AMA Superbike legend Don Emde recently travelled to Cadwell Park to meet up with racers Paul Smart , John Cooper, Percy Tait and Tony Jeffries, as well as the number of the BSA and Triumph race mechanics for the Beezumph Rally.
Here, Emde give his verdict on the state of the AMA Superbike situation:
I fear it is a long way from being solved. I would be willing to bet this one takes five years at least to get working right. In recent weeks the conflict seems to have split into two directions that will be very difficult to bring completely back together in time for the 2009 season. But it didn't have to be that way. From my perspective, Edmonson spent too much time and energy trying to establish the fact that he is in charge. He has also made some unfortunate comments from his first hour at the Daytona press conference which have alienated members of the press, the riders and manufacturers. Then by the time he needed to start pulling it all together, I think many people had decided they really would rather do something else.

So now we have a real mess. DMG will, I'm sure, have races regardless of how many OEMs sign on. But how many fans will come to watch 600s as the premier class, especially with it looking like not all of the factories will be participating? In England, for example, can you image if Superbikes went away in favor of 600s in your series, or how about the Isle of Man TT with 600s as the premier class? I'd think you'd have a fan revolt and we may well see that over here next year.

At the moment, the Motorcycle Industry Council trade organization has gotten into the "discussion" with the implication that a competing series to DMG could be in the works. As we saw over here in cars with the IRL and CART, competing race series only dilutes the resources and fan base. I truly hope it doesn't come to that. We need all the big dogs in the same race, on machinery that the fans can get excited about. I really don't think a fan wants to ride his tricked out GSXR1000 to the track to watch guys race tame 600cc dyno-leveled superstock machines.

I think Mat Mladin's comments after his win at Atlanta really reflects the feeling that even the OEM execs feel about Roger. As I mentioned above, a lot of Roger's focus has been on establishing that he is in charge, and he made some comments about Mat and riders in general that would never have come off the lips of someone who knows what pavement feels like at 100+ (mph or k/ph). Or what it's like to hit an airbag or haybale.