New AMA rules

[motomadness]

Anyone see the new AMA rules?  If so, did you notice:

- that the Superstock class (soon to be 750cc-1000cc "multis") are going to require slick tires for dry racing?

- that there's no two-strokes in FX?

- that there's no Supersport machines allowed in Superstock or FX?

What does this mean for the expert looking to earn some contingency money next year?  Are the factory teams going to take it all?

It is interesting that any factory ("manufacturer")supported Superbike rider will not be able to compete in FX.  Which means no more FX practices for Mladin and Yates, but it also means that if Yamaha re-enter SBK next year that they won't be able to field the same caliber FX team as they currently have.  

Decisions, decisions, decisions.

[TZDeSioux]

as if 250s had a chance in hell in FX. So now if we want to run nationals, we have to ride big bikes. This sucks major donkey testicles.

[motomadness]

SuperDuck,

I am already contemplating the move for next year.   I like the Yamaha, but it may be a Suzuki - too much money and opportunities for some spotlight WERA GNF's especially.

Hopefully the past year and half riding the two-strokes will have sharpened my riding abilities enough to make me fairly competitive on the mw bikes as an expert.  I guess we'll just have to see.  One things for sure, we will al least be able to get better starts.

[TZDeSioux]

I don't know if I'll have enough points to turn expert next year  :D

[tcchin]

It is interesting that any factory ("manufacturer")supported Superbike rider will not be able to compete in FX.

As I understand it, factory-contracted riders wil be excluded from the SuperStock class, not the Formula Xtreme class. What upsets me the most is that the possibility to run the same bike in multiple classes has been eliminated unless the rider has a Superbike license and is not in the top ten in SuperBike or SuperStock. In particular, the exclusion of 600SS bikes from FX will affect us the most, as that was our best shot at riding one bike in multiple classes next year.

[WebCrush]

What I dislike the most about the FX rules is that modifications to frame, swingarm, and engine on inline 600s are tightly restricted but 1000cc aircooled twins are unrestricted in all areas.

Basically, the class has been turned from a creative-hot-rod-run-what-you-brung class to 600ss vs ProThunder

[Super Dave]

Yeah, interesting rules.

As for 250's getting the ax...blame the manufacturers.  They feed the AMA and what they want.  They don't want to be tied to 250's much anymore.  

A Supersport machine not being elligible for FX...that's news to me.  The team I'm working with...we're looking at Superbike and Superstock.  The slick tire thing is good as the set up will be the same between the two.  They'll just be running reliable Superstock motors then.  Got to finish the race, and HP won't necessarily get them much further on the grid...maybe at Brainerd.

As for an expert earning some contingency?  Sorry, it doesn't happen that way anymore.  There is so much money put into Supersport, it's not a reality.  Robert Jensen did it at Brainerd, his home track, on a great R6 with outstanding suspension.  He has been an AMA regular, too.  Yes, the factories will pretty much take it all.

Yamaha will probably not have a new R1, by many accounts that I'm hearing.  Look for it in 2005?

With the exclusion of the ability of riders to enter multiple classes on one machine, the void between the factory teams and everyone else will get wider.  What non factory team do you know that can rent a track and do a test day or two at each track that they will race at during the year?  And with the Laguna Superbike pay out to Mladin being about $4000...Larry Denning made more in Yamaha money the weekend after at Blackhawk Farms.  

What a poor industry.

[TZDeSioux]

Yeah, interesting rules.

As for 250's getting the ax...blame the manufacturers.  They feed the AMA and what they want.  They don't want to be tied to 250's much anymore.  
.

Sad but very true. I was told by Bruce Lind that Yamaha has let all their twostroke engineers go after they developed the 2003 TZ250 and he seems to think that 2004 will probably be the last year Yamaha makes the TZ.

[Baltobuell]

 As far as FX, they needed to have someplace for Buell and Ducati. But I don't believe 1000cc air cooled twins are going to run with a 600 inline no matter how their pumped up. But I thought they were allowed to punch em' out to 1350, then they'll have a race. Remember, Buell is a belt driven street bike, the 600's are race replica's, without some slack they wouldn't have a chance and AMA would look like the Suzuki cup. Viva la difference! It should be more intresting anyway.
 Personally, I'd prefer HP rules. FUSA has it together in that dept.