Ryan Smith: Jeans, t-shirt, and supercross

Fourth_Floor wrote:

I've asked twice what this guys best finish was. What place did he take in the main this past weekend?? It is a sense of entitlement...

I've asked twice what this guys best finish was. What place did he take in the main this past weekend?? It is a sense of entitlement 100%. This guy feels he deserves free riding gear to the point he wear jeans and a T-shirt to a professional race. If any of the gear manufacturers were impressed enough with his riding at the PRO level, let me stress that, PRO LEVEL then they would be throwing their gear at him. Shut the fuck up, throw on some 90's Xtreme riding gear, hell maybe some SMP stuff if you truly don't want to "represent" anyone and go faster. It's really that simple. I'm going to go into work tomorrow in my fucking man thong because I didn't get the promotion I was nowhere near qualified for but felt I was entitled to. WTF is wrong with you people?! I was able to afford riding gear as a teenager with a fucking paper route.

JM485 wrote:

In a sport where everyone takes themselves WAY to seriously, we need a hero who shows up in jeans to bring everyone back down to reality...

In a sport where everyone takes themselves WAY to seriously, we need a hero who shows up in jeans to bring everyone back down to reality a bit.

GuyB wrote:

Then do it at a local race.

mxsuzuki831 wrote:

I'll probably regret even responding to this post but I want to clear a few things up. I've read through some of the posts, and want...

I'll probably regret even responding to this post but I want to clear a few things up.

I've read through some of the posts, and want to give everyone a little insight on my situation.

I raced professionally from 2008-2012, off and on due to injury, and I made a handful of 250 main events in that span as well as tons of outdoor nationals. At the end of 2012 I had to get surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff. December of 2012 I lost my father to cancer and it took a toll on me as it would anyone and I decided to take some time away from riding. I rode here and there, hit a SX or two, but realistically wasn't "in it". From 2015--December of 2017 I probably rode 5-10 times if that, mostly putting around on someones bike. A good friend of mine had a 2012 Suzuki 250F, he said take it this weekend and race....So I did...and honestly haven't really stopped since. It has been good to just ride again and actually have fun with it. A local group put together "LA Racing" and bought me a 2018 Yamaha 450 to ride as well as my teammate Mario Testa. The goal was to ride some Supercross if we were ready. From December to now, from 205lbs to 170lbs, damn it feels good to just get back out there. Am I back to form? Absolutely NOT. Are we working towards it? Yes. I have a great support system and sponsors that have backed me since I was a kid, I have always had an odd way of getting exposure for them. And that is what brought the Jeans/Tshirt idea up.....

After deciding to run a few rounds to get my feet wet again, we made the decision if I made a night show, we weren't running gear to give some company the exposure if we were to get coverage. What is the first thing you see when you look at a rider besides his bike? Whatever is on their chest, Fox,Fly, Oneal...ETC... And believe it or not, there is quite a few riders making main events that have a gear deal at 50% off...The same thing our local 250 C mid packer gets off Hookit... These kids are PAYING for the companies to get exposure on Live TV. It is a win win for that company. The riders need to realize they have to market themselves better, there are ways to make money besides purse money. Look at what Leib did a few years ago with the all white gear.(Now Canvas MX) 2-3 races later AXO picked him up and sent him a check. Imagine if he showed up in (purchased) AXO gear, 2-3 races later he would've still been wearing(Purchased) AXO gear. Why would they want to pay him or give him free gear if he is buying it anyway? How is Fly suppose to know he is buying gear? They wouldn't reach out mid season to sign him....
This is just one example but many could be made.

It is my opinion, some may call me a jackass, some may agree. I will not wear a brand at my cost to get them free exposure on Live TV. Feld can ban me from the building before the LCQ for wearing jeans, but what they couldn't do is take that 1 minute and 3 seconds of Live coverage back. LA Racing, Triangle Cycles, Total Control Suspension, Scott Goggles, Arai Helmets, Yoshimura, Liquid Performance, Austin Edwards and Veteran MX Foundation got that exposure all because I was different, not because I was fast. How many minutes of coverage did Peick, Brayton, Stewart, Bowers, or Friese get last night? Privateers BE DIFFERENT.

Thank you for the support from the haters and lovers.
Ryan Smith #831

PRM31 wrote:

Does every guy who signs up for a SX deserve to be provided gear?

Go buy some gear, race, and earn some gear or sponsorship.

ACBraap wrote:

No, they don’t. But they do deserve to have the rules in the rule book applied consistently. Not made up on the spot.

marx41 wrote:

I find it interesting that there are people who thought Roczen showing up in a suit was too much, and there are people who think what...

I find it interesting that there are people who thought Roczen showing up in a suit was too much, and there are people who think what Smith did was not enough. So much division in our sport.

marx41 wrote:

I find it interesting that there are people who thought Roczen showing up in a suit was too much, and there are people who think what...

I find it interesting that there are people who thought Roczen showing up in a suit was too much, and there are people who think what Smith did was not enough. So much division in our sport.

KB221 wrote:

you're comparing the attire of a top professional athlete showing up to a press conference, to a guy that shows up for a professional race in...

you're comparing the attire of a top professional athlete showing up to a press conference, to a guy that shows up for a professional race in his street clothes on the bike?

mxsuzuki831 wrote:

I'll probably regret even responding to this post but I want to clear a few things up. I've read through some of the posts, and want...

I'll probably regret even responding to this post but I want to clear a few things up.

I've read through some of the posts, and want to give everyone a little insight on my situation.

I raced professionally from 2008-2012, off and on due to injury, and I made a handful of 250 main events in that span as well as tons of outdoor nationals. At the end of 2012 I had to get surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff. December of 2012 I lost my father to cancer and it took a toll on me as it would anyone and I decided to take some time away from riding. I rode here and there, hit a SX or two, but realistically wasn't "in it". From 2015--December of 2017 I probably rode 5-10 times if that, mostly putting around on someones bike. A good friend of mine had a 2012 Suzuki 250F, he said take it this weekend and race....So I did...and honestly haven't really stopped since. It has been good to just ride again and actually have fun with it. A local group put together "LA Racing" and bought me a 2018 Yamaha 450 to ride as well as my teammate Mario Testa. The goal was to ride some Supercross if we were ready. From December to now, from 205lbs to 170lbs, damn it feels good to just get back out there. Am I back to form? Absolutely NOT. Are we working towards it? Yes. I have a great support system and sponsors that have backed me since I was a kid, I have always had an odd way of getting exposure for them. And that is what brought the Jeans/Tshirt idea up.....

After deciding to run a few rounds to get my feet wet again, we made the decision if I made a night show, we weren't running gear to give some company the exposure if we were to get coverage. What is the first thing you see when you look at a rider besides his bike? Whatever is on their chest, Fox,Fly, Oneal...ETC... And believe it or not, there is quite a few riders making main events that have a gear deal at 50% off...The same thing our local 250 C mid packer gets off Hookit... These kids are PAYING for the companies to get exposure on Live TV. It is a win win for that company. The riders need to realize they have to market themselves better, there are ways to make money besides purse money. Look at what Leib did a few years ago with the all white gear.(Now Canvas MX) 2-3 races later AXO picked him up and sent him a check. Imagine if he showed up in (purchased) AXO gear, 2-3 races later he would've still been wearing(Purchased) AXO gear. Why would they want to pay him or give him free gear if he is buying it anyway? How is Fly suppose to know he is buying gear? They wouldn't reach out mid season to sign him....
This is just one example but many could be made.

It is my opinion, some may call me a jackass, some may agree. I will not wear a brand at my cost to get them free exposure on Live TV. Feld can ban me from the building before the LCQ for wearing jeans, but what they couldn't do is take that 1 minute and 3 seconds of Live coverage back. LA Racing, Triangle Cycles, Total Control Suspension, Scott Goggles, Arai Helmets, Yoshimura, Liquid Performance, Austin Edwards and Veteran MX Foundation got that exposure all because I was different, not because I was fast. How many minutes of coverage did Peick, Brayton, Stewart, Bowers, or Friese get last night? Privateers BE DIFFERENT.

Thank you for the support from the haters and lovers.
Ryan Smith #831

GuyB wrote:

Then do it at a local race.

Adam43 wrote:

I'm sure you wear a suit while interviewing riders?

Asimo wrote:

The kid is right. Advertising for people not heloing you is for posers with 50 stickers on their truck window.