| Author | Message | ||
     Simond |
.....but for how much longer? | ||
| Trac95ker |
At the question and answer period at Indy, Ben would not say what his future plans were. He said an announcement would be made in the coming week. During practice today, in the rain, Ben's lap times seemed to be middle of pack. This was the second practice session and I don't think it really indicates a whole lot. The later sessions may indicate more. Ben is a big guy and I would think that may be an issue for him. I wonder if he is going to go on a diet? | ||
| Trac95ker |
at qualifying today it was: Rossi Stoner Lorenzo Hayden Spies De Puniet I thought it was interesting that Ben qualified higher than Vermuelan and Capirossi Nicky has fortitude, 4th with a broken heel. GP250 is a madhouse. There are so many riders out there. I forgot who high sided but he landed on his head and was taken away on a stretcher. I hope he's ok. | ||
| Jaimec |
Woah: http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Nov/081125melh arris.htm | ||
| Eboos |
It looks like there are other motives at work. http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?artic le=35067 Makes you even wonder if they are going to have any contingency money in WERA and CCS/ASRA. If they do, I bet it will be drasticly cut back. (Message edited by eboos on November 25, 2008) | ||
| Eboos |
Suzuki's contingency for 2008 Must use a 2007 or newer U.S. GSXR or SV. Must register online with Suzuki. Must meet all requirements set by Suzuki 5 Bike min.. field CCS EX Middleweight, Unlimited SuperSport, Unlimited GP $2000, 500, 275, 200, 150, 125, 100, 75, 50, 25 Heavyweight SuperSport $1500, 500, 275, 200, 150, 125, 100, 75, 50, 25 Light SuperSport 500, 250, 125, 75, 50 Selected weekends ASRA Sportbike, Superbike, Superstock,$2000, 750, 500,400, 350, 300,250, 200, 150 ,100 Thunderbike 500, 250,125, 75, 50 | ||
| Sd26 |
Woah: http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Nov/081125melh arris.htm "There's some liability concerns, frankly," Harris said. "Exotic brakes on a motorcycle with stock forks? We don't sell those bikes that way and if you start racing them that way and you have a problem you're going to hurt riders. And if you don't have a problem then you have a product liability situation because you're going to have a lawyer who is going to point out, Jeez, you don't do this on your streetbikes but you do to race them?". That's complete bullshit. He's got teams that he's supported with bikes that are Suzuki support teams that have "stock forks" using different brake set ups. This has gone on since racing too. | ||
| Eboos |
Don't get your shoes too dirty, there is a lot of bullshit in that article. | ||
| Anonymous |
Suzuki doesn't want to spend any money on racing in 2009. Everything else is just the excuse. | ||
| Doerman |
If this is an indication, then it seems the door has been opened for Suz to run last year's equipment, but in what class? | ||
| Trojan |
Suzuki doesn't want to spend any money on racing in 2009. Everything else is just the excuse. Suzuki are spending a LOT of money racing in 2009 in both MotoGP and WSB (& BSB and other domestic Superbike series). The fact that they and Honda don't want to spend money in AMA is more to do with the new rules/organisers than anything else. I wouldn't be surprised to see Kawasaki pull out or reduce their race efforts in AMA Superbike either, leaving just Yamaha in bad with DMG. Kawasaki have already dumped Chaz Davies in favour of a 'rent a rider' who paid for the ride, so they are obviously not exactly serious about taking the championship even before the season has started. | ||
| Aeholton |
The fact that they and Honda don't want to spend money in AMA is more to do with the new rules/organisers than anything else. With stories like this: http://motorcycledaily.com/20december08_canceltheh oot.htm , I think it has everything to do with the economy and little to nothing to do with DMG. If the budget was there, you can bet Honda would be racing. | ||
| Slaughter |
Yeah, Honda has scaled back the F1 and cancelled Honda Hoot because the're angry at DMG? Don't think so. | ||
| Trojan |
The economy has been a very convenient peg to hang Honda's (and other manufacturers) woes on to. They were more than unhappy with DMG's proposals a long time before the economy went into meltdown, so it seems to me that they took the opportunity to dump parts of their motorsport empire that were either uncompetitive or that they were not really interested in. If it were just down to money surely they would have trimmed their enormous MotoGP budget (6 teams supported by HRC in 2009) rather than the relatively low AMA budget, which to be honest is a drop in the ocean in comparison. I know that the decision not to race in AMA was a Honda USA decision and not a factory one, but if Honda really wanted to be in AMA they would have found a way, just as they have in WSB, WSS, BSB, MotoGP etc. | ||
| Bads1 |
Ok Matt whatever you say. | ||
| Paint_shaker |
Found this somewhere... "Those that can, do....Those that can't, criticise." (Message edited by Paint_shaker on December 23, 2008) | ||
| Aeholton |
The economy has been a very convenient peg to hang Honda's (and other manufacturers) woes on to. Blaming it on DMG is kind of like the tail wagging the dog. Honda USA was all prepared to race. They performed very well at the tire tests and it was a complete shock to rider Neil Hodgson when they pulled out. It's a $$$ thing, don't kid yourself. | ||
| Trojan |
Found this somewhere... "Those that can, do....Those that can't, criticise." Ah but you forget, I have been there and done that, and have run a race team for 4 years  If the economy is such a huge factor in Honda USA's decision not to sponsor the 'hoot' (pocket change surely?) and AMA Superbike, why are they still carrying on with a full programme in AMA Supercross/Motocross? It is called taking advantage of other bad news in order to make decisions (or selective culling) that would otherwise attract criticism. Most factories and even Governments do it all the time so it should come as no surprise to see it from Honda US. | ||
| Elvis |
I would suspect that part of Honda's reason for reducing support is that the new rules will make it more difficult for them to remain competitive. . . . . . but who cares? The net result will be better competition. Honda isn't leaving - they're just scaling back the huge amounts of money they were throwing at AMA. Erion Honda is still one of the best teams going, and they'll likely be the favorite to win Daytona Sportbike. How has "Honda's Withdrawal" really hurt anything? With less of the big Japanese money pouring in, we're seeing Aprilia USA step up along with Richie Morris and others. I would also expect to see a more concerted effort by Michael Jordan now that he has a more even playing field along with other, similar teams. And those teams will now be able to get the kind of sponsorship dollars they could never dream of when everybody knew the big Japanese teams would dominate all the high profile classes. Great riders like Larry Pegram and Nate Kern may be able to get more support from their perspective factories now that they're not trying to climb an insurmountable wall. Is there anybody here who isn't looking forward to Daytona this year more than any other year in recent memory? Is there anyone here who hasn't heard more talk about the AMA over the past few idle months than they have over the last several actual seasons? Personally I can't wait for March. I think we're witnessing the re-birth of American Roadracing. (Message edited by elvis on December 23, 2008) | ||
| Redbuelljunkie |
+1 Elvis! | ||
| Aeholton |
Is there anybody here who isn't looking forward to Daytona this year more than any other year in recent memory? Absolutely. I'm actually going to spring for a hotel room this year. Usually just ride over for a day at a time. With the 200 being a night race, I think I'll just stay. Either that or get my dad to bring his camper and stay at a campground close by. | ||
| Bads1 |
If the economy is such a huge factor in Honda USA's decision not to sponsor the 'hoot' (pocket change surely?) and AMA Superbike, why are they still carrying on with a full programme in AMA Supercross/Motocross? Matt, That is because Motocross is growing leaps and bounds in our country. The stadiums are filling and people are coming out for the outdoors. Roadracing is small in comparison. | ||
| Paint_shaker |
What Elvis said!!!! Plus, motorcyle roadracing in America is simply not as popular as it is elsewhere in the world. What DMG is doing should bring more competitive racing and hopefully draw more attention to the sport in America! Humor me for just a minute... Look at NASCAR. While the factories do (or did) throw a lot of support, on any given weekend most any of the teams are capable of winning. AMA in 2009 will have teething pains, but should be exciting none the less!!! Edited to add; This was NASCAR pre Car Of Tommorrow. (Message edited by Paint_shaker on December 24, 2008) (Message edited by Paint_shaker on December 24, 2008) | ||
| Smoke |
yep Nascar, if the racing ain't close enough just throw a flag to tighten it up. I used to like nascar, but now it isn't racing-it's entertainment. MERRY CHRISTMAS tim | ||
| Jaimec |
http://www.blueridgemuse.com/node/1861 So could this be the fate of AMA Superbike as well? | ||
| Trojan |
If the economy is such a huge factor in Honda USA's decision not to sponsor the 'hoot' (pocket change surely?) and AMA Superbike, why are they still carrying on with a full programme in AMA Supercross/Motocross? Matt, That is because Motocross is growing leaps and bounds in our country. The stadiums are filling and people are coming out for the outdoors. Roadracing is small in comparison. Which prove smy point exactly! If Honda were ONLY concerned with the economics then they would slash every facet of their race program, but they are not. The ones they choose to abandon are the ones that they were either uncompetitive in (F1) or simply didn't want to continue (AMA Superbike). By withdrawing the factory team they can choose exactly how much they continue to be involved through the Erion team, without having to endure any of the politics that DMG seems so keen on  If the new AMA series turns into a disaster Honda can quite rightly say that they had no hand in it. | ||
| Redbuelljunkie |
AMA Pro Racing is better off without that 800 pound Sumo Gorilla around... let the bikes race and leave the heavy-handed politics and cry-baby whining someplace else. | ||
| Jaimec |
If you're referring to Honda, I doubt anyone would consider THEM the 800 lbs gorilla of AMA Superbike. There were a PAIR of 800 lbs gorillas, but they rode for the Suzuki factory team... NOT Honda. Unless you're pointing out that Suzuki also withdrew from AMA Pro Racing this year... | ||
| Redbuelljunkie |
I am referring to Honda as an international racing powerhouse (or pain-in-the-a$$, for that matter). Yes, the AMA Suzuki Cup has been going on too long, but Honda is well-known for throwing its weight around to get what it wants. There will be Hondas and Suzukis racing in AMA competition in 2009, which is good, but even better is the fact that their US distributors/factory political machine will not be there trying to run the show. It's simple: get a bike, follow the rules, race your heart out and let the chips fall where they may. Leave the political posturing and financial arm-twisting at home. | ||
| Jaimec |
If Jordan can do it: http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2009/Jan/091003a.ht m |
