AMA doubles road racing purse

From AMA Pro Racing

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - With a combined total of over $3.3 million (US) in purse money and cash bonuses posted for the AMA Pro American Superbike, AMA Pro Daytona SportBike, AMA Pro SuperSport and AMA Pro SunTrust Moto-GT championships next season, the total posted payout for the 2009 AMA Pro Road Racing season is more than double the total 2008 purse, AMA Pro officials announced Thursday.

The rich prize-money pool includes traditional race-event purse payouts as well as lucrative bonuses through the new AMA Pro Road Racing PaceSetter Program.

The premier AMA Pro American Superbike and AMA Pro Daytona SportBike divisions will each offer up to $1.5 million in total purse and bonus awards in their respective 12-event championships. By comparison, the total combined purse for all 2008 AMA Pro Road Racing championships was $1.6 million.

The 2009 totals include the AMA Pro Road Racing PaceSetter Program bonuses, which are posted for the top-25 finishers in American Superbike and Daytona SportBike race events. To be fully eligible for the PaceSetter bonuses, teams and riders must participate in various promotional and series-related activities and functions that will be a part of every AMA Pro Road Racing event weekend.

"We are pleased to not only offer what we believe are lucrative race purses for our AMA Pro Road Racing championships, but also the opportunity for AMA Pro American Superbike and AMA Pro Daytona SportBike teams to earn even more bonus money through the AMA Pro Road Racing PaceSetter Program," said AMA Pro Racing President Roger Edmondson. "Our 2009 purse is richer from top to bottom and the PaceSetter program allows our premier class teams to earn cash bonuses while also demonstrating to the competition that they are AMA Pro Road Racing's leaders both on and off the race track."

With the majority of 2009's event weekends featuring dual races for both American Superbike and Daytona SportBike, purse payouts will be based on total points scored in both event legs. Each of the premier divisions will offer $125,000 purses at each event with $15,000 going to the top points winner in each class. Second through 20th place finishing positions will earn $5,000 while the remaining finishers through 25th position will be paid $3,000. Each level of payout includes $2,500 in PaceSetter bonuses that will be awarded to eligible teams.

Race purses for the SuperSport and dual-class SunTrust Moto-GT divisions total $12,000 and $24,000, respectively. SuperSport first-place prize money is $2,500 per race while SunTrust Moto-GT class winners will each earn $5,000.

In addition to the purse and bonus program payouts, AMA Pro Road Racing also confirmed its various 2009 entry and licensing fees. Race entry fees are $250 for American Superbike, Daytona SportBike and SunTrust Moto-GT and $150 for SuperSport, with each class charging an additional $100 for late entries.