New OTOR issue - Mexican Grand Prix verdict

Adam99
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Adam99
Edited Date/Time 5/16/2012 5:50am
Open publication - Free publishing - More bikes" class="img-fluid" />
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TripleDigit 5/16/2012 12:28am
5/16/2012 12:28am
Nice one,cheers Adam Smile
Robgvx
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Robgvx 5/16/2012 2:25am
5/16/2012 2:25am Edited Date/Time 5/16/2012 2:26am
That was a great article and sheds much-needed light on the back story.

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Robgvx 5/16/2012 2:26am
5/16/2012 2:26am
TripleDigit wrote:
Nice one,cheers Adam Smile
Nice avatar... Smile
jamma10
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jamma10 5/16/2012 2:52am
5/16/2012 2:52am Edited Date/Time 5/16/2012 2:54am
TripleDigit wrote:
Nice one,cheers Adam Smile
Robgvx wrote:
Nice avatar... Smile
Thats Dave Watson isnt it....? Wink Grinning

Was there any kind of riders union or a body that dealt with issues like that in your day Rob, or did you just get on with it and race? There must have been at least some contentious situations in the 80's I imagine?

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Robgvx
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Robgvx 5/16/2012 3:21am
5/16/2012 3:21am Edited Date/Time 5/16/2012 7:36am
TripleDigit wrote:
Nice one,cheers Adam Smile
Robgvx wrote:
Nice avatar... Smile
jamma10 wrote:
Thats Dave Watson isnt it....? ;) :lol: Was there any kind of riders union or a body that dealt with issues like that in your day...
Thats Dave Watson isnt it....? Wink Grinning

Was there any kind of riders union or a body that dealt with issues like that in your day Rob, or did you just get on with it and race? There must have been at least some contentious situations in the 80's I imagine?
No there wasn't any representation in our day, although the top guys would voice their concerns, and generally be heard, when there was an issue. There certainly wasn't any worry about riders (or journalists) being punished for speaking up on such matters.

As that article mentions, there was a rider and teams representative a few years ago when the MXTAG teams association was in existence. Gerard Valat was the rep. However GL wanted him out and so went to the teams behind Gerard's back and promised to reinstate overseas travel assistance in return for the disbanding of MXTAG and the firing of Valat.

Many of the teams really needed this money and GL promised them that he was a man of his word. So, the teams voted and decided, by just a single vote, to comply with GL's request.

Gerard Valat was duly fired and MXTAG disbanded.

GL reinstated overseas travel money but then withdrew the travel money the next year....

There hasn't been a teams' representative since.

(Do you agree with this version of events Xavier?)
themrtoad
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themrtoad 5/16/2012 5:48am
5/16/2012 5:48am
Robgvx wrote:
No there wasn't any representation in our day, although the top guys would voice their concerns, and generally be heard, when there was an issue. There...
No there wasn't any representation in our day, although the top guys would voice their concerns, and generally be heard, when there was an issue. There certainly wasn't any worry about riders (or journalists) being punished for speaking up on such matters.

As that article mentions, there was a rider and teams representative a few years ago when the MXTAG teams association was in existence. Gerard Valat was the rep. However GL wanted him out and so went to the teams behind Gerard's back and promised to reinstate overseas travel assistance in return for the disbanding of MXTAG and the firing of Valat.

Many of the teams really needed this money and GL promised them that he was a man of his word. So, the teams voted and decided, by just a single vote, to comply with GL's request.

Gerard Valat was duly fired and MXTAG disbanded.

GL reinstated overseas travel money but then withdrew the travel money the next year....

There hasn't been a teams' representative since.

(Do you agree with this version of events Xavier?)
That's just sad to read. I Wish motocross was a bigger sport so we could have some competition for the promotional rights, and evaluate them every 3-5years or so. GL brings stability with his longterm plans at it's best, but he takes away very much in return.

Since I've been involved in promoting motocross professionally I can see it's not easy to make money. We were very generous towards both the clubs and the riders, and went bancrupt as a consequence. YS on the other hand makes the clubs and teams pay for almost everything, and keeps all the money for themselfes. In a businessperspective I can relate to what they are doing, and since there is no competition I guess it falls under "supply and demand".

Trying to shut up riders and teams witn a different opinion however is never right. There has to be some kind of "riders union" to stick up against YS as well as teams that promise a lot but delivers very little. The riders are the show after all. No matter how impressive and expensive the paddock looks it's the racing that is the product. I think sometimes YS forgets that...
themrtoad
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themrtoad 5/16/2012 5:50am
5/16/2012 5:50am
Great article by the way. Does anyone know why GL and Srb didn't attend the grand prix in mexico?

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