AMA Pro Racing has just released a Competition Bulletin announcing that for any motorcycle that comes “from the factory with adjustable swingarm pivots as part of the design of the chassis, the use of OEM or comparable aftermarket optional offsets is allowed” in all classes of the 2006 AMA Pro Racing Superbike Championship.

AMA Pro Racing made non-publicized (secret) approval of the use of optional inserts in swingarm pivots for the Kawasaki ZX-6RR in 2003, when the bike first came from the factory with that adjustment capability.

The issue was brought to the forefront during the 2005 season when Yamaha unsuccessfully protested the use of optional swingarm pivot inserts by Yoshimura Suzuki’s Aaron Yates at the VIR round of the AMA series. But while it did not appear in the rulebook and was never announced, AMA Pro Racing’s technical department had secretly approved use of optional swingarm pivot inserts for the 2005 Suzuki GSX-R1000 (which has that adjustment capability). Yates was the first rider to use the non-standard swingarm pivot offsets in AMA Superstock events, starting in May. Other Suzuki riders started using the optional pivot inserts in June while others–including Roadracingworld.com’s Chris Ulrich–didn’t know they were available and legal until August and never actually got to use them in a race.

With its recent re-organization, AMA Pro Racing has said it will end secret rulings and will improve communication with the paddock.

The recent Competition Bulletin is part of that new policy.

For additional information, contact AMA Pro Racing at (614) 856-1924.