Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

liThe current AMA system has led to many championships being close... 11 Help Is On The Way Your editorial on AMA Superbikes is spot on ("Teardown," Issue #14, April 11). I can't believe that the AMA hasn't noticed that, while they struggle, World Superbike soars. I have always been a fan of the World Superbike format since its inception, and isn't it amazing how many manufacturers saw value in the series and developed bikes just for it? Also, your thoughts on 600cc Supersport are spot on as well. I think that there are even some racers who don't like the idea of having to ride both Supersport and Superbike. The AMA needs to stand up, shamelessly steal ideas from another series and develop into one of the premier series in motorcycle road racing in the world. MlkeCartno VIa the Internet Help Is On The Way II I like most of your ideas, but I don't like Superpole. But, most of all, I don't like the AMA's points structure. Maybe it makes for close (artificially?) championship races, but it doesn't reward winning enough. That's just my two cents. Robert Cozine VIa the Internet Help Is On The Way III Where do I sign up for lifetime tickets to Paul Carruthers' version of American racing? It's not a sin to copy from someone else's good ideas and maybe give them your own little twist. Mr. Carruthers, you have my vote, I just hope more people see the light you have shed on this subject and turn American road racing back into the respectable motorsport it was, and should be. Robert MIller Norco, CA Help Is On The Way IV I have written in several times on this issue and agree with you 100 percent. Two Superbike legs on Sunday is a good idea. I will, however, add that the same points-paying system as the FIM utiliizes should be used so one non-finish won't ruin a season for somebody. Also, leave the 600cc Supersport class to up and comers or down movers (Jamie Whitham). Usten up, AMA guys - it is time for a change. Most of the Superb ike men want Superbike-only contracts anyway! 6regCoIyer VIa the Internet Help Is On The Way V Kudos to Paul Carruthers: Finally, someone has the nerve to say the truth. Only with these changes will the AMA series truly be top-shelf! JIm Rashid VIa the Internet Help Is On The Way VI Great editorial piece on what the AMA Superbike Series should be. I've always felt that World Superbike has made the AMA Superbike Series look like a joke run by amateurs. Unfortunately, the AMA will continue to focus its energy and money on fighting Roger Edmondson, and let riders crash into concrete barriers at stock car tracks and drag strips. And, of course, the best riders will flee to Europe where Superbike racing is a. serious business run by professionals. IgorA PeIse VIa the tnremet Help Is On The Way VII I agree. Plain and simple, your ideas are not only good but they would be effective. I have attended Daytona for too many years to remember and the quality of the show has been suffering lately. Your plan would make for a wonderful day of racing that my wife would stay and' watch. I like to see everything, including practice and visiting the garage area after the race. She feels Daytona has been boring on Sunday and would rather beat the traffic home. It has been hard to disagree with her, but your plan would keep her there and that would mean that I get to stay longer and have a full day of quality racing to watch. My vote: Paul Carruthers for Road Race Director of the United States. BuzzWeIJs VIa the Internet Let's not get carried away... Editor Help Is On The Way VIII I've always been a fan of the elegant solution. No, no, not the AMA's version of an elegant solution, which is to spend the AMA members' money on an expensive consultant from outside the industry to do original research on an issue. Too often, the original research comes up with an answer that someone in the industry has long since recognized and has already called for, but this time presented to the AMA with an elaborate presentation and a sizeable invoice. I much prefer the mathematician's version of the elegant solution: A solution that is simple, direct, effective, efficient and economical - like your suggestions for reconfiguring the Superbike Series. Those are elegant solutions. Sure makes sense to me. Joseph Facer VIa the Infr!met Doesn't agree I recently e-mailed the AMA concerning a rumor of the reduction of races during a race weekend. While I have no problem with big boys in big races and the rest in 600cc Supers port, if the race weekend consists of just three races, my friends and I will just go riding instead of traveling 300-600 miles to the three rounds we usually go to. I want to see racing, be it 125s to Formula Xtreme. Yes, I enjoyed the 125cc class before the powers that be axed it. TetrY L Wh/hP VIa the Internet The AMA Responds To Daytona, Etc. Having read a number of letters and e-mails regarding the use of back-up bikes by several participants during the Daytona 200, I would like to mention that the rule has existed for many years and is allowed only in Superbike, the premier class. I'm surprised by the comments made, given the fact that the top two forms of motorcycle road racing, FIM World Grand Prix and World Superbike, both allow the use of back-up bikes if a race has to be stopped. Not only can riders in those series switch bikes, but they can do so for any reason, without permission, and still maintain their grid position. While I do not know this to be a fact, several people have told me that the top level of four-wheel sport - Formula One - also has a rule that permits switching cars. The AMA rule works like this: When a race is restarted following a red flag, riders can request permission from the Chief Steward or Race Manager to use a back-up bike. That permission is typically granted if the rider had seriously crashed their bike or had a mechanical failure that could not be reasonably repaired during the interval between the red flag and the restart. Permission is not given because a rider is not happy with the first bike for any reason. Riders that are restarting on a back-up bike are placed at the back of the grid, so there is a price to pay for switching. In response to the letter from Greg Colyer (Issue #13, April 4) recommending that the AMA adopt the FIM aual e points system, I need to point out that, if a rider is truly the dominant rider during qualifying and in the race at an AMA event, they would gain six points over the second-placed rider. The AMA points system awards one point for earning pole position, one point for leading the most race laps, and winning provides a four-point advantage over second. A win using the FIM points system prOVides a five-point advantage over second. So, there is little difference between the FIM and AMA points systems at the top level without factoring in the potential for earning extra points for pole and most laps led. The current AMA system has led to many championships being close at the end of the season, which, to me, is the goal for any system. RonBarrtck PIckerington, OH Barrick is the AMA's road race manager. .. Editor Missing The Mark? Once again, Honda misses the mark with their latest big-twin cruiser. They seem to get it right with the concept bike (The Zodia), but can't seem to make production bikes that even come close. The Zodia was sleek, innovative, and original. The new VTX looks like just another hodgepodge of cheap, thrown-together cruiser parts. It's just another Japanese cruiser that trying to be something that it's not. If Honda were to build bikes like the Zodia, they wouldn't be able to keep them on the showroom floor. Come on Honda, try putting some of that engineering originality into a production bike. Matt ShefIIeId n e _ so • APRIL Wfndsor, C4 18. 2001 5

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