AMA Announces Its Plans For A New Superbike Class Structure In 2009

AMA TO ROLL OUT NEW SUPERBIKE CLASS STRUCTURE IN 2009
PICKERINGTON, Ohio (March 21, 2007) -  AMA Racing announced today that it will implement a new class structure for the AMA Superbike Championship beginning with the 2009 season.  The new class structure will feature three championship classes with accommodations in place to run developmental/support classes as part of the overall series.  The new championship classes are as follows:

• AMA Superbike
• AMA Supersport
• AMA Formula Xtreme

AMA Superbike will remain the series’ leading class and continue to be based primarily on 1000cc equipment. In its new iteration, AMA Superbike pulls from existing Superbike and Superstock rules resulting in an all-new premier class.  Supersport and Formula Xtreme will remain similar to their existing structure but will also be refined.

In making the announcement AMA President, Rob Dingman, acknowledged the dynamic nature of motorcycle development as well as the motorcycle marketplace.  “We’re seeing unprecedented gains in the levels of performance by modern motorcycles,” said Dingman.  “Also, as motorcycle sales have remained robust, the manufacturers have sought to accelerate their competitive advantages, not to mention market share, by improving key products even more.”  

Dingman added that AMA Racing’s objective is to recognize and respond to these changes while considering such factors as rider safety, quality of competition, cost, and the overall health and growth of motorcycle road racing, among other criteria.

In developing its new class structure, AMA Racing officials looked outward.  “We considered the class structure and rules packages of other leading sanctioning bodies worldwide as part of this process,” said Dingman.  “Ultimately, we need to do what is in the best interest of the riders, teams, manufacturers and sponsors competing in the United States but, at the same time, this cannot be done in a vacuum.”

Dingman said World Superbike as well as leading national series like British Superbike, German Superbike and Australian Superbike were examined.

In 2006 AMA Racing adopted new procedures for rules development.  In addition to a Racing Committee whose role is to determine and set strategic direction for all AMA Racing properties, separate rules committees were developed for each racing discipline.  The new Superbike class structure was presented to the Road Race Rules Committee on March 21 at a meeting at AMA offices in California.  Feedback provided by the committee will be used in determining final class structure details.

Specific equipment standards and technical rules remain under development and will be finalized in the near future.  Additionally, AMA Racing is evaluating several options for developmental/support classes.  A main objective for these classes is to create an improved process for the growth of younger riders and their ability to compete at the national level.  As always, AMA Racing will continually monitor its class structure and rules packages and modify as necessary.

Dingman stated that strengthening the AMA Superbike Championship overall is at the core of these changes.  “We see great opportunity for AMA Superbike to continue to expand,” said Dingman.  “Throughout 2006 and early 2007 we have made a number of changes to our organization and staff all in the name of improvement.  We see this new class structure as part of that evolution.  2007 will be an important year as we prepare for our future.”

About AMA Racing

AMA Racing is the competition arm of the American Motorcyclist Association and is the leading sanctioning body for motorcycle sport in the United States. Its professional properties include the Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series, the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship presented by FMF, the AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, the AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track Championship, the AMA Supermoto Championship and the AMA Pro ATV Championship. In amateur and pro-am competition, AMA Racing sanctions over 4000 events in 24 different disciplines and supports over 110 thousand active members. For more information about professional racing, visit www.amaproracing.com. Accredited media outlets can also access an on line Press Room at www.amaproracing.com/pressroom. For amateur racing information visit www.amadirectlink.com/amrace/amasports.asp.  

I don't believe these changes will have any significant meaning to the future of RoadRacing, other then taking care of business that many riders and fans already agreed on.Lets get some real leadership and take RR where it belongs, as a premier prime time sporting event, an other bigger better NASCAR. In 93' when Scott Hollingsworth and Pro Racing where given the reigns ,AMA showed a brain, then of coarse fired the organizing body Paradama. Paradama was in a position to transform Pro American RR in the same way Dorna took Grand Prix Racing. Two months after joining AMA to go Vintage Racing I still have not received even a *** post card.  

Be careful what you wish for lest ye get it.  I've been a NASCAR fan for more than 20 years and what has become of my once-beloved sport is a sad thing.  There's no individuality or manufacturer competition left in it.  It's just a lot of ad's and essentially crate cars (growing ever more identical) and hype and the ever present and all powerful hand of NASCAR who is far more concerend with the event than the race.

Growth and popularity have their benefits true enough.  But the fact is, for the bulk of fans, the biggest is greater access.  I remember when you were lucky to see a patrial taped airing of Talledaga on Wide World of Sports.  Now you can't escape NASCAR.  So it's good in that television coverage has brought the sport into our homes and more tracks have spread out through the country giving us more opportunity to see a live race.  But at what price?

A heavy one.  THe racing sucks and NASCAR spends more time trying to tweak the rules to try to make the racing better but still please the fans but not offend a manufacturer and to always find a way to make money than they do actually just letting racing be racing.  The old saying was, "Race on Sunday, buy on Monday."  That's gone.  And so to is a lot of the transferable technology that used to be very common.

With today's media options and coverage there's not a lot of need for growth to bring it into our homes.  SPEED does a great job covering bike racing and even CBS is getting in on the act with MotoGP.

AMA is certainly having issues, but it's still at it's heart, guys racing machines not completely sperated from what the guy on the street can actually buy.

Bigger isn't always better.