During and immediately following the MotoAmerica event May 29-31 at Road America, questions on a variety of topics were raised by competitors, teams, and fans.
We emailed MotoAmerica Chief Operating Officer and former racer Chuck Aksland and asked the following questions, which were quickly answered.
Roadracing World: The Ducati Panigale V4 R does not appear on the FIM homologation list for Superstock 1000/Stock 1000 on MotoAmerica’s website. Has it been homologated for racing by the FIM? And if yes, how were competitors informed?
MotoAmerica: The Ducati V4 R was approved by MotoAmerica for use in the Stock 1000 class beginning with the 2020 season. The FIM homologation list has not been updated yet due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Ducati V4 R will only be homologated as a Superbike for now by the FIM. The approval process mirrors what we did with the Kawasaki 636 several years ago. We utilize the FIM homologation and make exceptions where it is right for our series. This allows the manufacturers to go through one homologation process rather than several, which we are sure is appreciated as there are substantial costs associated with homologation. The final version of the regulations should have included a line in section 2.6 stating that the 2019-20 Ducati V4 R had been approved for use but the final version was not updated in time as we hoped due to the pandemic. Section 2.6.9.1 did make the rulebook as a balancing mechanism which was agreed as part of the homologation process.
There was going to be an official press release which was also going to include other information but the pandemic put that on ice so there was not an official announcement. Interested parties were informed when they inquired with either us or Ducati NA [North America].
Roadracing World: To the best of our knowledge, the 636cc Kawasaki ZX-6R is not homologated to race in the FIM Supersport World Championship and a 599cc version of the bike is raced there. Based upon that, why is the 636cc ZX-6R eligible for racing in MotoAmerica Supersport under the same technical rules and weight limit as 599cc machines?
MotoAmerica: The 636 was carried over from the previous DMG rules in 2015. The weight limit was decreased by 2 kg at the beginning of 2019 to fall inline with other Supersport manufactures and based on performance over the previous seasons.
Roadracing World: Jake Lewis says he tried to enter the MotoAmerica Stock 1000 class and Superbike Cup for 2020 and was denied the proper license, but PJ Jacobsen, a rider with extensive World Championship racing experience including race wins and a runner-up finish in the Supersport World Championship and a podium finish at the Suzuka 8-Hours, is allowed to race in Stock 1000 and the Superbike Cup. We know AMA is in charge of licensing, but can you explain this situation?
MotoAmerica: Yes, Jake applied for Stock 1000 but the licensing rules state that if you finish in the top 10 in the two previous year’s final Superbike standings then you’re not eligible for a Stock 1000 license. Jake finished 7th in 2019 and 6th in 2018. PJ does have extensive experience but his runner-up in 600 World Supersport was in 2015. His previous World Superbike experience was 2018 where he finished the season 19th overall. He has not raced Superbike in MotoAmerica. Geoff May participated in the 2014 World Superbike Championship and was also granted a Stock 1000 license. Certainly we have discussions with the AMA about rider licensing but in the end the final authority belongs to them. Please feel free to reach out to Bill Cumbow or Ken Saillant if you have any further questions.
Roadracing World: Was any punitive action taken against Bobby Fong for the crash in Superbike Race Two?
MotoAmerica: My understanding is that Race Direction discussed the incident, spoke with both riders and concluded that it was a racing incident and no further action was required.
Roadracing World: Dominic Doyle’s team stated in a press release Thursday that the protest investigation against their ECU found their ECU to be legal. Can you please confirm Doyle has been found legal?
MotoAmerica: Yes, it is legal. Doyle’s team was made aware first because the ECU needed to be sent back to him. The protesting party has now been informed.
