motorcyclebloggers.com

Ok,

So as we all know the 2009 AMA Pro-Racing package for the superbike class has been released.

Some of you might want to check out all the details on the rules, so jump on over to the amaproracing website and download a copy of the rules.

Some other bonus information…..

Dunlop will be the only tire of choice and no “Special” tires will be available.  In general this should be a good thing, with a few top teams and riders ticked that they don’t have access to special tires that most others do not have.  The AMA rules have a few interesting lines about tires…

• Unless otherwise announced, tires approved for use in dry conditions will be available in three compound choices. Intermediate tires and tires approved for use in wet conditions will be available in a single compound.
• Unless otherwise announced, the maximum number of dry tires allowed each competitor at any meet will be 6 fronts and 9 rears. Teams participating in SuperPole qualifying will be authorized one additional set of dry tires. Quantity of intermediate or wet tires is not regulated.

Three compounds and a total of 15 tires for a weekend.  If you are able to participate in the SuperPole part of the program you get two more tires.  This should be good for racing, but may be hard on the privateers who are not using 15 to 17 tires in a weekend.  If we say the little guy gets a “Deal” on the Dunlop racing tires at $225 for a rear and $125 for a front ($350 a set, vs $475 for Dunlops from the Vendor at full retail), the 15 tire bill would be around $2775 for one weekend.

Sunoco Will be the Fuel supplier of choice.  The Official Fuel of AMA Pro Racing will be Sunoco 260 GTX.

• All competitors must use the official fuel, as supplied by the manufacturer at the track, during all on-track sessions.
• All motorcycles must prominently display the appropriate unmodified official fuel company decal on the motorcycle at all times.

This should be an ok choice, but it comes with the few fun extra rules above.  Buying it at the track may be nice, but it does mean that you can not find a less expensive vendor.  As we all know track side fuel sales tend not to be the most “Discount” way of buying.  Also running the fuel company decal is great for Sunoco but bad for the racers.  VP has supported motorcycle racing and I am sure they will not be offering contingency for the AMA in 2009.

So their is lots to consider for the 2009 season.  The rules package is ab it late, but alot of loose ends are still hanging.  The big one is how much will it cost to race a race???  Entry fees seem not to have been set, the weekend tire bill and fuel bill is not clear, but I would bet their is a minimum “Buy In” to race the weekend.  And the list goes on and on…

… To consider something, Scott Jensen ran as a wildcard for the WSBK race at Miller Motorsports park in Utah.  The estimated bill to run that one race weekend for Scott was around $9,000 to the WSBK promoter, Tire Vendor and other costs.

Maybe the 2009 AMA season will not be that cheap…