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DC
MX Sports
I'm not one of the few guys here who says people didn't go because it was a second-rate show, even though that seems to be the stereotype the non-Americans here want to cast on everybody who doesn't bow at the alter of Youthstream. I don't think it's fair to say that because you announce a GP in the low countries and everyone is telepathically hooked up, that it should be the case in Los Angeles. There hasn't been a west coast GP in 20 years. People don't see the GPs easily here now, and haven't really ever. There's no tradition. That's a promotional hurdle that takes some effort and tenacity to overcome.
It also takes some strategic thinking. Anyone coming 500 or miles to this event almost certainly is looking at throwing $500 bucks at travel, lodging, food and tickets.. They also are looking at doing that the weekend before for Vegas and/or the weekend after for Hangtown, for series and riders they know an are invested in. That's a lot of money to expect out of town fanatics to throw down in a short period.
Also, even though people here have beat this to death already, there is no worse time for the riders, and their employers seem to support them more than this race on this date given the money and resources they have invested in them. This isn't the 70's or 80's, when there were maybe 20 meaningful US races; the calendar is much more full now such that picking the only off weekend, and a series transitional one at that, is probably worse than any time other than a direct event conflict.
If you don't think it's fair to criticize the promotion of the event as a counterbalance to the claim that the US fans and industry have failed the event, then somehow this stupid US versus the GP's arguments has sucked you deeper into the side of the useless troll side of that garbage than I would have expected.
I do think it's fair to criticize the promotion of the event. Any new event requires thoughtful scheduling and extra effort to establish itself. There doesn't even seem to have been the normal level of promotional effort that would have been put out for an established event, let alone a new one.
If you disagree, fine.
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the monster cup will have top u.s. riders and the event will sell out. and the race means absolutely dick.
figure it out.
Have it at a better time of year, promote it, and people would show...
Sure, Bulgaria's attendance isn't great but in a country with only 7m people, and the nearest big city over 3hrs away and fuel costing $6per gallon.... it's doing very well for itself. It's also a great venue. If you want to throw a GP under the bus, use Turkey as a reference in future arguments.
The language of your posts consistently points out flaws in "non-Americans" but glides over all the insults and ignorance coming from your side of the Atlantic... which is completely fine and understandable, because it probably isn't even noticeable as it's such a regular occurrence.
As for the promotion side of things, yes, YS should've done more. If they wanted it to be successful then they should've plowed a lot more money into making people aware of it. They should've also put up some start money to get some American riders to attend (but I don't see Cairoli / Roczen / Searle et al taking too kindly to that). I don't think they had any choice in terms of "when" they could've held it. There is no perfect date to put this race on, reasons can be made for every single weekend why riders/teams couldn't make it. If there was a 3 week break between SX and Nats, then that is really the only way i can see it working.
On a selfish note though, I don't particularly care if there is or isn't a USGP. As is often pointed out, there are plenty of other places around the globe to hold rounds and imho Australia/NZ would both be good choices as places where it could possibly get a decent attendance in hotbeds of motocross. I don't like GH, I don't like the track particularly, I don't like the area, the security guards are normally a level above the usual douchebag level and if there are a lot of people, it's a nightmare to get out of.... I can think of 10 tracks I'd rather see host that event.
Oh and before people put this down as another typical-Euro post.... I've been to over 30 US-based races in the last four years, and only 17 YS-based ones.
Bottom line... the only people who are missing out are the people who did want to see the GP riders up close and personal in America, and that just isn't me. I have no dog in this fight.
It's not 1980 whatever anymore, Carlsbads gone, Lackeys retired, stop living in the past, a GP in the US will never attract those crowds anymore because no one cares.
I love the GP's, have enormous respect for the riders and attended the GP this year but the truth is I'm one of the few here that feels that way, I'd love to see the "glory days" back again but they aren't coming back.
Take the race somewhere it will be appreciated and stop beating a dead horse.
I don't know if he had any sponsor deals for it but you chose a poor example.
One might ask why he wasn't resting if he still has mono - or whatever - but that's a different issue.
It is NOT "The MotoGp of the Moto World"
It is what it is, cool in it's own right.
F1 has the best Road Course drivers in the World
MotoGP has the Best Road Racers in the World
AMA Nationals and MXGP divide the best talent.
People say the AMA riders shouldn't be expected to race a one off event during, or prior, to the championship they're paid to compete in. Barcia might not have been racing quite as aggressively as he would a National, but he was still riding fuggin' fast in race conditions where anything can happen. I'm not saying he shouldn't have ridden, Im all for riders doing shit like, that but he could easily have picked up a season disrupting injury.
- One would have thought they - YS and GH - would have planned on a 3 year deal to see how things work out. Well .... last year was such an absolute last second event it hardly even counts. No one could have expected much. This year, in addition to the above, they also got screwed by bad weather. Hey, this is sunny So Cal and the day started out pretty miserably cold and rainy. That probably was all it took for anyone sitting on the fence about going. So now they are pulling the plug after basically one year ( with bad luck on the weather )?
- Zero promotion - even down to little things like signs pointing the way to the race posted around the vicinity. Even the local business community appeared to be unaware the event was taking place right in their own back yard.
- On top of the tiny one week break the riders get between having just finished SX and having to either rest / heal / prepare for the grueling outdoor series .... they still had to jump thru all kinds of hoops in signing up for an FIM GP and adapting their bikes to deal with the different fuel and sound rules. All do-able but when it's all crammed into their one week to rest up or finish their outdoor setup testing, it is going to make the teams / riders look hard at what the return on the event is.
- Zero local media. I never heard a blip about the event before - or after - on radio or TV.
A blind man could see why this wasn't going to happen.
Now, having said that, I am still a big fan of the event. I have been to every USGP held in Cali since 1990. Even the Prequels. And I was there walking in thru the cold rain, wind and mud this year. Any local motohead that hasn't gone is missing out on some great racing and a chance to see the top GP riders up close. And the lack of a crowd just makes for better viewing. Yes, it costs a tiny bit more for a ticket.
Unfortunately, they need a lot more than the core motoheads to fill the place up.
On the plus side they appear to have made the rules easier for fuel and sound so that is one less hurdle next time. Either some $$$ or media incentives would seem an obvious step to lure more US riders and teams. Was this ever shown on US TV? I recall the early 90s USGPs found their way on TV.
A lower ticket price would seem obvious in a deep recession.
But really .... the schedule is the killer. They need to figure out a spot in the schedule where the US guys have spare time to prepare ... and aren't risking their entire season on a series they are just moonlighting in. Budgets are tight and the team managers need some way to justify entering their riders in this event. I don't know who dropped the ball on the promotion as the GH facility and track were in top notch appearance ... but it was very puzzling.
I hope they can figure things out as the majority of it is no-brainer stuff. Finding the right date on the schedule will be the tough one.
the fact is the mid ohio usgp wasn't a huge event like that, the usgp's held in glen helen and hollister hills weren't even close to carlsbad.
maybe the usgp in unadilla was huge but i can't remember as i have never attended it but hollister was not very huge at all for attendance if i recall.
DC...FTE do you guys remember?
Really dusty, but also really cool race.
DC
MX Sports
Key element to Carlsbad's success: It was the only race regularly on TV in America at the time, and it was in a great spot, not far from the coast.
DC
MX Sports
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The view from my office looks out over where the track was - kinda wierd to think all the history that went down just 400 yards from where I'm sitting and now it's just a half empty industrial park.
Pit Row
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When I was a kid back here in CT lo those many years ago the first 2 names I knew of places in California were Hollywood and Carlsbad.
We have our own Naional Series that has become quite successful and has been recognized, Internationally, as "The" series to be in...This isn't a Grandious "American" statement. It's a simple fact. Go ASK THE RIDERS. Go ASK ROGER.
Where have more "World Champions" (Often while they are the REIGNING CHAMPION") come to get "The Ride" they've always wanted?
Where's Kenny going?
Where's Marvin going?
Our series is pretty damn good, thank you very much!
Our riders have a History of kicking ass against the "World" at the MXoN/MXdN and that, also, gives us a reason to focus on "What" we're doing and "How WE do it". Frankly, that IS an "American Thing".
We send HONEST PRIVATEERS to the Glen (USGP) and they can make it into the Top 10.
We have a SX series that has attendance and media coverage that rivals ANY other Moto-Series. Sad; but, true. GO ASK THE SPONSORS.
So, with our Combined Series'. Our "Own Way" of doing things...a way that seems to do REALLY well in the face of "The Worlds Best"...Historically Bad-Ass Factory Teams & MXoN Dominance...
The American Fan Base just doesn't seem to see the real value in the GP's.
Sad; but, true...
(Here comes the "Hard Core" argument, The "Euro-Argumant", The "Yeah; but, if ya put the race on at"/Change of Venue Argument, The "You don't know WTF you're talking about argument", The "F-U Americans" argument...etc.
Roger DeCoster ( I noticed he's managing a U.S. Team...always has...)
JMB
Albertyn
Langston
Reed
Pourcel
Rattray
Etc., etc., etc. ...
Where did they all go...when they could've gone/stayed "International"?
David, now who's picking holes in an argument. Okay, so not Bulgaria, Turkey. Oh, and apparently Bulgaria, too, despite a good effort by the people who live in an area roughly the same size as that which the USGP draws on. Someone made a point that in everywhere else but the US you announce a GP and people flock to it. Pointing out that there are rounds where that's not the case isn't picking holes, it's directly responding to the argument. It doesn't say a thing about the people who came or chose not to, or the quality of the venue. It simply makes a direct counterpoint. How many races you've personallyu been to is irrelevant to that.
But, apparently you agree just announcing a GP doesn't guarantee a big crowd in places other than the US, and also agree that the Glen Helen event was not promoted well and that contributed to its problems. So I am at a loss as to why what I have to say gets your hackles up. I haven't ever disrespected the GP riders; I have defended US riders. I have said repeatedly that I think the best riders of both series would be competitive in either series.
but i guess i took exception to you lumping Bulgaria - one of personal favourite venues to watch a GP, both in terms of the track, the whole facility and the country in general to the disaster that was the USGP at Glen Helen. Your counterpoint was wrong (now that you're admitting it was a counterpoint and not a question). That was my point. I can compare Hangtown to Fairyhouse if you want a similar inaccuracy...... but then two wrongs don't make a right.
the USGP at Glen Helen was a poor event, the GP of Bulgaria is not...
and im sure there are other facilities in the usa that would welcome and support a usgp much better than glen helen.
but Luongo believes that GH is not only the crown jewel of american motocross facilities, but possibly the world. he believes it is as gnarley a track as there is and that it embodies everything that a motocross track is supposed to be. he's hell bent on making the event work there, on principle alone.
right or wrong, the guy is passionate and romanticizes motorsport true to euro fashion.
who is responsible for promoting the other events on the calendar? the facilities (who already pay a hefty fee to YS) or the commercial rights holder (YS).......im assuming its supposed to be YS? or at least thats the way it should be. someone please clarify this.
also, once we know who is contractually responsible for the promoting, we can blame them for not paying show-up-money to the top americans. after all, appearance fees are part of promoting.
has anyone ever thought that maybe, just maybe, its not in the US teams best interest to give the MXGP's any credibility? that maybe they would rather deter their riders from entering or not offer any bonus money so that the "traveling circus" stays domestic.
it would be impossible for the current satellite and private teams to ever compete internationally and for the factories, its much cheaper to compete nationally and they get the same ROI with regards to exposure/branding.
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