AMA Supermoto Championship!

Don't get your hopes up too high. As with other motorcycle competitions, the AMA is set to ruin something good.



Rumors indicate that there will be a 505cc limit on machines eligible for AMA Supermoto. This blows. If it's true, it's a concession to Japanese manufacturers who, to date, have invested precisely NOTHING in the growing sport of supermoto. So the very best amateurs out there today, Carl Blake of Washington, Don Canet of California... their large bore European supermoto bikes won't be allowed. Complete crap. (If the rumors prove true)



It kills me that small bike companies like Husqvarna, Husaberg, VOR, KTM and others who have attempted to build a supermotard following in the USA are going to be shut out of the AMA series in favor of who? Honda? Last year a Honda rep actually snickered at me when I asked if Honda might offer a supermotard model or accessories in the US. Do they deserve to benefit from the growing popularity of supermotard in the states? Hell no. But AMA pro racing doesn't give a crap about racers or fans. They care about the manufacturers with the deep pockets.



Also, the AMA hasn't made any contact with any of the grassroots supermoto race series, so lord only knows what the rules will be. Hardworking enthusiasts have invested their time and their own money to make supermoto a reality in the US without any help from the AMA. Now AMA pro racing, having heard the buzz, is set to blow the grassroots orgs out of the water, siphoning off all the sponsorships in order to promote what will likely be a set of invitation only parking lot races.



This announcement doesn't sound like good news for anyone but the big 4 and the AMA.

I got word directly from AMA Pro Racing, only one class, 450cc limit. It was the only way to get the contingency money and factory sponsorship needed to make a national series pay for itself, attract top riders.



It ain't about the sport... it's about the money.



AMA pro racing claims that FIM S1 is considering the same limit to bring in more participation from manufacturers other than KTM and Husqvarna.



Makes me feel kinda silly for buying a Husky 570.

It seems to me that it "should" be the other way around. If they (big 4) want to race, make your bike competative or come up with a new bike! Honda has the XR650R (needs work but the foundation is there), Suzuki (c'mon its time to replace the DR650 anyway), Kawasaki (should work with Suzuki on a DR/KLR replacement), and Yamaha (YZF500F anyone) could easily step up to compete. In the mean time they can just hire the best riders and put the on the current 450cc machinery. This seems to have worked for them so far in the Premier class in SuperTT. Everytime a factory guy, with a factory bike showed up it turned Premier into 2 classes anyways just tlike Superbike is... Factory teams, then everyone else. I think brands like Honda, Suzuki, Kawi, and Yamaha need to get their heads handed to them once in a while, just to remind them that they aren't the only game in town. With AMA's decision, they are efficively making them the only game in town.



Oh well there's always CCS Supersingles class...