Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128134
"I think the AMA will find that they've tried to move a 900-pound gorilla." More On SX Saga More On SX Saga III Clear Channel - no! Who fights the eco-wackos? AMA - yes! Clear Channel - no! Who stands up for the aver- hank you all for keeping us formed on all that is happening with e Supercross promoter controversy. e way I see it, why did Clear Chanel wait for so long to raise the points nd from just over $100,000 to 500,000 or more for the 2003 seaon? They should have done so years go. With the deals made to secure ood stadiums by Clear Channel so ar, the AMA might find it a little arder to get enough quality venues. appears that Clear Channel is on he ball to let everyone know that eir goal is to get the best stadiums nd pay the riders better money to ace their series. The AMA seems to e a little too quiet right now. While I have not sided with either arty yet, my main thought is that I ope this does not hurt our sport the ay the split with CART and the IRL id. The factory teams and riders eed to work together on this one so at the sport which we love so much ay prosper in the future - the way it as for the last 10 years. Thanks gain, and I hope this will bring out he best. Not the worst. Matt Hawkins Sunland,. CA My initial reaction when hearing about the split between AMA and Clear Channel was "Well, the AMA I just read that Clear Channel has been leveraging their existing relationships with the big-venue stadiums Unlimited, and all the others kick in? How much do you think they charge KTM for the peewee show that More On SX Saga II and has recently landed an exclusive, multi-year agreement to produce all motors ports events at the Big Ed you pay to see? These guys are making big chips. Here's the big question: What is Clear Channel going to do for our sport besides cash in? Not a he success or failure of Supercross nd what it will become now lies with he manufacturers. If they act as one damn the antitrust laws) and choose o all stay with one series, whichever hat may be, then all will benefit. The iders, by keeping the competition igh, will maintain the financial gains at have been so hard won by keepng fans coming to the events. The anufacturers, and ultimately the onsumers, will continue to benefit rom the high level of competition by continued product improvements, which of course translate into sales and is why they are there. It is the fans that stand to gain or Jose the most if the riders/manufacurers chose different paths. The competition will be diluted, the star power of the events watered down, and the current momentum that has propelled the sport to where it is today will be reversed. The current crop of the powers that be at each of the manufacturers did not get to where they are today without being part visionary. So it is with confidence that I say - gentlemen, the future is yours. has mucked it up again." However, after learning more about Clear Channel and their business practices, especially in radio markets, I can guess that they were intent upon bullying the AMA into running a Supercross series on terms dictated by Clear Channel. Unfortunately, I think the AMA will find that they've tried to move a 900pound gorilla; in just the last few days we've seen that Clear Channel intends to fight, and they're not known for fighting cleanly. The AMA may have had very good reasons for splitting with Clear Channel, but I think the end results will be the same: confusion among viewers, dilution of any championship, and erosion of the fan base. KevtnSmffh San Jase, CA More On SX Saga IV age motorcyclist against our overbearing government? AMA - yes! Clear Channel - no! If you are na"ive enough to think that Clear Channel/PACE singlehandedly brought S-upercross to where it is now, think again. Clear Channel has only been around for a fraction of the time since the AMA started sanctioning Supercross. Jeremy McGrath, the Rickys, the Jeffs, and all our other heroes of the day are responsible for the sport as we see it today. How did they get there? AMA amateur racing! I, personally, don't see Clear Channel helping amateur sports if it doesn't make Clear Channel a dime. Do you think they will spend a dime? Not on your life. Clear Channel brags about a $500,000 point fund. Let's do a little math. Let's say the average attendance for a Supercross is 50,000 at $25 a head. That's $1,250,000 per event. Times that by 16 and it's 20 million big ones. Plus, how much does EA Sports, Parts (Edison Field in Anaheim). They have also managed to land a similar five-year exclusive with Bank One Ball Park in Phoenix. I'm sure there are more "exclusive" agreements on the way. So this is where it gets interesting. The riders want to ride AMA sanctioned races. The AMA has a contract with Jam Sports to produce their races. Clear Channel owns the rights to produce all motor sports events at the premier venues. If this were a chess game, I'd say that Clear Channel has just made one hell of a move. Dave Kelty Huntington Beach, CA More On SX Saga V Has anybody stopped to think how the break-up between the AMA and Clear Channel will affect other aspects of our beloved sport? First of all, I would like to say that I am not a big fan of the AMA. And even less so of Clear Channel. Let's take a close look and compare Chuck Rush apples to apples. Who supports ama- Ragstotf; AZ teur motorcycle racing? AMA - yes! damned thing. After weighing the facts, my money will be spent attending AMA Supercross. Walter Molloy VIa the Internet History Lesson Now that the unremittingly negative relationship between Mladin £, Co. vs. New Hampshire International Speedway has been severed, rendering the AMA's most historic race to the archives of history, some of you in the road racing community might be surprised to learn that your ongoing safety will be in no small measure dependent on procedures and techniques that were originally developed by safety officials at Loudon. Back in the day, when Portland cement was the preferred method to clean up oil spills, Loudon cornerworker Bob Cole did research in his own driveway with new materials being used to clean up commercial the result of his work, and restore traction to a degree that was previously unheard of. During the same era, the AMA's red flag procedure was to have one red flag in the hands of the starter. It took forever to get him to stop a race, unless of course the mess was right in front of him. The Loudon comerworkers, with Sandy Macpherson in Control, had developed communications and flagging to the point where the individual corner captain was experienced and responsible enough to stop the race. As soon as the captain made the decision to abort, Sandy would call for "red flag all stations, red flag all stations," greatly enhancing rider safety for obvious reasons. Of course, this is standard operating procedure now, but as unbelievable as it might seem (or not), th is procedure was viewed as a threat to the authority of the starter by the AMA and was not allowed at Nationals for years - until enough racers had experienced the benefits of racing into a red flag situation at the Loudon warm-up (the club race one week before the National that used to attract top racers before a conflicting National drew them elsewhere). Many of the Loudon comerworkers were also racers. They loved their brothers and sisters in arms and worked hard to ensure that racing be as safe and fun as they could make it. If you race at any level today in the USA, you owe a debt of gratitude to Loudon stalwarts like Jerry Wood, Bruce Berlinger. Steve Baron, Sandy Macpherson, Bob Cole, Richard and Ruth Jalbert, Doc Baldwin, and extra specially to the late great Karen Hornbecker - nurse, cornerworker, racer - and many more too numerous to mention. Vive, Loudon. oil spills. The attapulgite, "fluffy stuff," and "diapers" used today are eye I EO ne""s John M. O'Connor DECEMBER Alton, NH 1 2. 2001 5