Posts
101
Joined
3/24/2017
Location
Odenton, MD
US
Edited Date/Time
7/22/2017 6:38pm
Although just practicing and riding isn't doing half bad its much cheaper, local racing events seem to be declining everywhere. I know this has been stated before in the past but iv'e noticed everyone said its the cost which I know is true. The most expensive thing is the bike, and obviously it is literally the most expensive its way to expensive for what it should be. Maybe in the future in a few years MX manufacturers will focus on affordability. It may not be hitting quite yet but it is true sales are dropping with bike costs rising. I don't care about your little electronic crap and useless ti stuff and electric start. Once it becomes bad enough I assume they will respond and start making bike a bit cheaper will less useless stuff that we don't need as an average rider. Maybe then local races will have more racers? I want to see MX grow not shrink.
Used 125s are no longer a dime a dozen.
So basically I don't think as many kids are getting into it.
Nowdays kids are more likely to pay for a cell phone and electronic crap instead of a $100 bike payment.
The norms of todays society and four strokes are killing the entry level.
The Shop
Used 4 strokes == trouble
Hence not many people are getting into the sport. Is anyone surprised?
The only people who have a shot at pro motocross are the "select few" whos parents can afford to pay for them to race.
If you arent "cut from that cloth", you have no chance, regardless of skill.
I mean it shouldnt be a surprise to anyone that amateur motocross is dying
I drive through some of the towns around here on a Friday or Saturday night and they are literally dead. I'm the only car on streets that just 10 years ago would have been jam packed with cars, music and teenagers.
Welcome to the world of smartphones and social media.
Are there adjustments within the control of MX that can be made to improve access? Yeah. However, there an overwhelming amount of factors out of control of MX that nothing can be done about.
The real problem is the number of new kids getting in the sport. If kids really wanted to do it, they could get in like they did in the past, with similar costs of expenses and bikes. There used to be a good number of kids coming in on older, less expensive minis but I dont see that happening now. If participation numbers are dwindling only in MX, and not in other motorsports, then it would be much easier to isolate the problem within MX itself. But thats not the case.
So, IMO, even if there was an overnight switch to two strokes only, with an abundance of very cheap and good options, I still dont think we would see much of a resurgence. Adults, and kids especially, are switching their focus of entertainment from active participation to distraction. Just my .02 cents.
3 of the local tracks have night races and practice sessions during the week and weekends.
Between the OTHG & OTMX, have support classes, then throw in AMP, REP & Mike Sexton and Garrahan combining races and different locations.. one could race about every weekend. Practice is about unlimited. Based on the turn out, I'd say were doing pretty good up here. Riverfront is holding a Friday night practice for women and kids, if the demand wasn't there, Zeb wouldn't waste his time.
I myself race at least 19-22 weekend a year, not counting practice days.
So just in fees for myself both days and my little girl racing is $160 at a certain track. It's insane. And THAT is on a small 50! I couldn't imagine a big four stroke, hauling an RV etc
People also like riding/racing for 2 to 3 hours straight depending on class. I know a few friends that ride motocross and have to be at the track from 9am to 4pm only to get about 4 or 5 10-15 min sessions in. Once all the classes get rotated around.
Offroad events they get double the riding in half the day and most track encorporate MX sections.
Youll always have LL qualies and other Am Nationals but for the joe blow i think GNCC, Sprint Enduros and JDAY are going to take over attendance in the states for sure.
Pit Row
That seems crazy to me on top of everything else that's already expensive.
Expensive sport $$$
A race day is typically $70/day to race 2 classes. $30/class and $10 gate fee.
The same conversation came up at a local track the other night when we were practicing. Its not that people don't love moto anymore. Its that so much money gets sunk into very little time on the bike to compete. The JDay format caught on huge in New England and has the potential to do so elsewhere. You can run whatever bike you have without making a bunch of changes to it. Throw a set of handguards on a MX bike or change the clickers around on a woods bike and just go race. Personally, I would love to see one of our 4 "local" woods series switch formats instead of saturate the area even more, but I doubt that will happen.
I hear a lot of guys that complain of paying $10 gate fee, $45 entry fee $15 transponder rental, for 15 laps and waiting around for hours, when you can show up to a off road race, your moto is scheduled on a specific timeline.
show up, race for 45 min go home.
plus off road is more alluring to the average weekender as its not as intense racing
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