| Author | Message | ||
     Davegess |
Superbikeplanet.com has Honda press release up announcing the factory withdrawal form AMA racing. This is just a week after they withdrew from F1 car racing. Wonder if they will stay in MotoGP and WSBK? Probably yes. Might scale back in England and the Isle of Man??? This is gonna be a tough year. | ||
| Oddball |
Might be disappointed if they had a bike I wanted to see compete. American Honda withdraws from AMA road racing Torrance CA: American Honda announced today that it will withdraw Team Honda from participation in the 2009 AMA Roadracing Series. This was an extremely difficult decision to make as the racing spirit reaches to the very core of Honda. The primary factor contributing to this decision is the current global economic situation and its impact on Honda. Although Team Honda will not be in attendance, Honda will continue to be represented in AMA Roadracing through our ongoing support of both the Erion Honda Racing and Corona Honda Racing teams. While it is unfortunate that the current economic conditions led us to take this action, rest assured that Honda's deep-seated passion for racing has not been, and will never be, diminished. | ||
| Bcordb3 |
Ooooooooooops (Message edited by BCordb3 on December 12, 2008) | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
well I would rather hear them do it for financial issues that hear they were doing because they were in a pissing contest with AMA like suzuki (not that I liked them Infact I think they need to be knocked down a notch) was in. By the way is Suzuki competing in AMA this year? | ||
| Honu |
I hate to see any Brand pull out the series, this is not good for the sport when the biggest manufactor pulls out.  The thing that irks me about this whole economic crisis thing is all the businesses that just quit or shut down so fast, they refuse to streamline, tighten the belt, ride out the storm so to speak. JUST QUIT! Cause it is easier. Just pisses Me off!  | ||
| Glitch |
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| Bcordb3 |
I hate to see any Brand pull out the series, This sort thing has happened before, The factory riders seem get rides from some sponsor, shop, or a privateer organization, with factory backing. The hot shoes (flat tracking term) will be riding the same bikes they are riding now with different colored leathers. I did look on the Honda web site, there was no mention of its pull out. At least I didn't see it. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I guess they will have to race the bikes they sell to everyone else now... fair enough that they want to reset expectations and indicate they are now on a level playing field, and not to expect as much. | ||
| Elvis |
With Erion and Corona still participating, Honda teams will probably only be out-spending Buell teams by something like 50 to 1 now instead of the something like the 150 to 1 it would have been with full factory support. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I think the economic causes are an excuse rather than a real reason. Of ALL the participating teams and factories, Honda has the deepest pockets. I see this as sour grapes from Honda at not being able to dictate the rules that favor their constructs. They felt it was THEIR race and the others were just guests. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I'm with you Elvis... I think their previous approach priced them out of the market. Sure they have deep pockets, but a 25% drop in your sales in an industry that already has a fairly razor thin margin has GOT to leave a mark. I believe Toyota is even laying people off in Japan. The "spend a fortune to gain a second" days are over. On one hand, I like the "race what you build" philosophy. On the other hand, it means builders spend a lot of energy on awful streetbikes (but good track bikes). I would rather have seen Honda devote a few million to building a street legal dirt bike that weighs 260 pounds and that would run for 30k street miles between rebuilds. | ||
| Bads1 |
Jeremy, If you think Honda dictates that much you are very mistaken. They haven't won in Superbike Since Nicky Hayden..... what does that tell ya??? Suzuki has been running the show as far as win's in SuperBike for quite a stint. Ducati pulled a couple years ago. If Suzuki pull's so be it. Jordans team is still there. I kinda see a pattern here and it might be a good thing. | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
I think the AMA would be much better if it does not have factory teams. I think it would be much better for the sport if it was an all privateer sport. It would make it kinda like nascar, were all the teams are owned by people and they all get the same support from the factories. Heck I think The new 1125r team is taking the series in that direction with the geico sponcership | ||
| Bads1 |
Not really.... Honda has been doing it for years with Erion and Corona teams. Suzuki has been doing it with the Jordan and M1 teams,Kawasaki with the Attack team. Ducati with Larry Peagram which I might add did very well in Formula Extreme last year. Buell now can compete on a higher level. | ||
| Bads1 |
Nothing against Barnes but to put Hodgson or even old man Duhamel on a Buell would be awesome. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
If you think Honda dictates that much you are very mistaken. They haven't won in Superbike Since Nicky Hayden..... what does that tell ya??? Suzuki has been running the show as far as win's in SuperBike for quite a stint. Ducati pulled a couple years ago. If Suzuki pull's so be it. Jordans team is still there. I kinda see a pattern here and it might be a good thing. I agree to a degree in Superbike, but you'd have to agree that Honda is able to exert quite a bit of leverage in other areas (or at least they have been able to in the past). I'd like to see more of a privateer effort as well. The denial of support to "non-factory" teams silly. | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
Well I understand that the factories have been supporting these teams but common do you really think MJ gets the same equipment as the factory team. He has even said his bikes are not as good as there's. Erion got such good support because honda did not want to race formula extreme any more. | ||
| Bads1 |
Thats where I say I see the pattern happening. The factory's don't have to make them selves present in a full fledged team anylonger. Jordan may get more support then in the past. Like wise for the other satelite teams. I think this is actually a good thing. |
