AMA Sells AMA Pro Racing To Daytona Motorsports Group by dean adams
Friday, March 07, 2008
This just in. Note that this does not seem to be a licensing deal like that which exists between the FIM and Dorna for MotoGP, or between FIM and FG Sport for World Superbike. While the headline states that Daytona Motorsports Group will "Manage" the various series, the text of this release states that the AMA has sold their racing series to Daytona Motorsports Group.-- Soup
American Motorcyclist Association Selects The
Daytona Motorsports Group To Manage Professional Racing Series
Daytona Beach, Florida--The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA)
announced today that the Association has entered into an agreement in principle
to sell the sanctioning, promotional and management rights for its AMA Pro
Racing properties to the Daytona Motorsports Group (DMG), based in Daytona
Beach, Florida.
"DMG will assume
responsibility for the AMA Superbike Series, the AMA Motocross Series, the
AMA Flat Track Series, the AMA Supermoto Series, the AMA Hillclimb Series
and ATV Pro Racing."
Led by Roger Edmondson, the founder of the CCS motorcycle racing series and
currently the President of the Grand American Road Race Series LLC, and Jim
France, Vice Chairman/Executive Vice President of NASCAR, DMG will assume
responsibility for the AMA Superbike Series, the AMA Motocross Series, the
AMA Flat Track Series, the AMA Supermoto Series, the AMA Hillclimb Series
and ATV Pro Racing. The agreement in principle does not include the AMA
Supercross and AMA Arenacross Series, the rights to which are held by Live
Nation. Daytona Motorsports Group will license the use of the AMA name and
trademarks to promote their motorcycle racing activities.
"For as long as I can remember, the AMA name has been synonymous with
professional motorcycle racing in America," said France. Added Edmondson,
"Our goal is to guide the sport into the mainstream of American culture and
showcase the extraordinary abilities of the competitors and their teams."
"We are honored to be working with the Daytona Motorsports Group," said AMA
President and CEO Rob Dingman. "This group of individuals have supported the
AMA and motorcycle racing for decades. There isn't a better-resourced or more
qualified entity in which to entrust the future of AMA Pro Racing."
The agreement between the AMA and DMG came as a result of an RFP (request
for proposal) process undertaken by the AMA in September, 2007 to seek
promotional partners for its professional racing series. The AMA will continue
sanctioning amateur motorcycle racing and club activities.
"Today is a great day for professional motorcycle racing and for the AMA,"
Dingman said. "By placing AMA Pro Racing in the hands of people with a proven
record of excellence in motor sports organization and promotion in a fashion
similar to our successful partnership with Live Nation, the AMA will be able to
focus its resources on its core mission to be a member advocacy organization."
