Honda Pulls out of AMA board!

[Gixxerworld]

Honda Pulls out of AMA Board

Written by: Honda Racing Torrance, CA – 2/18/2006 For more than 30 years, American Honda has maintained a seat on the American Motorcycle Association (AMA) Board of Trustees.

Unfortunately, recent actions taken by the AMA have caused American Honda to question its continued participation on both the AMA Board of Trustees and the Paradama (AMA Pro Racing) Board of Directors.

Ultimately, American Honda has made the decision to vacate both seats on these boards effective immediately.

Ray Blank, American Honda Senior Vice President, has served on the AMA Board of Trustees since 1989, and on the AMA Pro Racing board since Paradama’s reorganization in the late ’90’s. No Honda representative will take Mr. Blank’s place.

During the time representatives from American Honda served in AMA
board-member capacities, the company played a significant role in many positive changes that have taken place in motorcycle racing; the rise of Supercross as a mainstream sport; improvements in rider safety across a broad spectrum of professional motorcycle racing classes; the building of Paradama as a solid business entity within the AMA organization; and sponsorship growth to a level that now supports more full-time professional motorcycle racers than ever before.

American Honda has supported the Paradama concept since it was
conceived as a means to create a profitable corporation to fund a
vision of what AMA racing should become, and what an AMA non-profit organization could become—a million member organization that fights for motorcyclists’ rights, advocates keeping land open for responsible off-roading and maintains a vital Washington presence.

Recently, however, conflicting interests within the AMA organization have caused a division of ideology and a blurring of the vision that American Honda has always supported. Recent issues, including the departure of dedicated individuals from AMA Pro Racing and its inability to stand by its own rulebook with regard to recent Formula Xtreme considerations, have been particularly alarming.

Honda believes the rulebook is a sanctioning body’s most important
asset. When a governing body violates the sanctity of its rulebook, it loses credibility with everyone associated with racing—the teams, the riders, the sponsors and, most importantly, the fans who rely on sanctioning bodies to create racing environments which ensure fair, balanced and exciting competition. Honda believes the AMA and other sanctioning bodies must be responsible for coordinating the efforts of all participants to ultimately benefit the sport. Honda also
believes that all manufacturers, through technical committees, must participate in, and collaborate on, development and harmonization of technical rules for each class of competition.

American Honda will continue its corporate AMA membership and will
continue to support the AMA’s all important, industry efforts in the areas of land use, riders’ rights and the many other positive programs the organization spearheads.

American Honda will continue to compete in AMA sanctioned racing, and will continue to utilize its resources to build the sport and support more riders and teams. Today, Honda offers unprecedented support throughout the AMA professional paddocks.

Most importantly, Honda remains committed to providing new opportunities for customers to enjoy and race Honda products, and for fans to share in the unique passion and excitement of motorcycle racing.

[Jiggly]

link????

[Gixxerworld]

Originally Posted by Jiggly

link????

and this should be in general or racing

my bag dude.
http://www.speedtv.com/articles/moto...ry/moto/22157/

[Jiggly]

no prob thanks!

Just that is big news

[madman748]

It's just like Honda. If they can't have it there way, they whine and cry. Here's a link to Honda's statement and the AMA's response:

Honda - http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2006/Feb/060218e.htm

AMA - http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2006/Feb/060218h.htm

[jk750]

So... Buell upset the applecart and Honda left the party?

AMA RESPONSE TO HONDA ANNOUNCEMENT

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- Dal Smilie, newly elected chairman of the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Board of Directors, today expressed disappointment over the decision by American Honda Motor Co. Inc. to withdraw from participation in the AMA Board of Directors.

Ray Blank, Honda's representative on the AMA Board, announced his resignation at the Board's meeting February 18 in Indianapolis. Honda said that it will maintain its corporate membership in the AMA and continue to compete in AMA-sanctioned racing. The company has also pledged to support the Association's work to protect the rights of American motorcyclists.

Blank had served on the AMA Board since 1989. He also served on the AMA Pro Racing Board. At its meeting in Indianapolis, the AMA Board made the decision to replace the single AMA Pro Racing Board by a group of rulesmaking committees specific to each discipline of AMA professional competition.

That decision was part of a series of changes in the AMA's organizational structure designed to increase the responsiveness and transparency of the Association's work in its three key areas: rights, riding and racing.

"It is unfortunate that American Honda has chosen to withdraw from the AMA Board at this important time, when the AMA is embarking on a new era," Smilie said. "However, we respect Honda's decision and welcome their continued participation in the Association.

"I have worked with Ray for the past 17 years on the Board, and all of us appreciate his contributions," Smilie added. "Ray has informed us that Honda will be involved in the new pro racing committees that will lead to a more responsive approach to rulesmaking for all disciplines of AMA professional competition."

[jk750]

Unbelievable!

Honda, more than instrumental and influential in getting the Daytona 200 switched from SuperBike (which they feared they could not win) to Formula Xtreme (which they knew they would win) last year. A class Honda proposed and helped draft the rules for. Switching from the earlier FX 1000cc bikes to 600cc.
Now, before tiny Buell has even turned a wheel in racing in '06, Honda leaves the table. Is Honda that threatened by Buell?

I'm all for adhering to the rules. But the AMA writes, interprets and enforces the rules, not Honda! Perhaps Honda forgets, they are not the sanctioning body.

[madman748]

^Ya... What he said.

I love seeing the Honda commercials bosting that they've taken the checker flag in all the FX races. It's easy to win if you propose a class designed around your own equipment. And furthermore, you're the only "factory" bike in the class.

This year they aren't even running a full factory effort all year. Only the 200 and maybe a few others. My opinion, is American Honda saw other manufacturers coming into FX and decided to jump ship. Using the reorg of the AMA and the legality of the Buell as an excuse.

[wyckedflesh]

The real question is "Are Honda worried about a known manufacturer with little large scale series wins...or are they afraid of another manufacturer taking one of their other streetbikes, and doing as they did the last time the rules were that wide open for interpretation?" The rules for the Two Cylinder Air Cooled Engine class claim "Unlimited" under engine modification restrictions...who else out there manufactures a two cylinder air cooled engine?

[madman748]

Originally Posted by wyckedflesh

The real question is "Are Honda worried about a known manufacturer with little large scale series wins...or are they afraid of another manufacturer taking one of their other streetbikes, and doing as they did the last time the rules were that wide open for interpretation?" The rules for the Two Cylinder Air Cooled Engine class claim "Unlimited" under engine modification restrictions...who else out there manufactures a two cylinder air cooled engine?

I'd say a little of both. What with Yamaha coming into the class full bore and Buell designing a bike specifically for the class. Ducati has a 1000cc air-cooled supersport bike (SS1000DS F).

[Gixxerworld]

Originally Posted by wyckedflesh

The real question is "Are Honda worried about a known manufacturer with little large scale series wins...or are they afraid of another manufacturer taking one of their other streetbikes, and doing as they did the last time the rules were that wide open for interpretation?" The rules for the Two Cylinder Air Cooled Engine class claim "Unlimited" under engine modification restrictions...who else out there manufactures a two cylinder air cooled engine?

This is who click here...>>> http://www.saturnsurplus.com/engine/twocyl.htm

[Redstar11]

With Honda's well publicized ill treatment of its' privateer racers, this should come as no suprise. Honda is the big baby who cries and is going to take the ball and go home.

They seem more interested in padding their trophy cabinet than helping usher in and take part in the spirit of racing.

Good riddance. Looks like I will think twice about buying another Honda.

[hybrid]

Lets not forget that the ama is a corrupt organization. I know first hand and while I choose to not spill the proverbial beans.........it is total bullshit.\

While honda is a tryanny of sorts........all the manufacturers are guilty of it.

[purevol]

Honda didnt exactly pull out of the AMA, it simply vacated its seats on the board. For the full scoop, I wrote a nice little editorial on my website posted here