The most encouraging news that I have heard recently on the schism between the factory teams and the Daytona Motorsports Group is that American Honda Senior VP Ray Blank was flying to Daytona this week to meet with DMG in an attempt to settle their differences. Sadly, it's not true. Blank has no plans to go to Daytona and no meeting between the two is scheduled. I spoke to Blank about the rumors and the current situation last night via e-mail. Here is a transcript of my interview with him.

Q. I've heard several times this week that you just returned from Daytona after meeting with the DMG folks.

A No , that's not true. The last time I was in Florida was March for the Daytona 200 by Honda.

Q Well, the rumor is that you explained Honda's views on the new series to DMG/NASCAR owner Jim France and that you attempted to convince them to maintain a status-quo series for 2009 as opposed to the new DMG structure proposal.

A That is correct. But I did that by phone with Mr. France last month.

Q What issues do you have with the new DMG series?

A Suffice it to say Honda's issues are on numerous levels, but fundamentally, we do not see the DMG presentation being equal to our current series from a spectator, racer, or manufacturer perspective.

Q Does Roger Edmondson understand your perspectives?

A I have done my best to communicate them. I have met with Roger and his staff, I have backed up our positions in writing, and I have verbally explained Honda's perspective to Mr. France.

Q And Roger's response?

A Following my conversation with Mr. France, he wrote to me that he would ask Roger to call me.

Q And ... ?

A I haven't heard from him yet.

Q Has an "ultimatum" been delivered by DMG to the OEM's regarding Factory Superbike participation with a deadline for a decision by August 15th?

A I have received nothing like that from DMG.

Q Wasn't the Factory Superbike proposal part of Honda's request of DMG? A full-on , no-holds-barred, no spec tire, no spec fuel series?

A Yes. We asked for an FIM sanctioned WSB or WSB-derivative series.

Q Isn't that what DMG delivered?

A Not exactly. DMG delivered a WSB derivative rules package but inserted "local variances authority" within it.

Q What does that mean?

A I don't know. But I don't think it offers the stability and impartiality that we at Honda can depend on nor that which our race fans seek. It doesn't mean FIM rules. It means "kind of FIM rules"

Further, we have a fundamental church and state issue with promoters having rules making authority. And finally, the licensing system appeared to eliminate American Superbike riders from participating in Factory Superbikes. It looked to us as though there might be as few as 4 to 6 Factory Superbikes in the race. That neither sounds like a "premier series" nor would it appear to have a very long-lasting life, audience, or sponsor potential. It seemed doomed to failure.

Our dream is to bring U.S. Superbike, BSB, JSB and WSB rules together under one banner so that we can be part of a truly global series. We want to elevate U.S. Superbike to an international level. I want to see us compete head to head against the the best in the world, not just to lose our best to those series. I think if we can operate under the FIM banner and Internationalize our racing, we could achieve that.

I think we deserve that. After all, wasn't Superbike born here?

Q So what are you, Honda, going to do for next year?

A Honda will keep reaching for a solution that meets fans, racers, and Honda's needs..

Q And if you don't...?

A I am confident we will reach a solution. I don't think we are the only ones that have these concerns. We speak constantly with spectators and racers. Dealers and sponsors. We maintain close contact with everyone in our sport. Many are concerned over numerous aspects of the DMG series as it has been presented. I'm sure everyone wants to find a solution.

Q There is talk of a September 1 deadline by Honda. Is that true?

A We have contracts and agreements to reach with virtually all of our team members, techs, engineers and racers. We're very late now. It is unfair for us to not work for a resolution in time to let them and their families know what they'll be doing. It is the driving force behind our need to bring closure to this issue now.

Q But, what if you don't find a solution? Losing Honda from the series is not going to be viewed favorably by some of the promoters.

A But we will...

Q Some say the factories will go off on their own. Create their own series. Is that true?

A I don't think anyone: DMG, Honda, promoters, sponsors, want to see two competing series. It would be a distant last resort in my book.

Q But it's possible?

A I really don't know.