| Author | Message | ||
     Bomber |
I still think that the AMA should hire the France family to bring their programs up to NASCAR spec -- think about it -- these people have taken a regional "sport" that most north of the Mason Dixon line turned their noses up at and turned it into a money making machine -- there's more than enough potential fan base out there -- yet, still, here we are, stuck in a drag-racing-like place on the motorsports food chain, and I'm convinced because it's run, like drags, for the die hard fan and the participants -- if we want mc racing to be a true spectator sport, we need to treat it as other sports do, like a bidness me, I'd LOVE ot be able to watch Peoria rather than some third-tier college field hockey event | ||
| Spatten1 |
I'm with Pirate. What the hell is extreme about 600s? It was much better when there were literbikes with insane horsepower wheelying halfway down all the straights and leaving huge black stripes coming out of the corners. I want to see the Buells race, but a supersport or twins type class would be fine by me. | ||
| Blake |
Todd, Based upon your comments, it sounds to me like you mostly want a superbike for the street. If so, you'd best look elsewhere than Buell for your new motorcycle. It is pretty simple and comes down to whether you prefer the incredible simplicity and elegance of the Buell engine or are willing to forego that in favor of peak HP; you have to decide for yourself which is most important to you. Sounds to me like peak HP is most important to you, thus the Buell is not for you. "The FX bikes are slower then the Supersport 600's... " Are you confusing "riders" with "bikes"? I think so. Did you see Jason Disalvo's FX practice laps times from the Dunlop/Daytona tire test?  I think it is the folks like Miguel Duhamel, Ben Bostrom, and other colorful interesting personalities that are what will help sell AMA Pro Racing to the public. Kinda like how Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Daryl Waltrip etc did for NASCAR. There are just a heck of a lot more car enthusiasts in America than motorcycle fans. Therein lies the major advantage of the foreign venues. I agree, 600cc superbikes are not in any way extreme compared to 1000cc superbikes. I'd like to see AMA Pro-Racing rebadge the existing Formula Xtreme class as a "Grand Prix" class. I also agree that the full-factory teams should be prohibited from contesting a full season in the Supersport or Superstock classes. Maybe allow them to contest no more than 70% of the races for a season. That would make it tough for them to win the championship, but would still allow the privateers and semi-factory racers to mix it up with the big names. Honda Racing sure looks to be the coward of the paddock this year, after cherry-picking FX for two years and now backing out from contesting a full season as other factory teams are stepping up to that class. GO BUELL!!! | ||
| José_quiñones |
I would say that "honor" belongs to Yamaha, for signing a proven Superbike rider, releasing a Superbike spec R1LE, then racing that combination in Superstock..... They do plan on going into Superbike for 2007.... Honda will race the 200, then let Erion carry their flag for the rest of the year, running last year's factory bikes with two very good riders. (Message edited by josé_quiñones on December 29, 2005) | ||
| Blake |
I'll give it to them both. I didn't know that Erion would be campaigning the entire FX season. That ain't so bad then. | ||
| José_quiñones |
Yep Josh Hayes and Aaron Gobert, apparently on last years Factory Honda FX bikes. | ||
| José_quiñones |
Speaking of Buell, there's lots of unsigned riders out there..... would Biaggi want to ride in the AMA? | ||
| Dana P. |
The only reason that they are running the 200 FX bikes for that one race is so Miguel can uphold his record for Daytona wins. Say Jose,gonna come to Wisconsin this year again...Homecoming that is | ||
| Blake |
Josh Hayes is one of my favorite motorcycle racers. I hope he does well. "Speaking of Buell, there's lots of unsigned riders out there..." Could it be that Buellstradamus is back and in good form? | ||
| Blake |
So, besides Biaggi, what other high calibre riders are as yet unsigned for the '06 season? | ||
| Dana P. |
Anthony is signed but not in America. I guess he's in Australia riding for a privateer team with lets just say no real money in it for him. | ||
| Buellerx |
Too many AMA classes or not the right ones 1) Why have Liter bikes in superstock and superbike? Get rid of one or the other. 2) Dump the FX class or make it a wide open "Run Anything" class 3) Keep Supersport and maybe open up a little to allow other bikes. 4) Create Superstock twins-class for BMW, Buell XB, Guzzi, and Ducatis powered by 1000 or 1200cc 2 valve motors. | ||
| Jima4media |
"The FX bikes are slower then the Supersport 600's... " http://www.amaproracing.com/05rr/daytonabeach/index-links.html In FX Duhamel and Zemke were faster than anyone on a Supersport 600. Biaggi is rumored to be talking to Suzuki in MotoGP. He was talking to Aprilia earlier this year. | ||
| Aircooled2win |
I think EB should get his butt back in fighting form and run the 200 this year. How ••••••• wicked would THAT be? Sure would make for some bad ••• marketing exposure, certainly a hell of a lot better than some has-been riding around like a little girl with training wheels on some goofy wet dream fantasy moto-cysz/sizzler/whateverthefuck it was called at the American MotoGP during intermission. | ||
| Spatten1 |
"Anthony is signed but not in America. I guess he's in Australia riding for a privateer team with lets just say no real money in it for him." I have inside info that he is riding in a league that doesn't test for pot. "2) Dump the FX class or make it a wide open "Run Anything" class" Yes, it would be scary and exciting like it used to be. What was really cool was the really young kids like Hopkins on the fastest bikes on the track. "Create Superstock twins-class for BMW, Buell XB, Guzzi, and Ducatis powered by 1000 or 1200cc 2 valve motors." Would be GREAT. I also wouldn't mind some ridiculous displacement allowance for air cooled two valvers to see Buell and the others race in the supersport class with the 600s, but I guess that might not fit with the spirit of supersport. | ||
| Dana P. |
I read that he was busted for drunk driving not pot. Then Honda let him go??? | ||
| Race_pirate |
Dunlop Daytona Tire Test Dec 05' Pos. Rider Team Bike Time Supersport 1 Jamie Hacking Yamaha Yamaha YZF-R6 1:42.210 2 Roger Lee Hayden Kawasaki ZX6-RR 1:42.751 3 Damon Buckmaster Kawasaki ZX6-RR 1:42.931 4 Tommy Hayden Kawasaki ZX6-RR 1:43.302 5 Ben Attard Attack Kawasaki ZX6-RR 1:44.087 6 Ben Spies American Suzuki GSX-R600 1:44.109 FX Pos. Rider Team Bike Time 1 Jason DiSalvo Yamaha YZF-R6 1:41.647 2 Miguel Duhamel Am Honda CBR600RR 1:42.663 3 Josh Hayes Erion Honda CBR600RR 1:42.796 4 Aaron Gobert Erion Honda CBR600RR 1:42.978 5 Jake Zemke Am Honda CBR600RR 1:43.346 6 Eric Bostrom Yamaha YZF-R6 1:43.901 7 Ryan Andrews Rockwall Honda CBR600RR 1:44.942 8 Ty Howard Rockwall Honda CBR600RR 1:45.166 Latest Comparison for what to see in 06' I guess another way of looking at it is you dont have to prep a 600 supersport for FX thus lack of extreme..... Info from Superbikeplanet.com CCS/FUSA has Thunderbike where Buell reigns supreme. | ||
| Spatten1 |
Dana - If my memory is correct, in the 90's the AMA kept busting him for weed with drug tests. It got pretty humorous after a while. Gobert seemed to not want the AMA to cramp his style, regardless of the consequenses. | ||
| Jima4media |
Winning the Daytona 200 FX class will require at least 3 success factors - 1. The best rider out there. 2. sufficient horsepower to keep up with factory riders and UJM 600s. 3. being able to change both tires in 10 seconds. (Message edited by jima4media on December 30, 2005) | ||
| Aircooled2win |
4. An engine and brakes that will last for 200+ miles.  | ||
| Dana P. |
Spatten1 I didn't realize that of him. But just the same if that is the case I wonder why factory teams have picked him up with that kind of problem under his belt?? | ||
| Dana P. |
10 second tire changes?? Last year when I was there Honda was clicking off like 15-20 second ones if memory serves. | ||
| Buelldyno_guy |
I am proud to be part of a Buell Dealer Race Team out here on the west coast, so when I heard rumors about something at Daytona from the Buell Factory, it signaled a change in thinking at the "Motor Company." For the last few years H-D has been all about drag racing with two National Chanpionships and the fastest Pro Stock run ever. But now it seems that the Buell Motor Company will go road racing as well as putting up money to support Buell riders at several different local events. So for me It's not just about someone catching Duhamel and Zemke, it's about watching the race and seeing a factory team effort thereby stating that Buell is a serious player in this sport bike business. ... Terry | ||
| José_quiñones |
The AMA has the right classes, but they are allowing WRONG riders/teams entered in them. In Europe, along with World Superbike and Supersport, they have the Superstock 1000 and 600 classes. These are the developmental classes for privateer teams/riders (the 1000 class) and for young riders (I believe the 600 Superstock class has an age limit). So there is a natural path, from 600 > 1000 > World Supersport > World Superbike. Here there is no AMA class where you are not facing factory competition. That's wrong. AMA Supersport 600 should be amateurs only with dead stock bikes (save for gearing/fuel mapping/fiberglass bodywork)on DOT STREET Tires, maybe even a Dunlop spec tire. AMA FX should be what it is now a catch all class of 600 4's/765 triples/750 twins/1350 air cooled twins on slicks, but let two strokes and other types of bikes in there too. Factory bikes that want to race a 600 can only race it in this class. AMA Superstock 1000 (any number of cylinders, maybe have variying power to weight ratios to keep them close) for Amateur/Superbike Privateer riders/teams only, no "satellite" factory efforts allowed, on DOT Tires. They should be allowed to race Superbike on slicks if they can qualify because: AMA Superbike: Closer to Superstock Rules but with slicks. Only the 20 fastest riders will qualify, using the Superpole Qualifying Format. Everybody else put some DOT tires and go race Superstock. That way you minimize problems with lappers. Make sure the Payouts for 20th place finisher are greater than the 1st place Superstock finisher to create an incentive to make it to the Superbike class (Message edited by José_quiñones on December 30, 2005) | ||
| José_quiñones |
Blake, there's not as many riders out there as I thought, Xaus/Chili/Laconi/Byrne remained in World Superbike, the Roberts boys apparently will race for their dad. So Barros and Biaggi are still out there if one wanted some "star power" There's plenty of young US riders out there, but they're ridding other people's bikes next year. | ||
| Grndskpr |
Biaggi are still out there if one wanted some "star power" Hes about as smart a choice as Gobert, both very very talented riders, but ego's to big to realize that they to could be replaced Hopefully they saved enuff cash from there good days to live out there lives, cause i doubt they make anymore money racing bikes, way way to much baggage R | ||
| Blake |
JQ, What about Walker or Chili from WSB? | ||
| Jima4media |
Pascal Picotte? | ||
| Dana P. |
Pascal is racing in the Canadian series.He pops over here sometimes. | ||
| Court |
Jim: You got saved when someone added #4.....that's been a HUGE one. This will be a wonderful year to be at Daytona. |
