AMA, Traction Control and Laguna Seca


One of the best seasons ever, or the best season ever?


I'm not Valintino Rossi's biggest fan, but it is tough not to admire his performances in the last couple GPs at Donnington and the Sachsenring. And now he heads to the US of A, where MotoGP is given less attention than bicycle racing and futbol, despite the Kentucky Kid and the Texas Tornado providing sufficient thrills for the home team. Hayden has maintained his points lead, only with Rossi creeping into Capirossi's second place. Hayden dominated Laguna Seca last year, taking the hometrack advantage along with Colin Edwards. That advantage will be less this time, since everyone now has some experience at the track. Should be a certifiable cracker.

In the meantime, the AMA, in advance of their opening race gig for the MotoGP Sunday, announced that traction control is A. O. K. I'm not sure who this is to benefit, but it does put them a bit closer to World Superbike rules. I have been watching the AMA SBK races when Speed has shown them, but watching Spies and Mladin on identical bikes duking it out about 8 seconds ahead of the rest of the pack seems more of a boxing match than a road race. Will this give Ducati's Bostrom du jour a better chance to make AMA more than the GSX-R Cup? Ulrich gives his reasons for the rule change.

Posted: Mon - July 17, 2006 at 11:32 AM           |

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