The ONLY way to grow the “sport”

11/3/2020 4:45am
bigk218 wrote:
It’s time that manufactures and companies start releasing contract and salary details of their riders. If we want this sport to grow and prosper we need...
It’s time that manufactures and companies start releasing contract and salary details of their riders.

If we want this sport to grow and prosper we need to start acting like a professional organization. Until then motocross and supercross will be competing with the likes of cornhole and bowling.

We have elite professionals shrouded in a mist of hearsay and gossip. If it wasn’t for pulp, swap, etc... the fans would have zero reason to follow the sport. I’m a diehard fan and the only reason I watch the races is because of the anticipation built by social media outlets.

nortm005 wrote:
How would you like your employer releasing exact details of how much you get paid? Including contract details and bonuses etc. Are they still a 'professional...
How would you like your employer releasing exact details of how much you get paid? Including contract details and bonuses etc. Are they still a 'professional organisation' if they dont?
The only reason other "big sports" release salary and such is because of the salary cap pretty much..
CPR
Posts
7029
Joined
10/4/2018
Location
AU
11/3/2020 4:46am Edited Date/Time 11/3/2020 4:46am
We’re two pages in and no one has answered the Aussie questions:
WTF is a professional cornholer? ....please
3
kb228
Posts
6153
Joined
1/31/2018
Location
Mansfield, OH, USA
11/3/2020 5:33am
I think growing the sport involves making cheap electric bikes people can ride on their own property whenever they want.

Eliminate the noise, cost of ownership, and the barrier of loading up allllllll your shit to drive an hour to a track that costs $30 to ride and hope you actually like doing it.

Mom is happy because she doesnt have to hear it or be bored out of her mind at the track, neighbors are happy because they dont have to hear it, dad is happy because his wallet isnt empty, and the kids are having fun in the yard.

If something develops from there then go to the tracks.
11
2
fgb729
Posts
532
Joined
8/21/2006
Location
Philadelphia, PA, USA
11/3/2020 5:39am
CPR wrote:
We’re two pages in and no one has answered the Aussie questions:
WTF is a professional cornholer? ....please
Dudes who make money throwing bean bags into a piece of wood. Not sure how much they make or if it's sustainable on its own as a profession.
2

The Shop

Indy mxer
Posts
1870
Joined
6/15/2010
Location
The Villages, FL, USA
11/3/2020 5:40am
CPR wrote:
We’re two pages in and no one has answered the Aussie questions:
WTF is a professional cornholer? ....please
Cornhole is basically a beanbag toss game similar to horseshoes. Great for parties and get togethers.
It's not a sport, imo. Professional cornhole is a joke. ESPN has it on when there's nothing else going on in the sports world. Think professional eating.
2
dcg141
Posts
2319
Joined
11/30/2009
Location
USA
11/3/2020 6:01am
Growing the sport at the professional level with more money and growing the sport at the participation level are two every different things. I mean they are connected but getting the sport to grow at the professional level means bringing way more fans on board that will never race a motocross bike or even ride for that matter.
2
bvm111
Posts
10137
Joined
7/1/2008
Location
Las Vegas, NV, USA
11/3/2020 6:32am Edited Date/Time 11/3/2020 6:33am


Now that is an appropriate cornhole!
17
BAMX
Posts
2898
Joined
1/22/2012
Location
Fallbrook, CA, USA
11/3/2020 6:47am
Dutch348 wrote:
10 years from now we’ll all be zipping around our neighborhood tracks on electric 110s, and the sport will blow up like the 70s in SoCal.
JMX82 wrote:
You are right on the money on that. Electrification is the only thing that can push the sport back to growth like it or not.
The next step from that growth is the end. E bikes will put a spotlight on us that we don't want and all of the trails will be shut down due to the actions of a few. The fact is that the granola hiking crowd doesn't like what we do regardless of whether we are making noise and burning fossil fuels.
2
3
endurox
Posts
2102
Joined
3/22/2014
Location
Garden City, ID, USA
11/3/2020 6:58am
Loud 4 strokes have done more against the sport. The sport grows by having areas to learn how to ride. Take away the areas and parents don't have the time to drive 4 hours round trip to see their kids zip around for a few hours. E bikes will hopefully open up some more riding areas. The current administration is working with the the department of Interior to change the dinosaur rules that were heavily influenced by the sierra club. Secretarial Order 3376 is currently being hashed over and hopefully something happens quickly.
4
early
Posts
10016
Joined
2/13/2013
Location
University Heights, OH, USA
11/3/2020 7:19am
kb228 wrote:
I think growing the sport involves making cheap electric bikes people can ride on their own property whenever they want. Eliminate the noise, cost of ownership...
I think growing the sport involves making cheap electric bikes people can ride on their own property whenever they want.

Eliminate the noise, cost of ownership, and the barrier of loading up allllllll your shit to drive an hour to a track that costs $30 to ride and hope you actually like doing it.

Mom is happy because she doesnt have to hear it or be bored out of her mind at the track, neighbors are happy because they dont have to hear it, dad is happy because his wallet isnt empty, and the kids are having fun in the yard.

If something develops from there then go to the tracks.
I don't always agree with kb, but I do on this. The most important thing is to get a kid or adult to twist the throttle on a bike and take off, the rest of the story will take care of itself depending on the person. If you follow MotoGP you've seen the crowds they get at races in Spain and Italy, that's not because everyone is riding an R1 or Harley on the road, it's because everyone has at least ridden a scooter at some point and has an appreciation for riding on 2 wheels. This is what has been on the decline in the US over the past 30 years. Electric bikes, even if they are not high performance, are the best way to get it back.
5
lestat
Posts
1762
Joined
10/3/2008
Location
Piut, RE
11/3/2020 7:33am
kb228 wrote:
I think growing the sport involves making cheap electric bikes people can ride on their own property whenever they want. Eliminate the noise, cost of ownership...
I think growing the sport involves making cheap electric bikes people can ride on their own property whenever they want.

Eliminate the noise, cost of ownership, and the barrier of loading up allllllll your shit to drive an hour to a track that costs $30 to ride and hope you actually like doing it.

Mom is happy because she doesnt have to hear it or be bored out of her mind at the track, neighbors are happy because they dont have to hear it, dad is happy because his wallet isnt empty, and the kids are having fun in the yard.

If something develops from there then go to the tracks.
early wrote:
I don't always agree with kb, but I do on this. The most important thing is to get a kid or adult to twist the throttle...
I don't always agree with kb, but I do on this. The most important thing is to get a kid or adult to twist the throttle on a bike and take off, the rest of the story will take care of itself depending on the person. If you follow MotoGP you've seen the crowds they get at races in Spain and Italy, that's not because everyone is riding an R1 or Harley on the road, it's because everyone has at least ridden a scooter at some point and has an appreciation for riding on 2 wheels. This is what has been on the decline in the US over the past 30 years. Electric bikes, even if they are not high performance, are the best way to get it back.
Nailed it . Professional racing has very little to do with growing the sport .
2
Jarid332
Posts
5360
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
Somewhere north of Toronto, CA
Fantasy
11/3/2020 7:41am Edited Date/Time 11/3/2020 7:42am
scott_nz wrote:
i think the opposite, if people knew what the guy in 12th was making, they probably wouldn't spend so much on the amateur scene, they may...
i think the opposite, if people knew what the guy in 12th was making, they probably wouldn't spend so much on the amateur scene, they may understand what a huge long shot making decent money is,
I think the people making the decisions on where the money is spent probably have an idea of what the 12th place guy is making.
2
TeamGreen
Posts
37344
Joined
11/25/2008
Location
Thru-out, CA, USA
11/3/2020 7:52am Edited Date/Time 11/3/2020 7:53am
Silly Stupid Me.

All this time I thought the way to grow the sport is to GET MORE PEOPLE ON DIRT BIKES?!

Oh, well. little did I know that the Kardashianesque followers of moto care more about what Eli and Ando are making than they do about actually getting more people out to the track or...
Out to the state park/riding area...
Out to Granpa's farm...
Out to the Dez...
Out to the Forest...
Out to the Beach (See my Avi...powering it up on the beach in Baja)...
And just getting people BACK OUT THERE ON THEIR DIRT-BIKES.

Well, I guess ALL the New Bikes that were sold durig "The Virus" aren't what matters.
New riders out there on their "Bad Motorscooters" isn't real growth (Terminology stolen from Sammy Hagar & Ronnie Montrose)
No, what matters is that the Social Media Addicted Moto-Queens get their fix of gossip.
Grinning

"The Only Way to Grow the Sport" Whistling
Bwaaaahaaaaaahaaaaaaaa
12
Shapi
Posts
145
Joined
2/7/2019
Location
Livermore, CA, USA
11/3/2020 8:15am
decano51 wrote:
Early 2000's sport was at its peak. with riders doing 12 month contracts for 3mil+. outside shoe deals for millions. I think the only way to...
Early 2000's sport was at its peak. with riders doing 12 month contracts for 3mil+. outside shoe deals for millions.

I think the only way to grow the sport is get outside sponsors in. we need a reason for outside sponsors to join.
the whole CBD stuff and 360 fly cam shit is a reason why we cant grow the sport.

We need more company's on a broader spectrum involved.


also... riders are not as intense as it once was.. now they are all friends, they all train together and its a big love fest.
needs to be rivalry and some one to love and some one to hate.
Honestly hope Jett Lawrence can bring this back, seems like it can go either way... but hasn't been afraid to throw some people off there game as well as back it up.




Agree 100%...except I think the fact that they are all friends is a good thing. Look at the other sportsball leagues. Before and after games they are all talking, hugging, going out to dinner the night before games, etc. At the end of the day they are all competitors and will go for the win or they won't be "professional" long.

Totally agree on the outside sponsorship aspect. Supercross data has shown a huge percentage of those that attend don't even own a bike. Outside exposure, particularly for outdoors will help for sure. E-bikes may be good 10-15 years from now as well. But if folks don't know we are here, how can we grow?
11/3/2020 8:32am
bigk218 wrote:
It’s time that manufactures and companies start releasing contract and salary details of their riders. If we want this sport to grow and prosper we need...
It’s time that manufactures and companies start releasing contract and salary details of their riders.

If we want this sport to grow and prosper we need to start acting like a professional organization. Until then motocross and supercross will be competing with the likes of cornhole and bowling.

We have elite professionals shrouded in a mist of hearsay and gossip. If it wasn’t for pulp, swap, etc... the fans would have zero reason to follow the sport. I’m a diehard fan and the only reason I watch the races is because of the anticipation built by social media outlets.

I know what baseball players make and that doesn't make me want to watch baseball. I don't see why the public who knows nothing about motocross would start watching simply because they know what a rider is making.
4
thewrizzle
Posts
499
Joined
4/27/2018
Location
Rochester, WA, USA
11/3/2020 9:08am
You know the only reason stick and ball sports have their salaries known to the public is because they are union jobs. No other sports salaries are public because they aren’t union.
Jarid332
Posts
5360
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
Somewhere north of Toronto, CA
Fantasy
11/3/2020 10:29am
Live Nation has nothing to do with supercross. They sold their sports divison to Feld in 2008. Feld and Live Nation are two different companies.
4
11/3/2020 10:29am
Only way to grow sport is through grass roots investment. Manufacturer owned riding areas, cheap starter bikes, practice rentals and training to get newbies interested. How about making it like other kid sports where they only have to buy their own helmet, pay a registration fee and race a mx season with everyone on same bikes, gear, etc. if parents can spend $5k + a year on elite hockey or 2k for a video card, they could pay for a season of mx racing with biweekly races. Just get the kids on the bikes, with other kids and they will enjoy it. If not, minimal investment by parents.
3
151
Posts
536
Joined
9/15/2009
Location
Olive Branch, MS, USA
11/3/2020 10:57am
I think the last thing I need as an amateur rider/racer is for the sport to "grow".
2
skeef
Posts
1454
Joined
7/18/2018
Location
USA
Fantasy
11/3/2020 11:13am
We don't really know what professional cornhole is either.. Cornhole the game was explained above. Now why we have "professional cornhole" beats me. The only possible answer that makes sense to me is; "MERICA'!"
11/3/2020 11:13am
scott_nz wrote:
i think the opposite, if people knew what the guy in 12th was making, they probably wouldn't spend so much on the amateur scene, they may...
i think the opposite, if people knew what the guy in 12th was making, they probably wouldn't spend so much on the amateur scene, they may understand what a huge long shot making decent money is,
No one ever started racing to make money and how much the 12th place guy makes has no impact on people racing the local amateur scene. Racers race because it what they like to do and most know early on that they will never make a living at it. If people are dumb enough to invest their money thinking they will get a big pay off then then are just plain stupid.
1
11/3/2020 11:20am
44 dislikes but he's right. The easier it is for fans to follow the sport the better.
8
xrmark
Posts
1122
Joined
9/9/2019
Location
Lake Elsinore, CA, USA
11/3/2020 11:29am
Wow lol is this a joke?? I’ve never gone to a Supercross to watch crashes. I, along with everyone else go to watch the racing. This little speech is probably a good indicator on why you had to type “last” girlfriend. By the way, when you’re roasting someone for not using correct grammar, make sure you do as well, *would*. Also, go try and buy some ringling brothers circus tickets right now. It’s been gone. Before typing idiotic shit like this educate yourself.
4
xrmark
Posts
1122
Joined
9/9/2019
Location
Lake Elsinore, CA, USA
11/3/2020 11:31am
44 dislikes but he's right. The easier it is for fans to follow the sport the better.
So knowing how much riders make is the key to growing our sport?? Tracks are more packed than ever, bikes are hard to get, seems the sport is fine to me.
2
11/3/2020 11:45am
I think the sport has grow far beyond my wildest dreams.







3
USA
Posts
2616
Joined
9/4/2016
Location
Richmond, TX, USA
Fantasy
11/3/2020 11:54am
Bnagazina wrote:
Only way to grow sport is through grass roots investment. Manufacturer owned riding areas, cheap starter bikes, practice rentals and training to get newbies interested. How...
Only way to grow sport is through grass roots investment. Manufacturer owned riding areas, cheap starter bikes, practice rentals and training to get newbies interested. How about making it like other kid sports where they only have to buy their own helmet, pay a registration fee and race a mx season with everyone on same bikes, gear, etc. if parents can spend $5k + a year on elite hockey or 2k for a video card, they could pay for a season of mx racing with biweekly races. Just get the kids on the bikes, with other kids and they will enjoy it. If not, minimal investment by parents.
Now this is a great idea. Scalable and possible with enough elbow grease. Insurance would probably be through the roof, but damn this is a good idea.

I'll use a small example.. you start with 10 bikes and get a gear sponsor that can supply the different sizes of gear. You could have a race series of 8 rounds and ask for $1500 for the racers. All they have to do is show up and bring their helmet, no further registration fees, bike/maintenance, etc.

Thats 15k if you get all 10 bikes filled, and then you can run 6 of these 8-round series throughout the year, thats 90k. Imagine you spend 40k buying 10 ttr125s, and the rest on maintenance and other needs... I can almost see this working especially if the bikes last multiple seasons.

Scale it up however big you want, you might lose money the first year but I can see this being feasible. K1 Speed makes money. I know I cut out sooooo many details, but this sounds plausible to me.

I wouldn't ever do this and the way the sport is going I don't see this happening, but it could be a cool side venture for a hungry promoter that already owns a track and resources, with the skills necessary.
early
Posts
10016
Joined
2/13/2013
Location
University Heights, OH, USA
11/3/2020 12:37pm
Bnagazina wrote:
Only way to grow sport is through grass roots investment. Manufacturer owned riding areas, cheap starter bikes, practice rentals and training to get newbies interested. How...
Only way to grow sport is through grass roots investment. Manufacturer owned riding areas, cheap starter bikes, practice rentals and training to get newbies interested. How about making it like other kid sports where they only have to buy their own helmet, pay a registration fee and race a mx season with everyone on same bikes, gear, etc. if parents can spend $5k + a year on elite hockey or 2k for a video card, they could pay for a season of mx racing with biweekly races. Just get the kids on the bikes, with other kids and they will enjoy it. If not, minimal investment by parents.
USA wrote:
Now this is a great idea. Scalable and possible with enough elbow grease. Insurance would probably be through the roof, but damn this is a good...
Now this is a great idea. Scalable and possible with enough elbow grease. Insurance would probably be through the roof, but damn this is a good idea.

I'll use a small example.. you start with 10 bikes and get a gear sponsor that can supply the different sizes of gear. You could have a race series of 8 rounds and ask for $1500 for the racers. All they have to do is show up and bring their helmet, no further registration fees, bike/maintenance, etc.

Thats 15k if you get all 10 bikes filled, and then you can run 6 of these 8-round series throughout the year, thats 90k. Imagine you spend 40k buying 10 ttr125s, and the rest on maintenance and other needs... I can almost see this working especially if the bikes last multiple seasons.

Scale it up however big you want, you might lose money the first year but I can see this being feasible. K1 Speed makes money. I know I cut out sooooo many details, but this sounds plausible to me.

I wouldn't ever do this and the way the sport is going I don't see this happening, but it could be a cool side venture for a hungry promoter that already owns a track and resources, with the skills necessary.
To tag onto this line of thought, the AMA needs to spin off an arm that works with local, state, and national governments, local clubs, tracks, dealers, as well as oem and aftermarket manufacturers specifically to secure access and insurance for riding areas and tracks. This could be similar to what the American Alpine Club does with the Access Fund for rock, ice, and mountain climbing in America. If you aren't familiar with that here's a link to look check out. https://www.accessfund.org/meet-the-access-fund/our-passion
1
Sunhouse
Posts
3670
Joined
3/2/2009
Location
NO
11/3/2020 12:48pm
TeamGreen wrote:
Silly Stupid Me. All this time I thought the way to grow the sport is to GET MORE PEOPLE ON DIRT BIKES?! Oh, well. little did...
Silly Stupid Me.

All this time I thought the way to grow the sport is to GET MORE PEOPLE ON DIRT BIKES?!

Oh, well. little did I know that the Kardashianesque followers of moto care more about what Eli and Ando are making than they do about actually getting more people out to the track or...
Out to the state park/riding area...
Out to Granpa's farm...
Out to the Dez...
Out to the Forest...
Out to the Beach (See my Avi...powering it up on the beach in Baja)...
And just getting people BACK OUT THERE ON THEIR DIRT-BIKES.

Well, I guess ALL the New Bikes that were sold durig "The Virus" aren't what matters.
New riders out there on their "Bad Motorscooters" isn't real growth (Terminology stolen from Sammy Hagar & Ronnie Montrose)
No, what matters is that the Social Media Addicted Moto-Queens get their fix of gossip.
Grinning

"The Only Way to Grow the Sport" Whistling
Bwaaaahaaaaaahaaaaaaaa
I was going to post after reading the first page, but luckily I read through. My thoughts exactly😆

If you think that the only way to grow a sport is to release salary gossip on its riders, I think you should stay in school and keep away from dirt bikes for a while.

I remember reading MXA in the 90’s and they were going on about how the sport wasn’t growing, compared to the 120k spectators at GP’s of the 70’s. How everyone had tried a 50cc or swung a leg over an offroad bike. And now we are looking at the 90’s for inspiration?

Without going into a long hypothesis, I will say this though: MX has never had better PR the last 25 years than when Pastrana was doing crazy stunts and being a likeable and outgoing character on the camera. Or when James Stewart was kicking major ass as the only black rider in the hillbilly Monster Truck/ NASCAR environment that mx is perceived as. Pictures and ads of the two were found everywhere from sports outlets to the soda section in the grocery store. They were household names and attracted big money, sponsors and even reality shows to the sport. Question is: do we want to be professional as the MXGP’s and WRC, or an entertainment freakshow like Monster Trucks and FMX?

Another factor: most people don’t care about MX, they find it boring and monotonous after 3 laps. Should we cater to bring these in with bread and circus, or enjoy it as we have all grown to like it? Changing rules and formats are the stupidest things we do. Focus on the core fans, and whatever talents and personalities grow out of it. We don’t need outside approval to enjoy mx
7
2
Chance1216
Posts
8797
Joined
4/1/2018
Location
Carson, CA, USA
11/3/2020 12:50pm Edited Date/Time 11/4/2020 7:39am
Depends on the perspective of what is considered growing the sport. More people showing up to race at tracks, more people attending races or getting newcomers interested in swinging a leg over a bike for the first time and eventually buying one?

What drew me to bikes started at an relatively early age (8) was my grandfather buying my first bike for me. It wasn’t brand spanking new. It was a 69 Honda mini trail he got me back in 85. I wasn’t interested in the latest gear. I was just happy riding that little thing around Frazier Park and Gorman.
My friend was interested so, my grandfather asked his dad if they would like to go out with us.
It resulted in them both buying bikes and myself going riding with them as well.
I think now days the focus has changed from going and having fun to, making a fashion statement and buying all the latest and greatest stuff. Yes good gear is important but, labels are now the focal point.
I rode with old work boots, jeans, a hand me down helmet, a long sleeve tee shirt and safety glasses. Damn electrical tape for numbers lol.
Anyways, growing the sport isn’t limited to just one area.
Perhaps it’s a combination of multiple things. Getting someone to throw a leg over a bike for the first time, taking a couple friends who don’t ride to the races.
Sorry for the long winded post. I just don’t think there’s one answer.

7
Flesh206
Posts
302
Joined
4/30/2010
Location
Perrys, OH, USA
11/3/2020 1:22pm
Need booze sponsors back. What else do you think I was doing in the nose bleeds with my friends at the Pontiac Silverdome at 16 yrs old.
1
3

Post a reply to: The ONLY way to grow the “sport”

The Latest