Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

AMA Pro Racing has changed practice restrictions that have kept privateers like Brian Livengood from participating in Thursday practice prior to AMA Nationals.

The restrictions, originally enacted by AMA Pro Racing Director of Competition Merrill Vanderslice “to save the factory teams from themselves,” were meant to keep factory team riders out of Thursday practice. But instead of directly targeting factory riders, the restrictions banned riders who were in the top 10 in points in the Superbike and 600cc Supersport classes. Which meant, for a 2002-season example, that non-factory-team riders like Livengood who made it into the top 10 in Superbike points were forced to sit out Thursday practice at tracks they’d never seen before.

But according to a Pro Bulletin dated December 30, new language brings the restrictions back to the orginal target, factory riders.

The new language, as printed in the bulletin, reads:

Unofficial Practice

Riders in the following categories are not permitted to take part in any practices or schools at a track within ten days preceding the first day of official practice of a national road race:

(a) Riders who are employed or contracted by the manufacturers or their US distributors as factory team members in Superbike or Supersport.

(b) Former national champions of Superbike and Supersport within the preceding 5 years.