Australian Championship shows why the AMA has banned Stark. It ain’t Safety.

[Johnny Depp]

Alta probably got a pass because it was American made and once allowed it wouldn't really be fair to not allow others. If American companies were still in the game I don't think the AMA would have been as easily pushed around by the Japanese and other ICE companies.

SX and MX under AMA Pro racing are dependent upon the OEM's paying for everything, so when they say jump, Feld and MX Sports ask how high. Until they have competitive competitors to the Stark, the door will remain closed, other than exhibition rides. Getting their ass kicked in the showrooms will be the thing that forces change, like always.

 

[Erwin P]

Alta probably got a pass because it was American made and once allowed it wouldn't really be fair to not allow others. If American companies were still in the game I don't think the AMA would have been as easily pushed around by the Japanese and other ICE companies.

And Alta was a bit further removed from a serious competition. Sure it was a good bike. But the Stark has more budget and years of E development to back it.

 

[Chaconne]

SX and MX under AMA Pro racing are dependent upon the OEM's paying for everything, so when they say jump, Feld and MX Sports ask how high. Until they have competitive competitors to the Stark, the door will remain closed, other than exhibition rides. Getting their ass kicked in the showrooms will be the thing that forces change, like always.

Agreed

 

[Chaconne]

And Alta was a bit further removed from a serious competition. Sure it was a good bike. But the Stark has more budget and years of E development to back it.

Yes. But that was 10 years ago. If Alta had stayed on course and was able to grow they might have stayed on top of market with developments. Woulda, coulda, shoulda I know...

Europe is a much more natural place for development of new motorcycles anyway, since Europe has a true motorcycle culture and consumes a rational share of the products it makes.

The American market is fickle, and the Japanese are the primary producers unwilling to take risks in an export market that is fragile and declining. Stark is in a good place, time will tell if they can keep it together and ride the curve of E adoption or end up like KTM in a good old fashioned financing mess.

China may take the whole E market using innovations from Alta and Stark plus their own cutting edge E-tech along with better production methods and lower costs. Plus, China has a huge two-wheel culture. The AMA won't like it either way.