Yeah, I agree, the AMA races paired with the other races will be the best events to attend. But hope AMA races will be competetive. I think Jordan's team will be up front since they were without all the extra parts, so with a level field & some of the big teams not around should be interesting. Still would think American Honda could get a co-sponsorship or something... I do think not participating will hurt their sales. I wonder how much does it cost them to finance a team for a season? Rumor has it Magic Johnson might put together a team?

 

The thing the AMA is trying to do is make it to where the machines are in their most basic off the floor state so the riders have to be the ones winning not the factory backed teams.

 

Maybe we should have gotten DMG to buy WERA instead. C'Mon guys, this is PRO racing.

 

and i agree with that i got tired of watching mladin win year after year, but with the present economy and rule changes i think it was bound to happen.

 

I understand DMG wants it to be competitve without the factories winning everything.. But isnt that what its all about? Being a privateer, racing and getting the big guys to notice you and scoop you up? Wheres the incentive to race anymore for the priveteers? Spend a ton of money to race, win races... and then what.... still have to spend money to win races even though your winning? Your goal you've worked so hard to get is just more of the same? except a trophy?I understand the sponsors and the money will be there somewhat. It just doesnt seem to be a good thing to drive the factories out of racing.

I'm not even sure whats up with the safety issues. How a track can be deamed unsafe by AMA and then the take over those tracks are now safe without any changes to the tracks.

I hope it doesnt come to that. But I think your going to see more and more top riders leaving.

 

DMG has upped the financial ante for the privateer to win....back to 20th IIRC. But we're seeing the bye-bye days of the Superstar Factory racer and the prestige that goes with it.

Top riders leaving...where R they gonna go? WSBk? British SB?....ha ha ha....China?

 

Well only time will tell. I hope DMG will make AMA across the board more competitive & as popular as NASCAR. I think some of the top riders will stay & others will move up to WSBK & MotoGP.

 

There was a rumor Ervin "Magic" Johnson was gonna sponsor a team. Unfortunately Joe Lopez who was suppose to be a rider for this team died from a crash in Jan 09. Does anyone know if Magic will sponsor a Honda Team this season?

 

Not that stepping up to Rossi is easy for anyone... But Ben Spies can ride with the top 5 or so MotoGP guys given a decent bike and bit of practice. Heck, he was running top 10s in wildcards last year for Suzuki in GP and a 5th in Indy!!! Ben Spies can ride with MotoGP.

-Chad