Why is Jessica Zalusky racing AMA?

[mike_rbm]

Seems like a nice woman and having women involved is a big plus but this young lady is always dead last! Spiders daughter is much faster as are alot of just the NESBA girls. Not a personal attack but some one help me understand why this is happening.   

Why does a back marker get to keep racing pro level AMA?!?!?! Because she's cute? Because she's got a big financial baker? Who is she related too or who is benefiting by having her out there? Year after year she's always at the back!  Kawasaki could easily find another female that is actually improving and interesting to follow and watch. Brian Hall crashed or got off (didn't see it because we were in turn 5 at Road Amaerica) and within 2 laps he caught and passed Jessica! Half the damn amatures at Blackhawk are faster than her!

That's my .02

Discuss

[r1owner]

Uh-oh.... search her name on the WERA board.  If you want some "discussion" about it, there's been some good ones over there.

[George_Linhart]

Is it too early to for me to say that I like pie?

George

[r1owner]

Is it too early to for me to say that I like pie?

George

It's just a little early (since there haven't been any slams yet).  I think you'll have to serve a stop and go penalty! :)

[tstruyk]

she shows up, she pays her money, she qualifies (sometimes)... Kawasaki must see a benefit, or she's a helluva sales person.  One way or another she has postioned herself to be a part of the show.

[mike_rbm]

Uh-oh.... search her name on the WERA board.  If you want some "discussion" about it, there's been some good ones over there.

You're not kidding R1. Alot of opinions and some trashing too!

http://forums.13x.com/showthread.php?p=757876

It's just a little early (since there haven't been any slams yet).  I think you'll have to serve a stop and go penalty! :)

No trashing by me. I don't know her well enough to do that. The more I read on WERA though the more I see I'm not the only one confused. 

[funsizeracing]

Correct me if I'm wrong but if you're fast enough to qualify within the %110 of the pole  then you've earned a grid spot right?  So, I'm just guessing but I'd say she was racing because she earned that spot in qualifying.  

[jeremy271]

hey now,  she still has to make the qualifing cut off and shes out there regardless what alot of us think on who should or shouldnt be out there,  ive always looked at it like this-  theres 15to20 guys who belong out the rest is a field filler and those guys who "fill in" could kick my ass anyways

just let her race till she feels shes done and although some people agree bringing this subject up on a public board and making feel like shit is kinda lowdown hell shes probably faster then me

[mike_rbm]

Correct me if I'm wrong but if you're fast enough to qualify within the %110 of the pole  then you've earned a grid spot right?  So, I'm just guessing but I'd say she was racing because she earned that spot in qualifying.  

You really need to read this thread --- http://forums.13x.com/showthread.php?p=757876

"Back in the 80's, I remember that there was a fairly well known provision called the "Promotor's Option". It gave the race promotor the right to install up to three racers of their choice on the grid. Most likely there for the local heros to be included, or any other interesting racer. I remember Kathleen Coburn being on the grid for the 1986 Loudon Classic through this provision.
Fast forward to a few years ago in Daytona. Steve DeCamp arrives with his normal three rider Hooters team, plus Kathleen Coburn-Head, who hadn't been seen roadracing for about 10-15 years. She was a little rusty, so she wasn't really back up to speed. At the end of qualifying, she was 81st in the standings, the first rider not to make the cut. Steve argued at the riders meeting that not all of those who qualified would show up to race, he wanted them to let her in one of the vacant slots that was sure to show up. The AMA said no, so Kathleen packed up her stuff and left. I heard a rumor that not long after she was gone, officials were looking for her. Seems that she was going to be included in the race under the Promotor's Option."

[Jeff]

Mike, am I right to say that your real question here is:

"Why does she get the support which I cannot?"

If that's not your question, it should be because that's what it boils down to.  She races because she can.  She's more than entitled to it, just as I am and you are.  And just as I'm faster than some who are racing AMA, there are some novices who can still beat me.  It's the name of the game man...

She maintains her sponsors because she is extremely marketable.

Take a look at Michelle Wie:
http://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/53/4ZKC.html

Out of that $17M, only $750k are 'salary/winnings'.  The rest is ENDORSEMENTS!  She is marketable.  Doesn't win, but sells products.

And Cheerleading that Rhiannon should get Jessica's backing is senseless because then you can line up another 100 people faster than Rhiannon, and others faster than them, and so on and so on.

Bottom line, she found a niche, or a niche found her and she's capitalizing on it.  I say more the power to her.  I really enjoyed seeing her out there signing autographs with a HUGE line waiting.

Don't be hatin.  :-)

[funsizeracing]

Mike, am I right to say that your real question here is:

"Why does she get the support which I cannot?"

If that's not your question, it should be because that's what it boils down to.  She races because she can.  She's more than entitled to it, just as I am and you are.  And just as I'm faster than some who are racing AMA, there are some novices who can still beat me.  It's the name of the game man...

She maintains her sponsors because she is extremely marketable.

Take a look at Michelle Wie:
http://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/53/4ZKC.html

Out of that $17M, only $750k are 'salary/winnings'.  The rest is ENDORSEMENTS!  She is marketable.  Doesn't win, but sells products.

And Cheerleading that Rhiannon should get Jessica's backing is senseless because then you can line up another 100 people faster than Rhiannon, and others faster than them, and so on and so on.

Bottom line, she found a niche, or a niche found her and she's capitalizing on it.  I say more the power to her.  I really enjoyed seeing her out there signing autographs with a HUGE line waiting.

Don't be hatin.  :-)

+1

[jeremy271]

Iam sorry I ve  gottaget this off my chest - IF EVERYONE WOULD JUST RACE FOR FUN INSTEAD OF BEING SO CONCERNED ABOUT LAP TIMES AT BLACKHAWK OR WHY ISNT THIS GIRL RACING FOR THAT TEAM, SHES BETTER THENHIM OR HER,................................................... MAYBE JUST MAYBE WE WOULD HAVE MORE PEOPLE ON GRIDS THAN WE DO,  because newbies wouldnt be so intimadated.

after all the blkhk lap times drama I remember why i wanna race an Sv again,  because people who get wacked at an Ama race win on club level and think their shit dont stink in middlewieght classes