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Schwantz Says: Yes MotoGP, No Way AMA

Friday, August 21, 2009

Indianapolis Motor Speedway recently conducted a phone interview with former 500cc GP World Champion Kevin Schwantz and while most of it was centered around the latest MotoGP news, one very interesting question caught our attention as Schwantz was asked if he would consider running a World Superbike or AMA team if his dream of running a MotoGP team didn't come to fruition soon. The following was Schwantz's answer...

"You know, first and foremost MotoGP is where I think Kevin Schwantz made his name, and that's where I'd initially like to be. If things don't work out there, possibly a World Superbike deal. No way at all, any chance, no direction, no chance, no way, no how would I do anything AMA."

This from a man who currently works in racing extensively both here and overseas and has an equally impressive racing background as well. Thus, if this doesn't say something about the state of racing in American I'm not sure what does.

Post Tags: kevin schwantz, motogp, ama superbike

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Comments

MV Man -Nor-Cal August 24, 2009 01:43 PM
Now that you mention it....I didn't see Latoya at the funeral!! Steve, do you have something to share with us?

NorCalFilth -Vo I have a question for you, feel free to reply (if you dare) August 24, 2009 01:25 PM
Hey Steve are you and Dean Adams the same as Michael and Laytoya, acctually one in the same (never seen you two in a room at the same time?!). You both need to stop using online "journalism" as to wag your little personal war against the DMG. I will give you props that at least we can respond to the vocal minorities unsubstantiated claims here at MCUSA unlike the cowardly moles (Adams) website superbikeplanet.com. Try pumping up the kids that we are going to watch race for a next few years rather than tearing down everything that they are working for.

MV Man -Dennis August 24, 2009 01:01 PM
You are obviously a casual race fan or you would know the decline in AMA attendance has been dropping for years. At the September "08" Laguna round, you could have set off a bomb and not hit anyone! You need to stop and educate yourself, beating you down is too easy.

dennis T -MV man - August 24, 2009 12:49 PM
Your posts would have some validity if it wasn't for the fact that people are staying away in droves precisely BECAUSE AMA / DMG have ruined the sport! It's become a total joke....

MV Man -Dennis August 24, 2009 12:05 PM
I've already seen the Johnny Rock Page thing, and although Al was wrong about how he dealt with the situation, he was right. If it was Yates screaming at Page for not reacting appropriately to the blue flag, you wouldn't have a problem. You ARE seeing the best riders the series can produce. I know you are not suggesting Spies should have stayed, or Mat shouldn't retire....are you? The manipulation of the sport into a neat entertainment package is exactly the goal. By the way, it's never been anything other than just that. "Does nobody any favors?", tell that to the promoters and track owners who are trying everything they can to resuscitate this business in a dying economy. Oh well, if the new AMA class structure confuses you, I suppose this is beyond your understanding as well.

Dennis T -Al Ludington? August 24, 2009 10:58 AM
Al wants to make motorcycle racing into "sports entertainment". THAT is exactly what is wrong with him and the current state of the sport... trying to manipulate a sport into a neat entertainment package does no-one any favors. I want to see the BEST we can come up with, not this dumbed down nonsense that is all about a "show" - Motorcycle racing is about the best riders on the best machinery doing their best - it is not WWE or NASCAR. You want to see Al's take on racing? It's not about the rules, or what is right or about rider's being competitive, it's about the "show" watch this if you have any doubts... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C42W0dyBC8

MV Man -Nor Cal Filth August 24, 2009 09:46 AM
Interesting, I like your "eyes open" perspective. No more Euro only 250cc breeding ground for Moto GP. Maybe that's why Simoncelli, Bautista and Pasini were given the nod....a desperate last grab of the corner speed era talent. Change in Moto GP riding style and machinery is imminent.

MV Man -P.S. for Dennis August 24, 2009 09:09 AM
Dennis, Al Ludington wants to talk to you about you calling him a "lazy moron":)

NorCalFilth -Atlas August 24, 2009 09:09 AM
Hey Steve, what a blog you got fired up here. First off, i couldnt care less about a guy that refers to himself in the third person. Really Kevin are you that self important? I don't base anything off of the fellas in the paddock who sit around talking about the glory days. Here is a new perspective for you. Moto GP2 is going to be the new launch pad for MotoGP. You are all aware that all the bikes will be powered by 600 Honda motors. What has america lacked? A launch pad for our racers to successfully go to an win in MotoGP. Well shucks, maybe the DSB series will be beneficial to our young guys to get to MotoGP2 and then maybe WIN races in MotoGP. Because lets face it, Colin and Nicky should never have been given rides in MotoGP and every weekend they prove it. Lets start giving our guys the pedigree that they need. Amped up 600s could be the way to a GP crown. It is assuredly not through the AMA Superbike of past.

MV Man -Dennis August 24, 2009 08:36 AM
You are 100% correct, I love close racing, is there anything better? Did you enjoy the last lap, last corner pass Rossi made on Lorenzo to win at Catalunya? You think that would've happened if Rossi was the only guy on "Stones"? Thank the spec tire regulation for that dumbed down snoozer! How competitive do you feel Haga's Ducati would be with 200 fewer cc's? I could go on and on about how every sport goes to great lengths to manage competition for the sake of the product, or as you put it "DUMB DOWN". As for your suggestion, if they are 190 mph mini-bikes racing at the go-kart track known as Laguna Seca...I'm there!! Just for the record, I do not view motorcycle racers as heros, they are athelete/entertainers, period. Professional motorcycle racing is a business, just like any other sport.

Dennis T -MV man - August 24, 2009 07:22 AM
Not having a difficult time with it - the answer to your question is simple... BECAUSE IT IS DUMBED DOWN. If you really just love close racing, let's put them all on identical mini bikes on a go-kart track and see our heros up close and personal, swapping paint, banging knees and crossing the finish line In a big group - perfect. Close racing is EASY to arrange, identical machinery, pace cars bunching them up every five minutes, done. That is not how you find excellence and superlative performance in either rider or machinery though - chasing perfection, technical advances and finding the best riders is more important than dumbed down NASCAR style racing for lazy morons who just want motorcycle racing to be simple, spoon fed and easy watching like World Wrestling.

MV man -State of AMA August 23, 2009 11:03 PM
I think everyone understands that from a tech development perspective, we here in the states are racing a lower spec (less $$)superbike...and? The racing has been fantastic. I feel one reason Daytona Sportbike racing has been so incredible is because of the Buell, not inspite of it. I think the "notion" that the AMA racers are not pushing the "rider envelope" every race is naive. Close racing is exciting...I suppose it is a pretty simple concept. So why are so many having such a difficult time this?

AMA is getting -further from Superbike racing August 23, 2009 08:41 PM
Josh, I think most of the issues with DMG are that the new rules make AMA Superbike less like rest of the motorcycle racing world. DMG claims that they want unified Superbike racing rules for yet our Superbike class is closer to Superstock. Also I think the notion that closer racing is better racing is oversimplified...close racing because everyone is pushing the rider/technology envelope is good - but artificially holding the technology back to promote close racing is NOT good IMO.

MV Man -Schwantz August 23, 2009 07:32 PM
Dennis, Spies wasn't "wise enough" to get out of the AMA.....he was fast enough. Not a big demand for smart slow guys in Europe.

Dennis T -Josh - tell me about your Pro DMG stance August 23, 2009 04:37 PM
Having watched US motorcycle racing plummet in attendance, quality, logic and interest I am all ears to hear someone say something positive about DMG / AMA. What is to love about US racing currently? The confused classes? The overlaps? Weird rules? NASCAR pace cars? The loss of a premier class Daytona 200? The best thing to come out of AMA recently has been Ben Spies and he was wise enough to GET OUT of it! Schwantz is no dummy, yes he has an ego, but he has seen the difference between the world stage and the AMA /DMG mess and he is simply stating where he'd be happier working...

Josh -Journalism? August 23, 2009 12:23 PM
I am getting real sick of the strictly anti-DMG stance that you, Steve, and Motorcycle-USA as a whole are taking. Sure, it has problems and you don't like it. Great! Yet, I find it hard to believe that no one on earth likes AMA anymore. Actually, I love it!

Air Jordan -Doesn't say much about state of AMA racing at all. August 23, 2009 10:20 AM
Schwantz doesn't run a team right now. Any complaining on his part is pure speculation. I would be much more interested to hear what a real team owner/investor like Michael Jordan has to say. That would tell us a lot about the state of the sport.

DMG -Schwantz August 22, 2009 07:56 PM
If I were DMG, I'd focus on attracting the manufacturers before worrying about Schwantz. Without factory teams (and some high profile private teams, eg. Erion/Graves/Jordan), the AMA basically becomes a glorified club race.

MV Man -Schwantz August 22, 2009 10:32 AM
Maybe it says something about the state of Kevin's ego.