Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

The New FX…

With all due respect to the 250 racers who wish to maintain the status quo, I offer my support of the new AMA Formula Extreme class. I think it will be much more entertaining than the 250s alone have been. No offense, but people just don’t pay much attention to the 250 race anymore, especially if Rich Oliver is in it. The outcome is a foregone conclusion, so people cruise around the paddock looking for Superbike stars.

I think the AMA made a good decision on this one. With the new Superbike rules, Formula Extreme had to change or go away because the two classes would be nearly identical. If a 250 rider feels that he will not be competetive on a 250, then perhaps he should consider a different bike. Using Honda as an example; when the company felt that the RC45 was at a disadvantage to the Ducati, they built a 1000cc twin, and won! Likewise in MotoGP, when the rules changed Honda studied the new rules and then built the fastest bike they could, within those rules, and won! The point is to use the rules to your advantage and not be so sentimentally attached to your bike that you can’t let go and race something else.

Still, I would wait and see how it all pans out. The 250s have a 150 pound weight advantage over the 600s. This might not help at Daytona, but it’s got to be worth something everywhere else. As far as the general public being confused about the different bikes on the track, that is poppycock! The public is smarter than one of your readers would care to give credit. In GT car racing they actually run different classes on the track simultaneously – essentially separate races happening at the same time. The public has no problem following this.

Formula Extreme is one race, one class. Simple. No problem.

Just my opinion,

Tony Vaughn
CMRRA #63
Lemon Grove, California


More On The New FX…

Just read readers’ comments on the “new” Formula Xtreme “grab-bag” class. This is pure AMA doddering idiocy! Anyone who has ever ridden at club level in a class like this knows why this is a seriously bad idea. Different power, weight, capacity, handling and braking characteristics will not lead to close racing, just close calls.

I think the AMA just realized they didn’t want to lose all those licensing and entry fees they so easily are turning away by closing down viable classes.

The Pro Thunder and 250 racing classes were viable, closely-matched and exciting races with a variety of machinery – why fix something that wasn’t broken?

Regards,

Richard F. Haas
Palo Alto, California


Yet More On The New FX…

Oh, come on now, you guys have gotten a little lazy these days. Just ’cause you can’t pick up the phone and order the parts, send them a nice fat chunk of change on the ol’ credit card today to get the “proper parts” does not mean it is impossible to be competitive on a 330cc two-stroke. Besides if the market exists somebody will make them, heck let’s go 400cc and the old RD400 motors will be “the hot set-up”.

Face it, two-strokes are as competitive as the twin-shock rear suspension and carbureted four strokes. Retire the two-strokes to AHMRA and let the old dogs ride them. Except in Massachusetts where they are illegal, you know.

Regards,

Al Gnuschke
Loveland, Colorado

Editor’s note: Uhh, Al, you realize that the YZR-M1 MotoGP bike had carbs through 2002 and the latest version has dual shocks, right? As for overbore two-strokes, the power-valve systems in the exhaust ports will stick out into the cylinder if it’s overbored.


Even More On The New FX…

Do you guys think that it would be a good idea for the AMA to allow the Buells into Formula Extreme for next year? It looks like the Ducatis will be running in it. This could make a reunion of sorts for the Pro Thunder guys as well as give the Buells a more competitive class to run in as opposed to running Superstock.

I know there are several Buell teams, mine included, that would love a shot to get back in the AMA.

Walt Sipp
Kansas City, Missouri


Still More On The New FX…

Okay, so I’ve read and read about this and I know it probably doesn’t mean much at this point but I felt I had to say something. Something in the face of the consistently near sighted and obscure AMA racing think-tank. I continually try in situations like this to find a way to the reasoning behind these decisions. I am continually surprised and dumbfounded by the direction taken in regards to the future of Road Racing in America that AMA racing takes.

I can see it now – a group of fairly intelligent (benefit of the doubt here) Pro Racing Directors and marketing personnel sitting around the table hashing out the future of the sport and how they can remain competitive and keep on the top of the Road racing event promotion pile (…pile – uhuh)

First we don’t allow the 748 Ducati in 600 Supersport because we are coerced/spoon fed (depending I suppose on your position at the time in relationship to the…uh other manufacturers). So we make a class for them and the Harleys in ProThunder. Oh yah. We have a great Harley class that spawns more than a few of the world’s best and exciting racers (and we trash that, too) ProThunder becomes attractive to fans and people start building some cool bikes to run…. SV Suzukis and exotic singles, some Harleys and, and, and…. We trash that just because and oh yah we need to simplify the schedule. At the same time we have a pseudo unlimited class called Formula Extreme that seems kind of good for us so lets take it over and… Wow. Great bikes, Manufacturer support, exotics like the Muzzy Raptor and, and, and…Erion etc. and the class spawns some of the most exciting and monstrous racing to date (not to mention a few other world class riders looking for a way to get experience of some heavy duty horse power) Manufacturers like it and we can watch a 16 year old kid run 200hp under his ass….. on his way to a Superbike ride. I still can think of no better way to get anyone used to the demands and power of a modern MotoGP or Superbike. But, alas no one is buying 750s anymore so we change the face of Superbike and make it a 1000cc class and what? Formula Extreme is orphaned…. At the same time we think that there is no place for 250cc two strokes. Despite our AMA’s constant fight against the misguided environmental issues surrounding two strokes and in the face of more manufacturer pressure (not to mention the marketing guy saying… what is that little bike and I don’t think it is relevant) Wait, the grids are full and the fans like it and yah more than a few future racers hopping off of them onto….etc. etc. etc. (I will only just mention the BMW Cup – although it was a fantastic race but…)

So, now they are sitting around a table thinking what can we do? Let’ make a class that combines all of that together and everyone will be happy. Can you say – Fill the big hole (sorry)… or how about Knee Jerk. And, it is obvious to everyone who has written that the relevance of that is as obscure as any decision made by AMA racing to date.

Well, I should have some suggestions shouldn’t I? I have put in only a little more thought than the AMA seems to have but I will give it a try.

F1 class, unlimited size and unlimited modifications – no restrictions (normally aspirated only) – DOT tires (limited to a few sets a weekend – this will keep the costs down and make it harder for the Pro Superbikes to just hop in and dominate) with a provision for dedicated rain tires. I know, I know it sounds crazy but it might just work. And for fans we might see some crazy racing and bikes. We could see some big bore production based Superbikes, 500cc ex-GP V4s (lots around) 600cc Supersports in the hands of a quick rider (don’t forget no restrictions) the Tularis, Britten (we can hope) you get the picture.

This would open up the cottage industry that is just waiting to find an outlet for building etc. We might see some interest again from the likes of TigCraft and Spondon and the multitude of Japanese aftermarket manufacturers.

The point is we would see some incredible engineering and innovation from garages all over America. We would see some bikes we would never ever get a chance to see. Honda could drop a MotoGP bike in the mix for Daytona or another big event. Or we might even get to see Kenny Roberts Proton make an appearance.

Maybe I am nuts but I would watch. For that matter if might get me racing again.

Dean de St. Croix
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

What? More On The New FX?

Here is another viewpoint from a current AMA 250 GP racer. Currently we are the only class in AMA that have no full factory teams. Because of this, privateer teams can enter and be competitive for a relatively low cost. What the AMA has effectively done is create yet another class for the manufacturers to showcase their 600cc super sport products. They have stated that 250 GP bikes can now have a 330cc displacement, however, unless I am missing something, big bore kits are not available for GP bikes. I have done the calculations and an increase in bore of just over 8mm would be necessary to reach 330cc. This makes modifying stock cylinders impossible. Add to that the fact that well funded, factory supported teams such as Attack, Graves, No Limit, etc. could easily develop 600cc superbikes with all the goodies like Brembo radial brakes, carbon bodywork, titanium parts as well as highly developed superbike spec engines and you have yet another class where money and factory connections rule.

What the AMA has really done is create another class where the average privateer team has little chance of success. It’s my opinion that the AMA wants to get rid of the 250 GP class. These new rules seem to be a half-hearted attempt to quiet both the racers and fans of grand prix motorcycles for one more year.

Just my humble opinion.

Rich Denman
Palo Alto, California



And Now Something On The New Infineon…

A couple of things I noticed after watching the AFM races this weekend at Sears (whoops, I mean Infineon). The turn 1 bandaid seems ill-conceived. The idea was to slow down the turn and keep the riders from shooting up into the bridge abutment, but the result is that the racers have to squeeze into a narrow gap between the old turn 1 edge and the dragstrip wall, then hook left 90 degrees with no apron on the runoff, just loose dirt and rocks.

Issue 1: Debris: By the end of each 8-lap AFM race the cornerworkers had to come out to sweep away a lot of fresh dirt and rocks (up to 3-inch diameter in some cases, by my reckoning) that get kicked onto the track surface as riders exit the corner hard. My guess is that by the end of a 28-lap AMA race that corner will be covered in rocks and dirt.

Issue 2: Track width: Seems to me the worst place to have a turn entrance that is narrower than the rest of the track would be in a tight turn at the end of a long straight. Braking duels going into that turn are going to be brutal on the riders, because there’s only space for one successful line through.

Issue 3: Proximity to start/finish: During most of the race, the racers brake just before the start/finish line in preparation for the tight turn 1, but on the last lap nobody wants to let off the gas as they’re racing for position. This caused at least one crash over the weekend as riders passing the checkered flag couldn’t slow down enough to make the turn. An ambulance when there should be a victory lap is a terrible end to a race.

In retrospect, I think the old turn 1 was safer, but I certainly can’t claim to be an expert; I’d be interested to hear other opinions.

Dave Grace
Race Fan
Montara, California