Author Topic: 2014 AMA Roadracing Schedule-- A Measly 5 Rounds (Read 7540 times)

tyrroneous · « **on:** January 08, 2014, 11:31:12 AM »

5 rounds. That's all. So much for DMG taking pro roadracing to the next level.

Pretty much everybody WEST of the Mississippi is left out.

The 2014 AMA Pro Road Racing schedule is as follows:
1. March 13 - 15 - Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fla.
2. May 30 - June 1 - Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis.
3. June 21 - 22 - Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Ala.*
4. July 19 - 20 - Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio*
5. September 13 - 14 - New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, N.J.*
* - These events will feature the two-day event schedule

R Doug · « **Reply #1 on:** January 08, 2014, 12:26:33 PM »

That is sad.

squeezer · « **Reply #2 on:** January 08, 2014, 12:57:20 PM »

I had such hopes for DMG. Instead, they've killed it.

Veefer800canuck · « **Reply #3 on:** January 08, 2014, 01:57:25 PM »

"The next level" is 6 feet under.

tyrroneous · « **Reply #4 on:** January 08, 2014, 02:33:11 PM »

I'm guessing every other national racing series such as BSB and others are basically laughing at what AMA Pro racing has devolved into.

Could an organization like WERA develop a national Pro level series that could be successful enough so as to basically push the AMA Pro roadracing out of the picture?

kneescrubber · « **Reply #5 on:** January 08, 2014, 03:22:37 PM »

I'm kinda up in the air over this. On the 1 hand I hate to see AMA pro racing go down the toilet. However, it's been so bad (imho) for so long, I'd rather it just go away so someone else can step in.

st2sam · « **Reply #6 on:** January 08, 2014, 04:23:02 PM »

Quote from: kneescrubber on January 08, 2014, 03:22:37 PM

I'm kinda up in the air over this. On the 1 hand I hate to see AMA pro racing go down the toilet. However, it's been so bad (imho) for so long, I'd rather it just go away so someone else can step in.

Sometimes you got to hit rock bottom before things really change for the better.

IMO after this year AMA Pro Racing should be under that rock.

kneescrubber · « **Reply #7 on:** January 08, 2014, 09:38:25 PM »

The real issue is; AMA is the officially recognized sanctioning body here by the FIM. The AMA does a good job with other forms of racing. Why do they insist on fucking up roadracing?

squeezer · « **Reply #8 on:** January 08, 2014, 11:15:05 PM »

Quote from: kneescrubber on January 08, 2014, 09:38:25 PM

The real issue is; AMA is the officially recognized sanctioning body here by the FIM. The AMA does a good job with other forms of racing. Why do they insist on fucking up roadracing?

I'm sure you know this, but for those who don't, the AMA itself isn't running any pro series anymore. Their name just goes on it. The current president and board were happy to get out of the business. They may be having second thoughts about who they sold the superbike series to, though.

I wonder if the group that runs Supercross is interested in acquiring the business. They've built that into a popular show with a mostly young audience. I wonder if their model would translate to road racing...

Veefer800canuck · « **Reply #9 on:** January 09, 2014, 12:21:52 AM »

We managed to put on 5 rounds in the 2013 Parts Canada Superbike Championship.

With 10% of the population, and probably 10% of the funding for the series.

Add in a short riding season, and far, far less racetracks than in the USA, and well, what does THAT tellya?

squeezer · « **Reply #10 on:** January 09, 2014, 01:03:29 AM »

It tells me that we should go ahead, invade, and annex Canada. That way, we'll have a 10 race series.

Of course, then we're kind of screwed if we want to send Justin Bieber back...

Veefer800canuck · « **Reply #11 on:** January 09, 2014, 01:13:25 AM »

You can keep him. And Celine Dion too.

We want Miguel Duhamel back though.

Blunder · « **Reply #12 on:** January 09, 2014, 08:23:27 AM »

Quote from: Veefer800canuck on January 09, 2014, 12:21:52 AM

...what does THAT tellya?

You're 10%ers?

squeezer · « **Reply #13 on:** January 09, 2014, 09:38:09 AM »

Quote from: Veefer800canuck on January 09, 2014, 01:13:25 AM

You can keep him. And Celine Dion too.

We want Miguel Duhamel back though.

You know, when I first wrote that post, I put in Celine Dion then changed it to Bieber just to be current. Either way, it's easy to see why immigration is an issue.

We're keeping Duhamel, though. Neil Young too.

Veefer800canuck · « **Reply #14 on:** March 04, 2014, 11:58:52 AM »

The De-volution will not be televised:

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2014/Mar/140304nodaytona200tv.htm

st2sam · « **Reply #15 on:** March 04, 2014, 03:45:27 PM »

I guess I'm happy, in a sad kind of way.
Like I said before, "sometimes you have to hit rock bottom before things turn around".
If your a MC racing fan, we're almost there.

IMO it won't be long before we'll have nowhere to go but up.

kneescrubber · « **Reply #16 on:** March 04, 2014, 06:31:49 PM »

Quote from: st2sam on March 04, 2014, 03:45:27 PM

I guess I'm happy, in a sad kind of way.
Like I said before, "sometimes you have to hit rock bottom before things turn around".
If your a MC racing fan, we're almost there.

IMO it won't be long before we'll have nowhere to go but up.

Sadly, I think we have a lot further to go. Until FIM strips the AMA of their sanctioning title, it will only get worse.

squeezer · « **Reply #17 on:** March 04, 2014, 07:06:45 PM »

Quote from: Veefer800canuck on March 04, 2014, 11:58:52 AM

The De-volution will not be televised:

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2014/Mar/140304nodaytona200tv.htm

Wow. Just wow.

Slippin · « **Reply #18 on:** March 04, 2014, 07:23:15 PM »

Could that be a little ray of hope!?!

http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/pro-superbike-and-sportbike-races-scheduled-with-afm-at-sonoma-raceway/

st2sam · « **Reply #19 on:** March 05, 2014, 07:00:15 AM »

Quote from: Slippin on March 04, 2014, 07:23:15 PM

Could that be a little ray of hope!?!

For sure.

If they can secure TV coverage, of any kind by anyone, it would be even better news.

keeb · « **Reply #20 on:** March 05, 2014, 08:59:48 AM »

Maybe if all the tracks were oval and all races lasted for five hours, Americans would be interested.

JReazor · « **Reply #21 on:** March 05, 2014, 09:16:14 AM »

Quote from: keeb on March 05, 2014, 08:59:48 AM

Maybe if all the tracks were oval and all races lasted for five hours (but only the last 15 seconds matter), Americans would be interested.

Cablebandit · « **Reply #22 on:** March 05, 2014, 09:28:14 AM »

Quote from: JReazor on March 05, 2014, 09:16:14 AM

Quote from: keeb on March 05, 2014, 08:59:48 AM
lasted for five hours (but only the last 15 seconds matter), Americans would be interested.

Sounds a lot like the NBA as well.

RRdvark · « **Reply #23 on:** March 05, 2014, 12:37:26 PM »

WERA tried to go big in the 90's with their Formula USA pro series. I think a few rounds made it on TV and the bikes were awesome (methanol GSXR1100's, 500 GP bikes, basically whatever you could think of was legal). I know some AMA guys ran some of the F-USA races too. Not sure what happened to it, though.

kneescrubber · « **Reply #24 on:** March 05, 2014, 06:38:01 PM »

Quote from: RRdvark on March 05, 2014, 12:37:26 PM

WERA tried to go big in the 90's with their Formula USA pro series. I think a few rounds made it on TV and the bikes were awesome (methanol GSXR1100's, 500 GP bikes, basically whatever you could think of was legal). I know some AMA guys ran some of the F-USA races too. Not sure what happened to it, though.

No Harleys. It died a ~~bitter~~ AMA death.

Veefer800canuck · « **Reply #25 on:** March 05, 2014, 11:55:35 PM »

Quote from: RRdvark on March 05, 2014, 12:37:26 PM

WERA tried to go big in the 90's with their Formula USA pro series. I think a few rounds made it on TV and the bikes were awesome (methanol GSXR1100's, 500 GP bikes, basically whatever you could think of was legal). I know some AMA guys ran some of the F-USA races too. Not sure what happened to it, though.

F-USA was awesome.

The rulebook read something like this:

1- The motorcycle must have two wheels
2- The motorcycle must be safe to race
3- Refer to rules 1 and 2 above

Those methanol burning GSXR1100s were overbored to like 1340cc's, and there were some 250 GP bikes sniffing NOS, but they had the halflife of a postage stamp.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fP7veQAvdO0

RRdvark · « **Reply #26 on:** March 06, 2014, 10:44:23 AM »

I remember watching an F-USA race at IRP in Indy and the battle for the lead was a TZ250 vs GSXR1100 and it lasted all race. GSXR would kill it on acceleration and top speed, TZ would claw it all back with corner speed and braking. Probably the best race I ever saw in person.

Max Wedge · « **Reply #27 on:** March 06, 2014, 10:48:06 AM »

Quote from: Veefer800canuck on March 05, 2014, 11:55:35 PM

Quote from: RRdvark on March 05, 2014, 12:37:26 PM
WERA tried to go big in the 90's with their Formula USA pro series. I think a few rounds made it on TV and the bikes were awesome (methanol GSXR1100's, 500 GP bikes, basically whatever you could think of was legal). I know some AMA guys ran some of the F-USA races too. Not sure what happened to it, though.

F-USA was awesome.

The rulebook read something like this:

1- The motorcycle must have two wheels
2- The motorcycle must be safe to race
3- Refer to rules 1 and 2 above

Those methanol burning GSXR1100s were overbored to like 1340cc's, and there were some 250 GP bikes sniffing NOS, but they had the halflife of a postage stamp.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fP7veQAvdO0

That was a great clip. How could you not love that?