Ken Roczen commits to WSX for the next three years..

decano51
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5/8/2023 6:54pm

there's a larger fan base outside of America who enjoy the sport and want to see these riders in person.

WSX is an opportunity for the sport to grow globally. give riders a chance to travel the world and make money

For people who struggle to see.. as a fan... imagine if Supercross and Nationals was never in America and was a good couple of grand trip to travel across the pond to watch your heros race. now... WSX gives a chance for these riders to visit different countries and fans a chance to see there riders they support and follow. 

Im 26, never been to America to watch the sport i passionately support and follow due to expenses. But now once a year i get to see Ken Roczen line up and spin laps. 

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yak651
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5/8/2023 7:00pm

A lot of people up in here mad someone didn’t make a decision to put in a lot of work for their entertainment…good for Kenny deciding to do what he feels is best for himself and his family 

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seth505
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5/8/2023 8:07pm

The only negative is for hardcore mx fans within the USA.  I'm a little bummed but also happy for him. It will most likely cause me to tune in for WSX now.

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mxb2
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5/8/2023 8:13pm
decano51 wrote:
there's a larger fan base outside of America who enjoy the sport and want to see these riders in person. WSX is an opportunity for the...

there's a larger fan base outside of America who enjoy the sport and want to see these riders in person.

WSX is an opportunity for the sport to grow globally. give riders a chance to travel the world and make money

For people who struggle to see.. as a fan... imagine if Supercross and Nationals was never in America and was a good couple of grand trip to travel across the pond to watch your heros race. now... WSX gives a chance for these riders to visit different countries and fans a chance to see there riders they support and follow. 

Im 26, never been to America to watch the sport i passionately support and follow due to expenses. But now once a year i get to see Ken Roczen line up and spin laps. 

No different than usa fans that follow mxgp series. Cant watch in person.
2

The Shop

Front242
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5/8/2023 8:26pm

i don't care where he is riding.....i watch AmA ProMotocross a series where i get motos every Saturday and riders need to get a break between seasons that's for sure.!

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-MAVERICK-
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5/8/2023 9:25pm

Full Press Conference

decano51
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5/8/2023 10:25pm
decano51 wrote:
there's a larger fan base outside of America who enjoy the sport and want to see these riders in person. WSX is an opportunity for the...

there's a larger fan base outside of America who enjoy the sport and want to see these riders in person.

WSX is an opportunity for the sport to grow globally. give riders a chance to travel the world and make money

For people who struggle to see.. as a fan... imagine if Supercross and Nationals was never in America and was a good couple of grand trip to travel across the pond to watch your heros race. now... WSX gives a chance for these riders to visit different countries and fans a chance to see there riders they support and follow. 

Im 26, never been to America to watch the sport i passionately support and follow due to expenses. But now once a year i get to see Ken Roczen line up and spin laps. 

mxb2 wrote:
No different than usa fans that follow mxgp series. Cant watch in person.

exactly and look at the turn out and excitement when they do have a race in America. 

1
Cali
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5/9/2023 12:02am
Press516 wrote:
This WSX series is going to suck for outdoor moto fans.  $$$ seems to be the root cause of guys doing it over MX.   So Ken...

This WSX series is going to suck for outdoor moto fans.  $$$ seems to be the root cause of guys doing it over MX.  

So Ken will do a select few 1 off outdoor MX races?  Not going to be his best effort if training only for SX.

Pretty bummed about this as an old school outdoor MX fan...

   What would you do? Race MX for peanuts? 

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Cali
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5/9/2023 12:11am
Press516 wrote:
This WSX series is going to suck for outdoor moto fans.  $$$ seems to be the root cause of guys doing it over MX.   So Ken...

This WSX series is going to suck for outdoor moto fans.  $$$ seems to be the root cause of guys doing it over MX.  

So Ken will do a select few 1 off outdoor MX races?  Not going to be his best effort if training only for SX.

Pretty bummed about this as an old school outdoor MX fan...

Magoofan wrote:

Count me as one moto fan who won't be watching WSX.      Kenny is sand-bagging at this point.

 

  Bet you were the spoiled brat kid on the block eh?  

Sandusky26
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5/9/2023 4:08am
#434 wrote:
Maybe racing 6 rounds indoors, around the world for much more money just sounds a bit more appealing to him, his family and management than doing...

Maybe racing 6 rounds indoors, around the world for much more money just sounds a bit more appealing to him, his family and management than doing 12 rounds in buttf..k nowhere of an amateurishly organized outdoor series he’s already won twice?

I know you yanks are pissed he isn’t racing your series, but come on... who wouldn’t do the same?

It's the arrogance you guys feel the need to express. Not WSX or E bikes, it's you.

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mmcmx
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5/9/2023 7:02am

I'll watch the nationals. I'll watch the WSX, I'll watch it all! I just cant get enough!

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Magoofan
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5/9/2023 8:26am
Cali wrote:

  Bet you were the spoiled brat kid on the block eh?  

Quite the contrary.    I worked around the neighborhood starting @ 12 to buy my first bike...which was a broken down  YZ-80.  

But neither your comment or my response has nothing to do with this topic. 

Next.

 

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#434
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5/9/2023 8:31am
#434 wrote:
Maybe racing 6 rounds indoors, around the world for much more money just sounds a bit more appealing to him, his family and management than doing...

Maybe racing 6 rounds indoors, around the world for much more money just sounds a bit more appealing to him, his family and management than doing 12 rounds in buttf..k nowhere of an amateurishly organized outdoor series he’s already won twice?

I know you yanks are pissed he isn’t racing your series, but come on... who wouldn’t do the same?

Sandusky26 wrote:

It's the arrogance you guys feel the need to express. Not WSX or E bikes, it's you.

Fair enough! If you think that stating the obvious is arrogant, so be it. 

5/9/2023 11:08am
Maybe I'm overthinking this , or have been exposed to ,too much printer ink fumes this past week. But Is Kenny being paid for the commitment? ...

Maybe I'm overthinking this , or have been exposed to ,too much printer ink fumes this past week. But Is Kenny being paid for the commitment?  Or is this more of a hollow deal that is more PR and less of a contract like what happens with a team? Kenny could have come out and said that he is committing to racing AMA SX and Outdoors for another 3 years and that wouldn't mean he was being paid a giant amount by the series to commit to it. 

What if its just a mutually beneficial way of getting WSX some PR, and getting the word out that Kenny wants to keep racing for a couple more years and that he wants to go WSX and AMA SX racing.  Maybe they paid him to do the press conference and commit. But a team will still have to sign him for him to get the big money. It would be interesting to know the details of the deal. Since WSX operates so differently  it might not be the big money deal people are thinking. And just be  a way of getting some more publicity  for both parties . But then again, my hands are still stained pink and blue from working on my printer so it's surely soaked in and reached my brain by now. I'm going to get some fresh air now.....

My understanding is that teams and I am sure top riders are paid to participate, a bit like LIV taking on the PGA in golf, but...

My understanding is that teams and I am sure top riders are paid to participate, a bit like LIV taking on the PGA in golf, but - so far - with less drama and at a few orders of magnitude less $$.  Buying talent absolutely is what a new series has to do to get traction if it want to be on par with the existing top series.  Whether it is sustainable is another question, but that's what promoters sign up for.

stremme12 wrote:
You can't compare this to LIV. The teams themselves bought into this series by purchasing the license. The teams then get paid back from the series...

You can't compare this to LIV. The teams themselves bought into this series by purchasing the license. The teams then get paid back from the series as well. It was the promoters intention for the teams to use that to purchase talent and equipment as well as source sponsor dollars. 

 

LIV is literally contracting all of their talent. So far WSX is only contracting Kenny for a team of his choosing that purchased a license from them. The rest of the teams are contracting the other riders not WSX. LIV is not a team driven sport. It's an individual sport.

I know the teams get paid  to be a team. I was just questioning the amount of money Kenny got to just commit to the series. He still has to ride for a team. So I was wondering if it was a big money deal for the commitment or more of a PR to get the word out that Kenny wants to keep going, and  get a little bonus money for doing the press conference?   I know that WSX works different than the AMA stuff as far as funding goes. But that still doesn't mean that they paid Kenny some giant amount of money. Since they work differently I was thinking from a different point of view. Maybe I missed something in the pres release that said he was compensated a large amount for the commitment.

  Could be just a piece of the puzzle Kenny needed to be able to put another deal together. A way of letting some big money sponsor know his level of commitment. And a win for WSX to get Kenny and some more publicity.  If he puts it out that he wants to race for another 2 years that doesn't sound as legit as signing something agreeing to race for another 2 years.  When he said he wanted to Race Outdoors and SX for the forseeable future or however he had said it. That did not get the level of attention as  this signing did. And without seeing a copy of a contract whos to say it is any more legally binding than just saying he is committed to racing for a few more years?  I guess I'm just thinking too far outside of the box. Maybe its time for some fresh air.    

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stremme12
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5/9/2023 11:12am
My understanding is that teams and I am sure top riders are paid to participate, a bit like LIV taking on the PGA in golf, but...

My understanding is that teams and I am sure top riders are paid to participate, a bit like LIV taking on the PGA in golf, but - so far - with less drama and at a few orders of magnitude less $$.  Buying talent absolutely is what a new series has to do to get traction if it want to be on par with the existing top series.  Whether it is sustainable is another question, but that's what promoters sign up for.

stremme12 wrote:
You can't compare this to LIV. The teams themselves bought into this series by purchasing the license. The teams then get paid back from the series...

You can't compare this to LIV. The teams themselves bought into this series by purchasing the license. The teams then get paid back from the series as well. It was the promoters intention for the teams to use that to purchase talent and equipment as well as source sponsor dollars. 

 

LIV is literally contracting all of their talent. So far WSX is only contracting Kenny for a team of his choosing that purchased a license from them. The rest of the teams are contracting the other riders not WSX. LIV is not a team driven sport. It's an individual sport.

I know the teams get paid  to be a team. I was just questioning the amount of money Kenny got to just commit to the series...

I know the teams get paid  to be a team. I was just questioning the amount of money Kenny got to just commit to the series. He still has to ride for a team. So I was wondering if it was a big money deal for the commitment or more of a PR to get the word out that Kenny wants to keep going, and  get a little bonus money for doing the press conference?   I know that WSX works different than the AMA stuff as far as funding goes. But that still doesn't mean that they paid Kenny some giant amount of money. Since they work differently I was thinking from a different point of view. Maybe I missed something in the pres release that said he was compensated a large amount for the commitment.

  Could be just a piece of the puzzle Kenny needed to be able to put another deal together. A way of letting some big money sponsor know his level of commitment. And a win for WSX to get Kenny and some more publicity.  If he puts it out that he wants to race for another 2 years that doesn't sound as legit as signing something agreeing to race for another 2 years.  When he said he wanted to Race Outdoors and SX for the forseeable future or however he had said it. That did not get the level of attention as  this signing did. And without seeing a copy of a contract whos to say it is any more legally binding than just saying he is committed to racing for a few more years?  I guess I'm just thinking too far outside of the box. Maybe its time for some fresh air.    

He got paid around 200k a race last year by the series. This wasn't just a PR move. He got paid again.

1
SEMAC
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decano51 wrote:
there's a larger fan base outside of America who enjoy the sport and want to see these riders in person. WSX is an opportunity for the...

there's a larger fan base outside of America who enjoy the sport and want to see these riders in person.

WSX is an opportunity for the sport to grow globally. give riders a chance to travel the world and make money

For people who struggle to see.. as a fan... imagine if Supercross and Nationals was never in America and was a good couple of grand trip to travel across the pond to watch your heros race. now... WSX gives a chance for these riders to visit different countries and fans a chance to see there riders they support and follow. 

Im 26, never been to America to watch the sport i passionately support and follow due to expenses. But now once a year i get to see Ken Roczen line up and spin laps. 

mxb2 wrote:
No different than usa fans that follow mxgp series. Cant watch in person.

I can

5/9/2023 1:23pm

Good for Kenny.  I believe the 12 is WSX as well - not sure on Chiz.

So where does that leave HEP 450 team for this summer?

Is Nichols available - I think he had a SX only contract???

Anyone else available?

 

mxb2
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5/9/2023 1:35pm
decano51 wrote:
there's a larger fan base outside of America who enjoy the sport and want to see these riders in person. WSX is an opportunity for the...

there's a larger fan base outside of America who enjoy the sport and want to see these riders in person.

WSX is an opportunity for the sport to grow globally. give riders a chance to travel the world and make money

For people who struggle to see.. as a fan... imagine if Supercross and Nationals was never in America and was a good couple of grand trip to travel across the pond to watch your heros race. now... WSX gives a chance for these riders to visit different countries and fans a chance to see there riders they support and follow. 

Im 26, never been to America to watch the sport i passionately support and follow due to expenses. But now once a year i get to see Ken Roczen line up and spin laps. 

mxb2 wrote:
No different than usa fans that follow mxgp series. Cant watch in person.
SEMAC wrote:

I can

Anybody can, if they are willing to travel
#434
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5/9/2023 1:58pm
Magoofan wrote:
Quite the contrary.    I worked around the neighborhood starting @ 12 to buy my first bike...which was a broken down  YZ-80.   But neither your comment...

Quite the contrary.    I worked around the neighborhood starting @ 12 to buy my first bike...which was a broken down  YZ-80.  

But neither your comment or my response has nothing to do with this topic. 

Next.

 

Didn’t know they made YZs in the 50s!

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Spoonguy
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5/9/2023 4:48pm

It seems unfair WSX is paying Kenny to show up in one way, but he did earn that notoriety. Perhaps him being in the championship makes it more legitimate for the other racers competing.

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bens 152
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5/9/2023 8:12pm

All the outdoors/wsx feelings and politics aside, I can’t help but be happy the guy gets to travel the world with his family to ride, make $, and race in front of fans who have never seen him before, and to race back at his home. I Think it’s pretty cool. Kenny seems to appreciate life outside of moto, and the little things that come with the travelling the world. Racers are laser focused their whole life from championship to championship, they experience a lot. But damn they miss a lot too. To think we nearly lost the guy a few years back too, good on him for making the most of this opportunity, and he’s a great representative of the sport. This will help him wind his career down as he moves onto his next chapter in life too. 
 

Going to miss seeing his first lap speed outdoors, incredible to watch. Big outdoors fan here. 

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mx900
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5/10/2023 5:38am

So who does HEP have for the Nationals?

-MAVERICK-
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5/10/2023 7:51am
mx900 wrote:

So who does HEP have for the Nationals?

Marshal Weltin. 

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ML512
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5/10/2023 8:15am
-MAVERICK- wrote:

Marshal Weltin. 

Freddie Noren as well.

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FreshTopEnd
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5/10/2023 9:04am
stremme12 wrote:
You can't compare this to LIV. The teams themselves bought into this series by purchasing the license. The teams then get paid back from the series...

You can't compare this to LIV. The teams themselves bought into this series by purchasing the license. The teams then get paid back from the series as well. It was the promoters intention for the teams to use that to purchase talent and equipment as well as source sponsor dollars. 

 

LIV is literally contracting all of their talent. So far WSX is only contracting Kenny for a team of his choosing that purchased a license from them. The rest of the teams are contracting the other riders not WSX. LIV is not a team driven sport. It's an individual sport.

I think you missed my point.  As a general rule if you are going to start a new elite series to compete with established series, dumping large amounts of cash on elite athletes is the way to jump start your prospects of attracting enough eyes.  It's probably required to get people to shift over.  I am surprised they have not induced other top riders, but they must not be willing to pay the price that would make it worth it to other top guys (or their employers).

 

1
stremme12
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5/10/2023 9:14am
stremme12 wrote:
You can't compare this to LIV. The teams themselves bought into this series by purchasing the license. The teams then get paid back from the series...

You can't compare this to LIV. The teams themselves bought into this series by purchasing the license. The teams then get paid back from the series as well. It was the promoters intention for the teams to use that to purchase talent and equipment as well as source sponsor dollars. 

 

LIV is literally contracting all of their talent. So far WSX is only contracting Kenny for a team of his choosing that purchased a license from them. The rest of the teams are contracting the other riders not WSX. LIV is not a team driven sport. It's an individual sport.

I think you missed my point.  As a general rule if you are going to start a new elite series to compete with established series, dumping...

I think you missed my point.  As a general rule if you are going to start a new elite series to compete with established series, dumping large amounts of cash on elite athletes is the way to jump start your prospects of attracting enough eyes.  It's probably required to get people to shift over.  I am surprised they have not induced other top riders, but they must not be willing to pay the price that would make it worth it to other top guys (or their employers).

 

You're missing my point as well. This is a team issue too. WSX is paying the teams a large sum as well. These teams are not using that money to go out and find talent. Just wait and see who the lineup ends up being for WSX. Kenny will be lapping a good majority if it goes the way it's going now. 

 

The money WSX is giving these teams is not being used properly. 

2
Goldmember
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5/10/2023 9:21am Edited Date/Time 5/10/2023 9:31am
I think you missed my point.  As a general rule if you are going to start a new elite series to compete with established series, dumping...

I think you missed my point.  As a general rule if you are going to start a new elite series to compete with established series, dumping large amounts of cash on elite athletes is the way to jump start your prospects of attracting enough eyes.  It's probably required to get people to shift over.  I am surprised they have not induced other top riders, but they must not be willing to pay the price that would make it worth it to other top guys (or their employers).

 

Another point is many AMA 450/senior riders have been under contracts that are finishing this year.

They will be looking to see how WSX progresses and for them to make informed decisions for 2024.

1
Alex814
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5/10/2023 9:23am

Good for Kenny. As a fan in the US that doesn't know how to even watch WSX, it's a bummer, but I'm glad we got a healthy KR94 for the entire SX season. I'd be happy to see that again in '24 compared to the struggles he's had previously. 

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FreshTopEnd
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5/10/2023 9:55am
stremme12 wrote:
You're missing my point as well. This is a team issue too. WSX is paying the teams a large sum as well. These teams are not...

You're missing my point as well. This is a team issue too. WSX is paying the teams a large sum as well. These teams are not using that money to go out and find talent. Just wait and see who the lineup ends up being for WSX. Kenny will be lapping a good majority if it goes the way it's going now. 

 

The money WSX is giving these teams is not being used properly. 

Well, you were responding to my post, not me to yours.  You used my post to make your own statement on a different issue that doesn't address my point at all.

As to your point, they must not be paying the teams enough to pay elite riders, but it is the same dynamic:  you have to pay people to participate for credibility if you are going up against an established series that commands the participation.  But apparently the WSX formula is the same as the other series - get a handful of elite talent to attract spectators and fill out the field with back markers with dreams so the gate is fuller.  They just have the team filtering those riders who think this is their step up to being elite or getting noticed.

1
5/10/2023 10:10am

Even though I'm super bummed about him not racing outdoors, it's cool to know that he'll be racing for at least another 3 years

4

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