FEATURE
MOTOAMERICA
P98
fans as an extension of their new hobby.
The manufacturers were deeply damaged by
this steep downturn as well and were forced to
slash racing and marketing budgets, exasperating
the sport's problems.
One could argue these uncontrol-
lable factors crippled DMG's efforts
every bit as much as (if not more than)
its own actions. Over time DMG ac-
tually assembled a reasonably solid
track record of listening and reacting
to criticism. It made several strong
hires and boasted plenty of hard-
working and dedicated employees.
However, it was kneecapped by bad
timing as much as it was bad blood or
bad decisions.
MotoAmerica will have to deal with
the American motorcycle market's 'new normal'–
which to be fair, is healthier than it was in the '90s
when roadracing was comparatively strong in the
States–and still find a way to successfully court
vastly increased involvement from the manufactur-
ers and attract new fans.
KRAVE's tight, semi-official connection to Dorna
is a non-trivial matter. The weekend attendance fig-
ures of MotoGP's American rounds (both in the six
figures) demonstrates that a sizable
audience for motorcycle roadracing
still exists Stateside. MotoAmerica
will likely be properly showcased at
those rounds rather than stuck at
home or relegated to third-class citi-
zen status as in the old days.
KRAVE will look to leverage that
opportunity and make those races
the series' marquee events, filling
the void left by the exclusion of Day-
tona and Mid-Ohio, AMA Superbike's
premier races in years long gone by
and no longer even on the schedule.
But for all the talk of MotoGP, MotoAmerica is
actually more much closely connected to Dorna's
other concern–the Superbike World Champion-
ship. For better or worse.
An obvious tie between the two championships
THE "IF ANYONE
CAN DO IT"
SENTIMENT
SEEMS WELL-
FOUNDED, BUT
THE QUESTION
REALLY IS CAN
ANYONE DO IT?
