The new AMA rules committee just met for the first time last Thursday and already they have made a change that was rumored and then denied just one month ago. According to Cycle News, a notice went out this morning with a rules change that states traction control is not allowed for AMA Supersport and Superstock, which of course is a backwards way of saying it IS allowed for AMA Superbike and Formula Xtreme.
“It is our belief, and one that was echoed by each member of the rules committee, is that we should continue to limit the use of traction control devices in the stock classes but open it up in the modified classes,” said AMA Pro Racing Director of Technical Development, Kevin Crowther. “This rule change is consistent with the spirit of our class rules and objectively recognizes the current state of development of this emerging technology.”
Crowther pointed out that OEM application of traction control on production motorcycles is imminent.
The change is effective immediately which might give a few teams quite an advantage for the next few races or even for the remainder of the season. Next year, of course, it will be the new standard for anyone that expects to seriously compete.
Link: AMA Approves Traction Control via Cycle News
The Kneeslider: Traction Control for AMA Superbikes?
aaron says
nice. good way to throw a little help honda’s way….
lets see – best 4 stroke gp bike since the series went away from the smokers. top development priority after chassis? traction control. and since the 4 cyl bikes need it WAY more than the twins, you can expect this to make the honda (and yamaha) near impossible for buell to beat even with the rule bending. (….until the rule is revoked? has the ama got the balls to say no to H-D?)
unfortunately, you can hear the race kits growing in price if you listen hard enough…