AMA Pro Racing’s Roger Edmondson faces a tough task in trying to keep professional road racing from splitting into two series in the U.S., if for no other reason than Honda, Kawasaki and Suzuki have made conflicting demands, and the demands made by Honda and Suzuki have changed several times. Yamaha is staying out of the fight and Yamaha racing boss Keith McCarty has stated that the company plans to compete in the American Superbike and Daytona Superbike classes in 2009. McCarty has also estimated that reverting to the proposed 2009 rules developed by an AMA committee in 2007 would double costs compared to American Superbike rules; McCarty represented Yamaha on that committee. American Suzuki’s Mel Harris has stated that he wants all four 2008 classes run again in the 2009 AMA season, with existing 2008 rules used; he has also supported the use of existing World Superbike rules and the use of 2009 AMA committee rules. American Suzuki was represented on the 2007 AMA rules committee (which formulated the proposed 2009 rules) by Don Sakakura of Yoshimura Suzuki. At this moment, mark down Harris as wanting all four of the existing AMA classes, Superbike, Superstock, Supersport and Formula Xtreme, in 2009. American Honda’s Ray Blank has stated that he wants the 2008 Supersport, Formula Xtreme and Superbike classes run in the 2009 season, using 2008 rules. Blank has also said that he wants Superbike run in the 2009 season under 2009 AMA committee rules; American Honda was represented on the 2007 rules committee (which formulated the proposed 2009 rules) by Chuck Miller. Prior to switching to supporting the 2009 AMA committee rules at a meeting between DMG and MIC/OEM delegations July 10 at American Honda, Blank supported the use of FIM World Superbike rules. At this moment, mark down Blank as wanting three of the four existing AMA classes, Superbike, Supersport and Formula Extreme, in 2009. Kawasaki’s Bruce Stjernstrom has consistently stated that he wants the 2008 Supersport and Superbike classes run in the 2009 season, with 2008 rules. Stjernstrom has also consistently supported running only two of the four existing AMA classes in 2009, Superbike and Supersport. Kawasaki was represented on the 2007 rules committee (which formulated the proposed 2009 rules) by Mike Preston. During the July 10 meeting, representatives of Ducati, Aprilia and BMW (patched in via speaker phone) supported the use of World Superbike rules in 2009. KTM, Buell, Ducati and Aprilia have since stated interest in running in the Daytona Superbike class with DMG/AMA Pro Racing.