FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: Hey Roger! If it’s OK to race in the rain why don’t NASCAR sissies going in circles do it. You commented that other motorcycle race series race in the rain, WSBK and Moto GP, but they won’t race these tracks in the dry, that should tell you something. Well, with the AMA down the drain Speed TV can show us more World Supersport and both Superbike races on Sunday so I don’t have to wait until Tuesday, thanks for that. Brian Nicholson Halifax, Nova Scotia FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: Regarding the DMG’s purchase of the AMA Motorcycle Racing series, at first I was very excited. Here we had one of the most effective marketing organizations taking over a series that constantly struggles with outside of industry sponsorship and thoughts that they could do the same for motorcycle racing. Then the rule changes (more in line with NASCAR) come in and there is a lot of bickering. Personally, I don’t like the changes but that is far less of a concern than the handling of rider safety issues. The fact that Mr. Edmondson listed a host of organizations that race in the rain means little to me. I don’t really feel there is a good quantitative way to deem a track safe for wet weather racing. I think it does eventually come down to opinion. It is a very difficult. It does cause me to chuckle however when the head of the ‘new’ AMA which is backed by NASCAR demands competition in the rain. When was the last time NASCAR raced in the rain? What is the problem? Walls to close? Someone might get hurt? I think F1 races in the rain and dammit, so should NASCAR. Mr. Edmondson should really open his eyes. The sport will not benefit from riders’ boycotts and even worse, the serious injury of any rider. Darren Womack Windsor, Ontario, Canada FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: Roger certainly didn’t minced words in this interview. It should be pretty obvious to everyone that he is primarily concerned with the needs of the promoters, track owners, and the investors. His assertion that the “fast riders” are not in the best position to determine facility suitability is simply absurd. The guy who staring at the wall at 100mph + is absolutely in the best position to offer suggestions. The next best individuals to shape the safety policy are the corner workers, as they are the objective witnesses to nearly everything that happens on the track. His statement that riding in poor weather conditions is up to rider is completely obtuse. Top riders are under contract… to race for a team. Deciding, on a whim, not to race is not an option. Roger has completely lost touch with reality if he thinks he can successfully run this series without the support of the talent. In every sport, when there are strikes and disagreement between the league and the players, everybody loses money. Finally, I’ve only been involved with racing (CCS) for 5 years, but anecdotal history suggests that everywhere Roger goes, frustration and dissent follow. It seems that toward the end of his affiliation with CCS, he was almost universally despised. From his latest comments, I can see why. My fear is that he is intentionally trying to infuriate the factory teams and baiting them into pulling out of AMA racing… leaving a professional void that he can fill with franchises that he can control and profit from… much like NASCAR did. Scott Schaefer CCS-GP Expert #72 Fenton, Missouri FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: Ask Miguel Duhamel what he thinks about racing in the rain at Loudon. Bob Jablonski Monticello, Minnesota FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: According to Roger’s logic, he needs to make NASCAR run in the rain, and while you’re at it, let’s make safety harnesses illegal. I wonder how well that would go down with the Nascar crowd? Mr Edmondson has shown himself to be completely clueless when it comes to motorcycle racing. Luckily there are plenty of other great race series around the world that we can watch. Bye-bye AMA racing, we had some great times together. Alan Clarkson-Dodds Pacifica, California FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: Is this right, Roger Edmondson ACTUALLY said he has a Rider Safety Committee? The last time he mentioned rider safety (racing in the rain at Infineon), he never acknowledged its existence and would do all he could to bash rider safety and supporting those who compete in the arena of motorcycle racing. Does this mean a change has occurred at the top in recognizing that in motorcycle racing, rider safety and track safety is more critical then when you are using 1960’s-era car technology. Ssgt. David Grant, USAF Former WMRRA #116, current CMRA #116 Altus, Oklahoma FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: Just a fan’s perspective here, but a fan who follows racing week-to-week through the off-season and travels to attend several road racing events per year, including overseas. I think the announced plans for next year’s AMA suck. I’m all for leveling the field a bit, running spec tires, and reaching out to a larger audience. But why dilute the product? If you want a competitive 600 class then just look at the Supersport class you’ve already got and make it better. Likewise Superbike – why effectively kick out the factories and the best riders and expect anyone to get excited? And the whole wet race stance? Please. These are questions everyone has been asking from the start, and the answer seems to be that DMG has no interest in keeping what is great about the sport and improving on it, or in keeping the fan base that currently supports the sport. The arrogance is rather amazing. So, how about this: what if the major manufacturers split from DMG entirely and started another series? What is to prevent the factories from getting together, forming a body to run the series, and establishing rules that the riders support? Sure it’s got to be tough to start a new series and get TV contracts, tracks, etc, but it seems like if all the factories were there with the best riders that the sponsors would follow them and the crowds that would accompany – and not DMG. There’d be smaller fields, closer to GP with a few satellite squads, but I would pay top dollar to see a series with one 1000 class and one 600 class with 15-20 top riders in each class with 4 or 5 manufacturers. I have to think there’s a promoter out there willing to take it on. And even if it never got that far DMG would have to come to the table and negotiate. Seems to me the factories have a lot of weight to throw around here, and a serious interest in displaying their best products in the US market. Whether that’s the fix or not, what we need is to fix what’s wrong with AMA racing right now – too many classes with too much disparity of equipment, in my opinion. What’s right with AMA racing are the premier classes, the talent and depth of the riders, and the continued factory and sponsor support that puts on display the best machinery out there – that’s the part we need to keep, not trash! Richard Stout Cleveland Heights, Ohio