction to Cory Mann’s reaction, from Ben Spies’ mother, submitted via e-mail:

Cory Mann might want to review the tapes to see the gesture that Ben Spies gave to a fellow rider was a thumbs-up for moving to the side of the track. Cory might also then consider an appointment with an eye specialist.

Mary Spies
Longview, Texas