FIRST PERSON/OPINION By Dave Arkle WERA Southeast Region Expert #13 La Vergne, Tennessee Most reasonable people would agree that the overarching goal in DMG’s re-organization of AMA Pro Racing is understandable, and maybe even necessary …to put on a show with lots of competitive bikes, such that the factories are not at such a huge advantage, allowing the sport to grow and flourish in both fan base and sponsorship dollars. At least, I’m pretty sure that’s the idea. But, there is a great deal of discussion going on among dedicated fans and racing participants all over, and it seems to center on the DMG plan to eliminate 1000cc Superbikes would suck, plain and simple, and can’t possibly work. To hear most tell it, disaster is imminent. And, it may well be so. However, dedicated, hardcore fans are not terribly numerous in comparison to the number of potential fans that DMG is envisioning when they talk about growing the series, and I somehow doubt that they care much if the top riders think this is all a great idea or not. I’m sure DMG would love to both satisfy the serious fans and the racers alike, but they’re not about to do that if it means failing to grow AMA racing to a much larger level with regard to more casual fans (or creating legions of new, hard core fans). So, the real debate here is two-fold. On the one hand, we’re debating if the racing will no longer be palatable to the serious fan if these changes take place (600cc Superbikes as the premier class, no more Supersport, etc.). The obvious implication here is that we’d no longer have the best riders on the best bikes. The other debate is this: If they build it, will they come? Will the strategy of DMG in fact result in growth of racing, or will it result in its ultimate demise? There is a third question here. Is the only way to make the racing better and grow the fan base (and thereby grow TV deals and sponsor participation) to turn the series on its head and bring totally new class structures into being? Apparently DMG thinks so, because if they didn’t, they wouldn’t be pursuing such a scorched-Earth path to achieve these goals. So”¦is it possible that DMG’s New Way will grow motorcycle racing at the highest level in the USA? Yes, that is possible. Do I, as an enthusiast, want to watch 600s roll around as the premier class? Um, no. I don’t care if there are (30) 600s on the track every weekend with exactly the same chance at winning, with a 20 share on TV, and all with huge sponsorship packages; I still won’t enjoy it like I enjoy a good Superbike race. I believe that it is vitally important that the best riders be riding the fastest bikes. Today, that means 1000cc bikes. Why is that so important? Let me ask this: Would MotoGP be as compelling to you if the bikes were 420cc four-strokes that made 110 hp? Of course not. Would the racing be closer? Probably, but would you watch? Would you be as passionate about it? It is obvious to pretty much anyone who is paying attention that the current state of the factory team ‘haves’ and the private team ‘have-nots’ is not conducive to good racing, and that’s exactly what we’ve got right now in AMA Superbike. It simply is not possible today for a true private team to field a competitive Superbike effort. The result is same-as-it-ever-was racing, with essentially no chance of new blood shaking things up with regard to non-factory teams. This stagnation is what’s killing AMA Superbike racing. It appears to me as a fan that the current Superstock class is, however, structured such that a non-factory team can field a competitive package. Presumably, this is because unlike Superbike, the rules limit the unobtanium stuff to a minimum. If this is the case, then perhaps we as fans could give up a bit of the trickness (is that a word?) that we love in Superbikes, and get behind a rule change making the bikes more Superstock-ish. This should narrow the gap considerably, and we’d have a much more competitive class in which we’re still seeing the best riders on damn fast bikes. Sure, the bikes are a little more mundane, but a well prepared Superstock bike makes around 200 hp, and Fast Guys on 200+hp 1000s will always be more fun to watch than Fast Guys on 600s. I’m not even exactly sure why this is, but it is. I’m also pretty sure that the 15 top riders in AMA racing would put on a great show if they were all on such bikes. Will there always be one or two guys or teams who manage to rise above and dominate? Sure there will. But, if the rules are such that anyone with the will and the checkbook can, at least in theory, build and field a properly competitive bike, this should happen less frequently, and it should be more easily overcome when it does. So, my question is this: Why is it necessary to throw the baby out with the bathwater? I think everyone (well, maybe not Yoshimura Suzuki recently) would agree that some change is needed. But, if the goal is increased competition, reduced competitive advantage for the factories, and growth of the series, what does changing the premier class to 600cc bikes accomplish that changing it to 1000cc Superstock(ish) bikes would not? Furthermore, it would appear to the outside observer that the current Supersport class is the healthiest, most entertaining class going right now. Is it really necessary that The Answer needs to include axing it? I’ve read every interview and press release I’ve been able to find, and I’ve yet to see a good explanation for dropping this class. I assume it’s because having two 600cc classes might be confusing, but it’s not any more confusing than calling a 600 a “Superbike.” I’m imagining a post-DMG ‘win on Sunday, sell on Monday’ conversation in the local dealership… Salesman: “Here it is, the CXRF600R. This is the bike that Joe Blow won the Superbike Championship on this year.” Customer: “Wow, so that’s kinda like a superbike…cool. That’s what I want…the baddest, fastest superbike I can buy. Awesome” Salesman: “Actually no, this 1000 over here is more of a high-performance bike in every way.” Customer: “Um…oh. So”¦what’s a superbike again? Is there a Super-duper bike? I don’t get it”¦ ” My plan: The premier class should be called “Superbike” still, and be structured in a similar way to the current 1000cc Superstock class, with the addition of allowing aftermarket wheels in stock sizes, and running two races every weekend. The current Supersport class would be kept as is. Then we’d have a third class, the composition of which is still open to debate. Maybe a spec-bike class, maybe something like MOTO-ST (with a simplified class structure that makes some sort of sense), maybe a series for young up-and-comers with restrictions on who can participate. Whatever it is, it should be something that is obviously different in a significant way from the other bikes, thereby keeping the fans at the track interested during what might otherwise be ‘down time.’ The Result: Factory competitive advantage is greatly reduced. The best riders are still on the best bikes. The quality of the show is vastly improved as a direct result of increased ability for more teams to be truly competitive. Increased quality of the racing improves race attendance. TV deals are easier to come by as the sport gains popularity. Sponsorship dollars flow. OEMs are happy because their flagship bikes are still showcased properly. Dogs and cats live together in harmony. The one thing I do agree on is that something needs to change in AMA Superbike racing. I have been a rabid fan for over 20 years, and for the first time ever, I turned off the TV this past weekend when it became apparent that the Mat and Ben show was back in action. I love to watch those guys battle on the occasion when that happens, and I appreciate the talent and effort it takes for them to stay so utterly dominant over time. But, If there’s no battle, there’s no race. If there’s no race, I’ve got some napping to catch up on.