The American Revolution: Wayne Rainey takes control of Superbike di Paolo Gozzi paologozzi.gazzetta.it/en While World Superbike heads to Spain for the final part of the season which will conclude in France and Qatar, news has come from America of a revolution that will surely have positive repercussions for Superbike on a global level. The US domestic championship in fact is now in the hands of three-time World 500cc Champion Wayne Rainey through the KRAVE Group based in Costa Mesa, California. This means that the AMA championship will undergo a radical restructuring in an effort to bring what was once the most fascinating domestic series in the world back to its former glory, following a disastrous period due to regulation changes and poor promotion. WELCOME BACK YANKEES! – Superbike became a phenomenon in the USA in the 1970s/80s as a training-ground for a generation of champions who went on to write history in 500 GP: Freddie Spencer, Eddie Lawson and two-time winner Rainey himself. In the ‘90s the same championship produced men of the calibre of Scott Russell and Colin Edwards, who both won the world title. Australians Troy Corser (the first non-American to win the AMA title in ’94) and Troy Bayliss also burst onto the scene in America before becoming legends in the world championship. But it’s in the last decade that the AMA (American Motorcycle Association) series has been in a deep crisis thanks to the decisions taken by the DMG (Daytona Motorsport Group), which is owned by the son of Bill France, the legendary organizer of the 500 Mile race and the man who built the famous Florida tri-oval. Linking the AMA series to such a prestigious body was supposed to be a turning-point, but it was the final nail in the coffin. Wayne Rainey, 54 years old, with Valentino Rossi LOW LEVEL – The main error by DMG was to adopt technical regulations and race format (Superbike, Daytona SportBike and Supersport) that were too restrictive and totally different from the World Championship. Ducati, protagonists for over a decade, abandoned the series and the Japanese manufacturers also gradually reduced their involvement. Superbike has now become series for amateurs, with two or three good quality teams followed in vain by a group of privateers. The difficulty that 2013 champion Josh Herrin is encountering in Moto2 is the litmus test for the level of the series, which is very low. The KRAVE Group, which is Rainey and his partners (including former racer Chuck Aksland and ex-manager of Team Roberts in the world championship) will take over all sanctioning, operational, commercial and promotional rights, while the AMA will only be responsible for racing licenses. DORNA BLESSING – The revolution has come about with the blessing of Dorna, which now has total control of global bike racing. Wayne Rainey’s first aim is to adopt the same technical regulations as SBK so that there is an immediate exchange between the two series. This does not merely mean that it will now be easier to have quality wild-cards in the American Round, but also that the manufacturers can sell the same kits they make for the world championship in the USA. Renewed involvement by the manufacturers will quickly create a basin of talent, which in the short term is the thing that most interests Dorna. In 3 or 4 years there must be couple of quality young riders from the USA who can channel the interest of American fans towards MotoGP following Colin Edwards’ retirement and the crisis of Nicky Hayden. THE RETURN OF DUCATI? – The first clamorous effect of the revolution could be the return in grand style of the Italian manufacturer, which abandoned due to rules that excessively penalized twins. Ducati can’t wait to return to the USA, their most important market for sports-bikes. Even MV Agusta took part in some editions in the mid-00s and could be tempted to do so again. It’s easy to see that this change might also give new life to the Japanese manufacturers who have always taken part in the AMA series through their successful domestic importers. Good luck America!
Posted on: Thu, 04 Sep 2014 13:49:04 +0000
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