VIR cancellation of AMA roadrace event

Sooooo.....what does everyone think of the VIR suddenly cancelling its scheduled AMA Pro roadrace?  

I have many thoughts.  I work for the media and get the press releases from both VIR and AMA.  I have dealt with both organizations media personnel several times a year for the past 8 years.  VIR's people have been great, and AMA's people were great until DMG put their people in.  If you read something I posted last year in my dealings with AMA Media Relations in Daytona, as well as SPEED TV, you will get a fill for how they operate.  The post was called "AMA race weekend Daytona-disappointing".  Something like that.  AMA has had a propensity to drop the ball on a lot of things over the past few years, and on top of that they allow Speed to broadcast their races at midnight ET?  Rediculous to see while they show some stupid ass repeat shows at 8 and 9pm.  AMA Pro Racing has been poorly managed for a while, and it is killing pro motorcycle road racing in America.  I can assure you the people at VIR are gutted about this, but they were not afforded the oppoprtunity to properly promote and prepare due to AMA not getting this contract to them until June of this year, while VIR has been after AMA to get it to them since Dec 2010.  

No wonder Honda has little to do with AMA Pro Racing.  

Disappointing to say the least.  

Must agree with all that it's ashame that DMG did not get it straightened out with the folks from VIR as that's a great venue for the AMA event.

While we are on the topic of AMA and Speed I also agree with the comments from the post noting the poor management by DMG and SpeedTV in relation to how they show AMA Sportbike racing events. I recall a time when they showed races live or at least during the day (not late night) of the event then repeat during primetime on Tuesdays. They eventually moved the repeat of the event to Tuesday afternoons and now I don't think they repeat AMA Superbike/Supersport events.

I along with many others have submitted complaints for years about the above to the AMA as well as SpeedTv for their mishandling of motorcycle racing. Unfortunately, both groups don't listen very well. SpeedTV is affectionally referred to by many as NASCARTV since it's purchase by Fox from the Speedvision folks due to their lack of consideration for anything other than Nascar stuff.  

Or Ducati, or a few others.  Kawasaki is on again/off again.  Not sure how involved in the Attack Kawasaki Team they are.  AMA has little to no factory support.  The nearest thing is Rockstar/Makita Suzuki and Graves Yamaha.  Gee, they are the only two competing for a championship....again!  Imagine that!  It's sad.  And I wonder how many of us fans write AMA Pro Racing and voice our displeasure?!?!  I wonder if we should petition the AMA to approach Comcast or Versus to see what kind of television deal they could get?  Chances are, we are screwed as long as DMG has their filthy hands on the AMA.  They do pretty well with The Rolex Sports Car Series though, and they are not putting as many asses in the seats at NASCAR events either.  The AMA is the third born that will never be good enough in the eyes of the parents (DMG).  

DMG/Penske can ensure that their tracks remain AMA venues if they own the AMA.  Simple as that.  Got riders complaining about safety? walls? armco? no airfence? Make a rule that censors criticism  . . . . and throw em out for breaking the rule.  That's what they do in NASCAR.  

Interestingly enough, much of the old DMG regime is gone. Roger Edmondson, Merrill Vanderslice (the former DMG race director who fined Kawasaki's Jamie Hacking $4000 and suspended him "indefinitely"-- although the suspension was dropped to one race after he apologized to the AMA-- for having "used a string of profane language while exiting the press interview area."), et al have left the building, so much of the "the beatings will continue until morale improves" mentality of the AMA Pro Racing staff has gone with it. Problem is that there's still leftover policies that are continuing to wreck havoc.  

What's the track owners' objection to M1/Big Kahuna?

Does AMA Pro Racing favor M1/Big Kahuna as the promoter?

AMA Pro Racing, by holding back the contract to the last minute, foreclosed VIR from properly promoting VIR's event.  Whether the delay was intentional or just negligent would be good to know.  In either case, it does not reflect well on AMA Pro Racing's business practices.  

The biggest shame of this whole thing is, it's us fans that get screwed.  Motorcycle road racing is the most exciting motorsport there is, and it's greed and egos that are killing it.  Not to mention a complete lack of imagination on how to market and promote something so thrilling!  

The track owner's objection to M1 Promotions was that they figured they could just promote the race themselves instead of paying a fee for M1 to handle everything. The term commonly used here is "greed".

AMA Pro Racing doesn't really care who promotes the race, as long as they get a reasonably well-attended event and their sanctioning fee...

Apparently there are some issues as to what was considered legally binding by both parties. Check out this story from the South Boston Virginia News....  

Thanks for the reply and the link.  I will read it when I get home.  

Who cares about VIR -- I live in Atlanta, so I'll just laugh at all you Virginians who were expecting a race but won't get one when I'm enjoying this year's race at Road Atlanta!  Suckers!  Bet you wish you were here!

Wait -- when is this year's Atlanta race, again?  Son of a . . .  

The AMA really appears to have some severe management problems.
It's a darn shame - American motorcycle racing is exciting.
If AMA management can ever manage to get it's act together then
there is a good chance that American motorcycle racing can take
off and be a success, but as long it is being run in an amateurish manner
it will continue to be considered a "B" league as far as sponsors and TV
networks are concerned.
The Speed Channel broadcasts are actually quite good, but it is difficult
to promote the sport when the announcers have to explain about event cancellations
during a broadcast; which is what happened during the Laguna Seca race.  
Ride Proud, Ride Safe, Have Fun.

Besides the debacle of showing races on SpeedTV the other shame besides VIR is the lack of race events and too short of a season. While I'm sure the short season is due to lack of sponsorship and poor economy. It would be nice to see more races between the start at Daytona and the next race and to avoid such long breaks between races. The season should end in late October or early November not in early September. Adjusting the rules to be similar to World Superbike may also be helpful along with attracting more riders from other Countries or other series may help as well.