Kevin Crowther, AMA Director of RacingThe American Motorcyclist Association has appointed Kevin Crowther as the association’s director of racing. Crowther, who vacates the position of director of Supercross and pro racing relations, will oversee all AMA amateur and professional competition operations, including maintaining his management responsibilities with respect to AMA Supercross.“As the largest motorsports sanctioning body in the world, the AMA maintains a world-class racing program, and Kevin is well-qualified to help us meet and exceed that goal,” said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman.
“From the beginning, motorcycle racing in all its forms has been core to the AMA’s mission. Kevin will provide the day-to-day guidance and hands-on leadership to ensure the association continues to deliver for AMA members in the racing community.”In addition to serving as director of Supercross and pro racing relations, Crowther has been the AMA’s director of technical development and the chief technical inspector for the AMA Superbike Championship Series. By virtue of his positions with the AMA, the U.S. affiliate of the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme, Crowther also has served in various roles for World Superbike, MotoGP, MXGP and the Motocross of Nations.“Since Christmas morning in 1971 when I found a 1971 Yamaha Mini Enduro under the tree, motorcycles have always been a big part of my life, and I’m excited to continue that journey in this new role,” Crowther said. “I will put forward all of my experience to guide the AMA’s racing department into the future. We have a strong, efficient and experienced racing staff, and we will work hard with our promoting and operational partners to continue to better serve our racing members across all disciplines, from trails to Supercross.”Prior to working for the AMA, Crowther was an amateur competitor in motocross, off-road and road racing. He also has built or developed race bikes for road racing, drag racing, motocross, Supermoto, off-road and dirt track. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, Crowther also was a certified Motorcycle Safety Foundation Instructor on the Naval Air Station North Island in California.Crowther replaces outgoing AMA Director of Racing Bill Cumbow, who has held the position since 2014. Cumbow, who will maintain an advisory role with respect to day-to-day operations, has been a key member of the AMA racing staff since 2006 and was instrumental in the 2014 effort to shepherd the promoting responsibilities for the AMA Superbike Championship to MotoAmerica. Cumbow will continue his AMA responsibilities with respect to MotoAmerica and the FIM.“One of Bill’s many strengths is that he considers all AMA racers and their interests to be equally important, whether they are competing in a local enduro or the U.S. round of MotoGP,” Dingman said. “I’m pleased that Bill will remain involved in AMA racing activities as Kevin transitions into his new role.”For more information on the disciplines, events and series sanctioned by the AMA, visit the AMA.
Hello everyone and welcome once again to Ultimate Motorcycling’s weekly Podcast—Motos and Friends.
My name is Arthur Coldwells.
This week’s Podcast is brought to you by Yamaha motorcycles. Discover how the YZF-R7 provides the perfect balance of rider comfort and true supersport performance by checking it out at YamahaMotorsports.com, or see it for yourself at your local dealer.
This week’s episode features Senior Editor Nic de Sena’s impressions of the beautiful new Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST that is loosely based around the original FXRT Sport Glide from the 1980s. Hailing from The Golden State, these cult-status performance machines became known as West Coast style, with sportier suspension, increased horsepower, and niceties including creature comforts such as a tidy fairing and sporty luggage.
In past episodes you might have heard us mention my best friend, Daniel Schoenewald, and in the second segment I chat with him about some of the really special machines in his 170 or so—and growing—motorcycle collection. He’s always said to me that he doesn’t consider himself the owner, merely the curator of the motorcycles for the next generation.
Yet Daniel is not just a collector, but I can attest a really skilled rider. His bikes are not trailer queens, they’re ridden, and they’re ridden pretty hard. Actually, we have had many, many memorable rides on pretty much all of the machines in the collection at one time or another.
From all of us here at Ultimate Motorcycling, we hope you enjoy this episode!