It was bad enough last year with no HRC team running but no support teams either .

Will other manufactures follow, maybe. Mladin retired because of DMG.

Source SuperbikePlanet:

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2009/...18hondaout.htm

Honda Fully Pulling Out of US Series?
by dean adams
Friday, September 18, 2009

Shockwaves are rolling across the US roadrace industry this afternoon with the word that American Honda is completely pulling out of DMG/AMA Superbike/Sport Bike/Supersport for 2010. The current spec of the rumor has them pulling all levels of support including Corona Honda, Erion Honda, factory-supplied technicians and any race team staff.

It's known that DMG execs were at Honda's Torrance facility earlier this week for a meeting with American Honda management.

E-mail requests for comment have not yet been returned.

ENDS


http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2009/Sep/090919a.htm

Honda Release Confirms They Are Shuttering Corona, Etc.
Saturday, September 19, 2009

This just in:

Honda Racing announcement

For immediate release:

Torrance, CA: During the 2009 AMA/DMG Road Racing series, American Honda Motor Company, Inc. contracted team personnel, including team Honda rider Neil Hodgson, to the Corona Extra Honda race team.

Corona Extra Honda race team participated in this series with our award-winning 2009 CBR1000RR in the AMA Superbike class, unfortunately participation in this series did not meet our racing goals and objectives.

Regrettably the current AMA/DMG racing environment does not align with our company goals. Effective today 9/18/09, AHM will not be renewing contracts with Corona Extra Racing and will be terminating the on-site Road Race operations by 9/30/09. All assets will be put into storage for future consideration. Team staff was informed of these changes today at 1:00PM PDT.

END

 

I would have liked to be fly on the wall during that decision.

 

I just read this & wondering what the h3ll is going on? Also Honda is the only bike for Moto2. Stiggy Honda is switching to Yahama for 2010 season. So maybe they dropped everything to support Moto2???

 

I was wondering the same thing.

 

Just too much money in this economy I'm guessing. Had to cut down somewhere. I guess where they thought the cost outweighed the benefit.

 

They're still signed up for two more seasons with Ten Kate though.

 

That's WSBK. They have decided that they don't need a presence in the US

 

My question is how much does it take to rune a team? Maybe they are concern with sales in cruisers v/s sportbikes??? Maybe being the only bike in Moto2 is more important? As I mentioned in Racing 2009, does winning on the track equate to sales? Hopefully we can get the questions answered...

 

Advertising is most productive when folks have money to spend. With unemployment at these levels, spending a lot of money trying to get money that no one has is counter-productive. You advertise to direct existing demand or create demand. If there isn't any of the former and it's impossible to do the latter, it's better to save your money to make the payments for all that manufacturing capacity that you don't need.

 

Well consider that the "experts" say the economy is rebounding...I'm not sure that's a wise thing to do. AND you want to imprint your name in people's mind.

As far as costs...I've heard that the largest cost of a team is salaries. Jake Zemke lost his slot on American Honda because he wouln't reduce his pay from $8Mill and Duhamel would.