Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

About those pit lane speeding tickets: I was popped for one at VIR during qualifying. Not only was the first pit lane radar station (situated to alert riders exiting the track) not registering our 250s, but on Monday I could see it registering Superbikes as they came out of the Hogpen turn and down the front straight!

I didn’t want to bother Ron Barrick about it during the rain-delay fiasco, but subsequent missives to him were completely ignored. I felt that I had a case (as did several other 250cc GP riders), and all I wanted from Ron was some direction on how to appeal. I never got so much as a reply.

At the time I was issued the speeding ticket I was asked to sign an acknowledgement that I was advised of the infraction. At first I declined because I didn’t want it to be construed as an admission of guilt. I later went back to the pit steward and signed it for fear of being additionally fined, or worse, DQ’d. That was the limit of the AMA’s interaction with me.

Stephen Bowline
AMA 250cc Grand Prix #314
Lancaster, California



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

The injustices the AMA Pro Racing organization continues to instill on privateer riders is unacceptable! The AMA continues to pick on the privateers and let the factory riders get away with very unprofessional actions.

Unfortunately I have no answers or suggestions to make the AMA listen to the majority, the privateers. They just don’t seem to care, but we do need to find some way to make them listen.

I was fined $100 at Barber for pit-lane speeding. Mind you, I had no way of knowing how fast I was going because the speed indicator board was at the beginning of pit lane, and I entered pit lane in the middle! And after riding up to the third tier of the paddock at Barber to make a suspension adjustment, I had very little time to make it back onto the track before the end of practice. The AMA never told me how much I was going over the 50 mph and after questioning several people, and being very polite about it, I received no solid answers. The best one from one AMA official was “the speed limit/radar gun is a courtesy.”

So I guess next time I’ll just throw some rocks, that way I will not get fined $100. (Needless to say, I could have really used that $100 for something else and I would never intentionally speed on pit lane.)

On another note, I have personally raced against John Jacobi and know the Vesrah Suzuki team well. He is a great rider and deserves an apology for the incident at Barber!

Mike Morgan
AMA Supersport #811
RIM Racing, Kenwood USA
Goshen, Indiana



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

Talking about inconsistencies in AMA Pro Racing officiating, I remember not qualifying for a race at Fontana last year (the first time in years that the 250s had timed qualifying so I forgot all about the 112% rule. Also it was the first time in 25 years of racing that I did not qualify for a race. My engine seized on my second or third lap). But this year they let a few guys race at Barber who did not qualify within the (now) 114% rule. I guess since it was the last race they threw those guys a bone. Gee, that was real nice of them. I wished they would have done that last year when I did not qualify!

John France
AMA 250cc Grand Prix #19
West Melbourne, Florida