File this one under surprises coming out of the blue: Patricia Rodriguez called the Roadracing World offices at about 3:25 p.m. California time, told a circulation department assistant that she was from American Honda, and then asked that Ray Blank’s name be removed from the list of American Honda employees receiving Roadracing World magazine–because he no longer works for the company. Calls to American Honda spokesman Jon Seidel seeking comment had not been returned at post time. Neither had a call to Ray Blank’s last known cell phone number. A return call to Pat Rodriguez’s extension at American Honda got us voice mail. Another call to Ray Blank’s last known extension at American Honda headquarters also got us voice mail. A Senior Vice President, Blank is the highest-ranking American in American Honda’s motorcycle division, and controls, among other things, the company’s racing activities. After a running dispute with DMG/AMA Pro Racing’s then-President (and long-time foe) Roger Edmondson over rules and class changes, Blank dismantled the Honda road racing program at the end of the 2009 season. Edmondson left DMG earlier this year and has been replaced by David Atlas. Stay tuned. This just in: A surprised Ray Blank just returned our call to his cell phone and said that he knew nothing about his leaving the company. Blank promised to call back after calling American Honda Human Resources clerk Patricia Rodriguez and investigating. More: Patricia Rodriguez just called Roadracing World again, claimed she had made a mistake in her earlier call, and said that Ray Blank still works for American Honda.