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/128378
AMA Road Racing 2006: Which Way to Go? ['S never too early to discuss next year, so we put a few questions together for the various team managers in the AMA Road Racing Championship Series to get their thoughts on what to expect for 2006. Here's what they had to say. prefer the Saturday and the Sunday [races) on a doubleheader. I think we can certainly do two races in one day, but we haven't tested that yet, and that might be something AMA could look at, and we could do a test run at a faCility that could accommodate that also. CHUCK MILlER - AMERICAN HONDA What about Saturday Superpole? I think for a doubleheader, the racing is definitely enough. I think Superpole adds another element that sometimes is exciting, but I'm not sure that our series could handle that. I How many classes would you like in an AMA Superbike weekend? I'd like to cut out one class myself. It'd be nice to have three classes. I don't think we're too far off right now. I think the program works pretty well and there's something for everybody. In the interest of streamlining and getting all the best riders and the best teams all in one class, I think if If the Daytona 200 is Formula Xtreme, will you compete? If the Daytona 200 is Formula Xtreme, we'll definitely be there. we streamlined and cut one class out it would encourage those guys to all come into the Superbike class. What classes would you like to see? Certainly Formula Xtreme, Supersport and Superbike. If you look at times on the last couple of races, the Superstock guys can definitely be in the Superbike class. Quite frankly, in a few of the events they've been faster than we have been. So, if there was a class to combine, I would probably suggest the Superbike and Superstock class. Are you in favor of riders doing more than one class? Yes, and this is kind of pointed towards the privateer riders or support team riders. We have to be cautious telling them they can only do one class because sometimes it takes them a couple of classes to make the money to get to the next race. With that said, I also think allowing them to ride the same bike in two, three or more classes scarts to kind of increase the liability on the racetrack, let's say. How would you like to see the races spread out over the weekend? And are you in favor of two- or three-day race weekends? If it's a doubleheader weekend, I think we need to do Friday, Saturday, Sunday. I 6 MAY 18, 2005 • And if it's Superbike you'll be there, too? You bet. MIKE PRESTON - KAWASAKI But you have two classes, a good qualifying session, everybody's going to be there. And then on Sunday maybe the premier class runs two races, maybe both classes run two. That might be good. But Sunday make a real show, something that we can have a lot of action in a period of time to make a show. We're here just to race. This is our job, and we love to win, and we love to be here. We need to help promote the sport. We need to work as partners. We need to make a show together. If we get a show, then everybody comes. That makes it even more fun. What classes will you race in 2006? I'd say we'd be pretty set around the middle of June. We have to make a decision. We're already talking about it, thinking it. Our biggest concern or our ability to commit is the AMA stability. Like I say, if they feel that Superbike is the premier and we could get all the riders in it, we definitely want to be there. How many classes would you like to see in an AMA Superbike weekend? Two classes - one of them 1000, one of them 600. I would like, I guess, one modified, one not. I am definitely concemed about speeds and stuff like that with the big bikes. But the biggest thing that we need is we need to know, not necessarily just next year, but what's going to happen after that. As the AMA says, next year's kind of set. What's going to happen then? Early on, it was going to be Formula Xtreme, and maybe now there's some rethinking. I think we need to know now what's going to happen. We want to compete in the premier class, whatever that may be, with the most factory riders and the most factory invotvement. But we want to see some stability, not just for next year; it'll be the following two or three years. We want to race, we need to race with everybody else, for sure. Should riders be allowed to ride in both classes? That's a touchy one. I'm not sure. I mean there will always be people that do it. We have riders who have won both classes in both days. We have riders who have won both championships. I think for sure with two classes it's tolerable. It's a real big concern now how you can ride four classes, and the biggest thing that worries me is some guy who's trying to make a little extra money - that's great, Iwant him to make money - but he's trying to use a tire in an extra race when he shouldn't be, and we hurt somebody. I'm worried about safety. These bikes are going fast. And they're only going to go faster every year. How would you like to see the races spread out over the weekend? And are you in favor of two- or three-day race weekends? I think could be open to a lot of stuff. I think it'd be nice to go to a two-day weekend. I think it'd be nice to see qualifying and stuff on Saturday - try to make it a good qualifying show. If Superpole's a good thing, I'm not sure - it seems like a lot of people like it. CYCLE NEWS need a class for more of an entry-level rider, nonfactory participation. Whether that be 600, 1000, 750 - whatever they opt to do there. But I do think they need a class there. And again, the 600cc Supersport as well as the 1000, I think they're both important classes for the manufacturers to showcase. I'd just like to see maybe an FX for beginner or Supersport for beginner class. How would you like to see the races spread out over the weekend? And are you in favor of two- or three-day race weekends? I think it's fine. I think maybe, for spectators, I think it's better to have an event on Saturday that brings spectators out for the weekend - Saturday and Sunday. What about Saturday Superpole? I kind of like Superpole. I think it would be an exciting new addition to our schedule. I think certain riders have a talent for that. I think it's not easy, but again it just brings some excitement on Saturday morning or Saturday after lunch. World Superbike, how they do that, it's pretty exciting to watch. It gives a chance for a lot of coverage for each rider who qualifies for Superpole. Whether it's televised or not, ifs more coverage. Should riders be allowed to ride in more than one class? That's been debated for years, I think. You get into a situation where a manufacturer is riding two classes and they have contracted riders, they want the best riders possible. I don't see any reason to change that. It might be Superbike and a support class. The guys are able to handle that in a race weekend, no problem. But we want to make sure that ifs around and stable. If they're going to go to the 600, then we want to know that now because we've got a plan. Maybe it's not what everybody wants or we want. If we go now, we can accept rules for stability. Iguess as it stands now, we'd race where we're at, unless something changes. My understanding is that the Pro Racing board has some meetings and hopefully with some good meetings, productive, or hopefully we'll get some response from Scott Hollingsworth about what's going on or what have you. Will you race in the Daytona 200 next year if it's Formula Xtreme? Right now, no. One other thing, this board - we need to find out about the board. We need equal representation for each manufacturer or we need none. Nobody affiliated. We need to work together as a parmer, not out in the dark. DoN SAKAKURA - YOSHIMURA SUZUKI How many classes would you like to see in an AMA Superbike weekend? I think the class format they have now, obviously IOOOcc Superbikes, is our numberone class that we'd like to see. I think we do What classes will you run in 2006? Don't know. I assume we'll continue to run 600 Supersport and Superbike; really don't know what the direction of the Superstock class is now. They may change that. We're very interested in 600 Supersport and Superbike.