Editorial by Michael Hannas

While it seemed like the power struggle between AMA Pro Racing’s new operators Daytona Motorsports Group and the American distributors for Honda, Suzuki, and Kawasaki had finally come to a peaceful resolution, DMG’s release of the 2009 AMA Superbike rules has once again angered the manufacturers to the point of threatening not to compete next season.  Rumors are circulating that Kawasaki was not happy with the mandate of stock fuel tanks for the 2009 American Superbike class, as they have been using a custom fuel tank for the past few seasons that carries a lot of the fuel load under the seat and helps handling tremendously.  This along with the mandate that stock size 17” wheels must be used reportedly convinced Team Green that they did not want to play and they informed Suzuki and Honda of their decision. Yamaha has already committed to race in AMA/DMG American Superbike and Daytona Sportbike with a factory team.

Now it appears Suzuki will not participate in the upcoming Daytona Tire Test, as American Suzuki has reportedly told the Yoshimura team that they will not support them for the test.  American Honda’s plans for the tire test at this point are unknown, but they are scheduled to be testing at Barber the few days before Thanksgiving.  Kawasaki is not likely to attend the test.  Apparently as a show of force, the three manufacturers will not attend in hopes that DMG will once again change the rules to the OEM’s liking.  As far as we are aware of, Suzuki has not told any of its support teams if they will be supporting them next year or not.  We have heard rumors that some of the existing teams have already decided they will not be racing next year, as it is already too late to secure sponsorship and commit without knowing if they will have OEM support, and even if they did get bikes tomorrow it would be too late to get them ready in time for the season without a huge increase in expenditure.  The picture is not looking any better than it did six months ago, unless you are a Yamaha fan.

To me personally, the bickering and political gesturing back and forth makes the whole motorcycle road racing industry look childish and unprofessional.  The OEM’s besides Yamaha look like a bunch of spoiled kids who are upset they have a new babysitter who won’t let them do whatever they want anymore.  Sure, the new babysitter may have some rather extreme methods and an unfamiliar set of guidelines, but if the old ones weren’t working, shouldn’t we all at least give the new ones a try?  To just say “I’m taking my ball and going home” isn’t the solution.

If the fuel tank rule really was the last straw for Kawasaki, I guess I can see why they are upset.  They did spend a lot of time and money developing the tank, and it really did increase the performance of the bike.  But they also built a Superstock-spec ZX-10R in their race department that Jeremy Toye put well inside the top ten in AMA Superstock last season with very minimal testing as part of a Roadracing World magazine project- with a 100% stock fuel tank!  So they already know in a class where everyone has to run stock tanks they can be competitive.  The 2009 American Superbike rules are closer to the 2008 Superstock rules that the Superbike rules anyway, and they know they can build a competitive bike for that class, so why not just suck it up and come race. 

Suzuki has even less reason to complain.  Sure, the rules are changing which may threaten their dominance, but face it: Suzuki has dominated both Superbike and Superstock since they went to 1000cc machinery.  They will probably continue to dominate in American Superbike should they choose to participate, whether they are on 16.5” or 17” wheels, stock tanks or custom tanks, magnesium wheels or stockers, stock forks or factory Showas.  Is it that bad if someone else at least has a chance to win? 

Honda should be the most embarrassed if they don’t race in 2009.  They almost won the championship in Supersport last season and have a competitive bike for the Daytona Sportbike rules package.  If they don’t polish up the crankshaft they have a good shot at winning the Daytona 200 this year.  While in Superbike Miguel DuHamel and Neil Hodgson were lucky to get even a sniff of the podium last year, their one and only rider in Superstock, Corona’s Jake Holden, actually won races and battled the horde of Suzukis for the championship in 2008.  With the 2009 American Superbike rules closer to Superstock rules, Honda may actually have a chance to fight for wins and a championship for the first time in years.  But they might not race?  WTF?

The best racing in 2008 was in Superstock and Supersport.  The 2009 American Superbike and Daytona Sportbike rules are closest to these two classes.  If you like to see close racing at every AMA round, it looks like on paper at least that the 2009 AMA/DMG rules will give you what you want.  Although if you want to see the trickest, most bad-ass Superbikes made, you’ll have to fly across the pond or make the trip to Miller for the WSB round in June.  Personally, I’m fine with that. Let’s Race!