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I believe the OEM based teams are a dying model, with or without strong bike sales. There are too many other marketing avenues today that likely have much higher ROI.
Grassroots/local racing: It's been covered well here, but I think the new bike cost aspect is overblown. Most weekend warrior caliber riders would do just as well on a well-maintained, non-current bike model. Besides that, there is nothing (except our own vanity) preventing us from creating demand for "EVO" type racing classes. IMO, the biggest issue is that tracks/riding areas are too few and far between, and they are too distant from population centers (or at least the ones that can afford a sport like MX). A close second would be poor value (i.e. not enough track time for the time and money spent getting there).
it seems like all the teams these days want one solid guy and are willing to rely on that guy to get through an entire season.
look at Suzuki with Stewart. now given, the Rockstar squad is killing it right now, but what happens IF Davi has an injury.
I think Factory Connection and Pro-Circuit are doing it right by having a full stable.
Brit
The "transporter pit rule" could be a sticking point, as we've heard stories of nothing but empty parts bins in the haulers of some of the teams. The costs of leasing a trailer and hauling it all over the country is a lot higher than the cost between a two stroke or a four stroke.
What if there are only say 10 (example) qualified team managers or personnel in the sport, but 15 teams? What if some of the teams struggle to find sponsorship because they don't have the vision to attract new sponsorship blood like the RCH team has?
The depth in both classes is some of the best we've had. Do we really even need the true "privateer" in order for Supercross to be successful?
The energy drink sponsorship is intriguing to me. Monster will spend $25k on an after party......
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Athletes in other mainstream sports get paid a heck of a lot more for one reason: TV Deals. The Dodgers announced a $7 Billion TV deal today. $7 billion.
Sports are the thing that people don't DVR and skip the commercials. You want to be able to talk to your buddies about the events, usually while they are happening. YES and NESN type regional sports networks are the future, as more and more teams try and score that big TV payday.
So, if you want the riders to get paid more, you need to stop complaining about the bought and paid for CBS spots not catering to the "hardcore" fans. More fans.....TV deals.......Exposure......Sponsorships.....Money That's how it needs to work.
I started riding on federal public land down the street from my house. That land is now closed to OHV riding. My family and I also rode at a place outside of the san Rafael swell. That place is now closed to OHV's. And that same thing is happening all over the country.
If we didn't have some public land down the street from my house, I'd of never ridden a dirt bike...and if it was for those family trips to the swell, I'd of never fallen in love with riding dirt bikes...and if I'd of ever fallen in love with dirt bikes...I wouldn't be participating in the sport to this day.
My point...public land closures play a role in killing our sport...no FREE riding areas...and people don't fall in love with this sport.
I don't care so much about the price of new bikes. I don't buy new bikes anyway. I always buy clean, low hour, used bikes. I picked up a brand new 09 YZ450-literally in perfect condition-this past summer for $3800...Was it the fuel injected, latest and greatest? No. It wasn't...was it the e-start KTM 300 I've been lusting after? No. It wasn't. But I wanted a new bike, and that bike fit in my budget, is "new", and will last a very long time.
Prices aren't killing this sport, "keeping up with the Jones's is". You don't have to buy a brand new bike for $9K to be competitive (unless you are a pro rider), and you certainly don't in order to just have fun.
If we can stop public land closures...and stop thinking we have to either keep up with the Jones and have a brand new bike every year...or nothing...I think that would make a difference.
And if more people get into the sport, and stay in the sport, their will be more fans of sx/mx (since the majority of the fans of the sport are participants), and the pro teams will have more money.
Big government is gradually closing federal land (exercising more control over us) to OHV's...
From personal experience, I think more people would be inclined to participate in their local racing if we got more riding for our dollar. What percentage of riders show up on a nice Saturday to practice, but wouldn't go racing? $25 to ride all day is obviously a better deal than $10 to get in the gate, $30 for the first class, $25 for subsequent classes, for just a handful of laps.
i would race more, spend more on parts/maintenance, and put more of my money into the "industry" if something could be done about the cost on Sunday. I think there have been a number of threads in the past discussing such options.
Simply put, because it sucks bing a C or D rider on a team. More teams = more "A" treatment from a team/staff.
As for there being too many teams right now, well, there is a limited amount of sponsorship revenue to go around and things may have been spread too thin. But I look at it the other way....
....I say that the talent is spread too thin. 4 premier classes (SX1, SX2, MX1, MX2, and the GPs for that matter) have really diluted the talent of riders and the focus of the media and thus sponsor opportunities.
No offense to Andrew Short but had L&Mc been able to hire a guy that could challenge for wins, I highly doubt they'd have folded up shop. That was a FACTORY BIKE they had. A bike truly capable of winning races yet their wasnt a rider available to fill the spot. There are more quality bikes out their than riders to ride them unfortunately. What a weird state of affairs. But I guess we shouldnt be surprised considering the number of kids that end up wasted talent due to drugs/alcohol.
If anything is killing this sport, its is that. The vast number of guys that have no support system once they hit the pro ranks. Team managers and sponsor reps in this sport are some of the worst influences you could imagine in many cases.
Not sure why you guys continue to miss this point.
Feld pockets that money because they can. Bodies in the seats don't equate to more money for the racers if those bodies aren't buying new bikes on Monday. The best indicator for money in the racers' pockets is directly tied to new dirt bike and accessory sales, and if you didn't notice, new bike sales are at an all time low even though the stadiums are full. You can blame that on the economy, or the value of the yen, or lack of land access, but I think it's because the sport is perceived by the public as too dangerous and the machines too complex and expensive.
How many people do you think enjoy watching a racer auger in and get carted off, but then say "no way" when Junior asks for a dirt bike? People love watching gladiators get fucked up, but there was never a long line of people that wanted to be one.
Nike doesn't even sell the boots on Dungey and Bubba. I don't think number of bikes sold is much of an influence as people think. Cruisers and quads dominate brand sales. It's about brand awareness to the largest audience, otherwise you'd see quads racing in stadiums.
Pit Row
Who's to say what the break even point is for each round, let alone profit? How much did Jacksonville lose each year?
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