FIRST PERSON/OPINION: Via e-mail: Early on, I decided to intentionally turn a blind eye (and ear) to the drama surrounding the DMG/AMA situation. I simply don’t care what happens along the way as long as it’s all sorted out by the time Daytona rolls around. What little information I have managed to pick up recently is very troubling to say the least. But it’s all very simple – if I don’t like what I see, I will simply tune-out and move on – as I’m sure most others will do. DMG has one chance to get it right – and I truly hope Edmonson and company do just that. If not, it’ll be more than simply a lost opportunity and a bummer for the fans, but devastating to all those associated with the business of road racing in this country. Joshua Convy Newbury Park, California FIRST PERSON/OPINION: Via e-mail: What a bunch of whiners! AMA cuts a deal to keep at least some US road racing on the tube and all anyone can think to do is bitch about it. Those of you who think that it’s the wrong time, wrong channel, wrong date or just plain WRONG! might want to note that the coverage that we now have is NONE. I’m not talking about last year. In the world of media, nothing is so “last year” as what happened last year. Something to watch is better than nothing in my book. Television programming is all about sponsorship since we fans get to watch for free. It should be clear that last year’s sponsors weren’t coming back (Honda? Kawasaki?). A Saturday night slot creates the possibility of attracting other sponsors and new viewers who are not already hard core fans (we’re not exactly numerous as a quick survey of the average attendance at AMA Nationals would confirm). These people will likely not know, or care, that they’re watching a race that happened two weeks ago. They will also see an exciting event whether race day is a rain-out or not, something that “live” can’t guarantee. If this was the best deal that AMA Racing could get why not celebrate the fact that road races are at least being televised? I can recall when they weren’t. As to the timing, haven’t you guys heard of TIVO? Try it, you can watch racing whenever it fits your schedule; cool idea, very convenient for those of us who go riding on weekends. I also don’t understand the concern about watching races when you already know who’s won; I still enjoy them. For the last 5 years or more the winner in AMA Superbike has been pretty much a forgone conclusion (which Suzuki?). At least the new format offers the possibility of something more interesting than the one make show we’ve had to live with for years and I, for one, look forward to that. Patrick Fitzgerald Chicago, Illinois FIRST PERSON/OPINION: Via e-mail: I guess in a way I’m kind of thankful that in this tough economy DMG and Speed have helped me to save a little money. I never thought I’d say it, but I’m dropping Speed from my cable plan altogether. What’s the point of watching the premier domestic series a week after the event? I hope the folk who thought the whole DMG deal was the way forward are happy to lose fans, like me, that have been dedicated enough in the past to buy the team’s sponsor’s products, and mention the team in the hope that it’ll help secure further sponsorship. Good luck promoting those products to the car guys you’re trying to attract. Thanks to the internet I’ll still enjoy real racing from around the world, just not from the U.S. What a bone-headed decision. Alan Clarkson-Dodds Pacifica, California FIRST PERSON/OPINION: Via e-mail: Motorcycle roadracing is the only reason I’ve subscribed to any sort of TV service in the past ten years. After the last race of each season, I politely call DirecTV and ask them to suspend my service until Daytona Bike Week begins the following spring. This time around I think I’m just going to ditch the service. If I have to wait a week or two for race coverage, I’ll just have a friend record it for me. Waiting one more day can save me fifty bucks! I’ll fast forward through the commercials and the people at GREED (oops, SPEED) will not get a penny from me, and I’ll have to sit through fewer NASCAR promos. The bummer with this is that I don’t want to have to exile myself from any of the online roadracing fan sites like RRW. In the past I’ve waited until I could watch the race (sometimes the afternoon races conflict with church) before going anywhere near any of my favorite websites, in fear of accidentally stumbling up on the results. I don’t want to have to wait a week! I miss Speedvision. Sure, we probably didn’t get the shaft quite as badly as the boat or airplane fans, but we sure are the red-headed stepchild of the NASCAR network. I sure wish motorcycle roadracing would be picked up by a network that actually cares about it. Clint Fleckenstein Bismarck, North Dakota FIRST PERSON/OPINION: Via e-mail: Since last years take over of the AMA Superbike Series and the fiasco that has become the AMA/DMG Circus come yet another blatant attempt to exclude all things good about America’s première roadrace series and the total alienation of the fans of yesterdays AMA Superbike series. Has the DMG completely lost it’d ever loving mind? Does SpeedTV really think what they are tossing road race fans a good watchable package? Nope. They, as well as the DMG are completely out of touch. They both seem sot hate Roadracing, Roadracing fans and think we are dumbest people out there? People if it ain’t Roundy Round Racin’, it ain’t chit! One week tape delay? What a crock! It was difficult enough to not watch TV or look at the Webzines for fear of finding out the race conclusions before seeing the race”¦”¦”¦”¦. Now with a weeks delay, it will not be possible to screw up and know who won”¦”¦”¦ period. Then why bother watching at all. This quote from the [press release] titled “AMA Pro 2009 TV Deal Based Around 26 Shows Aired In Prime Time On Saturday Nights” about had me tossing my cookies: “We can’t recall a previous example of such a multi-faceted motorcycle program and we are honored to move forward with this innovative offering in partnership with our colleagues at SPEED,” Edmondson said. “They obviously share our dedication to AMA Pro Racing and we want to thank them for the support as we work together to build the profile and audience of major league motorcycle racing in this country.” What a load Edmondson, what a load. Suppose they did this with NASCAR, all forms of it, you’d blow a fuse. Is Edmondson really that brain damaged and think we’ll live with that. We had same day delay or within an hour that day seasons past. Now, we have to wait a week? I am so still standing by my original plan of boycotting anything DMG and US Roadracing”¦”¦”¦ SpeedTV would be on the way out of my television programming too if it weren’t for World Superbike/MotoGP coverage (both still look a hellofva lot better than what the DMG has packaged for the US of A). All Speed has to do is drop some of its moronic “Reality” shows, Pinks, Bullrun (Bullcrap), Superbikes (what a crap program that is) and others for even a day to give us what we pay them to see, motorcycle racing. Shit, All I’ve seen on TV this last two weeks is NASCAR. Seems to be on 24/7. Nope, I stand by my discussion to not watch AMA/DMG Eff’d up Roadracing and I stand by it even more after I read that “News”. What the hell was wrong with last years TV schedules Edmondson and Speed? Plus, I don’t want to learn every rides new numbers this season. What was wrong with the numbering system that was already in place”¦ Later Edmondson”¦”¦ DMG”¦….Speed. Later!! Rick McBride Agoura Hills, California