USSB!

[Speeddog]

Sounds like the insanity may be ending:

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Sep/080916a.htm

[superjohn]

Some of DMG's plans were kind of cool, but to impose such sweeping changes without the teams or manufacturers input was asinine. The current racing sucks. Watching one team constantly win and half the field on the same bike is boring. Plus, no Ducati. It also doesn't make sense to completely diverge from the WSBK and other regional formats, so all things held equal or constant, I would rather watch the USSB series than some NASCAR inspired spec racing.

[derby]

Some of DMG's plans were kind of cool, but to impose such sweeping changes without the teams or manufacturers input was asinine.

agreed.

The current racing sucks.

do you only watch superbike? there are two other classes, ya know.

Watching one team constantly win and half the field on the same bike is boring.

well, the kinda earned that dominance by not abandoning the series for 2-4 years over a rule disagreement. they also havent't blank-page redesigned their race platform every two years.

the blame for their dominance falls just as much on kawasaki and yamaha for abandoning the superbike class and honda for endeding their arrangement with hrc to pull their superbike development in house.

Plus, no Ducati.

that was ducati's choice not to field the 999. i can understand them not rushing to field 1098s since it's eligibility was announced so close to the start of the season. either way, it would've been legal for 2009.

It also doesn't make sense to completely diverge from the WSBK and other regional formats...

agreed. but worldsbk and amasbk rules were never in lockstep. granted, the dmg propsals basically ignored them altogether.

...so all things held equal or constant, I would rather watch the USSB series than some NASCAR inspired spec racing.

i don't think you're gonna get a choice. 

[tufty]

Is it possible to watch Formula Extreme? I never see it advertised.

[derby]

Is it possible to watch Formula Extreme? I never see it advertised.

usually airs on tuesdays with fx and superstock shown in the same hour.

[gm2]

well, the kinda earned that dominance by not abandoning the series for 2-4 years over a rule disagreement. they also havent't blank-page redesigned their race platform every two years.

the blame for their dominance falls just as much on kawasaki and yamaha for abandoning the superbike class and honda for endeding their arrangement with hrc to pull their superbike development in house.

this is the #1 most overlooked fact (facts) in the 'ama sbk sucks because yosh always wins complaint'.  recent events notwithstanding, it's not like yosh runs some special bike that no one else can build...

[EvilSteve]

i *really* can't understand what was wrong with making no changes in '09 and getting everyone on the same page for 2010.

+1

Personally I wish that they'd agree on WSBK and WSS rules here. In addition, if DMG believe that there's a need to have parity in some class then they can update MotoST to American Superbike & include that in the schedule. I think it's understandable for manufacturers to be concerned about the available time to build bike for a new series (yeah, it's their fault but that doesn't really change the fact). I've always thought FX was stupid personally (again, that's IMO) it just complicates everything by having seemingly competing series (supersport & FX). I guess you could say the same for Superstock & Superbike but I think they're pretty obvious.

2009:
Same rules as 2008 for SBK
American superbike replaces Superstock & is basically MotoST (which goes away)
FX & Supersport should be merged into one ("Daytona superbike" is BS)

2010:
WSBK
ASBK (Superstock equivalent basically)
WSS

The more we're like the rest of the world, the easier it is for our riders to transition. It should (in theory) be easier and cheaper for the manufacturers to support pro motorcycle racing in the US because they don't have to develop different spec bikes. That's one element that really stands out in the DMG proposals IMO, that we would end up with several totally different classes that no one races anywhere else.

[derby]

with the sale of grand-am to nascar, it's quite possible that dmg doesn't even own moto-st anymore.

[derby]

I've always thought FX was stupid personally (again, that's IMO) it just complicates everything by having seemingly competing series (supersport & FX). I guess you could say the same for Superstock & Superbike but I think they're pretty obvious.

i actually liked the old fx rules. it was full on run what you brung. basically no rules save the frame had to be from a production bike available in the US.

we had 750cc superbikes (w/ 1000cc twins) and 1000cc+ fx bikes with crazy f1 engineering motors. 

then they gelded the class and make it 600cc "superbikes".

[EvilSteve]

That sounds like a laugh.

I object to the FX partly because it's 600 based. It especially pisses me off that they run daytona with the FX bikes.

Warning: Can of worms being taken from the cupboard & combined with a can opener!
Not to mention that no, Duhamel may an awesome racer but, winning Daytona on the FX bikes doesn't make him Mr. Daytona.

Anyway, i'd like to see the US going down a more similar road to WSBK. If the market will support FX or other variants then great but I think they're optional.

[gm2]

http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=34470

John Ulrich, as usual, is doing a terrific job of documenting this whole fiasco.  this one is a particularly entertaining filet of Ray Blank re 600cc superbikes.

[derby]

http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=34470

John Ulrich, as usual, is doing a terrific job of documenting this whole fiasco.  this one is a particularly entertaining filet of Ray Blank re 600cc superbikes.

might as well read 'em in order:

1. http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=34357
2. http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=34358
3. http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=34370
4. http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=34470

[EvilSteve]

Talk about retarded. I'm not a fan of the DMG proposals (don't mind the ignored compromises though) but I don't think there's much to like about the behavior of the manufacturers either. It's pretty pathetic really.

[gm2]

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Oct/081002news.htm

[Spidey]

Honestly, if there is no AMA next year, that's just fine with me.  For my racing fix, there's club racing locally at Sears Pt., T-hill and B-willow, and WSBK and MotoGP on TV and within driving distance at Laguna and Miller.  I feel bad for the local privateers who race the AMA rounds, but other than that . . .  <shrug>