MOTO-ST boss Roger Edmondson sent the following answer in response to an e-mail from a racer regarding the MOTO-ST race at Iowa Speedway as well as rumors that MOTO-ST will create a road racing class for power cruisers. A copy of Edmondson’s e-mail found its way into the Roadracingworld.com inbox: I suspect that while we may disagree on some items, we are probably in full accord on many more. My purpose in this e-mail is to help you understand some of my views and at the same time see if I can clear up any misunderstandings or misconceptions that may have come from things I have done or said. First, I want you to know that Brian Parriott is a fine young man who made the absolute right decision for himself. He was only fined for his intemperate remarks to the press regarding Iowa Speedway and his efforts to encourage a rider boycott. All riders are free to make their own decisions about riding or not riding, and that is something that no sanctioning body, sponsor, teammate, promoter, or anyone else should attempt to influence or pressure. The sanctioning body certainly has responsibility to make every effort to minimize the danger at each and every track. No question about that. Once they have done all that can be done, however, it then falls to the rider to make his or her individual decision. If the event had gone to the checker without incident it would not have been proper then to have said that Brian made the wrong decision. As I stated above, his decision was absolutely correct for himself. You chose to ride, based upon not only your views of the track, which perhaps were telling you not to ride, but also based upon your sense of obligation to your teammates. Either way, after considering every issue you chose to ride. This does not make you right and Brian wrong. The crash does not make Brian right and you wrong. In my opinion, you were both right. At Iowa Speedway, we fully expected to be using the track that had specifically been paved for motorcycle racing and that did not use the banking. Upon our arrival it was clear that the scoring loop was not yet installed and that the pavement had a significant dip that would have created a completely different hazard to the riders. After several riders and the race staff walked the track and discussed the options, they determined that the least objectionable choice was to run the track that included the shallow banking in Turns One and Two. Based upon input from riders who had visited the facility, we were able to get CCS to bring their Airfence units to Iowa. The added expense was not an issue once we determined that it was logistically possible. Upon arrival, Eric Kelcher from CCS and our race staff completed a survey of locations that could benefit from the placement of Airfence and placed them accordingly. Since the track looks different from a golf cart, rental car, or scooter than it does from a racebike at speed, we rely upon input from the riders to modify or add to our original set-up. I am unaware of any suggestions or comments to that effect. We had additional Airfence modules on the premises and could have added to the ones placed around the track had such a request been made. During the race I did see one rider miss the very end of the Airfence placed on riders’ right at the entrance to the infield. Luckily, even though he contacted the tire wall, he was uninjured. Placement of these units is still an art form and sometimes we don’t get it right. Riders cannot be allowed to boycott spectator events nor can sanctioning bodies blindly assume that any track is acceptable. Based upon suggestions, we will appoint a track survey committee made up of riders currently participating in the series and use their experience and views to help us determine where we can expect to run successfully. Their input regarding barrier protection will also prove to be a valuable resource. Further, we have determined that the risk associated with shallow banked tracks cannot be minimized to an acceptable level and will eschew their inclusion in our future schedules. We have also learned that the current level of medical insurance coverage is not sufficient to deal with the incredible costs of medical care that can arise from racing accidents. We are undergoing a study to see what is possible. As to the cruiser class……it is our belief that around 50% of the people buying motorcycles have little or no interest in watching sport bike racing. Therefore, we are working on a motorsports product that will feature the popular cruiser models and (get this) 24 paid riders. This series, once it is announced, will not be open to the general racing paddock population, but will involve motorcycles we own and riders who are paid a salary plus expenses to ride them. Hopefully by creating a TV show that appeals to the industry and cruiser riders, as well as a spectator experience that may actually attract spectators and allow for profitable race promoters, purses in all of our programs will be increased to levels that will be respectable and sustainable. While all of our riders are considered our athletes, this particular group will enjoy a unique relationship with the sanctioning body that I can’t recall seeing elsewhere during my career, other than the Monster Truck performers who work with Clear Channel. A question has been raised regarding Brian Kcraget’s accident. Our scoring records show that he crossed the start/finish line 21 seconds after Shawn Higbee. By then the double yellow was displayed by the starter, the yellow lights were flashing on all emergency vehicles and on the track fences around the facility. Further, the Buell was burning like crazy in the middle of the track. The video feed from our TV producer shows two bikes going past the burning bike, then the pace car, then five more bikes behind the pace car, and then……Brian comes into the picture, already laying down his bike in an effort to avoid the burning Buell. Our audio feed shows a call for the red flag just about the exact time his bike impacted the rear wheel of the burning bike. At least I think it was the rear wheel. Fire obscured the motorcycle so we really can’t be sure. I am not sure why he did not see any of the yellow lights, yellow flags, pace car lights, other motorcycles, or burning bike, but it is clear that he did not. I know that when fully concentrated on your riding, it is possible to miss these things and that is another reason that we feel the use of the radio systems can be so valuable. At Road America, a radio call to Chris Ulrich may have very well prevented a significant accident when his bike blew up on the front straight. No one knows for sure, but what we do know is that he was able to get it stopped prior to the first turn and that he did so as a result of a warning on his radio. I hope this gives you some insight into our thinking and some peace of mind that we are not insensitive to the needs of you or your fellow riders. Our roles requires that we balance the needs of the promoter, sponsor, TV producer, riders, manufacturers, spectators, and ourselves. Sometimes we get it wrong. The spectators at Iowa were enthused and loved it all–until the crash. Hopefully we can return to run the motorcycle track and give them a show with a little less drama and certainly one where everyone walks away. I hope you can continue to support this program, but again, the decision is yours to make. If you decide to continue, I hope you will introduce yourself to me at Daytona and feel free to discuss any other areas of concern you may have. Best regards, Roger Edmondson MOTO-ST Daytona Beach, Florida