Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

AMA Road Racing Operations Manager Gary Mathers refused Sunday morning to comment on rampant rumors that he is leaving his position with the AMA following next month’s National at Fontana, California.

Asked along pit lane at Daytona if it was true that he was leaving the AMA after Fontana, Mathers said, “Who told you that?”

When told the source, Mathers said, “I never told him that.”

Asked, “Is it true that you’re leaving the AMA or not?” Mathers replied, “I’m not saying anything. You can print anything you want.”

Prior to joining the AMA Pro Racing staff, Mathers was Racing Manager at American Honda. During his days at Honda, he was notorious for telling modified versions of various stories to different people, to see how far the information spread and to thus gauge a person’s “loyalty”.

At post time it is unknown if Mathers planted the rumor as a test of various Pro Racing staffers and/or Pro Racing Board members, or not.

According to the rumor, Mathers is frustrated because AMA Pro Racing has not adopted reforms he has proposed.