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I sold it a year ago for MORE than I bought it for. I only sold it because I got tired of it and wanted a different "expensive" watch. We have had the same experience with my wifes watch which she still has. So for me the expensive show off watch has been the best investment I have made as far as watches go. The cheap watches were the expensive watches when compared with the preformance and the Rolex's ability to not only hold value but to go up in value.
So I appriciate your oppinion DR. but its totally opposite from what my first hand experience has been with expensive watches. You get what you pay for.
Watching the 500 USGP on ABC Wide World of Sports got me interested in MX all those years ago. I've watched it happen again with young almost teenagers just last year. My moto buddy and I were watching Supercross on Speed with his son and several of his friends. Boom, his son and at least one his friends loved it and have bikes now. They are XR 80 & 100 starter bikes but still.
The point is, it just means less people are buying bikes for their kids.
Things like "On Any Sunday" and the Carlsbad US GP use to sell a lot of dirt bikes. Back then, you would see a lot of professionals' kids that were involved in the sport. Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers, etc,. Nowadays, highly educated people are saying there is no way in hell that their kids are going to ride when they see the stunts performed in modern SX. Even the vast Lion's share of guys I raced with in the 80's have steered their kids well away from the sport because it's gotten too dangerous, or at least that's what they tell me when I ask them why they never got their kids into it.
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9 11, worldwide automotive / motorcycle sales downturn, tsunammi etc.
as sales shrink so does the advertising budgets
Love some of the discussion here, though.
I read through this entire thread. There's some good stuff and some typical Vital BS (people writing out of their ass). As a fan of the sport, I couldn't be any happier today than I was years ago, for now I get to see every race on my TV in my very comfortable living room. As too, so many riders are soo good that it makes every weekend exciting to watch. IMO, from a spectator's standpoint, this sport has improved over the years.
As for teams closing shop and people loosing jobs in this industry, "cry me a river". This is the same for most every other industry in this nation. It's a symptom of our current economy and times. Anyone in the motorcycle industry has to be aware that their careers are a gamble, for the product their industry revolves around is a recreational asset to the consumer. Accept it, or go find a career in an indutry that's a bit more stable.
They have done a good job at making the racing the center point of the show. This is really not a made for TV sport...but at what point does the show take over the racing? We as riders/racers want good racing, coverage of the riders, bike info, etc..but to generate more $$$ FELD would have to have more show and less race..... would anyone be OK with that? If they can just tweak the model I think it is close to being as good as it can be right now, with the economy.. The cost to go racing is hurting everyone IMHO, but I still pay it every weekend for my son and I.......
Still, if I sold it, I would to make a profit despite it sux keeping time compared to whatever...
I guess it's a whatever makes you tic argument. I have a decent YZ in the garage, meanwhile I have a new KXF on my left arm if I choose to. Go figure...
It's the american way that if you don't own the company you work for the least amount allowable by law and competition. There is no competition. So the riders, journalists, and track workers make near minimum wage. Yet they provide the only product.
I would love nothing more than the teams, riders, journalist, etc to stop racing for several years until they can figure out a way to make losing your youth, not going to school, risking your health, paralysis, and death pay more than minimum wage.
The parasites is what disgust me more than anything. Anyone who makes more off this sport than the actual riders themselves. So many "industry" people say they want more for the riders but yet they fly first class to every round to make money off the riders efforts. Thats bullshit in my book. If you make a dollar from pro sx/mx you should give up 99 cents to the riders from that dollar.
Vitalmx should be paying every single rider who enters any pro sx or mx. This place would not exist without them.
The stupid monster truck style announcing, the ridiculous pyrotechnics and the scantily clad monster girls are all just "low rent" in my opinion.
At the end of the day this "industry" doesn't create wealth or provide an essential service. There is no inherent "value" in racing. You pays your money and you takes your chances hoping that the rider you back will be the next big thing. Out there today are four people that have real value - Villopoto, Dungey, Reed and Stewart - they have the championships, and the ability to run at the front, to back their credentials. Everyone else is either just potential or has-beens. That's the reality - not because it's my opinion, but borne out of the cold hard facts that most others are struggling to stay afloat.
Past champions names have little real value - the LB/MC team proved that. How long will the RCH team last with riders that are top ten prospects at best? I'll tell you - they will last as long as the people/companies stumping up the cash can afford to lose money.
People have said that the business model is wrong. I say there is no business model. How can you expect to make money when you don't actually have a revenue stream? Unless the public value of the sport is so high that you can sell the media rights for more than it costs to run the series, then the only people making money out of the whole exercise are the OEM's who can point to bike sales as a hard revenue stream. How many teams are running today, apart from the OEM's, that were running 5 or 10 years ago?
This sort of thing will go on, not because the economy is bad, or because 4 strokes are too expensive, or because of Feld or anyone else. They will go bust because racing doesn't make money.
Pit Row
You should print this out and re-read it to yourself when you are touring the country this summer with your camper. It will be good for a laugh or two.
Dear Ping,
Saw where you almost made Vital melt down this week. Do you think Feld is really taking advantage of riders and teams or is it just a typical overreaction by fans of the sport?
Dear Charles,
In my quote I said that teams are “Being bled from every angle.” That was in reference to a team like MotoConcepts who have to buy bikes, buy their hauler, buy parts, hire staff, hire riders, get bonus insurance for their riders, pay entry fees, buy credentials, pay for travel, expenses, etc. It is crazy how much it costs to run a team.
Somebody took a comment I made on the Pulpmx Show and twisted it just enough to make it sound like I was taking a dig at Feld Entertainment. The truth is the guys at Feld, specifically Dave Prater, Todd Jendro and Michael Prince have always been incredibly receptive to input from riders, managers and team owners. Anybody in this industry will tell you the same thing. On the show we were having a discussion with Mike Genova about the struggles of running a race team. In his case he is paying for the vast majority of his effort out of his own pocket and he gets frustrated when his guys don’t get the credit they deserve on the television broadcast. He cited the Oakland round as an example where Mike finished well but was barely mentioned by the TV crew. Maybe he has a point but that frustration should be directed at the television staff, not those in charge of operations. While there are certainly things that could be better you have to tip your cap to the folks at Feld for where they’ve taken Supercross. The difference in the product from now to back in 1993 when I got started is incredible. From the medical support to the television coverage to the overall professionalism of the show it’s improved leaps and bounds. And that is all due to their hard work. This isn’t a butt-kissing session, just the truth.
Post a reply to: PingrPingree on Feld - "teams are being bled from every angle"