Posts
210
Joined
11/12/2014
Location
Brisbane
AU
Edited Date/Time
4/5/2016 6:42am
Since there's been so much chatter lately about how the sport is apparently dying, I though I'd share something positive. Weekend before last was the last practice day before the season started at my local club. Obviously, you would expect there to be more people than usual at the last chance to see the track before the first race, but we were blown away by the sheer numbers that turned out! In the lites class, there were full gates of A, B and C, whereas usually they cram A and B together. Not only that, people ended up getting turned away because there were simply too many riders. I have literally never seen that before. While it sucks for the people who got turned away, it really goes to show just how many turned up.
But wait, there's more!
Last weekend was the first race. I figured I'd save this topic till after the race to get a comparo between it and the practice day to see if it was a one off or a trend. Well, we weren't dissapointed. The pits were packed and while I don't know precisely the entry numbers, I would have to say it was by far the busiest race day I've ever been to. Even though it was the first race of the season, where you expect more entrants, it still kicked the hell out of the year before and the year before that. We also had the mayor and some local councilors out to open the track, and they had some great things to say about the club and the sport in general. Great to see officials praising motocross for a change rather than looking for ways to shut it down.
Sorry for the novel, but I figured this board needed a little positivity. I don't know what it's like over in the states, but down here moto seems healthier than in the past - apart from used bike prices which are through the floor...
I know this anecdote isn't exactly scientific, but it was encouraging anyway. Anyone else out there got some positive stories about the health of the sport?
But wait, there's more!
Last weekend was the first race. I figured I'd save this topic till after the race to get a comparo between it and the practice day to see if it was a one off or a trend. Well, we weren't dissapointed. The pits were packed and while I don't know precisely the entry numbers, I would have to say it was by far the busiest race day I've ever been to. Even though it was the first race of the season, where you expect more entrants, it still kicked the hell out of the year before and the year before that. We also had the mayor and some local councilors out to open the track, and they had some great things to say about the club and the sport in general. Great to see officials praising motocross for a change rather than looking for ways to shut it down.
Sorry for the novel, but I figured this board needed a little positivity. I don't know what it's like over in the states, but down here moto seems healthier than in the past - apart from used bike prices which are through the floor...
I know this anecdote isn't exactly scientific, but it was encouraging anyway. Anyone else out there got some positive stories about the health of the sport?
I feel the increased numbers at your local track are due to lack of riding areas.
Could be wrong.
The Shop
On another note, has anybody viewed the TV ratings for last week, and how do they compare to prior weeks, and/or last year's Atlanta events?
So in short some people say it is healthy and others say it is not. I think Pro racing is only looking out for themselves and they do not care about the sport in general. One day the sport will be like Nascar and you can only watch it and not participate in it. We are seeing less and less true privateers already because the cost, rules, and travel is just two high for the average Joe.
Here is an example of something that makes no sense: Race day (NO REFUNDS?) Last year I signed up 4 weeks before a big race and then had to deal with an emergency that came up and could not go to the race. 4 days before the race I contacted the track to inform them I could not attend. I asked if my money could be put towards my next race and they said "NO REFUNDS"!
How is the good business? How does it make sense? I did not use any of their services at all! Now with me it is not a big deal. But how many people would never go race there again? How many people have lost money because their bike broke on the practice lap and they never got to race that day?
This is not like a hotel reservation. The track did not hold a spot for me on that race day. If the sport wants to bring riders back for race day they need to become more educated in how to run a business. They are only shooting themselves in the foot!
Also that whole LL thing has got mini dads everywhere losing their minds, way to many classes cutting into track time so it forces you to run more then 2 classes, as I said in another post its all about money, I seen 3 families go under here on Long Island chasing the LL dream, insanity, yes I know you can't blame LL for crazed mini dads losing their shirts but like you said moto810 you almost have to go that route now
Here's proof riders want track time, look at J-DAYs in New England great turnouts two thirty minute motos, but it is a mix of MX and hare scrambles, while the full moto clubs are struggling, the cool down series at capeway rovers was pulling 150 riders at best, school boy, college boy, 25 plus classes modified, stock classes, 6 different 50cc classes, money grabs, how about stream lining the classes and give the MX riders some track time to get riders back to grass roots racing, some people can only afford to race one class, a 12 hour day for 8 laps, I wouldn't go racing either
Oh and the industry and the sport of MX are two different things
Pit Row
I remember tracks running 4 different B classes on days with only 5 B riders in attendance. Should run A B and C big bikes. Maybe open and 250 for bigger races, and run a D class intermission winner take all big money beginner class, i would pay to watch that.
Bikes priced between $7000-$10000....way to high
Exhaust systems for those bikes $1000+
I'll go ahead and say it "FOUR STROKES BANKRUPT THE MOTO INDUSTRY"
That's when I started to see that major jump in bike and accessory prices dramatically.
That's another good point actually, a lot of people went to Toowoomba for the race there instead and yet it was still packed
As others are saying, I fully expect that moto will get to the point where you have to be wealthy to race and make it to the pros. Will surely always be entertaining, but not always healthy. I think to be healthy you have to look at the sport as a whole, not just the vital parts (manufacturer's, pro racing, and after market parts).
I see the sport as two separate sports now. Pro motocross and all the rest of us! Everyone at the local tracks should take back their sport. The local moto scene is the area that is falling apart. Local tracks and promotors need to stop doing what LL or any other big national event is doing and just do their own thing!
To many classes and not enough seat time hurts local events!
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