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AMA SBK: Mat Hits Campaign Trail
Legend
Total Posts: 227
Joined
Mat Mladin finally decided it was time to step up and speak his mind on the developing situation that will decide the shape of the 2009 series
Rookie
Total Posts: 1
Joined 05/18/2008
I have been a fan of Mat Mladin for years but this time I think he is wrong. The best motorcycle road racing in the world right now is World Superbike the racing is always close if DMG can give us that type of racing it would be a positive move.
Rookie
Total Posts: 15
Joined
DMG isn't going to give you that racing. They are going to give you Moto ST and 600cc FX bikes.
The 2009 rules that the manufacturers had agreed on was going to mimic WSBK, BSB, and all the other important superbike racing organizations on the planet. That all goes out the window as well as the SBK premier status if DMG has their way with their current rules planning.
The 2009 rules that the manufacturers had agreed on was going to mimic WSBK, BSB, and all the other important superbike racing organizations on the planet. That all goes out the window as well as the SBK premier status if DMG has their way with their current rules planning.
I have been a fan of Mat Mladin for years but this time I think he is wrong. The best motorcycle road racing in the world right now is World Superbike the racing is always close if DMG can give us that type of racing it would be a positive move.
Rookie
Total Posts: 2
Joined 05/19/2008
I have followed the ama superbike series dating back to 1980 and in that time I have witnessed a lot of changes that have not promoted this sport in the best interest of the the riders the fans and the manufacturers. I fully agree with everything that Mat Mladin has said in regard to these new proposed changes.I will use Daytona as an example, the heart and soul of the 200 was taken away when the original track and format was done away with. I don't have anything against 600's but there is no way in hell that class should be the premiere event at the fastest motorcycle race in the world, I can envision Scott Russell cursing the day lights out of the official's who came up with that brilliant idea. To compare world superbike to ama, has anyone ever given any thought to the reason the racing is closer is because of the riders? Nicky Hayden said it in his first season in moto gp, he said over here in Europe everyone races hard and wants to win. I do not think suzuki should be punished because the other manufacturers have not given everything they have to give in this class yet, seems like yesterday smokin joe's honda team was dominating this same class like suzuki is right now.You see, what comes around goes around.
Thanks
Thanks
Veteran
Total Posts: 148
Joined 04/17/2008
I have been a fan of Mat Mladin for years but this time I think he is wrong. The best motorcycle road racing in the world right now is World Superbike the racing is always close if DMG can give us that type of racing it would be a positive move.
I'm kind of confused. DMG could have given us racing like World Superbike but instead they are going to have 'horsepower limited' bikes with Nascar competition yellows. You agree with Matt without realizing it.
Rookie
Total Posts: 2
Joined 03/15/2008
Bravo Mat! Mladin has spent most of his adult life dedicated to this series-and has a right to be torqued. I'm concerned that the series I know and love is unraveling at the seams.
Last year's Superbike Championship. Exciting as anything in all of motorsports.
Ditto in '06. Accomplished by two of the best riders in the world...period. Ever.
In fact, many riders in the AMA paddock are as good as World Superbike and MotoGP.
Mat, Ben and many other AMA riders exhibited superior determination, focus, style and grace.
And for the last 5 years solid. I love Valentino, Stoner, Bayliss, Toseland and Haga - but they are not somehow magically cut from a superior mold. Make no mistake. Yates, Miguel, Josh Hayes, Zemke, The Haydens, The Bostroms, Hacking, Rapp, May, LilBit and others are in the same league. As MotoGP moves closer towards 'spec'- the more boring it becomes. It's looking like the Michelins weren't all to blame for Valentino's troubles after all. But rather his complacent attitude, a crappy bike and a mental preoccupation with trying to deny his home country of 55 million in revenue. Recently, Valentino has not dominated-and ratings are way down. Dorna is
in a pickle with reduced sponsorship. Has anyone made this argument to DMG?
Now the takeover...
1. 'AMA' roadracing is production based series.
2. Race on Sunday, sell on Monday.
3. 600s are the best sellers in the USA. Suzuki has not, and does not dominate
the 600 Supersport and Formula Extreme classes. Are they wining that they are not winning the class that garners the most sales of motorcycles in the USA? Not at all. As a spectator, I don't believe that Mel Harris is out to embarrass other manufacturers-it's about selling motorcycles.
They have chosen to put the resources into the Superbike program, while many of the other major manufacturers choose not to play at all. The GSXR600 has been mutrky waters lately.
4. Suzuki makes the best production literbike in recent memory.
5. American Suzuki has three of the best riders in the world. (So kinda like when Valentino was on the Honda-domination), best bikes, best riders, shouldn't they win?
6. More to see in the AMA series- Four classes. Many of these classes have had great battles every year in recent memory by the aforementioned 'world-class' AMA riders.
7. Better TV production feeds by SPEED than the other series, rider features, pre-race interviews on the grid-not to mention better video quality than MotoGP or WSB.
8. Ducati plays a little-Ok the tracks are shorter.
9. Yamaha and Kawasaki?
10. American Honda - Kinda like working for a GM subsidiary and trying to develop a V8 from scratch, on your own, while the small-block blueprints are in the next room. WTF?
But they are winning strong in the best selling class -maybe they know exactly what they're doing. Honda makes enough dough on portable generators alone to support several superbike teams.
11. Jordan Suzuki- Love MJ, Pridmore, Yates, the success, the class, all of it. But why should Suzuki give em all the goods? Because of a Nike sponsorship? Get serious.
12. Privateers. Again - Why should a privateer team with limited skills
and money be able to really compete in all classes? They fair well in Supersport and Superstock and that's why those classes are there. Can a privateer kick Bubba's or Carmichael's butt?
I don't hear the motocross boys complaining.
The DMG argument, embraced by the proponent of privateers and bald-headed knee dragger wannabes is not logical. DMG is not out to give civilians an equal footing but rather seems to be reaching for ultimate control of all aspects of the package. Just like NASCAR. F1 is almost as boring, even though actually faster than MotoGP.
The spirit of the AMA series, and its evolution is in for a big change.
While more promotion and excitement is required in the American series, it may be all for not. In the USA, soccer will never be as popular as football, basketball and baseball. No matter how much money is put into it.
I'm afraid that most of us will soon be longing for the old, bumbling AMA with the pace car incident, the fiasco in the rain at MidOhio and the rest of it. Maybe all the attention is precisely what we didn't need. In the meantime, hoping for the best outcome possible.
Pete
Maryland
Last year's Superbike Championship. Exciting as anything in all of motorsports.
Ditto in '06. Accomplished by two of the best riders in the world...period. Ever.
In fact, many riders in the AMA paddock are as good as World Superbike and MotoGP.
Mat, Ben and many other AMA riders exhibited superior determination, focus, style and grace.
And for the last 5 years solid. I love Valentino, Stoner, Bayliss, Toseland and Haga - but they are not somehow magically cut from a superior mold. Make no mistake. Yates, Miguel, Josh Hayes, Zemke, The Haydens, The Bostroms, Hacking, Rapp, May, LilBit and others are in the same league. As MotoGP moves closer towards 'spec'- the more boring it becomes. It's looking like the Michelins weren't all to blame for Valentino's troubles after all. But rather his complacent attitude, a crappy bike and a mental preoccupation with trying to deny his home country of 55 million in revenue. Recently, Valentino has not dominated-and ratings are way down. Dorna is
in a pickle with reduced sponsorship. Has anyone made this argument to DMG?
Now the takeover...
1. 'AMA' roadracing is production based series.
2. Race on Sunday, sell on Monday.
3. 600s are the best sellers in the USA. Suzuki has not, and does not dominate
the 600 Supersport and Formula Extreme classes. Are they wining that they are not winning the class that garners the most sales of motorcycles in the USA? Not at all. As a spectator, I don't believe that Mel Harris is out to embarrass other manufacturers-it's about selling motorcycles.
They have chosen to put the resources into the Superbike program, while many of the other major manufacturers choose not to play at all. The GSXR600 has been mutrky waters lately.
4. Suzuki makes the best production literbike in recent memory.
5. American Suzuki has three of the best riders in the world. (So kinda like when Valentino was on the Honda-domination), best bikes, best riders, shouldn't they win?
6. More to see in the AMA series- Four classes. Many of these classes have had great battles every year in recent memory by the aforementioned 'world-class' AMA riders.
7. Better TV production feeds by SPEED than the other series, rider features, pre-race interviews on the grid-not to mention better video quality than MotoGP or WSB.
8. Ducati plays a little-Ok the tracks are shorter.
9. Yamaha and Kawasaki?
10. American Honda - Kinda like working for a GM subsidiary and trying to develop a V8 from scratch, on your own, while the small-block blueprints are in the next room. WTF?
But they are winning strong in the best selling class -maybe they know exactly what they're doing. Honda makes enough dough on portable generators alone to support several superbike teams.
11. Jordan Suzuki- Love MJ, Pridmore, Yates, the success, the class, all of it. But why should Suzuki give em all the goods? Because of a Nike sponsorship? Get serious.
12. Privateers. Again - Why should a privateer team with limited skills
and money be able to really compete in all classes? They fair well in Supersport and Superstock and that's why those classes are there. Can a privateer kick Bubba's or Carmichael's butt?
I don't hear the motocross boys complaining.
The DMG argument, embraced by the proponent of privateers and bald-headed knee dragger wannabes is not logical. DMG is not out to give civilians an equal footing but rather seems to be reaching for ultimate control of all aspects of the package. Just like NASCAR. F1 is almost as boring, even though actually faster than MotoGP.
The spirit of the AMA series, and its evolution is in for a big change.
While more promotion and excitement is required in the American series, it may be all for not. In the USA, soccer will never be as popular as football, basketball and baseball. No matter how much money is put into it.
I'm afraid that most of us will soon be longing for the old, bumbling AMA with the pace car incident, the fiasco in the rain at MidOhio and the rest of it. Maybe all the attention is precisely what we didn't need. In the meantime, hoping for the best outcome possible.
Pete
Maryland
