The Life | Adrenaline
Did Johnny Rock Page Get A Raw Deal? A Look At Daytona Motorsports Group’s Suspension Of A Racer
Roadracer Johnny Rock Page, a colorful and well-known privateer competing in the Daytona Motorsports Group’s (DMG) AMA Pro Racing American Superbike class, was suspended from the series indefinitely in September. Ostensibly, Page was penalized for a violation of DMG’s rule A2.3 i.: “Engaging in any unfair practice, misbehavior or action detrimental to the sport of motorcycling in general, whether or not related to a specific competition.” Page says the action came after officials told him that he didn’t yield to overtaking riders at the New Jersey round of the series. The suspension is the second public brush-up between DMG and Page, the first coming in July, when Page was given a two-race ban that DMG said was for failing to get out of the way of a pair of overtaking riders who were racing for the lead at Mid-Ohio. That suspension grabbed public attention after a YouTube video appeared of DMG Technical Director Al Ludington using profanity while dressing down Page. Ludington was consequently put on suspension by DMG. Page regularly made the grid at race weekends and is known for his personable nature and the camera crew that often followed him at the track as part of an on-going project to film a reality show. A businessman who made his money in the automated teller machine industry, Page was using his off-track success to support his desire to resume racing as an adult. For his part, Page questions the motivation for the suspension. He thinks it may stem from an open letter he wrote early in the season criticizing DMG and urging the organization to pay money to finishers lower than 20th place. He also wonders if the fan following he’s garnered
through his off-track efforts threaten DMG’s authority over the series. “I absolutely want to keep racing,” Page says. “But what can I do? I love racing, but I don’t feel that love reciprocated. I don’t know if they don’t understand me, or fear me, or can’t control me, or what it is.
But obviously, I rubbed some people the wrong way.” Page said he’s unsure of what path he can take to get back to racing with DMG— something he says that he’d very much like to do. In an attempt to clarify the situation, we contacted Ludington, who referred calls to DMG’s Ollie Dean, vice president of marketing and communications. After our inquiry, Dean said that there was a path for Page to return. “Mr. Page’s suspension was indefinite, which means that his return to the track is possible,” Dean said. “If Mr. Page chooses to apply for a license in 2010, his application will be reviewed as all applications are. Based on the multiple disciplinary actions that were requred in 2009, it would be expected that conversations would need to take place between our competition department and Mr. Page so that the actions that happened in 2009 were not repeated in the future should he be reinstated.”
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