Specifically the requirement for have done X # of weekends as an expert, now 20 (used to be 10). Does a 1-race weekend make it a weekend?
It's easily possible for someone to have much more track time and experience in far less time. Seems odd to me.
i do belive 1 race a weekend will be ok if you get the points but i do belive it has to be in an ama like class
i also think they changed it so that you cannot just do a bunch of weekends and then go for it .. i think it has to be a complete season as an expert with a minimum number of weekends during that season.
You still have to have the points though under the AMA points program. They added some of the event weekend stuff after some riders were allowed into AMA Pro racing without a lot of experience.
As it is, the current system doesn't allow a lot of opportunities for a sixteen year old kid to race AMA supersport coming from a road racing background. Tell me what organizations will allow a 14 or 15 year old to race a 600? If you're an AMA GNC dirt tracker, fine, you can get a license.
There's always that talk that the Europeans are a head of the US kids, and this is one of the reasons why. How old was Rossi when he started FIM 125GP racing?
Who needs the AMA.
PJ Jacobson and Cameron Beaubier raced with the USGPRU and have now been selected for the Motogp Academy.
http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=30736
And on the other side...
McLean turns down Red Bull to race USGPRU.
http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=31110
That's another avenue to a racers goals but the AMA is probably the way to go for most club racers. Not a lot of two stroke racing outside of USGPRU
Lots of kids can ride a 600 by 14.
It's not that hard to meet the requirements and they are a really good balance of experience and speed. The AMA level is something you need to work to achieve and being a pro requires more than just speed.
Quote from: Super Dave on January 24, 2008, 12:29:14 PM
And on the other side...
McLean turns down Red Bull to race USGPRU.
http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=31110
Rookie Cup is not the same as the MotoGP Academy.
Im 19 and when I was 14/15 there wasnt too many 600 opportunities. My brother was racing a 600 in wera at 14 and 600 in ccs expert last year at 15/16 now he is 16 and already got his ama license coming for this season. All we had to get to qualify for ama was 20 weekends 10 amateur and 10 expert. Along with 300 points. 20 weekends is reasonable to me it ensures that uve atleast raced with the experienced racers and can handle racing and ur not a danger to racing in ama. (or something like that)
I started racing in '97, have 4 consecutive seasons, 35 weekends and ~150 races as an expert and it doesn't count for shit with the AMA because it's not on a bike on the extremely limited list of approved bikes. :jerkoff:
Quote from: James on January 25, 2008, 03:44:20 PM
Im 19 and when I was 14/15 there wasnt too many 600 opportunities. My brother was racing a 600 in wera at 14 and 600 in ccs expert last year at 15/16 now he is 16 and already got his ama license coming for this season. All we had to get to qualify for ama was 20 weekends 10 amateur and 10 expert. Along with 300 points. 20 weekends is reasonable to me it ensures that uve atleast raced with the experienced racers and can handle racing and ur not a danger to racing in ama. (or something like that)
Racing 20 weekends will in no way ensure that you are a safe fast rider that is capable of competing at the AMA level. Also, if you do run 20 weekends and you don't score 300 points there must be something wrong. I don't understand that part of it at all. I know riders that will score 300 points in only a few weekends that run times that would qualify for AMA events but cannot be licensed because they didn't run enough events/year (9). I don't like the system, I don't think it works. Slow people that don't belong get to be there while fast people are left out. Not always, but there is definitely some of that. I'm lucky that I do so much racing that it was easy for me to get my license with this criteria. But there are plenty of talented riders that are jumping through unnecessary hoops. The AMA needs a class dedicated to up and coming privateers to prove themselves worthy of the marquee classes where the factories compete.
Quote from: SVbadguy on January 25, 2008, 03:57:43 PM
I started racing in '97, have 4 consecutive seasons, 35 weekends and ~150 races as an expert and it doesn't count for shit with the AMA because it's not on a bike on the extremely limited list of approved bikes. :jerkoff:
I agree with the AMA on this one. They don't race SV's in the AMA. Get on the platform that you want to compete on professionally and prove that you can manage that machine well enough to share the track with the other talent out there. I don't think anyone will disagree that doing well on an SV has nothing to do with how you will ride a 600 or a 1000.
Yeah, what Rob said. :thumb:
Quote from: LMsports on January 25, 2008, 06:43:16 PM
I agree with the AMA on this one. They don't race SV's in the AMA. Get on the platform that you want to compete on professionally and prove that you can manage that machine well enough to share the track with the other talent out there.
I was racing some of the same people on the SV that I would have been racing in middleweight, Arnie Hastings and Nate Kern. I also raced the SV in middleweight and unlimited classes on occasion.
Quote
I don't think anyone will disagree that doing well on an SV has nothing to do with how you will ride a 600 or a 1000.
Just like how Josh Herrin really sucked when he went from 125s to 600s, right? He's not the first and won't be the last to start on smaller bikes and immediately do well in the other classes.
Just because the SV is primarily what I race, doesn't mean that's the only bike I have experience on.
I think the point is that he SV is a very different bike. Corner skills cross well but motor use is very different. (BTW I race an SV too) I fully agree with the experience in type rule. Remember, you might have experience on both SVs and 600s but I don't and the rule has to apply to eveyone.
This is a touchy subject.... Sometimes - you just can't make everyone happy(In the AMA's case),,,,,, Regardless of what races - or what experience you have roadracing - It won't prepare you for what the AMA is really like..... The two aren't even similar - So in that respect - I fully believe that riders interested should in fact have as much time on the same bike they will be racing at the AMA level......
I started racing Motocross as a young teen - Moved up pretty quickly - Got an AMA Pro license - Found that I was in way over my head and that I could have used a bit more seat time.....
Started Road Racing on an SV - progressed quite a bit faster then in Motocross - Moved to a 600 and got my AMA Pro license..... I won't say that this time I was in over my head - But I prolly could have used more seat time.....
I guess my point is this: Every one of us has to follow the rules - Everyone of us has to start from somewhere - usually the bottom..... So why try to rush the whole process - Don't you want to be as prepared as possible when you do get to the AMA???? Or do you want Duhamel kicking at you as he goes by - It's not just for fun anymore at that level - and people don't realize that until they have to do it them selves.....
I can't complain about where I'm at in my racing career - I have had instrumental people helping me through the whole process..... But I can say that I am glad I didn't just apply for my AMA Road Racing license right out of AMA Supercross...... I would have been diving into the deep end of the Shark Tank - with an open wound :)
Quote from: SVbadguy on January 25, 2008, 07:25:19 PM
Just like how Josh Herrin really sucked when he went from 125s to 600s, right? He's not the first and won't be the last to start on smaller bikes and immediately do well in the other classes.
Just because the SV is primarily what I race, doesn't mean that's the only bike I have experience on.
Then what racing experience do you have on a 600 or larger?
Josh wasn't anywhere near AMA ready when he got off the 125 and onto the 600 nor did he run up front right away.
Hum interesting discussion. The SV definately teaches cornering but it is a very different bike than the 600. My R6 is a hell of a lot faster, the brakes stronger and I believe that it handles better than a well prepped SV anyway. It's also harder to ride faster (the sv is probably more forgiving of mistakes, has a wide powerband) - you generally wring the sv during a race whereas on a 600, you are (probably - nver having raced a 600) limiting hp to the rear more often than not (traction control).
While I have no expectations of ever riding AMA, I'll probably switch to 600's towards the end of my first season as a LW exp. At club amateur level, the 600 classes are dangerous crashfests. I would hesitate to go anywhere near AMA until/if I became a front runner in any one of the MW/HW/UL Exp. club classes.
Unless you are winning club level expert races (on a 600 or better) you probably aren't ready for AMA.
With looking at the way some of you are posting, this thread is getting laughable at best.
If a racer gets awarded an AMA Pro license, guess what, someone thought they earned it. You don't get an asterik by your name for any reason.
There is also a fixed number of grid spots and a minimum qualifying requirement.
If you make the show, and did not cheat to do so, you deserve to pull your bike up to the starting grid. its that simple.
So, everyone has my permission to seek out an AMA Pro license even if they have not "WON" a club race.
THe real thing about Racing AMA Pro is to be honest why you are doing it.
Its FUN and its good for the EGO!
Other than that you won't get a factory ride, you won't make any money etc and so forth.
I in no way have anything constructive to add to this arguement, but just want to ask a quick question.
QuoteJosh wasn't anywhere near AMA ready when he got off the 125 and onto the 600 nor did he run up front right away.
Didn't Josh win the 600 superbike National Championship in his first year with WERA? And follow up in 2006 placing top 10 in his first AMA supersport race (at Road America?)
Unless we're discussing another dominant 15 year old club racer with a top level AMA ride waiting for him, Josh Herrin doesn't belong in this discussion.
I couldn't agree more.
Quote from: SVbadguy on January 25, 2008, 03:57:43 PM
I started racing in '97, have 4 consecutive seasons, 35 weekends and ~150 races as an expert and it doesn't count for shit with the AMA because it's not on a bike on the extremely limited list of approved bikes. :jerkoff:
If you want to race AMA you should go get a bike that is eligible to race AMA and start running those classes at the club level.
Quote from: SCOTTY727 on January 26, 2008, 10:24:27 AM
But I can say that I am glad I didn't just apply for my AMA Road Racing license right out of AMA Supercross...... I would have been diving into the deep end of the Shark Tank - with an open wound :)
You still have an open wound, it is between your legs and it bleeds once a month....
JBraun, I have a factory ride waiting for me so kiss off..... Its a factory honda ride acutally. A factory honda accord, in my driveway... All factory, except that fram air filter, makes it faster than factory...
Matt and Rob, I agree with yall....
I would like to get my AMA pro license, but at 9 rounds a season, I'll be dead first.
Red- ...you forgot the part about being fifteen :thumb:
Quote from: red900 on January 30, 2008, 02:39:50 PM
All factory, except that fram air filter, makes it faster than factory...
That's not legal in WERA
Quote from: red900 on January 30, 2008, 02:33:25 PM
You still have an open wound, it is between your legs and it bleeds once a month....
Damn Dustin - is that what my mood swings are from????
We all know I would wear pink leather if I got Tampex to sponsor me
Shit - I might just wear pink leathers anyway :)
Scotty, Why do I think you are the only one that could pull it off too?
If Tampax sponsored anyone said rider should wear all white (leathers, boots, gloves) with a red helmet.
I think that the AMA has designed a wonderful system to enable you to get a AMA pro card. Racers that know damned good and well that cheat the system and run several classes on race weekends in order to get enough points will surely be disappointed when they go to qualify for a AMA round. They will spend thousands to get there and once there...they will realized that one set of tires will not cut it for the whole weekend <laughs>. They will also have to go thru one more test to cleanse the system of racers not up to par....they have to qualify.
As in the case up at Miller....several racers I know barely made the cut off for qualifying. They were all happy until the grid was limited to 40 riders and anyone that qualified below the top 40 were sent home packing. Those that ride SV's and are unhappy with the way the AMA qualifies its racers need to look at the closing speeds of guys on 600's and especially 1k's in the AMA. I'm sorry to say that SV riders (as a whole) are in no way equipped to jump on a 600 let alone a 1000 and deal with the speed that these guys run in the AMA.
The AMA is not as easy as it looks and just because you can whoop your buddies at the loca track doesnt mean that you have what it takes to run with the big boys. I'm the fastest guy in Arizona that is currently on two wheels and I qualify at the back of the pack for reference.
Here's a link with everything you need to know about qualify for your pro card.... http://www.allstoneallthetime.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1739
Quote from: Stone on February 04, 2008, 12:07:59 PM
II'm the fastest guy in Arizona that is currently on two wheels
LOL!
It is what it is....and no amount of laughter will change that :spank:
Isn't Scott Jensen from AZ?
Quote from: smitemebitches on February 04, 2008, 01:36:32 PM
Isn't Scott Jensen from AZ?
I thought I read in the ASRA results he was from ND???
SORRY, that was ROBERT Jensen.....
Scott was a resident here in Arizona and no longer resides here.
Stone, do you mean to tell me you are faster than "Bad" Chad Rolland or johnny rock page.... Damn thats a bold statement! :biggrin:
:biggrin:
Quote from: Stone on February 04, 2008, 03:49:23 PM
Scott was a resident here in Arizona and no longer resides here.
because if he was, you wouldn't be able to make that statement! lol
What's up Davie! It's Chris from VIR, you comin out again this year? Hopefully it won't be so effin hot. Last year was nuts! See you at Miller in a few months..........
Huh, I thought Ben Thompson was living in AZ.....
Hey Chris! Ya it was hotter than hell...well it was more the humidity that kicked my ass! I'm doing my best to make enough money to see several ama rounds and I hope that VIR is one of them. I have a bone to settle with that track!
Yes if Scott was here...He would be the fastest. But...the crown has been left and I just happen to be walking by and picked it up. No Ben Thompson lives in Texas and as far as I know never was a resident other than when he parked his RV in Tucson to have ESP perform work on his bike. Fast as hell dude thou and I consider him a great guy as well.
Texas, ya now i remember.
Well Im the fastest guy in St Charles, IL. Losers :)
I have had chicks all over the east coast tell me i am the fastest :ahhh:
Quote from: G 97 on February 03, 2008, 01:50:16 AM
If Tampax sponsored anyone said rider should wear all white (leathers, boots, gloves) with a red helmet.
Count me in Garth..... I wonder if that would get me another one of those nice fines from the AMA??? I was kinda disappointed the other day when I got my 1099 from the AMA - they didn't take any deductions out of my race winnings that I'm being taxed on - for the fines that got taken out of my checks every weekend.....
At least I was in contention for winning something at the end of the season - even if it was for total amount of fines..... To bad the Bostrom brothers beat me out...
Get a receipt from them for the fines and offset it against the income.