How important is US Road Racing...

[Super Dave]

Ok, for those who think that Mladin is a sandbagger, etc.

http://venus.13x.com/roadracingworld/scripts/NewsInsert.asp?insert=10936

The US market is very important.  We have some decent talent here, and investments are being made in machinery and riders that other countries don't see.

Does Zemke need to leave for another series to prove he's good?  

Or will the AMA Superbike rider's salary increase to where it's in his interest to stay near home?

[Protein Filled]

I personally think that due to the lack of support of  WSB by the manufacturers (other than Ducati and Petronas),  AMA Superbike is regarded as the number 2 series in the world, next to FIM/Moto GP.

At least here, you have full factory involment, even if they are in different classes (which I also believ has a lot to do with marketing). I don't think this will change until you get to see at least 2 more full factory efforts in World Superbike (whether Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki or Kawi).

Now if only some money would come for the people further down the ladder... Look at Nascar, the purse money for the Daytona 500 is over 10 million dollars! I wonder what the purse will be for the Daytona 200 this year now that they have gone to a Formula Extreme format?

[Super Dave]

Yamaha's WSS team is going WSB racing.

The AMA has screwed everyone over the years with...

Continually smaller purses

Poor enforcement of actual rules

Thus, it will never be really big in a way that gets many of the people that strive to be involved a decent pay check.  Plain and simple.

[Protein Filled]

Yamaha in World is good, but I wonder who they will have riding the bikes. Regarding the AMA and rules, I think "selective" enforcement is more like it.

It's a real bad sign when someone can go club racing and chase Yamaha/Suzuki contingency and make 10 times more money than racing in the premier class in the US.