Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

The motorcycle industry is abuzz with conflicting groups of sponsors thinking they have successfully negotiated a deal with Michael Jordan’s AMA team for 2005.

Among the contestants:

American Honda (including the automotive division) and HRC, with Ben Bostrom as lead rider.

American Suzuki and Yoshimura, with Jason Pridmore as lead rider.

And these are only the ones we know about.

Similarly, agents for the Jordan operation have approached up to four riders for the second slot in the team, alluding to a lucrative payday that at most only one of them will ultimately reap, and referring to Suzuki Superbikes on Dunlop tires with Pridmore as the lead rider.

Imagine the disappointment some parties to the negotiations are going to feel when they discover that “their” Jordan deal isn’t happening.