New Husaberg Model

Dale
This was a troubling thread, only in that it hit on many issues. You are a man of passion, that often leads to the "tragic hero" syndrome. Allow me to share a couple of thoughts as well:
1. Niche motorcycle. Husaberg came into existance as a niche motorcycle. It's purpose was to lay waste to the competition in the FIM 500-1300cc enduro class. It did just that with the fe501 in 1989/90. Then it went after the FIM 0-350 4T enduro class, and succeeded in 1991. It later went after the FIM 360-500cc 2t (under 650cc 4T) mxgp class, wiht the help of Joel Smets, it succeeded again. There WAS a pattern. Since KTM intro'd the RFS, Smets had a disasterous season on the 'berg (something smells here), and then went to KTM.
I have been quite verbal that the Hbg is an enduro race bike, first and foremost, that is a niche.
Anyway, I agree that this is the type of market that Hbg historically would have gone for, provided it would result in more units being sold.
2. Regarding you loosing Hgb support. I probably speak for many people when I say that I wish Husaberg had made good on their word and suppported your racing efforts. I suspect that the Smets mxgp effort suffered the same type painful program death his last season on the Hbg. The bike went from unbeatable to having troubles finishing.
3. Not being a fan of watching bikes go round in circles, I have no idea what the new AMA DT rules are. Is the SM bike close to ready for DT, or would an all new chassis be required? Is there a homalgomation rule (that has been very effective at keeping the blistering fast TM's out of AMA competition)?
4. AMA pro racing. As an off-road racer, I have to say that AMA is merely tolerated. Their handling of AMA off-road racing was so poor that promoters such as GNCC and WORCS were formed to fill the chasm. AMA enduro somehow survives, barely. The AMA reliability enduro series was axed and reduced down to 2 races per year, for unknown reasons. There are clubs out west (in WA and OR) that want to put on national ISDE qualifier rounds, but the AMA won't allow it! That series will be forced to stay AMA sanctioned, because that is the only way a racer can go to the ISDE.
I admit that I don't know much about AMA pro racing. As one of the off-road "outsiders", I see the AMA as a proponent of Harley products, with increasing support of road racing and more recently mx/sx. When I hear that the AMA has a new face, I say "prove it".
5. No one here doubts your commitment to Hbg and the immeasureable help that you have provided to the Hbg community, you have nothing to prove. You provided light for a core of Hbg owners when there was no Hbg importer (twice). You have continued to give out advise free of charge for years. Husaberg (company and community) owes you a lot of thanks (I know atta boys don't pay the bills). You have a good soul Dale. Don't stop "kicking cowpies".
6. The interface with BOSS on this thread. Sometimes folks just don't get along, surely there is more to the story, but we don't need to know. In my opinion, it is enthusiast / racer / shops like BOSS that are the only way that Hbg growth will occur.

For ONCE in my life, I'm gonna stay outta the fray.....(I'm biting my tongue so hard it's bleedin'!) 8O

dale

i hope ' i have left the building ' doesn't mean what i think i means .

because i will be ' gutted ', if that is the case

OK guys, I'm putting this one to bed.