From a press release issued by AMA:

AMA THREATENED WITH EXPULSION BY FIM PRESIDENT

PICKERINGTON, OHIO — The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) announced today that it has been threatened with expulsion from the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), the world-wide motorcycle sanctioning body based in Geneva, Switzerland, by Francesco Zerbi, President of the FIM.

Zerbi’s threat to expel the AMA, which is the sole U.S. affiliate of the FIM, was contained in a November 20, 2002, letter to AMA President Robert Rasor. The letter was Zerbi’s response to AMA Pro Racing’s objection to the FIM’s efforts to unilaterally impose its authority, rules and sanction on the 16-event 2003 AMA Supercross series.

The AMA and AMA Pro Racing have sanctioned Supercross since 1974. Under the terms of a contract with Clear Channel Motorsports, the primary promoting organization for AMA Supercross, AMA Pro Racing has the exclusive rights to sanction and manage the series. Neither the AMA nor the FIM is party to that contract.

The FIM, however, notified AMA Pro Racing that it must conduct those events according to FIM rules and under the direction of an FIM official. AMA Pro Racing’s objection to the FIM’s demands resulted in Zerbi’s expulsion threat.

“The AMA has been a loyal, supportive member of the FIM for over 30 years and has always placed the interests of motorcycle sport among our highest priorities. We intend to continue in our role as the national federation representing American motorcyclists to the FIM,” said AMA President Rasor. “If the FIM management persists in this extreme and unjustified approach, we’ll vigorously fight those efforts to expel the AMA from the FIM.

“The AMA agrees with AMA Pro Racing’s position that the FIM lacks the authority to hijack AMA Supercross for its own interests,” said Rasor, “and we’ll stand behind AMA Pro Racing’s efforts to use all necessary means to protect AMA Supercross, the world’s premier Supercross series, from unwarranted interference.”