MIC Announces USSB Championship Series

[OreoGaborio]

If anyone would like to discuss in depth come find me at the next Loudon round at the campfire.

Yeah & bring smores.

... and beer....






..... and contaminated gasoline.

[Ken C]

To add a little more inside info; Tim Busche of the MIC is also the president of the MSF. (Confict of interest anyone?)

He has been criticized for being a puppet of the manufacturers and promotes and develops rider trianing programs more for liability protection rather than actually reducing fatalities. Yes, they can be both the same, but the methods Busche has used are pretty biased toward supporting the manufacturers rather than the training community.

One example is how the MSF tried to eliminate the highly regarded triaing program in Oregon, because they saw the OR program as a threat to MSF dominance. The MSF eventually withdrew the suit.

There's nothing wrong with representing the manufacturers, but doing so in a way that harms the good work of the riding community is a highly questionable tactic IMO.

The same type of thing seems happening in racing where the MIC is willing to destroy other organizations that might be positive for the industry to support the manufacturer's will.

[eboos]

^ Interesting.

[Trackday Guru]

There has to be a way to meet every interested party's needs here;

- The fans want to see some top level racing action. Top level meaning (among other things) bikes that are presumably not easy to ride and will showcase not only each bike's performance and technology, but also each rider's abilities.
- The promoters want to race what they can promote
- And the manufacturers want to race what they are curently selling (1000's)

Every party here has a vested interest in seeing the new American series succeed. And don't underestimate the level of the American riders.

In recent years we've seen some pretty respectable riders not be able to match the performance of the Americans. Troy Corser getting mad cause he couldn't match Mladin's times in 06 at the Phillip Island spring test is one example. And MotoGP rider and Corona Honda rider James Ellison's statements about there only being two riders with a chance of winning the AMA SBK Campionship after last season is another. Notice Ellison isn't here anymore, but he's in the top 10 in the British SBK right now.

I think the lack of enthusiasm for an American rider in an overseas series comes in part because our reputation overseas is that of we think we're better than everyone else, and Americans will got to war with any country that doesn't agree with American foriegn policy. Take that, and combine it the fact that an American doesn't have the consumer draw that a Euopean rider will in a European SBK series will, and you can see where the Euopean sponsors are reluctant to take a chance on an American to promote their products.

But all in all, given the same track knowledge anywhere in the world, I'd put Mladin, Spies et all against any rider in the world and giggle like a school girl when they're leading that race by a mile also.

It was clear many years ago that the AMA was incapable of running the racing in America effectively, but my question is: Why sell the series to any entity that cannot meet the needs of all involved. Without the manufacturers to sponsor the riders, we'll have no factory backed teams displaying the latest technology - something the fans want to see.

American racing needs to see a rules package in place that doesn't give an advantage to any one manufacturer, and enforcement of those rules. Come up with a class structure that the manufacturers are enthusiastic about and are willing to support and we'll have a sellable package to go out and get a series sponsor. Oh, and forget the spec tires. Let the tire manufacturers battle it out here also. There's nowhere else in the world they can do that, and we're sure to see the latest, greatest from each.

What's the problem?

DMG and USSB: Do it. Play nice, and end this before we all lose.

[a13x]

Trackday Guru.

The main problem here is the OEMs want to retain CONTROL of the racing series. They don't give two shits about good racing, developing riders, moving ppl to World Stage, or racing badass bikes.

DMG gave ground to the OEMs and made a number of rule changes during the summer to meet their demands. Everytime DMG did, the OEMs sang a different tune and changed their demands.

Don't forget everyone that pre-DMG the OEMs decided to reduce the Superbikes to be more inline with Superstock machines (and also eliminate the Superstock class). Reducing 2009 Superbike performance, cost, and speed.



Again: CONTROL

That is the issue here. At least the DMG brings a fresh outlook to the series, major track record, credibility with outside sponsors, and innovative thinking. The OEMs (and by extension USSB) is more of the same old crap, which has been a racing farce for over a decade.


PS: The two main culprits in this are American Suzuki and American Honda. Yamaha has been onboard with DMG for a while, Kawi has been acting like Sweden, and Ducati didn't even really get invited to the discussion (and they are going DMG anyway).

[eboos]

KTM announced that it will be racing with the AMA series for 09.

[Pookie]

Trackday Guru.

The main problem here is the OEMs want to retain CONTROL of the racing series. They don't give two shits about good racing, developing riders, moving ppl to World Stage, or racing badass bikes.

DMG gave ground to the OEMs and made a number of rule changes during the summer to meet their demands. Everytime DMG did, the OEMs sang a different tune and changed their demands.

Don't forget everyone that pre-DMG the OEMs decided to reduce the Superbikes to be more inline with Superstock machines (and also eliminate the Superstock class). Reducing 2009 Superbike performance, cost, and speed.



Again: CONTROL

That is the issue here. At least the DMG brings a fresh outlook to the series, major track record, credibility with outside sponsors, and innovative thinking. The OEMs (and by extension USSB) is more of the same old crap, which has been a racing farce for over a decade.


PS: The two main culprits in this are American Suzuki and American Honda. Yamaha has been onboard with DMG for a while, Kawi has been acting like Sweden, and Ducati didn't even really get invited to the discussion (and they are going DMG anyway).

Well said....

[akira700]

I'd just like to see classes that are clear to understand
in terms of what types of bikes are running and how modified they are away from stock. Currently its a mess to understand and therefore to follow.

Like why do 600ccs run the main Daytona event?

Anyway I hope Spies gets an international ride somewhere I wanna see how he does.

[cdovego]

KTM announced that it will be racing with the AMA series for 09.

Epic.

[a13x]

Like why do 600ccs run the main Daytona event?
.

1) The middleweight class is largest selling sportbike class in America. More Joe Average on 600's means more Joe Average can relate to racer guy on 600

2) '600's' is a misnomer. The Daytona Superbike class is setup for 600 inlines, 848 Ducati's, 1125 Buells, etc etc. Think of it more as a '120-125hp class'

3) '600's' fit American tracks better

4) Dorna is moving 250GP bikes out and a '600' class in to replace 250GP on the Grand Prix level.

5, 6 etc etc. Quite a number of reasons really.

[Trackday Guru]

I'm not so sure.

Obviousley Alex, I don't have the insider info that you have, and I may be waaaayyyy off base here...But I'm calling it like I see it.

If the OEM's want control of the US racing series, why havent they made a play for it even before the AMA sale was announced?

What I see is a currently declining Pro racing scene here in America because sanctioning and promoting parties involved either can't agree or can't get the formula right.

It doesn't matter to me who runs the series, as long as the formula (class structure) is a winner.

[eboos]

DMG on meeting with Honda VP
Honda VP on meeting with DMG

It looks like I was right about USSB being a farce.

[Crash Dummy Denno]

USSB is not going to mean anything unless Suzuki and Honda want to look like crybabies - Kawi, KTM, Triumph and Yamaha have committed to DMG and the other two will do the same. USSB will NEVER be run in the US. Sorry Suzuki, the times of you bending and breaking the rules are over and we will now see some quality racing based more on the rider rather than the games being played with the rules. I really think the DMG is going to boost/ legitimize motorcycle racing in the US.

Denno

[eboos]

AMA, DMG to strengthen ties to FIM

Mel Harris will work for food.

[scottieducati]

Now we're talking. If DMG gets behind the FIM rules that would make all my complaints go away..... Superbike should be the premier class, not "Daytona Superbike" regardless of what the market is.

[Trackday Guru]

Agreed

[eboos]

All 2008 AMA promotors have signed with DMG for 2009

[Crash Dummy Denno]

will be heading to NJMS to watch some AMA!

[BMFR6]

will be heading to NJMS to watch some AMA!

you're not going to race?

[eboos]

MIC Held Board Meeting Yesterday, Entirely In Executive Session

Can anyone guess what this meeting was about?