So the new AMA rules are out:
http://www.amaproracing.com/prorace/rules.asp
Took a quick look and all that's there is basically the same thing
that was released nearly a month ago, the basic equipment rules for
the four classes. Just scanned them briefly, and the one thing I saw
was repeated use of the phrase "Eligible Equipment List" in ASB, which
wasn't apparent in the previous version. Basically if you want to
modify anything from stock, it has to be on the list.
Now this week they finally put out the applications for this, which
means as of today there are no approved aftermarket parts. None. I
assume the app explains the gory details of the procedure, which I
haven't seen anywhere, like number of units required, cost
limitations, availability requirements, etc. Also, there is no list of
homologated machines for ASB, which means there aren't even any stock
bikes you could use. Good thing the Daytona test is still a few weeks
away.
There isn't any competition regulations at all, so we don't know
things like practice and qualifying procedures, race start procedures,
race lengths, points system, etc., etc.
Maybe they'll hand this out on the grid at Daytona. Or Fontana...
Julian Bond wrote:
> Julian Bond
>> Mark N
>>> Also, there is no list of
>>> homologated machines for ASB, which means there aren't even any stock
>>> bikes you could use. Good thing the Daytona test is still a few weeks
>>> away.
>>
>> So ASB will be a straight mano a mano between Ben Bostrom and Josh
>> Hayes on stock R1s then. Should be good. ;)
>
> Sno'Joke
> http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article5052
Not a shock, I guess. If you look at the first release last month of the
ASB rules and now the "final" ones, it's totally obvious what the change
is. When I looked at that yesterday I had a hard time believing that the
factories had agreed to basically homologate everything on their bikes,
which really means no experimental or one-off parts at all. And it's not
just the factory teams, any team that goes racing in part to develop end
promote aftermarket parts they then sell, like Graves and Attack, isn't
going to like that much. You want to whip up a rearset for one of your
riders? Make a batch of them, submit them to DMG with your $500 filing
fee, set up a contingency fund, wait three months for DMG to process the
paperwork and your all set.
So the next shoe drops, and it appears that Rog Ed is as big of a liar
as our Tom (birds of a feather?). I guess it's official now, it's time
to take these clowns out back and shoot 'em...
Mark N wrote:
> So the new AMA rules are out:
>
> http://www.amaproracing.com/prorace/rules.asp
>
> Took a quick look and all that's there is basically the same thing
> that was released nearly a month ago, the basic equipment rules for
> the four classes. Just scanned them briefly, and the one thing I saw
> was repeated use of the phrase "Eligible Equipment List" in ASB, which
> wasn't apparent in the previous version. Basically if you want to
> modify anything from stock, it has to be on the list.
Further on this, and the OEM's (the ones with testicles) objections.
Which are, according to DMG-biased RRW: "Specific objections involve
rules requiring that non-standard parts and equipment be homologated and
made readily available, including handlebars, rearsets, exhaust systems,
camshafts and radiators. The importers also object to rules requiring
use of 17-inch wheels that are no lighter than stock wheels; the move to
ban lighter and smaller-diameter (i.e., 16.5-inch racing wheels)
followed tire company objections to supplying both 16.5-inch and 17-inch
tires for the American Superbike class, according to DMG officials."
Here are a couple examples of specific areas of the rules for both ASB
and DSB, from the 10/24 release and the final rules this past week.
Brakes:
ASB then - Front and rear master cylinder including lever/pedal may be
modified or replaced from those fitted to the homologated motorcycle.
Front and rear calipers may be modified or replaced from those fitted to
the homologated motorcycle.
Brake pads or shoes may be modified or replaced from those fitted to the
homologated motorcycle.
Brake hoses and brake fittings may be modified or replaced from those
fitted to the homologated motorcycle.
Brake discs may be modified or replaced from those fitted to the
homologated motorcycle.
ASB now - Front and rear master cylinder including lever/pedal may be
modified or replaced from those fitted to the homologated motorcycle
with approved parts appearing on the Eligible Equipment List.
Front and rear calipers may be modified or replaced from those fitted to
the homologated motorcycle with approved parts from the Eligible
Equipment List.
Brake pads or shoes may be modified or replaced from those fitted to the
homologated motorcycle.
Brake hoses and brake fittings may be modified or replaced from those
fitted to the homologated motorcycle.
Brake discs may be modified or replaced from those fitted to the
homologated motorcycle with approved parts appearing on the Eligible
Equipment List.
DSB then - Original equipment brake calipers must be used, except where
a TIF provides for substitutes. Substitutes must appear on the Eligible
Equipment List.
Aftermarket brake pads and lines may be substituted by homologated units
appearing on the Eligible Equipment List.
The brake master cylinders may be substituted by homologated units
appearing on the Eligible Equipment List.
DSB now - Front and rear master cylinder including lever/pedal may be
modified or replaced from those fitted to the homologated motorcycle
with approved parts appearing on the Eligible Equipment List.
Front and rear calipers may not be modified or replaced from those
fitted to the homologated motorcycle except where permitted on a T.I.F.
All substitutes must be approved and appear on the Eligible Equipment List
Brake pads or shoes may be modified or replaced from those fitted to the
homologated motorcycle.
Brake hoses and brake fittings may be modified or replaced from those
fitted to the homologated motorcycle.
Brake discs may be modified or replaced from those fitted to the
homologated motorcycle with approved parts appearing on the Eligible
Equipment List.
Rear suspension:
ASB then - Rear suspension unit can be changed but a similar unit must
be used (i.e. dual or single shock).
The rear suspension linkage may be modified or replaced.
ASB now - Rear suspension unit can be changed but a similar unit must be
used (i.e. dual or single shock). It must appear on the Eligible
Equipment List.
The rear suspension linkage may be modified or replaced but must utilize
the original mounting points on the frame and swingarm. The linkage must
appear on the Eligible Equipment List
DSB then - The rear shock linkage may be substituted with a homologated
unit appearing on the Eligible Equipment List.
The rear shock may be modified or replaced by units appearing on the
Eligible Equipment List.
DSB now - Rear suspension unit can be changed but a similar unit must be
used (i.e. dual or single shock). It must appear on the Eligible
Equipment List.
The rear suspension linkage may be modified or replaced but must utilize
the original mounting points on the frame and swingarm. The linkage must
appear on the Eligible Equipment List
On and on. In total, EEL appeared in the original ASB rules release
exactly twice (fork internals, swingarm), and now in the final rules
twenty-seven times by my count. What is totally clear here is that in
their public pronouncements DMG withheld information on the EEL
requirements related to ASB in October, while at the same time they were
as clear on those requirements in DSB as they are now. In other words,
DMG misled, the factories got played, and all to kill time while the
factories and tracks lost any chance of considering alternatives to
DMG's Giant Club Series concept.
What these new rules probably mean is that the factories cannot use a
version of the built-in-Japan factory SBs raced in WSB and elsewhere,
they basically have to build them here and either use parts in the
general aftermarket already homologated by DSB or homologate their parts
themselves; in effect, DMG is requiring the factories to homologate a
sort of SB race kit. In addition to what RRW mentions, the list of EEL
parts includes clutches, bodywork, fuel tanks, velocity stacks,
instrument panels, front and rear subframes.
Now, I suspect the capons at Yamaha knew this was coming down the pike
and were already on the road of building their own bike, the McCarty
interview seems to confirm that. Hell, they may well have been
co-conspirators here, actually pushing for this type of rules package,
just as they drove the original dumbed-down ASB concept. If you can't
beat 'em, change the rules of the game.
Anyway, now we wait one more time. Will DMG bend yet again, or are they
confident that it's so late in the process that the tracks can't get
out, that the factories have no alternative? If the other OEMs pull out
will DMG then screw their "friends" at Yamaha by promoting DSB to
premier status, based on the lack of participation and homologated parts
in ASB? The problem with dealing with habitual liars is that it can be
hard to determine what their ultimate end-game is. One must go back to
basic principals, and those were a middleweight-type premier class with
tightly controlled parts and performance that could run in the 200
(Daytona Uber Alles!), no literbikes at all, and no factory prototype
racing. So are we perhaps circling back to that?
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>homologated machines for ASB, which means there aren't even any stock
>bikes you could use. Good thing the Daytona test is still a few weeks
>away.