American Suzuki no more?

Propaganda!
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Propaganda! 9/20/2011 12:20pm
9/20/2011 12:20pm
newmann wrote:
But hey, at least we have 4 strokes.

So expensive to race, not even the factories can afford it.
Now, that thar's pretty damn funny....
hasko158
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hasko158 9/20/2011 1:26pm
9/20/2011 1:26pm
Unless its a video or picture that takes 10 days to load I don't trust much of what Transworld "hears".
EastFlorida
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EastFlorida 9/20/2011 1:28pm
9/20/2011 1:28pm
hasko158 wrote:
Unless its a video or picture that takes 10 days to load I don't trust much of what Transworld "hears".
Unless its a video or picture that takes 10 days to load I don't trust much of what Transworld "hears".
Have they been unreliable in the past? I don't know so I'm just asking....
.
hasko158
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hasko158 9/20/2011 1:34pm
9/20/2011 1:34pm
hasko158 wrote:
Unless its a video or picture that takes 10 days to load I don't trust much of what Transworld "hears".
Unless its a video or picture that takes 10 days to load I don't trust much of what Transworld "hears".
EastFlorida wrote:
Have they been unreliable in the past? I don't know so I'm just asking....
.
They just don't post much for news, its just really slow movies and pictures (which are awesome, just super slow to load).

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EastFlorida
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EastFlorida 9/20/2011 3:05pm
9/20/2011 3:05pm
I guess I'm surprised I haven't seen something similar on RacerX, Vital Home page, Cycle News, etc...only TWMX
Coyote
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Coyote 9/20/2011 9:23pm
9/20/2011 9:23pm
TWicks wrote:
I feel the worst for Mike Webb, he's a solid guy and has been with Suzuki for a long time, I hope he lands somewhere good.
Actually what goes around comes around. I hired Mike when I left Suzuki and although the off road racing series priority (read event attendance) was changing from National enduro to GNCC, Mike fires the 6 time national enduro champion (Randy Hawkins) without even giving him a chance to prove himself in GNCC competitiion. Randy brings home 6 national titles, unheard of press, numerous ISDE gold medals and an unbelivable following all the time associating himself with Suzuki to be dropped like a hot rock after being promised a life long position. Ray and Aki are probably guilt by association and really dont deserve the release. JMO
thatdad
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thatdad 9/21/2011 10:37am
9/21/2011 10:37am
so what is the deal with the am. team?
TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 9/21/2011 11:01am
9/21/2011 11:01am
So where will we see Chad and who will his Title Sponsor be?
TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 9/21/2011 11:03am
9/21/2011 11:03am
TWicks wrote:
I feel the worst for Mike Webb, he's a solid guy and has been with Suzuki for a long time, I hope he lands somewhere good.
Coyote wrote:
Actually what goes around comes around. I hired Mike when I left Suzuki and although the off road racing series priority (read event attendance) was changing...
Actually what goes around comes around. I hired Mike when I left Suzuki and although the off road racing series priority (read event attendance) was changing from National enduro to GNCC, Mike fires the 6 time national enduro champion (Randy Hawkins) without even giving him a chance to prove himself in GNCC competitiion. Randy brings home 6 national titles, unheard of press, numerous ISDE gold medals and an unbelivable following all the time associating himself with Suzuki to be dropped like a hot rock after being promised a life long position. Ray and Aki are probably guilt by association and really dont deserve the release. JMO
So, there weren't ANY Money Issues or arguing over "Who" wanted how much money?

I'm just asking; because, your point sounds Waaaaaaaaay over-simplified and Opinionated.

I'm jus' sayin'...
lumpy790
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lumpy790 9/21/2011 1:34pm
9/21/2011 1:34pm
thatdad wrote:
so what is the deal with the am. team?
My guess is they now have a larger budget to work with.
TWicks
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TWicks 9/21/2011 2:02pm
9/21/2011 2:02pm
TWicks wrote:
I feel the worst for Mike Webb, he's a solid guy and has been with Suzuki for a long time, I hope he lands somewhere good.
Coyote wrote:
Actually what goes around comes around. I hired Mike when I left Suzuki and although the off road racing series priority (read event attendance) was changing...
Actually what goes around comes around. I hired Mike when I left Suzuki and although the off road racing series priority (read event attendance) was changing from National enduro to GNCC, Mike fires the 6 time national enduro champion (Randy Hawkins) without even giving him a chance to prove himself in GNCC competitiion. Randy brings home 6 national titles, unheard of press, numerous ISDE gold medals and an unbelivable following all the time associating himself with Suzuki to be dropped like a hot rock after being promised a life long position. Ray and Aki are probably guilt by association and really dont deserve the release. JMO
You said it yourself, focus was shifting to GNCC (and WORCS) so how many of those titles did Mike help them bring home?

Like TeamGreen said, your story sounds a little to simple and it sounds like you have an axe to grind....just my opinion, I obviously only know a little of the story from the outside looking in.
Coyote
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Coyote 9/21/2011 11:59pm
9/21/2011 11:59pm
TWicks wrote:
I feel the worst for Mike Webb, he's a solid guy and has been with Suzuki for a long time, I hope he lands somewhere good.
Coyote wrote:
Actually what goes around comes around. I hired Mike when I left Suzuki and although the off road racing series priority (read event attendance) was changing...
Actually what goes around comes around. I hired Mike when I left Suzuki and although the off road racing series priority (read event attendance) was changing from National enduro to GNCC, Mike fires the 6 time national enduro champion (Randy Hawkins) without even giving him a chance to prove himself in GNCC competitiion. Randy brings home 6 national titles, unheard of press, numerous ISDE gold medals and an unbelivable following all the time associating himself with Suzuki to be dropped like a hot rock after being promised a life long position. Ray and Aki are probably guilt by association and really dont deserve the release. JMO
TeamGreen wrote:
So, there weren't ANY Money Issues or arguing over "Who" wanted how much money? I'm just asking; because, your point sounds Waaaaaaaaay over-simplified and Opinionated. I'm...
So, there weren't ANY Money Issues or arguing over "Who" wanted how much money?

I'm just asking; because, your point sounds Waaaaaaaaay over-simplified and Opinionated.

I'm jus' sayin'...
Money had nothing to do with it and in fact they started spending more money after Randy was let go. In the first year with a prototype Randy won the national enduro series and Dave Bertram, Randy and myself won gold medals at the ISDE to announce the bike to the dealers that year. My point being waaaaaaaay over-simplified is the actual truth and as far as opinionated you bet your fucking team green bs as I developed the bike, assembled the race team, introduced the bike to the media and dealers @ the national dealer convention along with producing the fastest concept to production bike ever produced by Suzuki. Oh yea, assembled the RMX contingency program along with working with the advertising dept conceptualizing ideas on how to market it. Almost forgot the most important part, worked with the advertising/marketing team assembling focus groups across the country on what items the bike should have to present to management for a green light which we got. Opinionated, yea, just a little bit.
unknownmxr 9/22/2011 4:35am
9/22/2011 4:35am
Whether the factory team is 2 stroke or 4 stroke or satellite and not even 'factory' is not the point. As with nascar, the national level riders are the top of the pyramid which has the local yokels as a foundation. Take away the wannabees, and then the pros are playing to an empty house. Nascar is losing their younger fans because today's teenager is more interested in a blackberry than a 396SS.
How often the pros rebuild their engine is not the issue, how often a teenager's dad has to pay for a rebuild is the issue. Fact is today's teenager pays more for the bike, has to drive farther to a track, and makes less money at his part time job. I think the only hope for the future is mountain bike racing. Entry level riders can build their skills and then go into motorbikes once they are in their twenties and hopefully making good money.
thatdad
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thatdad 9/22/2011 6:00am
9/22/2011 6:00am
The factories may be paying themselves more their own parts, but they are charging the consumers more for the parts they sell. The problem is the factories hit a ceiling because the Dads cant afford to rebuld the bikes. if the level of sales would have continued the factories would be rolling in cash. Now, they can't mentally accept the revenue from selling a lot of two strokes versus less fours.

Two strokes were like repairing an old chevy, four strokes have pushed it up into the comparitive porche range. There aren't many young guys that can afford to beat up a porche every weekend.
Roscoe33
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Roscoe33 9/22/2011 7:48am
9/22/2011 7:48am
Suzuki has shot themselves in the foot with their own actions, I'll think we'll see more downsizing from the Japanese factories regarding racing budgets and see the energy drink companies take the place of the factory's as the team title sponsors.
easy_e
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easy_e 9/22/2011 11:29am
9/22/2011 11:29am
Roscoe33 wrote:
Suzuki has shot themselves in the foot with their own actions, I'll think we'll see more downsizing from the Japanese factories regarding racing budgets and see...
Suzuki has shot themselves in the foot with their own actions, I'll think we'll see more downsizing from the Japanese factories regarding racing budgets and see the energy drink companies take the place of the factory's as the team title sponsors.
Hey Roscoe how exactly did suzuki 'shoot themselves in the foot' ? They got out of owning a team which seems to be the most cost effective business model and found a buyer/sponsor for the team in yosh. not quite sure what your getting at here.
wardy
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wardy 9/22/2011 12:04pm
9/22/2011 12:04pm Edited Date/Time 9/22/2011 12:04pm
newmann wrote:
But hey, at least we have 4 strokes.

So expensive to race, not even the factories can afford it.
Propaganda! wrote:
Now, that thar's pretty damn funny....
careful newmann, that talk like that isn't acceptable around here.

in fact 4 strokes as so friggin good they now think they belong in the 85 classes.


and who ever said it was the economy, blasphamy, 4 strokes are such great bikes they last so long no need to buy new ones!!!


HA!

Smile
OW38B
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OW38B 9/22/2011 12:15pm
9/22/2011 12:15pm
wardy wrote:
careful newmann, that talk like that isn't acceptable around here. in fact 4 strokes as so friggin good they now think they belong in the 85...
careful newmann, that talk like that isn't acceptable around here.

in fact 4 strokes as so friggin good they now think they belong in the 85 classes.


and who ever said it was the economy, blasphamy, 4 strokes are such great bikes they last so long no need to buy new ones!!!


HA!

Smile
Honda had to stop making the 150F because they could not race with bike half their size, so nobody was buying them.

Now they are going to try again and TELL the AMA to let them race in 85cc class. Just like the other classes.

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Roscoe33
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Roscoe33 9/26/2011 8:06pm
9/26/2011 8:06pm
Roscoe33 wrote:
Suzuki has shot themselves in the foot with their own actions, I'll think we'll see more downsizing from the Japanese factories regarding racing budgets and see...
Suzuki has shot themselves in the foot with their own actions, I'll think we'll see more downsizing from the Japanese factories regarding racing budgets and see the energy drink companies take the place of the factory's as the team title sponsors.
easy_e wrote:
Hey Roscoe how exactly did suzuki 'shoot themselves in the foot' ? They got out of owning a team which seems to be the most cost...
Hey Roscoe how exactly did suzuki 'shoot themselves in the foot' ? They got out of owning a team which seems to be the most cost effective business model and found a buyer/sponsor for the team in yosh. not quite sure what your getting at here.
by farming out their racing efforts Suzuki will save money in the short term,
but long term product development will be hurt, Suzuki in Japan will distance itself now from racing.

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