AM & EX Status Question

[MightyDuc Racing]

I have already asked Henry DeGouw for his take on this question, and was just looking for some past experiences of yall's to help with some answers.  I am a first year racer that, as you all know, did fairly well my first weekend.  A lot of my success was due to a very fast bike, not necessarily all rider.  My question is about championships.  I would really like to try to win an amateur championship before turning expert, obviously.  I have already missed the Daytona round and the guy that won the races at Homestead in my classes won again at Daytona (one 2nd) and has what will probably be an insurmountable lead on me (not to mention he's still significantly faster than the rest of us in that class).  However, I don't think he'll be able to beat me at Daytona due to sheer horsepower in October.  If I go to Daytona in October and win a race or two, am I still allowed to petition to stay amateur for another year and try to win a championship with the guys I can compete with before turning expert and running mid-pack for several years before I get to their level?  Sounds like cherry-picking, but remember, I am a first year racer.  This may be premature, but I'm bored and can't really think about anything but racing since I've started  ;).  Thanks in advance for your opinions/advice!

[Baltobuell]

 You'll never beat the Buells, You'll be an amature forever.
 Seriously, once you get 500 points you'll be moving up. They'll never let you stay back to win a championship, and you wouldn't want it that way.

[MightyDuc Racing]

Oh.  I scored 314 the first weekend.  Uh-oh.  Expert next year I guess. :o  By the way... ;)...I even finished ahead of the Buell in my race after runnin through the gravel with a stuck throttle on lap 1 and babying it the rest of the race.   :)

[Dawn]

Once you have 500 points, they will automatically move you up to expert.  You can petition to stay amature one more year, but you may be denied.  I think they look at performance index and if you won any championships to make that determination.

Dawn   :)

[MightyDuc Racing]

I won't be moved up until next year though, right?  You mean 500 points overall, not in just one class, right?  Henry said I'd probably be an expert next year.  Actually, I can't wait to get that fast!  I seem to go faster with the faster guys cuz I can cheat and follow their speed and lines if I get a good start. ;)

[Dawn]

You will not be moved up until the following year.

500 points overall is needed.  Trust me.  It doesn't take long to accumulate those points.

Dawn   :)

[Decreasing_Dave]

I'm in the same perdica...pirdica...spot.  I scored 538 my first weekend at SoW.  By their standards I WOULD BE EXPERT RIGHT NOW!!!  I'm hoping that it doesn't happen until next year.

I'm scared though.  With the transponders being used this year, I think that if they see that you are as fast as some/most Experts, they may make you move mid-year.  Hope not.

Anyone have some inside info??

[Dawn]

I'm in the same perdica...pirdica...spot.  I scored 538 my first weekend at SoW.  By their standards I WOULD BE EXPERT RIGHT NOW!!!  I'm hoping that it doesn't happen until next year.

I'm scared though.  With the transponders being used this year, I think that if they see that you are as fast as some/most Experts, they may make you move mid-year.  Hope not.

Anyone have some inside info??

Predicament.

Don't worry - I usually spell amateur as amature   ::)

Dawn   :)

[tzracer]

People have been moved up during their first year. You would have to win overall in a combined event. If you are bumped you don't get to keep your amateur points.

[sdiver68]

The truth is, there is little ryhme or reason on getting bumped or not.  ::)

I think it's very rare to be moved in your first year unless they discover other racing experience.  Otherwise, probably Kane Lasky would have been bumped last year.

Yes, if you get 500 points they will auto bump you next year.  You then can appeal, and there is where there seems to be no provable standard.  ???

[Litespeed]

It would be very nice if they set a standard rule that took more things into account to determine who gets bumped.  I think 500 pts with a performance index over 600 being a mandatory move would be a good starting point.  Index under 500 then no move available and index between 500 and 600 with over 500 points should be allowed one more year as an amateur then be moved.  I think there should also be mid-season bumps to get rid of the cherry-pickers.  This would likely be a 500 pt break point with perf index over 850 or something.  This would keep the amateur racing fair and if you have over 500 pts at mid-season and an 850 plus perf index you are ready for white plates.  

Now I gotta wait and see what Dave uses to justify staying an amateur if these were the rules.   ;D

[MightyDuc Racing]

I was just hoping to have a shot at an AM Championship.  Being a first year racer that is kinda fast is rough.  The guy running ahead of me was light years ahead of me after racing last year, and the guys behind me were pretty far back (far enough that I still finished second with a badly sticking throttle).  No shot at a championship, probably, and will almost undoubtedly get moved up next year.  Might as well move up now and try to follow the fast guys and learn to be competitive with them next year.  I did actually run one lap that weekend that would've equalled their times, so I know I can do it eventually.  Probably getting the cart ahead of the horse...we'll see how I do at Moroso.