AMA vs. MIC What's the difference?

[LongDogRacing]

Probably a loaded question, but I have to ask...

Per the descriptions on their respective websites, they both seem to be serving the same end. 

I guess the main difference was that the AMA's "customer" of sorts are the individual, while the MIC focused on the factories, right?

Which leads me to also ask:

Why would the MIC have anything to do with sanctioning any kind of racing?  It doesn't appear that they have had any experience in doing such, nor do they really seem to have any kind of inroads with the FIM.

[Super Dave]

The AMA was the FIM affiliated road racing series of the US for years.  It is really the only spectator motorcycle road racing in the US.

Over the years, it has changed from something that was a "thing" that the AMA did to a profitable program as it developed with Roger Edmondson in the late 80's, early 90's.  The manufacturers manuvered their way with influence and cash to get things to go their way, and it predetermined the results, basically, making it what it is today.

Manufacturers drove the direction of the series even in the location and dates of certain events so that they could drive sales in certain areas of the country with the risk of bad weather.

AMA was purchased by Daytona Motorsports Group, back into Roger Edmondson's full operational hands with his employment with NASCAR's France family, and they have a vision for a different set of rules that will refocus racing on, well, racing.

MIC's program doesn't exist, and it has never existed.  But the money and influence in teh MIC is provided by tens of motorcycle manufacturers, but this racing program is being pushed by only a couple of those manufacturers.  It's just kind of a chip some of the manufacturers are trying to use to strong arm Daytona Motorsports Group.  In the end, DMG will get their program as they like it.  How much they yield will just depend upon how they feel about everything.  There might be some opportunities for the manufacturer/distributor team programs with their unobtainium parts on their bikes, but that time passed.  Not sure what the final program will look like, but my expectation is that the safety issues that are problems at so many tracks will focus DMG's program on 600cc supersport power levels with performance index racing for fours, triples, and twins based on power and weight.  Might have a dyno program with that.

[LongDogRacing]

Thanks again, Dave, for the response!  You'll recall I'm taking an elective course in Sports Event Management for my masters degree.   I want to wrap up much of this whole transition, and the reasons for it, in my final term paper for the class.  --Justin

[Super Dave]

Oh, boy...

Reasons?  LOL!  Financial in the end for everything.  Control as a matter of ego in some cases, I feel.  Very little has been for the benefit for the actual ones who have the biggest risk:  the riders racing.  Too many tracks yet are built with standards that are actually below what is reasonable to allow them to mitigate risk reasonably.  Too little money available too.  DMG is putting up their money immediately.  Additionally, an attainable and enforceable set of rules with a real risk if one decides to step over that line. 

The MIC role is only there to support the ends of the manufacturers and a tiny number of racers that would be contracted to those teams.  Secondary teams would be strongarmed into participation with no hope for actually being necessarily competitive.  Nor would the program support any opportunities for outside sponsorship as a result.  And that was always a big problem with the previous AMA program.

I feel that the new DMG program could really open up for the opportunity for outside the industry sponsorship.  As it is, the inside the industry sponsorship is crap.  It's not much in actual cash, and it's stingy in product too.  But that's a result of a lack of real offering to bring in buyers for anything into the market. 

The real transition was an actual buy out of AMA Pro Racing as a property from the American Motorcyclist Association.  It wasn't a purchase simply of rights.  DMG OWNs AMA Pro Racing now.  I have heard some really huge numbers for that purchase.  But one would have to recognize that they did buy the full ownership of the US racing program in road racing, supermoto, drag racing, flat track, and some other things.  Those can be re introduced into multi event programs now, if need be. 

MIC is not a barrier to the AMA program, but only an attempt.  I think it's a cry for an opportunity to be on a committee that doesn't exist.  The train was full and left.  Those involved in the MIC gig are just in the wrong room.  DMG is trying to incorporate them because they do know that they have things to bring to the table that will help in some of the immediate success.  It won't mean that the new AMA road racing won't succeed without them, but it will help to have them there.

As it is, I haven't heard Mat Mladin has retired or anything, so it will be interesting to see what is new marching orders the MIC thing finally implodes.

At this time of the year, contracts should be in hand with the tracks, setting up of sanction fees, marketing materials, sponsor searches.  The MIC thing is leaving the teams that are below the huge budgets of the distributor/manufacturer teams in kind of a similar position from each year...not really knowing when bikes are going to show up until just before Daytona.

[Burt Munro]

Justin,

Roadracingworld.com has had a number of articles overly the last 6-7 months discussing the entire AMA vs MIC encounter.  RRW, while not unbiased in their opinion, has been a very good source, FWIW, of the soap opera that has developed.

Here is a link to one of a series of stories (with links to numerous other articles at the end of each article)........

http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=34357

As Dave mentioned, we did not get to the current standoff overnight......  it's been brewing for a long time and it took for the AMA to sell the promotional rights to pro pracing to DMG to start the bricks tumbling.

[LongDogRacing]

Thanks Burt.  Yeah, I've been following the saga closely via RRW.  (I actually intent on using all the RRW publishings and stuff from other websites as my references.)  Sometimes there are some key concepts that slip through the cracks on me!   They can usually be filled in with a quick sentence, as Super Dave provided.  More questions are likely to follow! --Justin

[tug296]

A law degree is always helpful in any aspect of sports management.