Another Angle on the AMA/CCE Deal

This is the first piece I've seen that mentions Honda's take on this:
http://www.off-road.com/dirtbike/columns/editorial/AMACCEHonda.html

 

One of the saner takes on the situation that I've seen. What really matters in all this is what the factories do. A lot of people forget that the "premier" series is, for all intents and purposes, whatever series the factories back. This because the factories control the bulk of the top riders. If the factories go with the CCE series then that is what the public will accept as the legitimate championship. Given their long ties with the AMA though I doubt that that will happen. The CCE series will make a lot of noise for a year, then become a sideshow and then disappear. (FUSA is in stage 2 of that procees now, IMO)

 

The article did say CCE may already have Yamaha and Suzi with them.

 

I think the factories need to send the AMA a message and go with CCE. Fans don't care if it's the AMA Supercross, CCE Supercross or the Frito Lay Supercross Championship. They're paying to see Carmichael and McGrath duke it out as well as all the other great riders in the series.

A sanctioning body should do just that, sanction races. The promotor should handle the race weekend details. Just like AAA got out of the racing business and concentrated on road issues, the AMA needs to get out of the racing business and leave it to someone that not only knows how but can do it much better.

CCE has proven they can put on a great show and they have the experience to do it. Going head to head against them is foolish in my opinion.

 

That would be the really messy scenerio, having the factories split between the two. In spite of what the article said, my hunch is that it won't play out that way.

 

Agreed, 100%.

That was my opinion when they took over FUSA, I thought that they were going to blow the AMA right out of the water. Obviously I over-estimated them. The only way that they'll win this is if their TV package is so superior to the AMA's that the factories would be crazy not to jump ship.

 

Money and power. Power and money. Rinse, lather, repeat.

 

I may be way off base here, but is it not a consideration that AMA is the U.S. sanctioning body recognized by F.I.M.? With this in mind, it seems the factories are only going to compete in one place, the AMA series. As well as the riders, the factories also have some sort of pride to win a championship, even though we don't have a constructor race, like WSBK.

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Jim D.
Have you guys seen my ice scraper?

 

CCE just did a deal that could see the 2003 CCE Supercross series carry FIM World Championship status.

 

Thanks for the info, JU. I wasn't sure if I had seen all the relevant pieces.

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Jim D.
Have you guys seen my ice scraper?

 

I don't know, fellas...

If CCE and the FIM are bedfellows with this Supercross thingy, and both are successful and happy in 2002, who is to say that they will not drag F-USA into the boat? With their respective promotional experience and clout, I don't see how it could work out any other way, regardless of past experiences. And the factories are in the business of selling bikes. If this means chosing one faction over the other, so be it. They are going to go where it benefits them, loyalties be damned. Honda, for example, would not support a series with them as the only factory supporter represented. I could be wrong, but...

Either way, we win.

[This message has been edited by WERA74 (edited 01-07-2002).]

 

So, with WERA's affiliation with AMA, why can't the Endurance thingy get FIM sanction? Is it because the AMA wants to hold all the cards? Judging from past experience...

[This message has been edited by WERA74 (edited 01-07-2002).]

 

Yep, Thats how I see it. CCE will make some noise & then fade into a firm 2nd level series whose outlook for growth is grim. The AMA, warts & all, will drive on. The main result of all the fighting may be more motorcycle related stuff on TV as both try to top the other. If so , wrap it up. I'll take it!

The piece was a much saner take, was it not? I guess no one there was running for office

 

Like I said...

Could this "competizione" be the catalyst for improved TV coverage of roadracing here? Let's get ready to rumble...

 

Maybe nobody there has done as much research, and is relying more on wishfull thinking, as in, put them all in one room and give them pizza and donuts and all will be well.

Sort of like those editors who kept printing the "we're winning" press releases issued by the AMA right up to the point where they handed over the $3 million lawsuit settlement. That's winning?

 

Hey Mongo--

Let's get some money on this deal.

You say CCE can't have FIM sanction for Supercross World Championship events held in the U.S.

I say they can, and will.

How much you wanna stake on it?