Why is AMA licensing the way it is?

[JBraun]

Yeah, what Rob said. 

[SVbadguy]

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.

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.

[HAWK]

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.

[Scotty Ryan]

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 :)

[Mongo]

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.

[SV88]

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.

[LMsports]

Unless you are winning club level expert races (on a 600 or better) you probably aren't ready for AMA.

[mdr14]

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.

[unter_kid]

I in no way have anything constructive to add to this arguement, but just want to ask a quick question.

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.

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?)

[JBraun]

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.

[unter_kid]

I couldn't agree more.

[clutch]

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. 

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.