Supercross, is it boring now?

roundtheoutside wrote:

[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/03/20/128713/s1200_image.jpg[/img] Why does this picture make me feel uncomfortable?

Why does this picture make me feel uncomfortable?

Manco wrote:

Reading through your post I can't help but think you grossly misunderstand what televised SX is. Televised SX is not intended to be as you believe...

Reading through your post I can't help but think you grossly misunderstand what televised SX is. Televised SX is not intended to be as you believe, an exciting spontaneous event full of epic motorcycling. Nothing could be further from the truth. In reality televised SX is little more then corporate events designed to advertise products to consumers. Of course the races are bland and the interviews predictable. Regardless of the skill level of the racers their job is less about wining in the traditional sense of athletics and more about selling products. In many respects the racers are little more then corporate spokespersons selling products, in other words useful idiots. Just because they ride motorcycles really well doesn't change the fact that they are walking talking advertisements. For the most effective advertising the situation needs to be controlled and predictable so the products being sold stand out.

It should also be noted that the audience these televised SX events are aimed at isn't mature adults with critical thought processes. They are aimed primarily at young mindless consumers with short attention spans and little critical thought processes in their heads. These consumers are persons most easily duped by advertising into buying products simply because a talking head said so, a factory team is seen using such n such product or a banner displaying a product is over a finish line. Extended commercials masquerading as racing is what televised SX is about. If someone is not duped by this fantasy then of course it will be boring for them to watch.

Like all motor sports that have gone downhill over the past 30 years off road motorcycle racing is the victim of hostile corporate takeover. 30 years of corporate domination have destroyed the sport. Suggestions on changing track format and rearranging classes are all fine and good but will do nothing to change the fact that corporations own the events, own the racers and own racing in general. Here are the only suggestions with any hope of changing the situation in such a way as to return racing to just that, racing.

1 Ban corporate sponsorship of events. The only reason corporations are involved with racing is the stock holders quarterly dividend.

2 Ban factory teams. They are nothing more then advertisers with bottomless pockets who will buy their way to the podium every race.

3 Dissolve the AMA simply because it is clearly corrupt and has been complicit in the downfall of racing. Two examples of AMA corruption: 1 The forced back seating of two strokes at the request of Japanese corporations so said corporations could market an inferior four stroke technology with higher maintenance costs. 2 Forcing trials bikes into a red headed step child class in endurocross when trials bikes are clearly superior for the competition. This move was again at the request of Japanese corporations that don't sell trials bikes and wanted to have their sh&t tier four strokes front and center.

4 Set up the race classes based on mechanics similar to kart racing, ie this bike or that bike, no modifications allowed, no exceptions made. This would level the playing field so that privateers could be on the podium right next to the factory teams that... oh yah the factory teams are already gone.

These four changes would wipe out 99% of the problems mentioned in the first post of this thread. With no corporate sponsorship races would be organized on a grass roots level and be open to any format. Without factory teams virtually anyone with talent could find their way into a race and onto a podium. Without an arbitrary hierarchical organization keeping a strangle hold on the racing scene the scene could grow and expand organically. With racing classes that render moot the latest and greatest technology only 1% of the population can afford true athletics and talent would shine on a racetrack.

As for how will big races be paid for corporations can still foot the bill by buying ad space during commercial breaks and if need be a small side scrolling never ending ticker at the bottom of the TV screen easily covered by some duct tape.

As for the minority of persons currently making money in the racing scene now that would be hurt by these changes, F em. Society doesn't need overpaid modern gladiators whose job is to create a market to sell products no one needs. These persons can work sh&t jobs for a living and enjoy dirt bikes on the weekends just like everybody else.

Also long cat is loooooooong

1-forty-8 wrote:

Yes it's boring. I say, like I said before, multiple rows of start gates. Let the top boys of whatever night start with each other. We...

Yes it's boring.

I say, like I said before, multiple rows of start gates. Let the top boys of whatever night start with each other. We may actually see some racing. Plus the points would be closer because people like Kenny would have less 6th's to his name. Imagine Kenny, Tomac and Anderson all starting with Dungey every main.. That would be so much better than a main event being over the first corner of the first lap.

LappedU wrote:

Bring back the choppy ass tracks of the 80's and 90's, too damn much of a rhythm race these days and constant grooming, Jesus christ it's...

Bring back the choppy ass tracks of the 80's and 90's, too damn much of a rhythm race these days and constant grooming, Jesus christ it's MX these guys should be able to handle it!

LappedU wrote:

Bring back the choppy ass tracks of the 80's and 90's, too damn much of a rhythm race these days and constant grooming, Jesus christ it's...

Bring back the choppy ass tracks of the 80's and 90's, too damn much of a rhythm race these days and constant grooming, Jesus christ it's MX these guys should be able to handle it!

jonesaustin wrote:

Yeah that was a lot gnarlier but you'd need the 2 strokes to make it work right. 4 strokes are like jets dogfighting -- not as...

Yeah that was a lot gnarlier but you'd need the 2 strokes to make it work right. 4 strokes are like jets dogfighting -- not as spectacular as WWII fighters. Our progress has hurt us.