No mas AMA Superstock...

[Mongo]

If you haven't raced a full season as an Expert you're not ready for AMA no matter how fast you are (or think you are).  That's just all there is to it.  The new requirements are specifically to keep people like you out until you're ready. 

They're not keeping any local guys out.  They're not keeping any fast guys out.  They are keeping out inexperienced riders. 

[spyderchick]

2-3 years ago, the AMA were making exceptions, and had way too many issues arise. It is my understanding that they tightened up the requirements so they could enforce all the rules across the board fairly and without bias.

It's a wise thing to work closely with the AMA officials so that they know who you are and understand your dedication to the sport. It's not a big deal to start an open dialogue, they want and need club racers to move up, they also need to make sure they are qualified.

At 29, you will most likely always be some sort of privateer. So what? Do you love the sport? Good. It's motivation to communicate with sponsors and let them know how you feel and how you can help them promote and market their product. (Which does not necessarily need to be MC related). Sponsorship is the best way to offset costs.

To be at that level of racing, (even as a hobby), is both expensive and requires you to work at it, as I am sure you know.  Don't think factory riders are just sitting on their gilded bums between race weekends either. They are employees of the teams, and as such are required to train, do promotional events, be a part of the team prep and set up, test tires, brakes, attend meetings, etc.

Yeah, there are a thousand guys who want to be in their shoes, but they got there through perseverance and dedication. To swim in their pond, you need to have the same.

Good luck you to and your effort. Success is a sweet reward.

[JBraun]

I didn't say anything about providing credentials. What I said was that they decided to change the points requirement ...

I thought you were trying to say you'd have a pro license if they hadn't changed the rules.
I'm sure you know this if you've done your research, but there's more to it than scoring 100 points in your home series. The AMA licensing points system is tricky, and takes things like grid sizes into account.

I'm with Mongo on this one. A full season as an expert, and probably a few rounds in some other pro series would be the minimum before you get on an AMA grid.

I admire your enthusiasm, honestly. But yellow plate to AMA pro is one hell of a leap.

[spyderchick]

Oh, and as I've said before, be careful how you reply to things on these forums and such, because you never know who is lurking about, maybe even folks in high places with a bit of pull? 

[G 97]

I know for me it was never my goal to race any AMA events.  I just wanted to race as much as possible when ever I could, with any organization that was closest to me.  CCS, CRA, CMRA, whatever.  I had a 600 and would race 7-8 races a weekend, 2-3 weekends a year.  I wanted to get to expert as fast as possible just to race with faster racers and a deeper field.

Doing an AMA was not the driving force – racing was.  In the process of doing this, in one expert season (second season overall) I accumulated enough expert advancement points to gain an AMA license.  I had enough to gain my Superbike license but since I only had a 600 and it was $150 more so, I did not.  

I really had no idea about the AMA and basically did it just because one of my race buddies was doing it and asked me.    I guess I don't understand the concept of doing as little expert club racing as possible with the intent to gain an AMA license.  

I certainly would not blame the AMA for the change in requirements.  Even with the recent changes I would still be eligiable with what I did back in 2000.  Any expert racer who is marginally dedicated can still obtain an AMA license pretty easily.  You just have to be dedicated to doing so.  

I was 31 when I started

[Sobottka]

unless I am out there every single weekend in the top 10

good luck qualifing for ama as a non top 10 ex!

[onedwn5up]

If you haven't raced a full season as an Expert you're not ready for AMA no matter how fast you are (or think you are).  That's just all there is to it.  The new requirements are specifically to keep people like you out until you're ready. 

They're not keeping any local guys out.  They're not keeping any fast guys out.  They are keeping out inexperienced riders. 

Sean, I'm not going to argue with you about my competence and ability to compete with these guys. We had combined events with am and experts and I finished qualified and finished in the top 10 against people with ama credentials. I also started from the 2nd wave in every race last season and caught and passed many experts every time. So please don't point the finger at me saying I am inexperienced and not ready and my argument isn't valid. Thats not even the discussion or argument at hand. I could have stepped up and ran with the experts all last season and would have had this licensing point change been made public knowledge in the racing community. If I would have heard a "Hey, the AMA is changing rules for pro-expert licensing so those that are eligible or want to be better get on it" annoucement at one of our rider meetings or on a forum board, I would have acted accordingly and be licensed right now. But the change was sprang on us at the end of the season with no prior announcement and I am saying that is BS. As far as I know, a bulletin of the change was never even printed in the AMA mag I get every month. The rule change is just unfair on several levels.

And they are keeping people out. I don't know how you can say they are not. If you can make the qualifying grid and have a proven record, which 100 points demonstrates, then why isn't that good enough? Why the 300 point increase? It just puts a stranglehold on those people that have the speed and ability to compete at that level. And it slows down the progression of that persons career that others didn't have to deal with.

Every person out there, especially all the teenagers we have on the grid now, all got their license under the 100 point rule. And many of them didn't race a full season as an expert either. Don't make me start quoting names because I won't. I just know people on the ama grid who were very briefly licensed experts that were granted ama licenses. I don't think that changing the license requirement to 300 points is going to make things any safer.

I am hijacking this thread and I don't mean to be. This should be a separte topic.

The overall point is that the AMA makes rule changes with not doing any kind of impact analysis to see how this will effect future competitors. I can understand this rule applying to newly licensed amatuers/novices just getting started but to lump everyone in that was already working towards their license is unfair. There should have been an exception clause written in to the rule requirement but the just decided to shaft everyone, inlcuding those experts who already have over 100 points but just didn't apply before the new rule took place.

[onedwn5up]

good luck qualifing for ama as a non top 10 ex!

I think you missed the point of that statement. I am talking about point building to get the pro-expert license and where you would need to finish to accumulate those points and how often you would have to race. But I do agree that if you come in 10th in club racing you will never make an ama grid.

[G 97]

Dude, you still control your own destiny.  If racing in the AMA is truly what your goal is then make it happen.  If you are indeed as qualified as you state you are then go out and make it happen.  Yes, the rules were changed with no prior warning.  Comparing yourself to anyone else only sets you up for disappointment.   It is what it is.  Go out and make it happen is the only response I have.

[onedwn5up]

Dude, you still control your own destiny.  If racing in the AMA is truly what your goal is then make it happen.  If you are indeed as qualified as you state you are then go out and make it happen.  Yes, the rules were changed with no prior warning.  Comparing yourself to anyone else only sets you up for disappointment.   It is what it is.  Go out and make it happen is the only response I have.

Of course I am not going to quit or give up, the rule change is just an unfortunate setback. I'm just voicing opinion and feeling, which is one reason we have forum boards.

[tomdavid]

Seems like this is a very hot topic but it really boils down to just two very different ideas:
How to make top level racing more accessible,
The competence of the AMA especially as regards racing.

To the first point, " top level " racing will always be expensive and exclusive. Even with the huge growth of NASCAR and the incredible amount of money it attracts, major teams are being sent home for failing to qualify. 55+ entries for 44 qualified spots is an enviable position to be in if you are NASCAR or a NASCAR promoter. They got there by having everything run by the France family. They change the rules without notice to insure competitiveness, sometimes from race to race. The important difference between NASCAR and the AMA is that NASCAR cultivates the " cult of personality ", as well as brand loyalty. The drivers, and to a great extent the crews, are given every chance to become well know and popular with fans. And that all ties in to the television package period. Everyone in NASCAR MAKES money. Just look at the $ for the last place finisher at Bristol or similar venue. I've seen the Childress home ( RCR ) and it rivals any castle in Europe. It takes a lot of money to get started but once you're there it is a sweet deal for drivers crews and owners.

As to the AMA, personally I think they have ridden rough shod over racers as long as I can remember. Crooked isn't the right word for the past administrations and the courts have consistently found them guilty of every type of misrepresentation and connivance. Further, their regard for racer safety is non-existent, ( air fence fund anyone ? ) How they have become the folks that run motorcycle racing in the US is a tragedy. A very poor television package, little or no regard for riders and crew, unresponsive in the extreme, and of course, controlled by the big 4.  It is possible to make motorcycle racing profitable just look at SuperCross. But with the current lack of vision I just can't see the AMA capable of doing so.

I wonder what would happen of ASRA put on races at fan accessible tracks, promoted them vigorously, ran them for 1.5 to 3 hours, 1 rider only, had 3 or more pit stops , actively sought out the safest track standards possible, and managed to get a good TV deal? 

[Mongo]

You guys are funny.  Running with people with an AMA license is nothing sorry.  As for the rest of the list of AMA offenses, you guys weren't around 10 years ago were you?  It's night and day different now and getting better.