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MARTIN: Hacking, Zemke, & Spies, Oh My!
Written by: Chris Martin   
05/20/2009
Iowa City, IA
 
(Photo: Yamaha Racing) ยป More Photos

After being gone from American soil and without a worthy American representative for far too long, the Superbike World Championship, despite its deep and decorated American lineage, had practically been erased from the minds of U.S. racing fans for a rather extended period of time.

The MotoGP World Championship, in all its four-stroke glory, once again became the ultimate and unquestioned goal for promising American prodigies. And in a major upset (insult?), sticking around at the AMA level was considered the next best option by most. AMA national stars were better compensated than their World Superbike counterparts, and, they frequently argued, faced stiffer competition at places like Road America and Barber Motorsports Park than they would have at Monza and Assen, so what exactly was the incentive to restock the production-bike world championship with AMA-groomed talent?

My, have things ever changed and in a shockingly brief period of time.

Just a few years removed from receiving public eulogies
from the manufacturers and media alike, World Superbike is now the most thrilling major two-wheeled roadracing series by some margin. And in an interesting twist, both MotoGP owners Dorna and AMA Pro Racing are looking to the series for inspiration while hoping to improve their own once very arrogant properties.

Quickly going from strength to strength, World Superbike found a new venue with which to showcase its brand of racing in front of American eyes, making its much-awaited return to the States last season at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, UT.

The final piece of the puzzle fell into place this past silly season with the mandatory addition of a new American star -- and one with even greater ability and potential than the Flammini brothers could have ever hoped -- in three-time reigning AMA Superbike champion Ben Spies. (And 'fell' is the apt description, WSBK only landing the Texan via the MotoGP paddock's insular conceit and AMA Superbike's upheaval and overwhelming uncertainty.)


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