Born To Ride News

To: AMA Racing Amateur Motocross Competitors

From: AMA Racing

Date: Jan. 14, 2010

Re: Motocross Rider Classifications for 2010 Season

AMA Racing, the pro-am and amateur competition arm of the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), has announced that amateur competitor classifications for motocross have been established for the upcoming 2010 season. Amateur competitors have been advanced from C to B classification and from B to A classification based on the rider advancement procedures outlined in the 2009 AMA Racing Rulebook.

Riders advanced from C to B classification are listed in the following PDF: 2009_B_Advancement_List-1-11-2009.pdf

Riders advanced from B to A classification are listed in the following PDF: 2009_A_Advancement_List-1-11-2009.pdf

In addition, amateur competitors interested in checking their classification can perform the following steps:

Visit AMARacing.com

Select MX Results Center

Search by Last Name or AMA number in the Rider Search box for 2009 results

The classification will be listed at the top of the individual rider page, along with the date that classification was last updated

Rider advancement procedures for motocross are spelled out in Chapter 1, Section 1.1 of the 2009 AMA Racing Rulebook Governing Pro-Am, Standard, ATV and Youth Competition. Riders are advanced based on the National Advancement System, according to their Rider Performance Value (RPV). For details on advancement procedures, see the 2009 AMA Racing Rulebook Governing Pro-Am, Standard, ATV and Youth Competition. A rulebook can be downloaded from AMARacing.com.

Riders who are aware of specific errors in the results reported to AMA Racing, resulting in a mistake in their classification advancement, are encouraged to bring those specific errors to the attention of AMA Racing.

In the case of erroneous results, e-mail the following to mxadvance@ama-cycle.org:

• Name
• AMA number
• Rider status and date advanced shown in Motocross Results Center
• Daytime phone number
• E-mail address
• The details of the specific error

About the American Motorcyclist Association

Since 1924, the AMA has protected the future of motorcycling and promoted the motorcycle lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of life, and they navigate many different routes on their journey to the same destination: freedom on two wheels. As the world’s largest motorcycling organization, the AMA advocates for motorcyclists’ interests in the halls of local, state and federal government, the committees of international governing organizations, and the court of public opinion. Through member clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA sanctions more motorsports competition and motorcycle recreational events than any other organization in the world. AMA members receive money-saving discounts from dozens of well-known suppliers of motorcycle services, gear and apparel, bike rental, transport, hotel stays and more. Through its Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, the AMA preserves the heritage of motorcycling for future generations.

U.S. Department of Defense Engages Motorcycle Safety Foundation to Conduct Focus Groups

Key objective is to identify ways of reducing two-wheel “Private Motor Vehicle” mishaps among military motorcyclists

IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 14, 2010 – As the popularity of motorcycling and motorcycle registrations continues to rise among military service personnel, so does the number of fatal motorcycle crashes. That is why the Department of Defense (DoD) continues to seek out aggressive countermeasures in the campaign against two-wheel Private Motor Vehicle (PMV) mishaps among military personnel, and military sport bike riders in particular.

To that end, the DoD has engaged the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) to conduct four focus groups for the Defense Safety Oversight Council (DSOC) PMV Task Force. The focus groups will take place at different locations across the United States in close proximity to military installations. The participants will represent the dominant motorcycling culture in the military that is statistically at highest risk, primarily sport bike riders. Officers and commissioned personnel will be sampled separately to ensure that command structure perspectives are also considered.  The initiative is being implemented through the National Defense Center for Energy and Environment (NDCEE), operated by Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC).

“This initiative falls in line with the PMV Task Force’s strategic plan for the overall reduction of PMV mishaps across the Department of Defense,” said Major General Fred Roggero, DSOC PMV Task Force Chair.  “These focus groups have the potential to identify core issues, target initiatives and ultimately save lives.”

In 2008, a small focus group was conducted by Al Hydeman, MSF’s director, research, design and development, with service members who were sport bike riders.

“That focus group was successful in identifying the habits, behaviors and attitudes inherent to this population,” said MG Roggero.

The projected team for the new series of focus groups will be led by Hydeman, and will include MSF’s Director, Quality Assurance and Research, Dr. Sherry Williams and Quality Assurance Specialist, David Crouch. Building on the results from the 2008 effort, the MSF team will plan, coordinate and conduct the four focus groups in order to identify attitudes toward motorcycling and motorcycling peers, effectiveness of current countermeasures, barriers to change, and other relevant feedback.

“We’re honored to be part of the Department of Defense’s ongoing efforts to make motorcycle riding safer for military service personnel” said Hydeman. “Conducting focus groups is an effective way to get past the stereotypes and focus on core issues and solutions.”

The project’s expected outcome is to provide guidance to the DoD in identifying the most effective means of reducing military motorcyclist fatalities and mishaps for all branches of the service – through technology, education, enforcement, and other areas as illuminated by focus group participants.

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation promotes rider safety through rider training systems, operator licensing tests and public information programs. The MSF works with the federal government, state agencies, the military, and others to offer training for all skill levels so riders can enjoy a lifetime of safe, responsible motorcycling. Standards established by the MSF have been internationally recognized since 1973.

The MSF is a not-for-profit organization sponsored by BMW, BRP, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, Piaggio, Suzuki, Triumph, Victory, and Yamaha.  For RiderCourseSM locations, call (800) 446-9227 or visit http://www.msf-usa.org/

Biker in Florida Pulled Over for Wearing a Gladiator Helmet

By Jeremy Taylor

Pam Guenther was enjoying a Saturday morning ride on the back of her husband’s motorcycle in Ocala, Fla., when a cop driving in the other direction abruptly turned around and pulled them to the side of the road.

“I knew we weren’t speeding,” Guenther told Asylum. “So my first question was why is he pulling us over? [The officer] just pointed to my husband and said, ‘He’s wearing a mask, and it’s illegal to cover your face when riding a motorcycle.’”

Luis Santiago’s motorcycle helmet, a custom-modified gladiator-style head protector (pictured), is certainly a bit different. Yet, as Guenther pointed out to the officer, it doesn’t obscure the face any more than the typical tinted-visor biker helmet would. Nevertheless, the officer wrote Santiago up a warning for “wearing a mask prohibited.”

Irked by what had gone down, and sure her husband hadn’t done anything approaching illegal, Guenther contacted the Florida Highway Patrol. She was eventually told that Santiago was in violation of Florida statute FL 876.12.

“876.12 is a criminal statute based on an old (anti-) Klan law where you are not allowed to cover your face or head,” says Guenther, who has sought legal counsel. “It isn’t suppose to be a traffic rule that applies to people on motorcycles.”

When we got in touch with Captain Mark Welch, the Chief of Public Affairs for the Florida Highway Patrol, he also cited FL 876.12. In addition, he speculated that the officer may have pulled Santiago over because he wasn’t sure if Santiago was wearing eye-protection, which is required by state law. (Although, again, it’s hard to see how Santiago’s helmet differs from some more traditional ones in that respect.)

While it is true that a literal reading of 876.12 would prohibit face masks, we asked Welch if it’s typical for bikers to be cited or warned on that statute. “This is somewhat unusual,” he admitted. “In fact, it’s the first case that I know of.”

Guenther feels that she and her husband were unfairly targeted by what she describes as “a young officer jealous of a cool bike and a cool helmet looking for a reason to pull us over.” What she wants is for the department to apologize and make clear that a biker protecting his face is not breaking any laws.

Florida law doesn’t require adult bikers to wear helmets at all. So maybe the best way to limit the risk of being pulled over while riding the streets of the Sunshine State is to throw caution (and hair) to the wind and go without any head protection.

Rogue

Sturgis Freedom Fighters

Motorcycle Hall Of Fame Member 2005

www.bikerrogue.com