To have the FIM take over a series that we've invested so much money, time and effort in simply isn't fair. The FIM and its various contract partners that have come and gone have tried repeatedly over the years to establish their own World Supercross Championship, and have failed to produce a series worthy of that name. But that doesn't mean the FIM should be allowed to take our series.
Another big problem is what this could mean for American riders, teams and fans. Currently, our fans know they're going to see the best Supercross competition on earth, week after week, in stadiums across the United States. That's the series we've built.
If the FIM is going to try to turn that into a world championship, it's likely to mean fewer chances for American fans to see the stars of the sport, along with enormous logistical problems for American teams and riders. We have always been supportive of the international development of motocross and supercross, but in a cooperative fashion, not a predatory one.
Frankly, we have concerns about the competence of the FIM to manage a world-level supercross series. The FIM has established a contract with Dorna Offroad to handle its motocross and supercross events, but as I've mentioned, that combination has failed completely to create a competitive supercross series. And its grand prix motocross championship has never been in a weaker state.
American fans are familiar with the disaster surrounding the 2002 Motocross of Nations, which was planned and put together entirely by Dorna, the FIM's contract partner, without asking for or accepting any involvement by the AMA or AMA Pro Racing.
At the last minute, that event fell apart when it became clear that the FIM, Dorna and their promoting partner could not produce that one event.
But the bottom line here is that the FIM is free to create a Supercross world championship. They just can't take ours.
Q: Wasn't FIM involvement a part of this package since the beginning, when Clear Channel announced the Supercross schedule last winter?
