As I was searching for live lap times on the AMA website, I happened upon this team announcement that was posted yesterday:
http://www.amasuperbike.com/article.php?UID=ULWOhsbiFkMDRSMmV5ZAEvd8MGBIH3&sc=1120&aid=5507
Looks like a solid team arrangement.
It's great that MJ is getting into the sport, but his pr people need to know that it's "Mladin," not "Mladen." I'm just sayin' . . .
Go, Tez, GO!!!!!! WOOHOOOO!!!!!
2wf.com has some photos of all of the teams. From the looks of things, they are still assembling the MJM bikes. Hope we'll see some MJM times posted later today (rrw.com has some times posted for some of the teams):
http://www.2wf.com/ImageHosting/index.asp?ArticleID={50FE4F9A-02BE-4012-98B8-BF9DFD3F3B45}
By the way, it's good seeing Geoff May standing next to his new ride.
So what do they mean when they say the team will be managed by Clear Channel? ???
Not exactly sure, but that's kind of how things worked out last year. Ken Abbot had a major role in the operations of the team, alongside Casmay and Desmondo.
How do you guys think Tez will do with the big boys?
I hope he does well, but do you think he has what it takes?
QuoteHow do you guys think Tez will do with the big boys?
I hope he does well, but do you think he has what it takes?
That's a loaded question and a touchy subject... Post an honest opinion and your slated as jealous or a Tez-hater...
Personally, I don't hate Tez & I'm not jealous. I know he'll do better than I would, and believe he'll improve from last year. But I don't see any podiums in 05 on the AMA circuit for him.
All I'm going to say now, is that I hope he takes this opportunity to the maximum. I hope he does the best he can, and gets everything out of it that he possibly can.
Thats what I would do if I had this handed to me. Thats all you can do!
And I hope the best for the Lucky Bastard!
GO TEZ GO!
I'll be Rootin for ya!
Being able to get behind the ropes of their pit last year and talking to his crew chief, I think the most significant difference for Tez this year will come from bike setup. Last year, Tez was the only one riding his bikes, at least until Road America when Picotte rode them.
I think the best thing Tez did last year was race the whole season. Yes, he missed Road America, but that is a home track and I think if he would have been able to race, things could have changed for the rest of the season (can't discount the effects of confidence builders, which is what I think RA would have been). The thing is that he qualified and raced at every track on the schedule, riding in two different classes on two different bikes. This year he will see all of the tracks again and he will focus on one bike, which I think will definitely benefit his finishing potential.
Podium? Whom except for a Factory Yamaha, Factory Suzuki and Factory Kawasaki riders with years of AMA racing experience finished on the podium in Superstock last year. My wish for Tez this year is consistent top 15 or top 10 finishes. A good "stretch wish" would be top 5. We'll know more after the Daytona Tire Test is over.
Go Tez!
QuoteSo what do they mean when they say the team will be managed by Clear Channel? ???
It means that they won't get their licenses on time, points won't be updated or posted on-line and they'll only last 2.3 years on average. ;D
JUST KIDDING!
Congrats to Tez. Great lap times at Daytona already!
QuoteIt means that they won't get their licenses on time, points won't be updated or posted on-line and they'll only last 2.3 years on average. ;D
JUST KIDDING!
Congrats to Tez. Great lap times at Daytona already!
It means that Kenny will be doing MJ stuff, and not FUSA stuff.
Clearchannel does lots of things, FUSA, CCS, Arenacross, IHRA, sell event tickets, promotions, etc. etc.
1 of those ETCs. is agent management.
QuoteThats what I would do if I had this handed to me.
It wasn't "handed" to him. He made the deal happen, he deserves everything that he gets.
Quote" " "How do you guys think Tez will do with the big boys?
I hope he does well, but do you think he has what it takes?" " "
That's a loaded question and a touchy subject... Post an honest opinion and your slated as jealous or a Tez-hater...
Personally, I don't hate Tez & I'm not jealous. I know he'll do better than I would, and believe he'll improve from last year. But I don't see any podiums in 05 on the AMA circuit for him.
Well put Jeff.
I support him 100%! He's one of us! He's also a great guy at the track. With that said, here's what I don't understand. . . end of August at Blackhawk he finished 8th in Middleweight Grand Prix and 13th in Expert GTO. In September at Blackhawk he placed 26th (out of 29?!) in Middleweight Superbike. At least he finished 5th out of 32 in Middleweight Grand Prix and 7th out of 33 in Speedscreen Unlimited GP. In the AMA races he's towards the back with mid-pack being the best. Don't flame me yet - Hold on, hold on - - - I know the top 10 pro level guys have 100K bikes, personal trainers and dietitians and have been riding since the age of 5.
That brings me back to my question though - How/why would he get a sponsorship when guys like Super Dave, Ortega, Stumpy, Purke, etc. beat him on a consistent basis? Tez isn't slow, but he's not the number 1 or 2 guy out there.
Again, I wish him well. I would love to say "I knew him when".
Lastly, I'm not jealous (just slow :) ) or bitter. I'm just confused. Maybe I'm missing something or maybe I'm just missing a wealthy friend. :D If he's accomplished something I'm missing, post up. I don't want to disrespect him, I just don't get it.
QuoteThat brings me back to my question though - How/why would he get a sponsorship when guys like Super Dave, Ortega, Stumpy, Purke, etc. beat him on a consistent basis? Tez isn't slow, but he's not the number 1 or 2 guy out there.
Again, I wish him well. I would love to say "I knew him when".
Lastly, I'm not jealous (just slow :) ) or bitter. I'm just confused. Maybe I'm missing something or maybe I'm just missing a wealthy friend. :D If he's accomplished something I'm missing, post up. I don't want to disrespect him, I just don't get it.
Read the post right above yours.
Without Tez, there would be NO team, no sponsorship to be had, and certainly no ride for Pridmore and Rapp this year. He had connections, he made something happen. Was it selfish for him to negotiate a team last year for himself? Damn straight, and why shouldn't it be. I'd do the same thing along with every other racer I know.
MJFRacing,
Since you're an amateur you probably don't have the luxury of history, and you just can't look at a results page to judge someones talent.
Tez, was a former #8 and #3 plate holder in the Mid-West and I think Great Lakes or Great Plains in 2002 and 2003, which didn't come from racing a ton a races each weekend either (no dis to anyone else). He has won many races, several coming from the back of the pack (late registration). Before the track was repaved (when he raced more regularly), he was definitely one of the fastest. He was even under the then track record of 1:12.xx, before Robert Jensen eclipsed his time with a 1:11.9xx. This season, especially in the latter part (think VIR cancellation), Tez registered late, and had some bike issues, and wasn't going to push it at a club race, when his job is racing in the AMA. Look at how many races Larry Denning pulls out of for whatever reason. Sometimes I think LD tries for the lap record early in a race, and if he can turn it into a win, he'll stick it out, if not and he's oout of the money, he'll stop.
I said all of this to say that Tez deserves his ride, he's earned it. We should all be so fortunate to have friends and associates that speak highly of us to people with power to make things happen. With the teammates he's got now, and a completly healed Tez, I expected to see good things from him this year. One things for sure, he's competing against the best to be the best, that's a challenge many could not and have not endeavored to accept.
Also, do remember that Tez was still hurt when he raced at BHF the last couple of times...
Congrats Tez and the rest of the team. Good luck to all of u guys next yr.
Heath
http://www.amasuperbike.com/picture.php?n=Photo+Gallery&f=6mwx0s3r47_1104940068.jpg
Good info y'all. Thanks for the non-flame response. I wasn't getting down on anyone, I just wasn't clear on this entire deal. Hot pic DRU2!
QuoteMJFRacing,
Since you're an amateur you probably don't have the luxury of history, and you just can't look at a results page to judge someones talent.
Here's the sad part motomadness --> I may be an amateur but I've been racing with CCS since '99. ??? With entrance fees, tires, fuel and everything else roughly totaling $1000 per 3 day weekend (let's forget the chopper rides out of Blackhawk and the 80K of medical bills!) and my work schedule limiting my time, I'm lucky if I can do 3 weekends. :( I envy all the "regulars".
Well, let me end this with a "Go Tez!" ;)
What a few have said, and from what I saw last season: Tez needed someone to help him RIDE. He was given the bike, but who was there to coach him, to really help him on setup? No one really. This year he'll have that, and I think that will help his results.
We'll see.
Also nice to see the Jordan bikes up there in the times. Might not mean much for racing, but Pridmore was only a bit more than a second off of Duhamel's time.
(aside)
This type of growth is really good for Gemini. I KNOW they weren't going to survive on Carbon alone.
I gotta find a way back in there. ;D
OK, I'll chime in...
Did Tez negotiate the deal? I think it was luck and opportunity.
MJ and Tez met, and something happened. Sparkling personalities. MJ makes some calls to companies obligated to him, and he says, "This is what I want to do," and the money shows up.
Tez will have help?
I don't know about any of you, but if you're part of a team, the first guy you're gonna clobber is going to be your teammate. Set up? Well, I think Richie Alexander knows Jason Pridmore pretty well, so they will be getting their set up right...yeah, they will work with Tez, but until someone really takes interest in Tez and his strong points...
Sometimes a rider has to be told things. Do this, do that, don't do that, what are you doing...
I'm watching from the outside, but I got to race with him at Blackhawk.
Tez, you listening...
I didn't see you doing anything different in riding style from what you did in years past. I know your strong points, and I know your weak points. You need to find someone that can really help
you. Until then, you'll be in the spots that have been slotted for you.
CCE is contracted to MJ. So, anything that he does, CCE will have a part of it. Since MJ is involved in road racing, CCE placed Kenny in the position of looking out for CCE's investment.
Third and eighth in the region overall.
Um, yeah, a nice prestigous series where it's based on a system that pays points to 50th place without that many entries, and you can enter as many races as you want.
Anyway, I'd rest his hat on some of the good race wins that he had, not on overall points. He's a good rider with something that's available, but he could really use someone to tell him some things to change.
I like Tez a lot.
There are certainly a lot of riders out there that are deserving of rides and have earned it.
How would you give them out? Experience? How much you've spent? Talent is pretty arbitrary. If we're talking money spent, I think my friend Dr Jeff Purk has most of us beat. Good guy, goes fast, and, really, I think the racing dentist would rather race motorcycles than have his hands wrist deep in someones mouth.
Do I could in an aspect of a lack of money? I made $8900 last year at my place of employment. My budget is about as long as the shoe strings on my Oxtar boots...non existant.
Is the team good?
Montez Stewart, Suz GSX-R1000 Superstock, 1:50.738
Jason Pridmore, Suz GSX-R1000 Superstock, 1:42.795
Jason's not short. Tez has been with the team for a year, and the track is new for everyone. Injuries? Don't know. Jason always screws himself up in the off season training, so I don't know why he wouldn't have done something to himself this year.
DiSalvo's best lap time on the 600 was below a 1:51. This year he was at the 1:43.5 mark. Dropping about seven seconds from his lap time at the new track.
If I take my best lap time and drop six seconds, I'll be at the 1:50 mark no problem with no budget on my 600. You try making scrambled eggs for yourself and crew chief early in the morning out of a big van.
At the Blackhawk that Denning was at this year late, he did like a 1:09 something. Didn't beat Mark Junge, and Mark broke the lap record, but did anyone think that Larry was injuried?
Larry was sporting some broken ribs. That's why he was coming in. Lots of pain, and Larry's there to make money, not to show up for someone else. If he can't win, why tear up the equipment and tires. That's a loss of money.
Injuries? Fine. Russell won the Suzuki Cup Final race or two in like 1988 with broken knees. Schwantz had a broken wrist when he won he Daytona 200 that same year. "Iron" Mike Harth won a Suzuki Cup Final race with a broken femur.
Tez's grids...
Ok, last Blackhawk he shows up...
Somehow, he's at the front of the grid on Saturday's races.
???
Did he pre enter?
I was out of a job and had to poop the money to pre enter at the last minute. Left me on row six to nine all weekend.
GTU - Tez 11th, from the front row?
Me, from the back 5th. In front of me, Blake Young, Shawn Conrad, Joe Gill, Brian Johnson.
Fine. If you only want to
Quotehave the luxury of history, and you just can't look at a results page to judge someones talent.
Goes both ways.
Great post Dave.
But I have a question about the Jordan Team and the way the bikes are sponsored and who's riding what.
How in the hell can pridmore be on a "Suzuki" and Tez be on the "Yamaha" and they are all sponsored by Jordan on the same team. That just doesn't seam rite to me. Usually, and correct me if I'm wrong, all riders on a "Race Team" are on the same brand machine. AM I RITE?
So how is Pridmore going to be able to help Tez with bike set up when they are on totally different Machines?
Um. I think timing at the test at Daytona said it...
QuoteMontez Stewart, Suz GSX-R1000 Superstock, 1:50.738
If you had enough money, you'd just buy what you need. Race one brand in one class, another in another.
Robbie Jensen had two Yamaha's and a Suzuki. Who cares what you ride unless someone is paying the bills.
Suzuki is obviously paying the bills.
Is someone loosing an opportunity over the MJ program?
Dave, thoughts about Rapp on the team, too? (Since you gave your opinion and thoughts on J-Prid)
I believe they're all going to be racing Suzukis this year. Yamaha's last year had nothing to do with any deal from Yamaha.
First off I'm going to preface this with the disclosure that I count Tez as one of my good racing friends and one of my favorite people, so my opinions might be a wee bit biased.
That said: the program that Tez and Casmay put together for Jordan last year was never meant to earn a championship. It was meant for Jordan to get his foot in the door of a sport he had a passion for. No doubt MJ is looking seriously at the opportunity to grow his brand as well as contribute to the exposure of the sport. Consider the 2004 season a "test drive" if you will.
As far as Tez's abilities: you have to qualify for these races, we all know that, and he qualified, most times riding with injuries. He's not the only rider to compete while injured, but it does make getting the job done that much more difficult.
AMA was new to Tez as well, so his learning curve was steep, and he had never been to most of the track they visited last year...EVER. Not bad for a newbie Pro.
He did a respectable job. Just because MJ was the name sponsor of the team, that doesn't mean that the pockets for the team were bottomless. They had to work inside a budget. Granted, it was more than any other privateer could hope for in their inaugural season, but this meant that they had to also learn the business side of it...right quick.
This is just my opinion, however, I truely think this is a long term investment in time, money, and commitment from Jordan. Tez, et al. have afforded MJ an entre' into the sport, and they have treated him as a business partner and fellow rider with a passion for the sport, not some superstar sugar daddy. Jordan is rewarding that with trust and support.
This is one of the coolest sports on the planet, but also one of the most difficult and complicated to get "right", at any level. I think that if Jordan has Tez back on a bike in 2005, there must be something about him that has impressed MJ enough to give Tez that respect. Jordan is no dummy after all.
QuoteHow in the hell can pridmore be on a "Suzuki" and Tez be on the "Yamaha" and they are all sponsored by Jordan on the same team. That just doesn't seam rite to me. Usually, and correct me if I'm wrong, all riders on a "Race Team" are on the same brand machine. AM I RITE?
That's right, not RITE, and no, you're wrong... unless it's Team Jordan Suzuki or Team Joe shmoe {manufacturer} it don't matter what you're riding.
You and your buddy could be Team Grasshopper - you on a Suz 1000 and he on a Yomamaha 600, it doesn't mean you're not a team. Actually I would think it's better for your 'team' or sponsor, b/c you'd get them more coverage by racing in different classes.
I understand that I made a statement about Tez riding a Yamaha still without reading Daves post good enough. ;D
Everybody is welcome to hack me down about that. All I can say is "OOPS"
I think its cool as hell that Jordan and Tez met and this whole thing started. It's going to be fun watching what happens this year and I am an avid fan.
I think the main reason why Tez will always be part of the team is because Tez intially took Jordan to Blackhawk and introduced him to the world of Road Racing that we all love so much and what it takes, and what its all about.
KICK ASS, AWESOME, ROCK N' ROLL!
See everyone at the track this year! ;)
QuoteFirst off I'm going to preface this with the disclosure that I count Tez as one of my good racing friends and one of my favorite people, so my opinions might be a wee bit biased.
Don't think it is. I really enjoy Tez myself. Doesn't talk to me as often as other people do. Never bothered to ask me many racing questions. I usually won't answer questions unless someone has came to one of my schools....what would you be paying for if I did...
But, the one time that he did, I told him what I though he should do with a shock issue. Seemed pretty cut and dried to me. Didn't take my advice at the time, which is fine. Each has to make their decision.
Anyway, I did sit him down at the Chicago Motorcycle Show last February and talk with him. Told him some things that I thought. That's what friends do. I'm pretty friendly, right...
QuoteThat said: the program that Tez and Casmay put together for Jordan last year was never meant to earn a championship. . It was meant for Jordan to get his foot in the door of a sport he had a passion for. No doubt MJ is looking seriously at the opportunity to grow his brand as well as contribute to the exposure of the sport. Consider the 2004 season a "test drive" if you will.
Yeah, it wasn't a championship effort. But I always here everyone talk about the bleeding they do to try to race and how IF they had so much money, they'd do so much better.
Tez is a racer. Don't make him out to be any kind of an amateur. Am I correct, or did I read that he did some MX at some point when he was younger? Might have been a poorly written piece, but it's relevent to the truth of the matter.
QuoteAs far as Tez's abilities: you have to qualify for these races, we all know that, and he qualified, most times riding with injuries.
And that goes for a whole lot of riders. Nothing new here. Gary Fisher soaked his cast off in "On Any Sunday" to race, Purk raced two weeks after his compound dislocation of his elbow. That's what we do..
QuoteAMA was new to Tez as well, so his learning curve was steep, and he had never been to most of the track they visited last year...EVER. Not bad for a newbie Pro.
Tez did an AMA Pro road race in like 2000 or 2001. That was feeling it out. Jesse Janisch hardly knows anything about a road racing and doesn't know the tracks.
The good thing that Jesse had was that he had some people around him that would TELL him things. Sometimes it didn't make him happy, and sometimes he didn't understand the reasoning. But is he "faster" now?
QuoteJust because MJ was the name sponsor of the team, that doesn't mean that the pockets for the team were bottomless.
They might have had a window, but they certainly had all the tires they needed. Really, that's the thing you need. How many people that are well off do you know that can even approach that.
QuoteGranted, it was more than any other privateer could hope for in their inaugural season, but this meant that they had to also learn the business side of it...right quick.
The resources were available to them to do it right rather than try to teach someone else to operate the team. The program was bid out to a few places and one was awarded it...like a government bid.
And that's only too bad for Tez...
If Tez does not so well, since there's so much stuff there, it's all Tez's fault, so to speak. Makes it easy to go to the industry to get support for "bigger riders".
Nate...Rapp?
Well, good question. It's a move. I don't know if he was contracted to Suzuki or to Team Hammer, so I can't give anyone a good answer. Might have been a move that Suzuki orchestrated. Might have just been time for a change for him. Who was available to give results?
QuoteI think its cool as hell that Jordan and Tez met and this whole thing started. It's going to be fun watching what happens this year and I am an avid fan.
Oops taken...LOL!
I think it's cool too.
Just seems like Tez is kind of getting the short end of the stick in ways.
Anyone understand?
QuoteOops taken...LOL!
I think it's cool to.
Just seems like Tez is kind of getting the short end of the stick in ways.
Anyone understand?
I think I understand.
He's getting the poop end of the stick because now Jordan is sponsoring Pridmore who has been in the game and raced pro alot longer than Tez has.
Now Tez has to play Catch up, and people are going to expect him to Match up to Pridmore.
Like you said before, the first guy you want to beat is your team mate (See I did read and gather some information properly), and thats exactly what Pridmore is going to do, Walk all over Tez out on the track.
No, really here's my take.
Tez is a good guy. Tez and MJ meet. The sparkling personalities gel. Others get involved. Out of the graciousness of his heart, MJ decides that he'd like to try to give Tez and opportunity. That's what it is. Given that the others that are involved, they decide who, what, and where the money gets spent. They don't necessarily have the complete experience to make decisions in Tez's interest. Certainly, with MJ being around, things happen for sponsorships. Companies are falling all over their previously supported hard working self made riders and teams trying to ride the coat tails on some of the "others" involved.
The evolution for MJ is that they develop the program into something bigger. He's a professional athlete, a world champion in his own right. I don't care for basketball myself, but as someone that competed in racing at the pro level, I could see what he could do. It was cool.
But it doesn't make him wise at making decisions for a pehipheral pro racer. Some of those decisions were made by others for Tez. I don't think they necessarily were in his best interest.
I think Tez could do better with the proper input, but I don't see him getting it from the program he has now. I said this at the beginning. I was right then, but I was hoping to be proven wrong.
What will change this year? He will be surrounded by two riders that have ridden factory bikes...albeit, maybe "B" team factory riders...Jason with Yosh (Jason helped out Mladin one year at Mid-Ohio by letting him by to take second and Jason took third...still got him fired the next year, I think), and Rapp...anyone remember the huge crash at RA in 2000? Wasn't that Rapp?
Anyway, they've been working this angle for quite sometime. People in the industry know them and they know the tuners, etc. They can pick and choose, get things...
Who's really looking out for Tez?
I don't forsee his results dramatically improving this year given the situation. He might have to go looking for help on his own, but he'll actually have to recognize that fact.
QuoteRapp...anyone remember the huge crash at RA in 2000? Wasn't that Rapp?
Yep, that was Rapp who ran his brake lever into the back of teammate Johnny K's Duc when he braked early for T1. Scary looking crash indeed.
QuoteYep, that was Rapp who ran his brake lever into the back of teammate Johnny K's Duc when he braked early for T1. Scary looking crash indeed.
Not to say anything bad about Rapp, since he is way fast, but it's pretty bad that the Road America crash is the one thing that he will always be remembered by...
To give him credit though, he did get right back on a horse and rode!
Yeah, it's sad but true. Spectacular crashes will make you more famous (infamous?) than actual accomplishments.
Rapp's RA crash, caught on camera by Henny Ray Abrams, is the only roadracing photo I've ever seen in Sports Illustrated. How wrong is that?
To get back on topic, I sincerely hope Jordan's interest in and support of roadracing will bring the sport a lot more publicity.
QuoteTo get back on topic, I sincerely hope Jordan's interest in and support of roadracing will bring the sport a lot more publicity.
At what cost?
Here's the scenario that I had in my head early this year.
MJ builds a team in the US. Starts with Tez, adds some B riders, then goes for an A rider and goes to MotoGP.
You want an oil sponsorship from someone that supplies it to Parts Unlimited? Might not be anything available.
What riders are on the edge of getting a fair ride on a team? We had the discussion about May. Looks like he got his in from Pirelli? It wasn't anywhere in black and white, but Rapp and May were testing Pirelli's at the Daytona tire test on the "M4" Suzuki's, no longer Valvoline.
Jesse Janisch isn't from a family of wealth. Surely things like this will delay his opportunities. Hopefully not, but it might affect it.
What are Tez's reasonable expectations? Will anything change for him?
QuoteYou want an oil sponsorship from someone that supplies it to Parts Unlimited? Might not be anything available.
Also affecting the situation...it looks like Parts Unlimited has picked up where Chevy Trucks left off sponsoring AMA Superbike. Maybe it's from the same pile of money, maybe not.
Heather
Sponsorship coming from the company that eleven years ago told me that they didn't see a need in sponsoring anyone as Parts Unlimited as they are a dealer direct company.
Still are...
Who they selling to? Dealers?
Lots of money there.
But if not Parts Unlimited, then who...
Which is really too bad. NASCAR has Nextel, Busch, had Re-Max, etc. Not car companies.
Real lack of forsight in the AMA in marketing.
QuoteWho's really looking out for Tez?
I don't forsee his results dramatically improving this year given the situation. He might have to go looking for help on his own, but he'll actually have to recognize that fact.
I think Pridmore could help. With his experience teaching at his school, and at Reg's before that, it seem that it would be natural for him to be a mentor. He's certainly a pretty knowledgable guy to have around. I could see him racing for a few more years then becoming team manager or something of that nature. Between running his own privateer efforts and managing a travelling school, it's an area where he probably has the experience to do the job well.
QuoteI don't know about any of you, but if you're part of a team, the first guy you're gonna clobber is going to be your teammate.
Jason isn't racing for fun.
It certainly isn't school time at an AMA event.
If you've got Gatorade, Parts Unlimited, and Suzuki footing the bills...
Someone's gonna have to show some results. And if you want a job next year...well, if you went to work concerned more with your co workers performance than yours, your performance might not be the same and the company you work for might not do as well. What's your value? Would another company value you for helping others or your performance in getting a job done?
Yeah, Jason might have MJ and Tez over to the school, and he might lend some advice, but he's going to be focusing on his set up with Richie and how they can get the bike to the front.
Jason's younger than DuHamel, so he's got time. Still, someone needs to knock you off the racing heap or you need to get tired of it. If someone's still offering a paycheck and support, why change jobs?