No mas AMA Superstock...

[ecumike]

Yeeehawwww.
Look out, it's the attack of the killer bees.

[tomdavid]

Anybody remember when Superbike were 1025cc? How about F1 and Gary Nixon?

[251am]

 The "new" SB class will be inclusive with 1200 twins for most FIM events. See if Ducati/BMW bite.

[weggieman]

Gee another topic about locals running in AMA and being able to compete.
It is a rare rider on the local level that gets to run up front with the factories. Jim...... Harrington did it once. The others were Scott Zampach, Jeff Farmer and lately Josh Herrin but he was on Graves Yamaha equipment. All of these guys were in Supersport also, not Superbike.

Does factory equipment make a difference? You better bet your ass it does. Does having 30 years of experience make a difference? Ask John Ulrich who is just now getting his boys into the fray.

It takes a lot of money, skill and experience to perform at the top of AMA racing. Without all of it you get a lucky rider occassionally but that's it.

The tire bill alone will kick out most privateers to run the whole season much less all the other costs. How many of you can afford to drop a fresh motor in every weekend and have several spares waiting in the trailer?
Back up bikes, how many privateers have them? how many privates have a full team of experienced people at their disposal? A full time computer guy? Full time engin builder or anything else?

With a TON of talent and a semi full of cash and some luck you may be able to get a factory ride or run up front with them but that's it. Been that way forever and always will..........sorry.

New rules for Superbike may change that a little but I doubt it. Look at Superspoort which was supposed to even things up, never did.

Off the box now..........fire back.

[Super Dave]

New rules for Superbike may change that a little but I doubt it. Look at Superspoort which was supposed to even things up, never did.

Exactly.  When 600 Supersport started in 1987, didn't Polen win every event but one, which Mike Smith won?  Polen was more talented than the field.

Todd, Scotty Z, Farmer, Rothman, Pridmore, Roos.  Lots of talented guys. 

Should we talk about Chaz Davies as an honest example of someone that is really, really talented?  No BS there even when the bikes might not be up to snuff.

[weggieman]

Yeah and Chad is not a beginner...........and Celtic didn't just fall off the turnip truck but yes they are relative privateers.

Take the Honda situation in consideration and what do you have for results? Everyone is a few more places down in a race that some entered only because it's the 200 they won't be racing it the rest of the season. That will help boost the privateers chances but we'll see how many run up front and for how long.

[Super Dave]

 I'll agree on the 200.  It's a different race.

Chaz is no beginner.  But, then again, neither are a lot of guys, me included...


The route to AMA success is not necessarily though the club racing world anymore.  There was that time when it was, but it's not like it was cheap then either in comparative terms. 

[JBraun]

Take the Honda situation in consideration and what do you have for results? Everyone is a few more places down in a race that some entered only because it's the 200 they won't be racing it the rest of the season. That will help boost the privateers chances but we'll see how many run up front and for how long.

And FX is a different story, it's supposed to be a heavily modified class. I'm all for the factories flexing their muscles in FX and Superbike.
If a privateer wants to race in those classes he should know what he's up against. I just think supersport should be supersport I guess.

[Super Dave]

Well, what IS supersport?  CCS will tell you they developed it with Roger Edmonson before he put it in the AMA program in 1987.  And current CCS supersport allows no starters and a lot of other things.  Full replacement fork cartridges and so on.

[weggieman]

Correct, supersport is not what it used to be. It should return to those days though.............let's make riders, not people who can spend the most, win in that class.

[Mongo]

You could run a pure production class and the factories will still win.  They hire the best riders, the best mechanics, the best suspension peeps etc..  Money will ALWAYS win in racing.

[weggieman]

Exactly.........