[DucButt]

While I support AMA, in that it let's our young Americans get a foot in the door, I do not care to watch Nicky vs Mladin. At this point in their careers, I'd much rather see Nicky and Mladin vs. the big boys in WSBK or GP1. Let the new young guns battle it out in the AMA. Okay, Nicky can stay another year, but is Mladin complacent or what? Afraid he can't fill the shoes of countrymen Doohan and Bayliss? Move on, Mladin. You've got the talent, right?

 

[stogieBill]

I guess the up side of it is the AMA probably won't be scheduling national events on the same day as a GP race elsewhere in the world. I'm greedy, I like to watch them both, but not all in the same day.

 

[Joe_Momma]

I am not complaining there are six races this weekend and five are on sunday.

 

[onebadoldz]

I couldn't agree with you more, Mladin should be moving on up. However, roadracing is getting to the point that there's so many competitive riders and basically not enough factory bikes to go around. Castrol Honda only has Colin Edwards, where as in past years they had up to three riders (Slight, Crafar). Yamaha is another examply as is Aprilia in the WSB series, not fielding a whole team of bikes, these riders simply need the factory sport to make for some truly competitive racing. I feel that the AMA is more competitive than WSB at this point because there are many riders in the hunt. MotoGP could be a one-monkey show with Rossi on the new Honda. I agree with you totally, let's see some of this young American talent get an early start in the big leagues of FIM roadracing so we can bring some championships back to American soil. Go Bostrom!

 

[DucButt]

Good points made. It is ironic that the closest and typically most exciting racing occurs in the "support" races - notably AMA and FIM SuperSport. Is this a result of a more closely matched talent pool of riders, or more closely matched bikes? Both, obviously - but which plays the greater role?

Unlike Formula 1, we've always had an abundance of American talent succeed at the pinnacle of the sport. Great to see John Hopkins go to GPs, Colin and Ben to SBK - I hope more follow, and don't settle for a lifetime of domestic racing, like our hapless American auto racers. And how about Jason Di Salvo! It really takes courage to go across the pond at his age...

 

[navion_pa2]

Does this mean, we'll get to see BSB?

 

[onebadoldz]

Yeah I have to cheer on Jason DiSalvo, he's a local guy, lives about 30 miles away here in Batavia, NY. The Buffalo News did a great article on him last year when he was constesting that European series on a 250GP bike, seems that he was mistakingly shipped the wrong forks by the factory, thus causing him to lose the front end in quite a few races. With a reliable mount, I'd like to see how he makes out this year. He looked impressive at Daytona, but then we all know what happened.

 

[onebadoldz]

Yeah, Sunday may be a very non-productive day for motorcycle fans around the house, granted you have access to the racing. Sunday on Speedchannel is packed with racing, looks like it's time to fire up the grill and put some beer on ice.

 

[BBD_Racing]

Origninally, Mladin said that he was happy where he was. Who wouldn't be? Nice salary, great team, good working relationships, success and easy travel. In any of the world series' you gotta deal with insane travel.



More recently, Mladin has stated that he is interested in a world ride, but only if he brings his team. It would be a huge mistake for him to go to the world (SBK or GP) and ride a second rate bike. Put him on a WSB Gixx and he's barely an also ran. KR is currently by far the fastest non-Honda, but still giving up 1.5+ seconds to Rossi's 230hp beast.



If I were Matt, I'd stay put for a while.

 

[1163]

lol... it looked to me like he learned a valuable lesson at the expense of his team as well as that other rider's.



That happens to all good racers in the groth years I suppose. I just hope he learned it.

 

[1163]

Now there's a thought...

The only former BSB rider I'm familiar with is Hodgeson (sp) but I would like to think there are more. Wouldn't that be great to find out?

 

[stevegrab]

I don't think we'll get to see BSB (British Superbike series) if that's what you meant. The deal was only to sell the rights to this company for AMA Superbike series. Then they can sell the rights to other broadcast companies to show the races.



I wonder how much money the AMA is making off this (and where it will go, hopefully some will be spent on promoting AMA SBK series in US), and how much this IMG company will make reselling the rights.



As much as I support the AMA in some regards, I'm not sure this will really do much for the series.

 

[jhayton]

Re: Now there's a thought...

Bayliss is a former BSB champ, and Walker has been a bridesmaid a couple of times....

 

[jhayton]

Best thing they could do is use the money to finance Thursday practise - which they have done away with, largely at the expense of the privateer teams who can't afford their own private 'testing' sessions.



When Hollingsworth speaks about stakeholders, he only means factories - not riders, fans or privateer racers...