Ok Honda, no more excuses.

Watching the AMA Superbike races this past weekend revealed how superior the Suzukis are. We've all known that for a while. Of course their super secret, advanced use of traction control surely helped. (How nice for them to be able to develop something during actual race situations for years.) What matters now is how others respond. American Honda has been on it's own since HRC cut them loose a couple of years ago. It's a tough climb but it must be done. An indicator (aside from how fast the Suzukis leave them) is how the other teams entering the fray are doing. Yamaha, for instance, seems to be doing quite well. Eric Bostrom is excellent at the start and was actually able to hang with the Suzukis for a while. All this in their first few races in the Superbike class. It does show how important to development the Superstock class is (was). Suzuki used it to get Spies, et al some practice laps at each venue. Yamaha used Superstock to develop their bike for the future Superbike entry. Honda didn't, and it shows. Miguel has been riding the wheels off that Honda but as you watch each competitor (including the Hondas) get passed by the Suzukis you see their lap times fall away instantly. No use trying to catch what you can't, just hold your position. Kawasaki seems to be a few steps behind as well, but they too are new to this game of Superbikes (At least in it's current form.) Hopefully they'll get a podium or two this year. Maybe then AMA Superbike will be as competitive and interesting as World Superbike. Because right now it's not.

Let's also not forget MV Agusta. How cool is it that they are developing their bikes in AMA? They've had some problems, yes, but it's nice to see them cracking the top ten now and then.

Speaking of Superstock... Good riddance. It was a class that was nothing but cancerous to the whole series. These bikes were not stock! They were heavily modified and I really had no use for their existence. It was like a hiding place for manufacturers whilst Suzuki dominated Superbike for years. Was it all done so Mladin could feel good about winning even though no other true works bikes were on the grid for several years? It was like the AMA made a class for each manufacturer to win at. Just like Formula Extreme (which should also be tossed into the toilet). Honda owned that. Suzuki gets Superbike. Kawasaki Supersport and Yamaha gets Superstock. That way everyone can stand on the top box and be a winner, everybody except the fans.