Posts
363
Joined
12/5/2006
Location
Menifee, CA, USA
Edited Date/Time
1/27/2012 2:03am
Let me preface this post by saying:
1. It is close to the end of the season where many of the regulars are riding with injuries, burn out and self preservation.
2. Many of the riders just coming into the Nationals have nothing to lose and everything to gain by charging.
If any of the regulars are riding with injuries or other issues this is not for you.
Where is the heart of these riders? Where are the racers that actually want to win races and not give in? Has there been a change in what races are for or athletes in general within our sport?
I will not mention any names I know many of whom I am referring to and it saddens me to write this.
I have stood up for riders who I knew had injuries or issues not allowing them to ride to their potential but I feel this is not the case with ALL of them.
I have to say that riders like Regal, Dowd and Barcia are from a mold that appears to be hidden from the majority.
They never give up and give what they have each race. Win or lose you are seeing them work to win.
As Flarider said in another post, there are going to be more than a few meetings with team riders by their team managers.
Alan Gerkey
1. It is close to the end of the season where many of the regulars are riding with injuries, burn out and self preservation.
2. Many of the riders just coming into the Nationals have nothing to lose and everything to gain by charging.
If any of the regulars are riding with injuries or other issues this is not for you.
Where is the heart of these riders? Where are the racers that actually want to win races and not give in? Has there been a change in what races are for or athletes in general within our sport?
I will not mention any names I know many of whom I am referring to and it saddens me to write this.
I have stood up for riders who I knew had injuries or issues not allowing them to ride to their potential but I feel this is not the case with ALL of them.
I have to say that riders like Regal, Dowd and Barcia are from a mold that appears to be hidden from the majority.
They never give up and give what they have each race. Win or lose you are seeing them work to win.
As Flarider said in another post, there are going to be more than a few meetings with team riders by their team managers.
Alan Gerkey
Paraphrasing
*Essentially, racers and their families sacrifice everything to make it to the pro class and the paycheck. After sacrificing everything and achieving that goal there are only a select few who refocus to be the best and avoid burnout.
we're kind of in the dark ages for MX talent.
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Only a few guys can run these things to their max. Until the bikes get slower, you aren't going to see much aggressive balls to the wall type riding.
I may catch shit for this within the industry, but all these "pros" got SPANKED BY A 44 YR OLD ONCE A YEAR RACER....44 yrs old!! Races one national a year!!
WTF??
And no offense to Matt Goerke, I am very happy and proud of him for his win, but c'mon guys...he's a part timer with limited testing and experience on the bike probably not even getting crap for a salary...IF AT ALL....and he kicked everyone's ass!!
If I was in a big office in one of the OEM buildings, I'd be having a few meetings, a lot of yelling and be shit canning a few people and slashing budgets
You are not towing the company line, this should be a post offering excuses for many a rider.
Be careful, before long you will get labled a cranky old man.
I must say I do agree with you though.
Having run programs, again I get it.
1st, there's no perfect wheel.
In or out of the gym, she doesn't exist.
In every generation & over time, standouts appear.
They seem to shine no matter what.
Regardless of money, support, infrastructure, whatever,
as they say, "the cream rises to the top".
It's the same here too.............
Building a team, program, whatever takes time.
It takes heart too.
You have to assemble a crew of people that want the same beyond a paycheck!
Once you have that, the athlete is next.
Many times it's a crap-shoot, many times it's a given, but in each & every case
you expect that willingness to win. To rise to the top of the class, & you do this
times how many you have in your control.
Some get it, most don't.
All seem good, your picks anyways going in.
However, over time, say pre-season testing, you start to see the hits & misses,
& then it's a game of not letting that happen & take over your guy or guys.
Most it seems had the heart to make it this far, into the Pros, yet many get lost
along the way. For me, that's part of the challenge.
For the athletes, you must keep that challenge alive & the fight that goes with it
if he's searching himself.
Unfortunately, many of today's athletes are lost!
Confused!
Many go through the motions & before you know it they're done!
What's the secret?
I don't think there is 1, except giving it your all, all the time & going the extra
miles needed to reach your goals.
That's what gets me up in the morning & hopefully all else follow!
Dave O.
One thing I don't think is fair is to take away from the miraculous ride that John Dowd had this weekend in making Alan's point. There is no shame in getting beat at Southwick by John Dowd. The man has done this year in and year out prior to and after retiring. Same with Henry before being injured. Racing one race a year and being retired, both riders have run competitive laps with RC at Southwick. What has it been, 3 years or 4 years since he was on the same ride as Reed? He was a top 5 rider when he retired with both RC and JS racing. Where is the shame in that? They guy still has the skills to kill it on his favorite track. I just don't think that using John Dowd as a gauge or his age (which has never been a factor for him) to make a point about the topic. John Dowd was one of the greats of our sport and he keeps proving why. I'm so stoked for Dowd but in truth I am not overly surprised. Matter of fact, after missing the races, I rushed home to see if Dowd got a top 5. That is exactly what I was expecting.
where you have easy money the heart is small for the most part... but when the cash is small all you got is heart
It's becoming a pattern here and even though Dowd is a legend at his home track his dominating performance just amplified what's already being seen. AT the Factory level we have riders that get a bad start and charge as far forward as possible till the checkers drop then there are other riders who get a bad start and just stay there. Then there are guys that ride with enough heart to collect a paycheck then once it's close to contract time the same few wick it up and suprisingly get rehired only to do the same thing over and over.
The way these contracts are written needs to change
Pit Row
I'm over hearing about how tough it is to be a professional MX racer with all the travel, testing, and racing.
I spent 39 months working 70 to 80 hours a week, traveling around the country, making quota, handling the company's largest account while growing another account to surpass the biggest account the company ever had only to get a douche bag boss that made my life hell and made sure I left the company. I didn't fulfill some of the responsibilities of being a father while I was traveling 3 plus days a week or stuck in my office 18 hours a day, getting up for five AM conference calls after not getting to bed until after midnight...............
I do not feel sorry for the rock stars that are factory riders. Some of these guys should be ashamed of themselves IMO
Also please no talk about doing away with Open bikes. If you want to further kill the sport just put everyone on 250Fs to further bankrupt racers' families. Our sport hasn't gotten it yet to quiet the 450s down to reduce sound and making them more tractable in the process.
Neglecting family is not a sign of hard work.
Where is the Heart ? That would be in the upper left Chest cavity. he he
I think the riders have found a comfort zone in their riding and instead of fighting all the way, they pick up a top 10 and get paid just as much for a win.
Post a reply to: Sad, where is the HEART?