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Monday NewsThe FIM Executive board has decided to NOT raise the decibel limits for either the Grand Prix or World Superbike series. The limits will remain at 105db for Grand Prix and 102db for Superbike, with the latter being given three more decibel over the course of a race. Many figured that one or the other series would get a large increase for 2000
Honda race boss Gary Mathers married part-time AMA Pro racing liaison Denise Lewis last weekend in New York in a small ceremony.
How to make Mazda angry in one easy step: according to Mazda's Group Manager of Marketing, Jack Stevana, the AMA did Mazda wrong when they sold the rights to the Outdoor Motocross series to Chevy for 2000 because, again according to Stevana, Mazda had first right of refusal on continuing their sponsorship of that series for 2000.
Mazda is said to be strongly considering suing the AMA for (presumed) breach of contract but Stevana would not confirm that, stating only "No comment" when asked if that was the case.
After saying that he had to be careful what he said because Mazda's attorneys are counseling him, Stevana said last week, "We have a right of first refusal on our agreement with the AMA regarding the Outdoor Motocross series and all we received from the AMA was a brief fax from them just before they announced the deal with Chevrolet thanking us for our involvement. We anticipated continuing our involvement in the outdoor national series for 2000 and were very disappointed to hear their announcement with Chevy."Asked if Mazda will re-up with AMA Pro Racing to sponsor the 2000 250 Grand Prix roadarce series, Stevana said, "We don't know yet. We intended to but with our current relationship with the AMA, we're not sure what we have now."
AMA sources say that Mazda was offered the 250 GP sponsorship again for 2000 but turned it down more than a month ago, and that Mazda's current contract with the AMA regarding Outdoor Motocross, and presumably any clause covering right of first refusal, ended in October.
Regardless, Stevana was clearly disappointed not to be involved in sponsorship of the AMA motocross series for 2000, stating that he had sought the AMA out years ago, cold-called them regarding sponsorship and convinced Mazda to spend "millions" on getting Mazda trucks in front of motorcycle enthusiasts. Mazda in 1999 sponsored the Outdoor Motocross series, the Chaparral Yamaha team, the Pro-Circuit motocross team, 250 GP class and included motorcycles in their print and television commercials for Mazda trucks. Stevana himself is a motorcyclist and has been riding "since I was fifteen years old" and said that more than anything, he got involved with AMA racing "for the good of the sport".
"I was eager to help the sport," he said. Mazda makes the Troy Lee special edition truck, one of which was won by current AMA 250 GP champion Charles Sorensen.
Mazda also is involved with series or event promotions in tennis, skiing and in golf.
Other stuff: We'll be live from the Dunlop tire test at Daytona this weekend.
More later.
Dean Adams