What is going on at Rock Racing?
 

Who Made the Cut?

Seriously, what is going on?

Bahati can't be too happy about this, and I'd imagine that Michael Creed isn't exactly glowing over this as well.

I'm sure Chris Baldwin is thrilled too.

Dominguez on and Bahati off.. Wow, I guess being a crit champion doesn't help. Although, Dominguez is a much better road racer.

SoCal racing is going to be nice in 2009!!

Well, I'll be racing on the same level with the not-able-to-defend National Crit Champion.
This is serious WTF move.

I hope this pushes Ball to apoligize to the "club" riders and get a Pro Continental license.

Alex Boyd is a nice kid, and the 2007 Collegiate road race champ, but how does he fit on that roster, and Bahaati not?

I don't get it.

Again, not taking anything away from Alex. Very talented, and he's going places, but Bahaati is already there.

Maybe this is Ball's neophyte attempt at crafting a road racing team

If you upgrade to a 1 you might be. I would think Bahati will be able to find ride with someone that has an open spot and just get added late. I've been texting back and forth with him, but haven't been able to get him on the phone because he is busy. He is really pissed. The one good thing about Ball was that he paid well, so if Bahati does find another ride he will probably have to take a pay cut.

I think this has something to do with the average age of the riders. To be a Continental Team the average age has to be lower than 28 (or something like that). I'm pretty sure this is just a move to skirt the issue. If they had received Pro Continental Status I believe the roster could have been larger and the age restriction more lax.

Man, that's really bad. I like Bahati and was looking forward to watching him win some big crits. I wish him the best.

But there is also a UCI rule that if a pro rider is benched for a few weeks (I can't remember the exact duration) a rider from the lower-level of the team may substitute for him. That's what I've been told about my new team.

There is also the possibility that Bahati could be taking next season "off" to take care of his leg issues.

I highly doubt that Ball would let his bread and butter rider slip away. Bahati and Rock Racing go together like peas and carrots, and Ball knows this.

That's what I thought at first, but it doesn't make sense. IIRC, the rule is that a majority of riders need to be under 28, and Bahati is only 27 next year.

Ah, good catch.

i don't have anything useful to add to this thread except that I see Fred Rodriguez out riding on occasion. He always smiles/waves when I catch his eye with my (probably) ridiculous wave. The RR gear looks pretty good in person

I have never heard of that rule. You would have to have a pro license to "substitute" for a rider in a UCI race. If you are a 1, the team can get you a pro license and add you in June or in your case if you are a 1 and under 23 they can add you after August 1. Sometimes riders are added after the December deadline but before the season. Bahati is really good friends with MA Records, so he might end up on the pro team that your team is affiliated with if there is room. Kenda Pro Cycling, right?

Sterling Magnell? in place of Bahati, Creed, Baldwin and Grajales? WTF?

Bahatii is not taking the year off to heal his leg. I rode with him last week and he has been training. We talked last week about some issues that I can't post on this forum, but he was still positive and certain he would ride for Rock. I've texted back and forth with him tonight. This was news to him and he's pissed. It doesn't make sense because he makes the age cut. The only reason that any of the young guys make sense and Bahati doesn't is salary. I thought money didn't matter to Ball?

We talked about Sterling a couple of weeks ago. I was pissed because Sterling was getting re-signed and Wisco wasn't. Bahati said Sterling was not going to get re-signed but the guys voted him back on because he had won some races and because he would ride CHEAP!

I saw you when you were going to get in the ride Saturday. It looked like you had flatted or something.

Yep, that was me. I rode 20+ miles to meet the group and then flatted as the group was passing.

It was going to be my first Montrose... Hopefully, I'll have better luck next Saturday.

I figured something was up when they signed Ivan. It's Kobe & Shaq all over again; not enough ball to go around.

I hope ball is not becoming a cheapie!

he's been in the sport as long as, if not longer, than you.

just sayin'

:innocent:

I'd still consider him a neophyte when it comes to managing a cycling team. Three seasons doesn't make a veteran.

didn't know that

bummer