Scott Hollingsworth: I know this can be confusing, because for years, the AMA's professional racing series were run by a department of the AMA.
Nearly a decade ago, the AMA realized that if it was to compete in an increasingly professional motorsports climate, it would have to create a separate organization that would actually run the races, negotiate contracts, line up sponsorships and so forth.
The organization that was created is officially Paradama Productions Inc., but our trade name is AMA Pro Racing.
Basically, the AMA remains a non-profit membership organization whose purpose is to pursue, promote and protect the interests of motorcyclists while serving the needs of its members. AMA Pro Racing, formed in 1995, is a subsidiary of the AMA, created to respond to the rising popularity and tremendous growth of professional motorcycle racing in America.
This separate company, with its own management and Board of Directors, allows the AMA to focus on government relations, membership growth, amateur motorcycle sport and other matters.
The AMA is the U.S. member organization of the FIM, which is made up of national motorcycling federations in 85 countries. And recently, the FIM's president sent the AMA a letter saying that it could be expelled from the FIM unless it agreed to accept FIM sanction and race direction at AMA Supercross Series races.
However, neither the AMA nor the FIM is a party to the contract in question here. That contract is between AMA Pro Racing and Clear Channel.
Q: The first round of the 2003 AMA Supercross Series is just a little over a month away. What effect will this legal dispute have on that race?
Scott Hollingsworth: We fully expect that on January 4, our 30th season of AMA Supercross competition will kick off at Edison International Field in Anaheim, California.
