Qualifed for Ponca? Don't be so sure...

[TaxSlayer911]

I am posting this in order to inform a lot of people about something I just got the official word on. This affects every rider from this area who went to Moriarty, NM on April 25th and 26th. Despite what we were told at that event or how things have been in the past, NMA has decided that you can no longer qualify for Ponca with a one-weekend race.

The problem here is that NMA has not been very proactive about informing all of us about this. I have been hearing information from my friends in Albuquerque and finally called NMA myself to get the definative word. I was told that I had to come back to race at Moriarty during their race on July 4th and 5th or we would not be qualified for or invited to Ponca City.

Basically, we are all getting the shaft because of some sort of dispute between the NMA and their Regional Manager for New Mexico. I was personally told on the phone a couple of weeks ago by the Regional Manager, Mrs. Henthorn, that there was no problem and that everybody that attended that two-day event was qualified. She informed me that she sent in our entry form and fees and that I had nothing to worry about. However, Ron Henrickson the President of NMA told me yesterday that Mrs. Henthorn did not send him any information about who was qualified or even any of the entry fees that we paid at Moriarty.

So, basically, we are stuck between two parties who are mad at each other. To make it worse, one of those parties has to be a liar because I KNOW that I filled out my entry form and paid my entry fee and handed it to Mrs. Henthorn at Moriarty.

But, hey, don't take my word for it. Here is a press release posted on the Moriarty website:

Our race weekend, July 4th & 5th will be an NMA 2 Day Qualifier event. There has been some confusion and misinformation about the qualification process for Ponca. If you want to go the Ponca City National, you must attent TWO events in our region. In the past, we have been able to count Sat & Sun of our AMA Qualifier weekend as the two events. THAT IS NOT THE CASE THIS YEAR. NMA has mandated that the qualifiers be held on two different weekends. Therefore, if you participated in our April qualifier, you only have ONE qualifier done. You must do at least one more in our region. Because of all the confusion on this process for 2009, the NMA has agreed to make our July 4th & 5th event the final 2 day qualifier event in the SW region. YOU CAN FINISH YOUR QUALIFICATION PROCESS OR GET BOTH QUALIFIERS IN ON THIS ONE WEEKEND. There will be no additional gate or class fees for this qualification process. However, if you are qualifying, you do need to have an NMA License, You can get your license on-line at www.nmamx.com or purchase it at the event. If you have any questions or are just totally confused by the process, PM me at teamrs@aol.com and I will do my best to make sure you are on the right track.

So, if you don't go back to Moriarty for the 4th of July weekend, you aren't going to Ponca.

But, if you would like to hear all of that straight from the horse's mouth, here is Ron Henrickson's number for you to call: (951) 587-9805.

It just isn't right for NMA to decide AFTER we have already been to that race that we are not qualified. As far as I am concerned, this is the beginning of the end for NMA if this is their attitude toward their riders.

[Kasberg187]

That's really is ridiculous, but I would not count the NMA out just yet. There are only two parties who know what really happened - the NMA and the folks at Moriarty.

From what I've read and heard, a change is in order.

It's a bummer that the correct info was not public knowledge prior to the event. Good luck to you guys getting qualified - hopefully this does not ruin anything.

[TaxSlayer911]

Don't get me wrong, I think that the changes they have in mind for our area for next year are going to be great! I have pushed for a West Texas region for two years and I definately approve of the "proposed" regional director.

But that does not address this huge slap in the face that all of us are dealing with this year. Based upon my conversation with Ron at NMA, this is just the way it is this year.