Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Yamaha Racing Division Manager Keith McCarty says AMA Pro Racing officials ignored his opinion regarding the new requirement that Superstock machines run on slick tires in 2004.

McCarty told Roadracingworld.com, “No. I wasn’t asked, I delivered it un-requested because I think it’s important and I think it’s the silliest thing in the world to allow the Superstock class to have slicks. The reason I think that is that all the tire companies we talked to said it isn’t an issue for them whether it’s a slick or a DOT tire, that it isn’t a safety factor—-they’re going to do what they have to do to provide tires that will work and that are safe for all the riders. Why wouldn’t you want a DOT tire, that’s what they sell, that’s what they make money on, that’s what they advertise? It seems silly that you would allow somebody to run a slick when a DOT tire could be just as good and competitive out there.”