AMA Pro Racing Rules

DIS tire tests have been inching back from their 1st of the year dates
for sometime now and what use to be a sneak peak, as well as a
shakedown of sorts for the coming years teams is pretty much run on
last years stuff just testing compounds. As far as who'll actually be
testing on what remains to be seen, though(at this time) I wouldn't be
surprised if Yam, Kaw, Jordan, Corona, RRW and maybe Pegram show, but
given how very tight money is, who knows? If it weren't for the spec
tire and adding T1 and 2 I'd imagine they'd scrub it for lack of $'s
like other series have...

 

Both Yamaha and Suzuki have a new bike to test. But who knows if Suzuki
is even racing next year.

 

Yam'll be there, at least that's what Hayes has said and even though at
this time the Suz end of the deal appears to remain "fluid" I wouldn't
be that surprised to see them as well, but you never know how
Edmundson's little visit to Japan and the upcoming rules pow-wow will
go. A lot of things have changed since the announced sale last March
and none of them real good, so who knows?

 

Mark N is gay? Now there's a surprise.


Go fast. Take chances.
Mike S.

 

He is? Damn, and I was just getting half-way comfortable with him being
RMR's resident Neo-Nazi...

 

Personal? Sorry, that's pretty much a fact, Jack, err, Mark..

Dude, when it comes to alienating folks you need absolutely no
assistance whatsoever..

What connection is that? You mean the one where there's a whole country
of un-employed folks with little, or no money to pay the rent, much
less go to a race? Or the one that says Professional racing, whether on
2 wheels, or 4 pretty much rely on credit and btw, if you haven't
noticed, there is a slight shortage of the aforementioned of late, but
that's okay, let's argue fuel tanks. Wow!

So, because they drew out, not to mention confounded the process and
now that the $'s dried up they're gonna take a pass? All that will do
is reaffirm what some have thought from the get go..

I kinda' imagine there's folks that would do a few things a "little"
different, though I doubt the way you think..

His retirement, if he does, won't draw (m)any tears..

Next year? We should be so lucky..

Yeah, I've been hearing that "move on" line for 25 years, or so and
though I'm not saying it won't happen someday, I am saying it hasn't
happened yet, nor does it look like it's going to anytime soon either.
So, maybe "someone" should attempt to include that demographic. Novel
idea, huh?

Gator Nation! Now we gotta start thinkin' about them 1/2 assed injuns...

Actually, it's a pair of facts, they fucked it up and now they're
gone, but I suppose you can think of them as just one if need be..

I'm not looking to convert anyone to anything, I'm only lofting a
little of your own booshit back at you, that's all..

"Journalism," as in Motorcycle racing? Yeah, right!

No, the government should get out the marriage business completely and
just recognize civil unions, let the churches worry about marriage.
Heh, hopefully that'll keep um' busy for a century, or so..

T3

Political Correctness is a doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical
liberal minority, and rabidly promoted by anÊunscrupulous mainstream
media, which holds forth theÊproposition that it is entirely possible
to pick up a turd by the clean end... (author unknown)

 

I like watching Bautista. But he got comprehensively beaten by
Simoncelli this year. Despite Simoncelli not getting the same bike till
mid year. FWIW, I think both of them will be in MotoGP in 2010 assuming
they finish 1 and 2 in 250GP in 2009.

 

Oh, no doubt at all, and I doubt they have to finish 1-2, all they
have to do is avoid a Poggiali-like pratfall. They're EuroMed 250
frontrunners, it's basically guaranteed. Simoncelli, I'd like to see
him in MotoGP, because of his riding style, his personality, and that
he's bigger than a breadbox. Bautista, he's just more of the same
bullshit, no question that he'd be there because of his size and
passport and not much else. He's got Honda satellite ride written all
over him.

 

Whoa! Please clarify that a little, okay? Do you believe they'll merit
a MGP ride if they finish "1 and 2," or are you saying they'll get one
just because they came up thru "the ranks?"

Or another and more probing question;

Given that there wasn't room for Spies at the MGP Inn are you saying
these guys either deserve, or have one "reserved" just because? If so,
because of what? Enlighten me on that if you would, thanks...(BTW, this
isn't a Buttbomb set-up, I'm seriously interested in your POV)

T3

 

None of the above? I'm not saying they deserve it, or have a seat
reserved. But look at 2010. Edwards, Capirossi could well be out.
Toseland, Hopkins, Vermeulen could easily be out. If Bautista and
Simoncelli get 1 and 2 they will have done it two years running. They're
in the same paddock. They bring money. etc etc etc. It's reality, innit.

Maybe there will be room for Spies in 2010 too. But I figure he has to
prove himself in WSB first. In one year. But there again, maybe he'll
like it in WSB and want to stay.

So with that out the way, I think Simoncelli is on a roll and has the
right attitude to do well. I'm really not so sure about Bautista.
There's just a few too many races where he doesn't quite cut it. So
perhaps he's playing Dani P to Simoncelli's Stoner.

 

Pretty much, but it also reinforces what I thought, MGP isn't really
about who's the best, or most deserving it's about who can bring money
and a following..(jaded sombitch, huh? Oh, and before somebody goes
medieval on me, I believe some of the best rider's in the world are in
MGP, just not all of them..

Kinda' sad how far a few AMA titles have fallen on the "World" stage.
Hmm, I wonder, why is that?

TBH I really don't have much of an idea how they've done, as I don't
follow the wring-ding's that much, though apparently the "EuroMed
stairway to MGP heaven" thing is still very much intact...

T3


Some people get lost in thought because it's such unfamiliar territory.
~G. Behn

 

4 out of your 5 being "SB guys" - what about Gibernau, de Puniet, de
Angelis, Elias, or the biggest disappointment of the deacde, Melandri?
Oh, I guess they're a protected class...

Yes, it certainly in...

So what is the threshold? What is adequate to "earn" 250 midget-level
consideration in MotoGP? Agreed that he can't just show up, but it's
hardly fair to expect him to win a title first time out either.

Agreed. If 250 is really what a lot of you guys claim, a legitimate
world championship, he strikes me as a guy who should stay there, at
least until he makes a major jump in performance.

Not entirely certain of what you're saying, but it certainly seems
like a shot at Dani. Remember when you were calling him a genius? I
find it amusing how you tend to be so hot on the Next Big Thing in
250, only to abandon them quickly once they fail to meet expectations
in the big class. Which, except for Rossi and perhaps Stoner, they all
do. Maybe it's time for a rethink in general? On the part of those
doing the hiring in MotoGP, that is...

Not that I necessarily agree on Pedrosa, who I'm again tempted to pick
as the next champion...

 

Of course its about the money. You'd think an American would understand
that.

As for the old chestnut about "not all of them" I still have a hard time
thinking of anyone who could bring in top 10 finishes in MotoGP who
isn't already there.

Perhaps look at people who've come into MotoGP with a national title or
a WSB title (or a 2nd or 3rd) over the last few years. Byrne, Haga,
Corser, Edwards, Bayliss, Russell, Vermeulen. Of course there's all
sorts of other reasons. But none of them have looked like MotoGP
championship contenders. The only one to actually do the job was Hayden.
It's not that AMA titles have fallen from the world stage. They never
were enough.

So you don't know anything about 250s, while the teams apparently don't
know anything about the AMA. There's a certain symmetry there.

 

Yeah, them as well. There ought to be a big shake out at the end of next
year. There must be 10-12 riders all together out of the 18 who have had
their chance and haven't come up with the goods. Leaving maybe 4-5 real
contenders and a couple of guys who were in a learning year.

I really don't know. If he does a Bayliss and just completely smokes the
rest of the field I can imagine a door opening into MotoGP. If he wins a
few, fades in a few and comes 3rd in the championship, I don't think
that will be enough for 2010. It really wouldn't surprise me if he's
still in WSB in 2012. I think that's as sad as you probably do.

It's not that Bautista's slow, it's that he has one too many off days.
So it's not "a major jump in performance" that's needed, it's
consistency and a willingness to actually fight for it, that he needs to
find. And winning a 250 championship would help.

It's not that at all. Dani P has always had speed. What he doesn't seem
to have is the ability to actually race. You could see this when he was
in 250 and we've seen it in MotoGP. He may be a moaning git, but you
can't accuse Stoner of that. The comparison is not perfect but
Simoncelli clearly has heart and is not afraid to go elbow to elbow and
race. Like Stoner. Bautista seems a little more circumspect and mostly
loses out when it comes down to a pushing match. Like Pedrobot.

I think Dovi will beat PedrodelaRosa more often than the other way
round. I think Dani will be 3rd or 4th in the championship and will be
out of the Repsol team come 2010

 

Both Laguna and Indy were odd races. Laguna because of Michelin's cock
up. Indy because of the rain.

Seem to remember Chaz Davies did ok that race too.

I think you're blinded by, oh what shall we say this time, how about "a
lack of appreciation for 125/250 in the USA."

Agreed. But most of those at least came from winning in WSB. It's very,
very unusual for anyone to jump from a national championship to a good
ride. That doesn't especially reflect on the AMA. It's equally true of
BSB and even the Japanese championship. T3 seemed to be saying that
winning at AMA is enough. Well it isn't and it never has been.

Now winning the Spanish 125 championship will get you a good ride in
125. but it won't get you into MotoGP.

No. But apparently you are. Again, and again.

 

I think its worse than usual next year.
- Edwards. Old.
- Capirossi. Old.
- Hopkins. Too much "Gobert" in him
- Vermeulen. Not getting any better.
- Toseland. Didn't get any better.
- Melandri. Blew it.
- De Puniet. Too many crashes.
- Gibernau. Disappears again.
- De Angelis. 10th again?
And I'm pretty sure all those people will be reaching the end of
contracts next year.

Rea is in the same position as Spies. He's got to win.
Kyonari has to prove he can qualify and win every weekend, not just
occasionally. And Honda already have their token Japanese in MotoGP.

I'm struggling here to remember any time Dani has ever passed somebody.
What I do remember is him trying to chase someone down, failing and then
fading away with 7 laps to go.

Don't underestimate the fallout from the Michelin-Bridgestone swap. Or
Puig's 'toys out the pram' interview about Hayden. He's wearing out his
welcome. And after everything Honda has done for DaniP and Puig,
corporate pride wants results. If those results don't come, then what?

 

Or the lack of it..

My point is, it's hard to know with the vetting process that's in place..

Never enough, really? Hmm, I can think of a few that were "half-way"
successful..

I meant that I didn't know much about those two rider's not that I
don't know anything about 250 GP. In any event, I just have a hard time
with them automatically getting a MGP ride over, say, a BSB, AMA, AJSB,
or whatever national title holder. If MGP is the best, on the best then
I would think it has to readily accept and include a national title
holder at least as equally as a 250, any other way makes the whole deal
a little hollow, at least to me...

 

I remember him torpedoing a guy one time...