FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: I just got done looking at the Mid-Ohio Superbike purse, and it makes no sense to me. They’ve got this whole idea of the shootout complete with heat races that should be fun for the spectators. But, they punish riders from a financial standpoint for making the main. For example, if I make the final and finish 10th – a tough job for a privateer – I make $1800. Conversely, if I don’t make the main and win the consolation race (effectively making me 21st) I make $2200. The 20th-place finisher in the “shootout” makes the same as the 11th-place rider in the consolation race. If I was a rider looking for cash instead of points, I’d throw the heat race to make sure I ended up in the consolation race, and make more money for doing a shorter race. Am I missing something? Thanks, Eric Wood Winchendon, Massachusetts Purse Money AMA Superbike Race Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course October 1, 2006 Superbike Shootout (Main) 1. $4000 2. $3500 3. $3000 4. $2500 5. $2300 6. $2200 7. $2100 8. $2000 9. $1900 10. $1800 11. $1700 12. $1600 13. $1500 14. $1400 15. $1300 16. $1200 17. $1100 18. $1050 19. $950 20. $900 Consolation race 1. $2200 2. $1800 3. $1500 4. $1300 5. $1200 6. $1150 7. $1100 8. $1050 9. $1000 10. $950 11. $900 12. $850 13. $800 14. $750 15. $700 16. $650 17. $600 18. $550 19. $500 20. $450 Pro Honda Supersport, Repsol Lubricants Superstock And Lockhart-Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Purse Payout: 1. $1700 2. $1400 3. $1100 4. $950 5. $900 6. $850 7. $800 8. $750 9. $700 10. $650 11. $600 12. $550 13. $500 14. $450 15. $425 16. $400 17. $375 18. $350 19. $300 20. $250