Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

After reading your post 4/7/2004 AMA Pro Road Racing Participation Declining and reading some of the various opinions on message boards and websites, it is abundantly clear that racing has taken a significant step backwards in the United States. It is my opinion that everyone is to blame, but AMA Pro Racing and the manufacturers should take the brunt of the responsibility.

The AMA has failed the racing community in three areas. The first of which is that the AMA has ignored the real-world challenges of the privateer racer. It also has failed to promote a class that is undeniably a “Pro” class. The fundamental cause of the previous two points in my opinion is the lack of any consistent integrity when dealing with manufacturers. The AMA has not been able to successfully sanction and encourage promoters in a manner that creates product value. Because of this, AMA Pro Racing is nothing less than a courtesan to preferred manufacturers. It can only be reasoned that AMA Pro Racing has taken this position in lieu of the current class structure. Supporting this statement is the fact that a privateer has no choice but to compete in a class that has no less than 6-10 full and/or semi factory riders. This points to the idea that rather than have the manufacturers (factory teams) compete in one or two “Pro” classes, it appears each manufacturer picked one or two of the four classes to compete in that gave them the easiest chance to win. This would be laughable was it not for the fact it is damaging the viablity of this sport in the United States. Again, the situation with the manufacturers would not even play out, if AMA Pro Racing provided one ounce of product value and direction.

The factory riders need to take the blame also. Although the Pro (paid by a factory) riders that have consistently whined about privateers, WHEN HAVE THEY ONCE APPROACHED THE AMA to create a privateer class or classes? They haven’t. Did they forget what it was like to be a privateer? The factory riders have additionally failed to do anything to promote their own and privateer safety. It must be true that we would all sell our soul to be a factory rider, because many (not all) seem to forget where they came from. I have a great admiration for the talents of Aaron Yates, but I wonder if he ever once sat down to think about the solution to his alleged problem with backmarker at Daytona?

The privateer rider is also to blame. We have continued to support a series that doesn’t provide value to us. I am as guilty as any as I will participate in an AMA National this year, and my desire to race only overrides my common sense. It can be said that it is much harder to influence change from the outside, but there is no legitimate audience to hear the privateer on the inside.

Lastly, we need to look at the manufacturers. I would ask them, “Is the spirit of competition gone? Is it that difficult to compete on a level playing field? Are you so desperate to win, that you would drive our racing in this country down the toilet?” I encourage the manufacturers to spend less money per team and support “satellite” networks that would be able to pursue outside sponsorship. Outside sponsorship will be the key to making racing in this country something more than a hobby for the financially able.

It is my final opinion that the AMA really blew it this year. Last year was arguably the best class structure and rules that I have seen. The 750 (Superstock) class was a true privateer class with only one or two factory teams. This afforded a non-factory rider a great avenue to show their skills. The structure of the Superbike/Formula Xtreme/Superstock allowed privateer riders to enter more classes and get the valuable track time required to get a safe and competitive set-up together. It also allowed a privateer more revenue opportunities. Lastly (and most important), the current Superbike class structure (over the last two years) allowed privateers to build affordable competitive machines that a good rider could beat a factory rider with. (Is this why the factories bailed out of this class?)

AMA Pro Racing is broken. The treatment that should have cured the illness but failed (Take Back The AMA platform) only emphasizes the cancer that is deeply rooted in the organization. Sometimes the most humane way to treat a lame animal is to shoot it. I don’t know if we are at that point yet.

Marcus McBain
Houston, Texas