The AMA is clarifying two proposed rules changes that could affect motocross and other Youth racing classes for 2007.
Many youth racers and their parents have contacted the AMA recently about proposals approved in early October by the AMA Congress, the Association's rules-making body for amateur racing and road-riding events. Two proposals have drawn the most questions and comments:
A change in displacement limits in certain classes in motocross only, which would eliminate different displacement limits between four-stroke and two-stroke machines.
Changes to Youth regulations that would allow four-stroke motorcycles up to 150cc (such as the newly introduced Honda CRF150R) to compete in Super Mini and "schoolboy" 12-15 classes.
All competitors should remember that rules changes proposed by the AMA Congress do not take effect until or unless they are approved by the AMA Board of Directors. The AMA Board will next meet on November 18-19 to consider proposals from Congress, among other business. Unless otherwise stated, rules approved by the AMA Board will take effect February 15, 2007.
The final decision made by the AMA Board on these rules will be posted on this website.
Here is a summary of the two rules changes proposed by AMA Congress that have drawn the most questions:
In motocross only, new displacement limits would be applied to class 2 (100cc-144cc), class 3 (145cc-250cc) and class 4 (251cc and up). This means that both two-stroke and four-stroke motorcycles would be limited to the same maximum displacement and the limits would apply to A, B and C classes.
In Youth racing, the displacement limits would be changed in the Super Mini (12-15) and Class 16 (86cc-125cc age 12-15) classes to allow 75cc-150cc four-stroke motorcycles (such as the Honda CRF150R), in addition to the current two-stroke limits. In Super Mini, the maximum displacement for two-strokes would be increased to 112cc.
AMA members can best influence future rules-making processed by contacting their representatives in the AMA Congress. You can find your Congress representative online. Comments may also be sent to AMA staff, who will present Congress' proposals to the Board, by using the contact form found on the website www.amadirectlink.com.
If you would like to see the current rules, you can also download the 2006 rulebook at www.amadirectlink.com.