AMA NEW SCHEDULE

[Yakoo752]

There aren't enough entrants for as many preliminary races as SX or flat track. Two practice sessions, one qualifying session to set heat race grids and two heats to set the grid. More racing for fans.

One thing AMA Pro Racing has done right is provide a good product on the track. The racing is exciting so find a way to add more racing. There is a reason this format works for SX and flat track.

this

You want the grids full for the races but want more racing to exclude riders. It's a challenge for sure.

and agree - the racing in AMA has been impressive and fun to watch. They need to find a way to get it out to the masses. I think their app does a pretty decent job of that. Only thing I would want is them to "podcast" the races. If I can't watch em, I want to listen to em (even with that redneck commentating)

 

[Map8]

Super wild rumor factory output: Rider Files: Rumors say Dorna may have a plan to operate a road racing series in North America

TL/DR version is another rumor about Dorna operating a professional motorcycle road racing series across North America because they are concerned about fading interest in MotoGP from the US market.

Posting by Larry Lawrence's on his Rider Files website. Lawrence was a PR guy for the AMA in years past and may or may not have an axe to grind with DMG. Lawrence did a rather silly analysis of the DMG purchase of AMA Pro Racing with Dean Adams a few years ago. On the other hand, anytime you saw Nicky Hayden mentioned in USA today or when the Hayden brothers where on Jay Leno, that was the handywork of Larry Lawrence getting publicity for motorcycle racing in place no one else could.

 

[kevin 714]

Super wild rumor factory output: Rider Files: Rumors say Dorna may have a plan to operate a road racing series in North America

TL/DR version is another rumor about Dorna operating a professional motorcycle road racing series across North America because they are concerned about fading interest in MotoGP from the US market.

Posting by Larry Lawrence's on his Rider Files website. Lawrence was a PR guy for the AMA in years past and may or may not have an axe to grind with DMG. Lawrence did a rather silly analysis of the DMG purchase of AMA Pro Racing with Dean Adams a few years ago. On the other hand, anytime you saw Nicky Hayden mentioned in USA today or when the Hayden brothers where on Jay Leno, that was the handywork of Larry Lawrence getting publicity for motorcycle racing in place no one else could.

 

[Ozymandias]

That's my reaction as well. IF that were to happen... WOW!

 

[Yakoo752]

that's been rumbling for a few years now

I think at this point Dorna is the only one with the real bankroll to get a real series off the ground and fund it for a few years as support.

They obviously have the technical know how and the industry grease to get it done long term

 

[Map8]

I've mentioned this before and I'm still curious. Why didn't Dorna bid in 2008?

I like the idea of new management because the series has so much bad PR that only a complete makeover will save it.

 

[sidewazzz]

That would be AWESOME!!!!

 

[Yakoo752]

I've mentioned this before and I'm still curious. Why didn't Dorna bid in 2008?

I like the idea of new management because the series has so much bad PR that only a complete makeover will save it.

I think the costs were still too high

from a business standpoint, they made the right decision. Let DMG drive it into the ground, then come in and pick up the pieces while paying pennies on the dollar



let the competition kill itself

 

[stangmx13]

I've mentioned this before and I'm still curious. Why didn't Dorna bid in 2008?

I like the idea of new management because the series has so much bad PR that only a complete makeover will save it.

GP and Dorna wasnt a healthy back then. the whole Bridgepoint / Infront deal has really solidified Dorna's position at the top of world level motorcycle racing. they seem to have all the right resources in place (think of how difficult it is to stream live content world-wide as well as they do) and their current product is def doing better now.

+1 to Yakoo too.

id love to see Dorna bring their expertise to US RR.

 

[kevin 714]

dorna could sweep in, make the series evo rules, invest in it and add another rookies cup. get wild cards going and some foreign riders in the series.

ive said it before, until ama/dmg DIES, and is replaced, the american scene will suck.


even with dorna running it, the series needs a huge influx of talent to legitimize it

 

[Yakoo752]

id love to see Dorna bring their expertise to US RR.

Who do they hire though? I think you need to flush the current staff if you make that call. You fire em in RR I assume most leave Flat Track and then our FT program suffers

the one thing I've been saying about this industry for YEARS is - we're WAY too incestuous with our staff

European way of doing business often doesn't chide well with Americans

 

[stangmx13]

Who do they hire though? I think you need to flush the current staff if you make that call. You fire em in RR I assume most leave Flat Track and then our FT program suffers

the one thing I've been saying about this industry for YEARS is - we're WAY too incestuous with our staff

European way of doing business often doesn't chide well with Americans

oh, i want all of them gone anyway. but youre right... who the hell is going to replace them. there is no one in the US that has experience running a series in the fashion that Dorna does. so IMO, Carmelo would have to bring a few higher-ups over to the US and then start filling spots below them. but really, weve seen JU do a better job in a short few months. maybe running a series is a lot easier when all your bridges arent burned. so maybe US support will be open to talking to a Spaniard from Dorna.

i think the FT program is more self-sustaining than anything and i give DMG very little credit for that. its successful for the same reasons why it was successful before... local tracks, easy to view, tons of riders, low-ish costs, factory support, party atmosphere, etc etc. DMG didnt do any of that. can you think of anything that DMG did actually improve for FT?

 

[sidewazzz]

Who do they hire though? I think you need to flush the current staff if you make that call. You fire em in RR I assume most leave Flat Track and then our FT program suffers

the one thing I've been saying about this industry for YEARS is - we're WAY too incestuous with our staff

European way of doing business often doesn't chide well with Americans

Agree.

 

[Map8]

i think the FT program is more self-sustaining than anything and i give DMG very little credit for that. its successful for the same reasons why it was successful before... local tracks, easy to view, tons of riders, low-ish costs, factory support, party atmosphere, etc etc. DMG didnt do any of that. can you think of anything that DMG did actually improve for FT?

As much as they have screwed up road racing, DMG have done quite a bit for Flat Track.

DMG hired Mike Kidd to run FT, which made a big difference. Then, curiously, let him go last year. They added the basic twin class for half-miles and miles which most FT fans prefer to the singles on the bigger tracks. They did quite a bit of publicity around Baker's visit to SuperPrestigio, even sending the AMA flagger for extra flair. There are new venues and an expanded schedule (as opposed the shrinking RR schedule).

Under DMG, there has been a few televised events. More than the last several years before the buyout. Live streaming of the entire program (with races posted on YouTube) is really a good step forward. HD and DMG have been promoting the new 750cc water cooled HD and there will be Flat Track exhibition race at the X Games next week (no medals).

The old AMA was just letting FT die. When the tobacco money left, AMA seemed to have lost interest. Road racing and SX/MX rode a big wave of popularity and thats all AMA Pro cared about.

Outside of HD, there is almost no factory support. And HD really just has Baker. However, HD did double their contingency payout to $11,000 a race which is much better.

I don't see any HD decals on the Zanotti bikes beyond individual dealers. One of our CRC'ers used to work for Zanotti so maybe he can correct me. Try and find a Kawasaki decal on Bryan Smith's bike. He had a Kawi logo on his leathers a few years ago but nothing now. Not sure how serious the Triumph effort is. The KTM, Ducati and Suzuki teams are all genuine privateer efforts like the Kawasakis. The Kawasakis teams have a done a bunch to help FT because the bikes are so much cheaper to build and run than the XR750.

 

[Yakoo752]

oh, i want all of them gone anyway. but youre right... who the hell is going to replace them. there is no one in the US that has experience running a series in the fashion that Dorna does. so IMO, Carmelo would have to bring a few higher-ups over to the US and then start filling spots below them. but really, weve seen JU do a better job in a short few months. maybe running a series is a lot easier when all your bridges arent burned. so maybe US support will be open to talking to a Spaniard from Dorna.

i think the FT program is more self-sustaining than anything and i give DMG very little credit for that. its successful for the same reasons why it was successful before... local tracks, easy to view, tons of riders, low-ish costs, factory support, party atmosphere, etc etc. DMG didnt do any of that. can you think of anything that DMG did actually improve for FT?

It's easier to pull off 3 races 1 time than it is to create a whole 12 stop series. I'm not saying JU didn't have his struggles but I'm sure he leveraged a lot of his experience/connections to pull it all off.

I think DMG got the raw end of the stick on some of this. The Moto industry, going back to my incestuous statement, quite literally turned their back on DMG and put a thumb to their nose, with a figure it out yourself statement. That is not how you support your industry.

My statement about FT is more in regards to employees, a LOT of the Road Race employees are Flat Track employees as well. If I worked both and got fired for 1, not sure I would stick around.

 

[Holeshot]

DMG has done little to help itself though, Matt. See the latest at Road America. That type of thinking is downright unconscionable and thus, DMG is itself, failing horribly.

I remember watching Siglin go down in front of me at Sonoma in like 06', in the rain which AMA pro racing ran us in…on DOT's. He was helo'd out and was pretty badly injured...

 

[stangmx13]

As much as they have screwed up road racing, DMG have done quite a bit for Flat Track.

i didnt know most of this. i actually wasnt aware that AMA was letting FT waste away so to speak.

It's easier to pull off 3 races 1 time than it is to create a whole 12 stop series. I'm not saying JU didn't have his struggles but I'm sure he leveraged a lot of his experience/connections to pull it all off.

I think DMG got the raw end of the stick on some of this. The Moto industry, going back to my incestuous statement, quite literally turned their back on DMG and put a thumb to their nose, with a figure it out yourself statement. That is not how you support your industry.

My statement about FT is more in regards to employees, a LOT of the Road Race employees are Flat Track employees as well. If I worked both and got fired for 1, not sure I would stick around.

JUs series def had a lot of things going for it, making it easier to get moving. its just crazy that he accomplished quite a few things that DMG had literally failed at repeatedly for the past few years.

IMO, DMG dug about 2/3rds of their grave in the moto industry and the industry finished the final 1/3rd. both parties were not very amicable and we are seeing the results of it now. like i said, the bridges have been burned.

but they really suck at managing RR. why would anyone want to continue failing at a project when they could solely focus on their successful one... . this is all prob moot anyway. at this point, itd prob be easier and cheaper for Dorna to build a new series from the ground up than buy out DMG. the series has little value currently and i cant imagine they have a lot of assets. they dont even have a TV contract that Dorna would want.

 

[TWF]

Maybe new WERA nationals take over

 

[sidewazzz]

It's easier to pull off 3 races 1 time than it is to create a whole 12 stop series. I'm not saying JU didn't have his struggles but I'm sure he leveraged a lot of his experience/connections to pull it all off.

I think DMG got the raw end of the stick on some of this. The Moto industry, going back to my incestuous statement, quite literally turned their back on DMG and put a thumb to their nose, with a figure it out yourself statement. That is not how you support your industry.

My statement about FT is more in regards to employees, a LOT of the Road Race employees are Flat Track employees as well. If I worked both and got fired for 1, not sure I would stick around.

Not sure you can say DMG go some raw end of a deal???

They literally told manufacturers and fans to fuck off over and over. You can only kick your dog so many times before they bite back or run away.

From my understanding many factories and riders wanted someone to save the day but just sat there looking g at each other waiting for the hero to arrive but one never did.

I've beat this topic to death and will continue to do so but had there been a riders union or assoination put in place but the riders. A lot of this mess could have been avoided and we would still have a pretty live race series.

 

[Yakoo752]

DMG has done little to help itself though, Matt. See the latest at Road America. That type of thinking is downright unconscionable and thus, DMG is itself, failing horribly.

I remember watching Siglin go down in front of me at Sonoma in like 06', in the rain which AMA pro racing ran us in…on DOT's. He was helo'd out and was pretty badly injured...

Was DMG operating AMA PRR in 06? Comparing the old AMA PRR with the new AMA PRR is wrong for that... you can say they both suck equally but from my understanding they were 2 different organizations. The Gene Crouchs, the Michael Gentrys ---
Kicking out the Hollingsworth crew and bringing in ISC was where the downfall truly started. imho (I was away from all racing from 05-08 so not sure what happened in those years. When I left Hollingsworth was in charge )

Maybe new WERA nationals take over

I do hope this has legs. Actually I hope they run with it and sell it to DORNA, this would fill their coffers for some time and keep amateur racing alive in the US.

They literally told manufacturers and fans to fuck off over and over. You can only kick your dog so many times before they bite back or run away.

pre 08? I'm not aware of any DMG association pre 2008. When DMG bought AMA Road Racing in 2008 all the talk was that DMG was going to turn it into 2 wheel nascar and ruin the sport and we'd have rednecks beating their wives at races... (ok maybe I added the beating wives part but...)

This is what I mean by my statement. They didn't have the support from Day 1. Not saying they did anything to garner any support but... it wasn't there. look through their staff roster, not many have any real background in 2 wheel motorsports... they were pretty outcast from day 1.

I've beat this topic to death and will continue to do so but had there been a riders union or assoination put in place but the riders. A lot of this mess could have been avoided and we would still have a pretty live race series.

But they hired in Jeff Ward to do this - not sure

I'm not supporting DMG - they fucked up AMA PRR pretty bad but we must accept what we (from an industry perspective) have done to our sport as well...