The Daytona Motorsports Group has released a press release concerning the final rules package for the 2009 AMA/DMG Superbike Series. This press release comes about a week after the final approvals for the DMG takeover were given by the AMA board.
The press release doesn't go into much detail, merely lays out the general class structure. Thankfully they appear to have backed off from the ludicrous idea of using their proposed "Daytona Superbike" class as the premier class. The press release seems to indicate that a new class called "Factory Superbike" will take precedence and, even better, the class will ultimately adopt full World Superbike rules. That won't happen immediately since it would require the factories to switch directions mid-stream. Instead, the 2009 rule book for Factory Superbike will be the one agreed to by the manufacturers last year and the WSBK rulebook will be phased in between 2010 and 2011.
The second class listed is the "American Superbike" class, which sounds much like a modified version of the current Superstock class, only with spec tires. I'm not sure I really care one way or the other about this one, although frankly I'd rather see something more akin to Supersport than to Superstock.
The last main class is the aforementioned "Daytona Superbike." This class is very similar in rules to the current AMA Formula Xtreme class in that it's primarily 600cc inline fours but there are provisions to race the Triumph 675 and the Ducati 848 as well as BMW boxer twins, Buells, etc. The major difference between Daytona Superbike and FX is that the new class will be horsepower limited and use spec tires and fuel.
According to the press release DMG still plans on including the Red Bull Rookies Cup and Moto-ST. I'm excited about the Rookies Cup but I don't really care about Moto-ST. It's going to be confusing for fans to watch but ultimately it's bikes on track so I don't really object.
All in all it sounds as though the Daytona Motorsports Group has been swayed to listen to reason and not, as my very Southern Grandmother used to say, "throw the baby out with the bathwater." They have (or will, at any rate), at least for the Factory Superbike class, adopted a rules package that the manufacturers will be happy with and which is promoting some truly fantastic racing in the World Superbike series. That should keep existing manufacturers in the series and probably even lure in some new ones like Aprilia and BMW. Both of these manufacturers are currently building new bikes for World Superbike and since the same bikes will eventually be legal for competition in the US it becomes a much less daunting proposition to enter competition here as well as on the world stage. Additionally, the press release indicates that the Factory Superbike and Daytona Superbike classes will have Superpole qualifying. I think that's another great addition taken from World Superbike since Superpole sessions are seriously exciting to watch.
There are a few unanswered questions still. One of the chief ones in my mind is the format of the race weekends. DMG had originally proposed to shorten the weekends from three days down to two and a half or just two, something I'm vehemently against as I'm sure ticket prices won't fall to reflect the shorter weekend. Also, the DMG hasn't addressed the race structure for the different classes. The release indicates, but doesn't say, that the Factory Superbike will be the premier class. At the same time it seems to indicate that there will only be one Factory Superbike race per weekend. My guess would be that they are going ahead with their plan to make Daytona Superbike the double-header class for most race weekends. I think that's a mistake, but I'm only guessing and inferring here.
Hopefully now that the infighting seems to have abated we'll get some
more solid information trickling out. I'm a little less tense about it
all now but it would be a lie to say my fingers aren't still crossed a
bit. Stay tuned, and check out the press release over at Superbike Planet.
Technorati Tags: Motorcycles, AMA Superbike, Daytona Motorsports Group
The press release doesn't go into much detail, merely lays out the general class structure. Thankfully they appear to have backed off from the ludicrous idea of using their proposed "Daytona Superbike" class as the premier class. The press release seems to indicate that a new class called "Factory Superbike" will take precedence and, even better, the class will ultimately adopt full World Superbike rules. That won't happen immediately since it would require the factories to switch directions mid-stream. Instead, the 2009 rule book for Factory Superbike will be the one agreed to by the manufacturers last year and the WSBK rulebook will be phased in between 2010 and 2011.
The second class listed is the "American Superbike" class, which sounds much like a modified version of the current Superstock class, only with spec tires. I'm not sure I really care one way or the other about this one, although frankly I'd rather see something more akin to Supersport than to Superstock.
The last main class is the aforementioned "Daytona Superbike." This class is very similar in rules to the current AMA Formula Xtreme class in that it's primarily 600cc inline fours but there are provisions to race the Triumph 675 and the Ducati 848 as well as BMW boxer twins, Buells, etc. The major difference between Daytona Superbike and FX is that the new class will be horsepower limited and use spec tires and fuel.
According to the press release DMG still plans on including the Red Bull Rookies Cup and Moto-ST. I'm excited about the Rookies Cup but I don't really care about Moto-ST. It's going to be confusing for fans to watch but ultimately it's bikes on track so I don't really object.
All in all it sounds as though the Daytona Motorsports Group has been swayed to listen to reason and not, as my very Southern Grandmother used to say, "throw the baby out with the bathwater." They have (or will, at any rate), at least for the Factory Superbike class, adopted a rules package that the manufacturers will be happy with and which is promoting some truly fantastic racing in the World Superbike series. That should keep existing manufacturers in the series and probably even lure in some new ones like Aprilia and BMW. Both of these manufacturers are currently building new bikes for World Superbike and since the same bikes will eventually be legal for competition in the US it becomes a much less daunting proposition to enter competition here as well as on the world stage. Additionally, the press release indicates that the Factory Superbike and Daytona Superbike classes will have Superpole qualifying. I think that's another great addition taken from World Superbike since Superpole sessions are seriously exciting to watch.
There are a few unanswered questions still. One of the chief ones in my mind is the format of the race weekends. DMG had originally proposed to shorten the weekends from three days down to two and a half or just two, something I'm vehemently against as I'm sure ticket prices won't fall to reflect the shorter weekend. Also, the DMG hasn't addressed the race structure for the different classes. The release indicates, but doesn't say, that the Factory Superbike will be the premier class. At the same time it seems to indicate that there will only be one Factory Superbike race per weekend. My guess would be that they are going ahead with their plan to make Daytona Superbike the double-header class for most race weekends. I think that's a mistake, but I'm only guessing and inferring here.
Hopefully now that the infighting seems to have abated we'll get some
more solid information trickling out. I'm a little less tense about it
all now but it would be a lie to say my fingers aren't still crossed a
bit. Stay tuned, and check out the press release over at Superbike Planet.
Technorati Tags: Motorcycles, AMA Superbike, Daytona Motorsports Group
4 comments:
Common sense prevailing? There are still a few wrinkles to be ironed out I'm sure, but at least the unmitigated disaster that was going to be "Daytona Superbike" has been averted.
I'm not able to follow AMA so easily over here in the UK, but what I do hear implies dangerous tracks and large prize-winnings. This leads me to form a view of the riders as some sort of cross between Steve McQueen and Roman gladiators. Will DMG be addressing the issues of rider safety or is that still to come out in the wash?
An unmitigated disaster is exactly what we were headed for, you're certainly right about that. Frankly I'm not sure common sense prevailed so much as DMG realized that the manufacturers and fans both were on the verge of open revolt. I think they realized that they'd be the losers if the manufacturers started another series (and they were right) and bowed to the inevitable. I strongly suspect Roger Edmondson is feeling like he was blackmailed. Whatever he thinks, I'm glad they came around.
I think the rider safety thing in the US is a bit over-exaggerated. I've been following British Superbike this year and I'd have to say that the US tracks are probably on par with the British ones I've seen. Some are great, some are so-so, and some are a bit sketchy. There is a safety committee of riders and they aren't afraid to make their feelings known if they don't feel something is safe. The season finale at Mid-Ohio in 2007 is an example of that. I think at this point most of the really unsafe tracks and corners are pretty much gone.
As for the prize-winnings, it's interesting you say that. One of the longest-running gripes against the AMA is that the purses are so abysmal. For example, the winner of the Superbike race at Daytona in 2007 got $3,000, second place got $2,400, etc. Where the money comes in is the bonuses paid by manufacturers to factory riders. I read something where DMG was planning on boosting purse amounts quite a bit (well up into the 5-digit range for winners) but I haven't heard anything else about that. We'll have to wait and see.
I believe the proposal was for $50K for the winner and $5k for others - not sure how far down the result the $5K goes. It's almost literally win or bust.
Are there some AMA tracks the riders won't ride in the rain? BSB goes ahead rain (often) or no rain.
There are some tracks AMA doesn't race in the rain at. In some cases it's warranted, in some cases I think it's more to do with resistance to change.
Post a Comment