Moto journalists answering their own questions

js256
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1/21/2024 10:57pm
I like threads like this, because I/we can always be better. On the subject matter: I know that I do that. Sometimes it's by design to...

I like threads like this, because I/we can always be better.

On the subject matter: I know that I do that. Sometimes it's by design to get a more pointed answer and others it's a mistake.

I want my interviews to be thought provoking. If a rider has to stop and think about their answer then I'm kind of happy, haha.

I try to keep my questions short. The question that I asked Tomac on press day that was three words was the most powerful.

Id almost put yourself and ML as exceptions too. The questions that drive me nuts are obvious and have nearly all the possible fucking answers stated in the question. The rider has no where to go, freezes and then starts talking about his off season program or something unrelated because there's nothing left to say. 

js256
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1/21/2024 10:59pm

The ones that do it it's almost like they're so proud of their own insight on the matter they have to get it all out in the question for everyone to hear.

We want to hear the riders insight!

2
Jabe
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1/22/2024 12:13am
Thats not what I was referencing and you know it. We had this conversation regarding Vince freise and you told me that he simply would not...

Thats not what I was referencing and you know it. We had this conversation regarding Vince freise and you told me that he simply would not answer any questions so you didn't ask any. Then we had the kid with the iPhone simply walk up to him and ask questions.

The truth is far better than excuses

edit - you did great w/ the CW interview by pressing him about the Sexton pass. Then I was bummed when I watched Lewis' interview with Sexton, and he asked nothing about it. :-(

 

So you think Sexton actually tried to hold up Webb?

I would not know. However Michael did a great job asking Cooper about the situation and he implied that it was a deliberate move. Why not...

I would not know. However Michael did a great job asking Cooper about the situation and he implied that it was a deliberate move. Why not ask Chase the same question?

Webb can be quite the drama queen. But it’s probably similar for many riders. If they are fast and up front, every tiny issue with a lapper is blown up but when they are a roadblock they are smaller than a fly (it’s an idiom in my language).

i remember how last year (or was it the year before, dunno)  webb got injured during the supercross race and rolling around with one hand off the handle bar for at least 2-3 laps. Everyone was including our top notch announcer RC (he is Ralph 2.0) was like „Webb has so much grit and determination, blabla (not exactly this but along the lines)“. But in reality he was a liability out there. I mean talk about double standards. Just makes me angry.

2
CPR
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1/22/2024 1:06am

The question I don’t like is not a question, it’s:  “…monologue……talk about that.”

2

The Shop

mx_563
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1/22/2024 2:03am

Couldn't agree more with the OP and the "talk about...." and all the other hack journalism BS in MX/SX. What about the 200 word disclaimer that leads into the question that starts with "Obviously" or "We all know..." as if the "journalist" feels insecure and needs to let the rider know "bro, I am totally clued in, I am in-the-know, wink wink, but I have to ask this dumb question, sorry for this, but you know that I know..." This not only happens at the races...Swap does it all the time in his little talk show (swaps interviews remind me of when Kramer found the set of the Merv Griffin show and decided to utilize it). Every interview starts out with "my good buddy...."

Then you've got Jace dropping the thing about AP's "hundred G's" bonus at the San Diego press conference....as if he's ever seen AP's contract. Yeah, supposedly that's the going rate...perhaps....allegedly....but you don't know bro....you don't know unless you've seen the contract. And even if you had seen it....you don't disclose that kind of thing on AP's behalf. At least if you are a professional you don't. 

This substandard "journalism" really grinds my gears. I'm glad it's not just me. Thank God for Weege. Honestly, I love when non-moto journalists ask questions. Even if it's a dumb question to the core enthusiast, at least it's succinct.

That felt good. Carry on....

13
1/22/2024 3:31am

Same in the UK scene. Watch anything Jeff Perrett puts out when he interviews riders. He's either talking for 10 minutes while the guest gets bored waiting, or interrupting/talking over the top once the guest starts talking. It's like he's got tourettes and can't shut the hell up.

1
Mx391
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y, TN, USA
1/22/2024 3:41am

Anton is the absolute worse at this. I can't listen to any of his interviews 

nwmx
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1/22/2024 3:41am
Ob917 wrote:

I’m so sick of hearing these retards say “yeah, no”

Just can’t thank them enough

2
1/22/2024 3:44am
I like threads like this, because I/we can always be better. On the subject matter: I know that I do that. Sometimes it's by design to...

I like threads like this, because I/we can always be better.

On the subject matter: I know that I do that. Sometimes it's by design to get a more pointed answer and others it's a mistake.

I want my interviews to be thought provoking. If a rider has to stop and think about their answer then I'm kind of happy, haha.

I try to keep my questions short. The question that I asked Tomac on press day that was three words was the most powerful.

js256 wrote:
Id almost put yourself and ML as exceptions too. The questions that drive me nuts are obvious and have nearly all the possible fucking answers stated...

Id almost put yourself and ML as exceptions too. The questions that drive me nuts are obvious and have nearly all the possible fucking answers stated in the question. The rider has no where to go, freezes and then starts talking about his off season program or something unrelated because there's nothing left to say. 

Lewis is my hero BUT no one is allowed to be nice to ML. Everyone MUST say terrible things about ML and Mr. Side. 
 

😂😂

2
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Spoonguy
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1/22/2024 4:31am

How are you to question a 20 something, home schooled, with the most basic social skills, whose only interacted with a tiny group of people, with a life skill consisting of dirt bikes, and make it presentable to the public? Motorcycle racers are great athletes, but public presentation is not in most of their wheel houses.

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3
ando
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1/22/2024 4:45am
Spoonguy wrote:
How are you to question a 20 something, home schooled, with the most basic social skills, whose only interacted with a tiny group of people, with...

How are you to question a 20 something, home schooled, with the most basic social skills, whose only interacted with a tiny group of people, with a life skill consisting of dirt bikes, and make it presentable to the public? Motorcycle racers are great athletes, but public presentation is not in most of their wheel houses.

If they’ve gotten to this level and have a decent factory contract I don’t think it’s unreasonable that they should learn public speaking and interview skills.  

They know they are going to be interviewed and be required to speak on the podium.

1
1/22/2024 6:05am

This is easily my biggest pet peeve in moto journalism. 

"Hey Eli, how does it feel being back on the podium? It must give you a lot of confidence after an injury knowing you can run the pace again"

"Yeah. It does"

11
Darksidemx3
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1/22/2024 12:05pm
Darkside is really bad at this, and also asking multiple questions in one question, with leading statements. Unfortuantly I find it hard to pay attention to...

Darkside is really bad at this, and also asking multiple questions in one question, with leading statements. Unfortuantly I find it hard to pay attention to his stuff at times.

Steve can also fall into asking the riders leading questions and basically but not as bad.

I appreciate the criticism. I will work on this. 

10
Darksidemx3
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1/22/2024 12:06pm
Darkside is really bad at this, and also asking multiple questions in one question, with leading statements. Unfortuantly I find it hard to pay attention to...

Darkside is really bad at this, and also asking multiple questions in one question, with leading statements. Unfortuantly I find it hard to pay attention to his stuff at times.

Steve can also fall into asking the riders leading questions and basically but not as bad.

I came to this thread hoping someone was going to throw some hate at Mr. Side 😂😂😂

 

jjavaman wrote:

You’re not the best christian are you🤦‍♂️ 

That's actually TJ, my co-host. He's just busting balls. He's an idiot, also

4
Darksidemx3
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1/22/2024 12:12pm
More annoying is the fact the media know real scoops and facts, like injuries, behind the scenes things etc, yet don’t report on it because they...

More annoying is the fact the media know real scoops and facts, like injuries, behind the scenes things etc, yet don’t report on it because they wanna all be buddies..

To clarify, it's not because we want to be buddies. It's because our sport is so small, if I ask a question that a rider or team doesn't like, then we can easily be shut down from talking to those rides and teams. It's happened and then you get little to no content. We are not a sport like the NFL or NASCAR. We have to report accordingly. There's a fine line in this sport and whether it's right or wrong, I like to have access to the teams.

5
1
1/22/2024 12:15pm

Just stop reading/watching all moto content.  Problem solved. 

Darksidemx3
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1/22/2024 12:19pm
Darkside is really bad at this, and also asking multiple questions in one question, with leading statements. Unfortuantly I find it hard to pay attention to...

Darkside is really bad at this, and also asking multiple questions in one question, with leading statements. Unfortuantly I find it hard to pay attention to his stuff at times.

Steve can also fall into asking the riders leading questions and basically but not as bad.

UpTiTe wrote:

He starts out every question with, “kinda tell us how……..”

I will fix that

6
1
Herr Lich
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1/22/2024 12:21pm
More annoying is the fact the media know real scoops and facts, like injuries, behind the scenes things etc, yet don’t report on it because they...

More annoying is the fact the media know real scoops and facts, like injuries, behind the scenes things etc, yet don’t report on it because they wanna all be buddies..

There's little to no room for real journalism because they are all way too embedded within the industry.  In many cases - Weege for example - they literally work for the promoters of the two main series.  How could you possibly be objective in this kind of situation? 

5
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Herr Lich
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1/22/2024 12:25pm
Brent wrote:
IMO there are only three guys that write about moto that have  the qualifications (and degrees) to be considered “Journalists” - Maeda, Coombs, and Weigandt.  ...

IMO there are only three guys that write about moto that have  the qualifications (and degrees) to be considered “Journalists” - Maeda, Coombs, and Weigandt.

 

What degrees?

2
1
1/22/2024 12:27pm
Darkside is really bad at this, and also asking multiple questions in one question, with leading statements. Unfortuantly I find it hard to pay attention to...

Darkside is really bad at this, and also asking multiple questions in one question, with leading statements. Unfortuantly I find it hard to pay attention to his stuff at times.

Steve can also fall into asking the riders leading questions and basically but not as bad.

I appreciate the criticism. I will work on this. 

Let’s work on LL’s 24 first.

2
1/22/2024 12:28pm
More annoying is the fact the media know real scoops and facts, like injuries, behind the scenes things etc, yet don’t report on it because they...

More annoying is the fact the media know real scoops and facts, like injuries, behind the scenes things etc, yet don’t report on it because they wanna all be buddies..

To clarify, it's not because we want to be buddies. It's because our sport is so small, if I ask a question that a rider or...

To clarify, it's not because we want to be buddies. It's because our sport is so small, if I ask a question that a rider or team doesn't like, then we can easily be shut down from talking to those rides and teams. It's happened and then you get little to no content. We are not a sport like the NFL or NASCAR. We have to report accordingly. There's a fine line in this sport and whether it's right or wrong, I like to have access to the teams.

ML for years has denied what you just said. 

I have always said you have it backwards. If the MOTO MEDIA banded together and said "yeah, HRC won't answer my tough questions" then HRC gets zero press. from any of you guys. I bet you HRC would get in line and fake a smile and answer your uncomfortable questions. That's how you fix this. You guys have way more power than you realize but you let the "stars" bully you and you take what they give you.

10
Pop Shmoke
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1/22/2024 12:29pm

Thats why you get the “yea no definitely” so much. 

3
Darksidemx3
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1/22/2024 12:37pm
More annoying is the fact the media know real scoops and facts, like injuries, behind the scenes things etc, yet don’t report on it because they...

More annoying is the fact the media know real scoops and facts, like injuries, behind the scenes things etc, yet don’t report on it because they wanna all be buddies..

To clarify, it's not because we want to be buddies. It's because our sport is so small, if I ask a question that a rider or...

To clarify, it's not because we want to be buddies. It's because our sport is so small, if I ask a question that a rider or team doesn't like, then we can easily be shut down from talking to those rides and teams. It's happened and then you get little to no content. We are not a sport like the NFL or NASCAR. We have to report accordingly. There's a fine line in this sport and whether it's right or wrong, I like to have access to the teams.

ML for years has denied what you just said.  I have always said you have it backwards. If the MOTO MEDIA banded together and said "yeah...

ML for years has denied what you just said. 

I have always said you have it backwards. If the MOTO MEDIA banded together and said "yeah, HRC won't answer my tough questions" then HRC gets zero press. from any of you guys. I bet you HRC would get in line and fake a smile and answer your uncomfortable questions. That's how you fix this. You guys have way more power than you realize but you let the "stars" bully you and you take what they give you.

I can’t speak for ML, and I haven’t heard him say that. I have heard him say he believes we should be real media and report like other sports. But I’ve witnessed how that can work negatively against one of us also. It’s really a matter of finding the line. 

1
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TK40_FC
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1/22/2024 1:02pm

For Eli's sake, let's agree to stop asking him if he's having more fun at the races. He's been very cordial with the media for several years now, I think we can turn the page on his new perspective. 

8
JB500
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1/22/2024 1:05pm

DV needs to ask the questions. 

8
1/22/2024 1:13pm
To clarify, it's not because we want to be buddies. It's because our sport is so small, if I ask a question that a rider or...

To clarify, it's not because we want to be buddies. It's because our sport is so small, if I ask a question that a rider or team doesn't like, then we can easily be shut down from talking to those rides and teams. It's happened and then you get little to no content. We are not a sport like the NFL or NASCAR. We have to report accordingly. There's a fine line in this sport and whether it's right or wrong, I like to have access to the teams.

ML for years has denied what you just said.  I have always said you have it backwards. If the MOTO MEDIA banded together and said "yeah...

ML for years has denied what you just said. 

I have always said you have it backwards. If the MOTO MEDIA banded together and said "yeah, HRC won't answer my tough questions" then HRC gets zero press. from any of you guys. I bet you HRC would get in line and fake a smile and answer your uncomfortable questions. That's how you fix this. You guys have way more power than you realize but you let the "stars" bully you and you take what they give you.

I can’t speak for ML, and I haven’t heard him say that. I have heard him say he believes we should be real media and report...

I can’t speak for ML, and I haven’t heard him say that. I have heard him say he believes we should be real media and report like other sports. But I’ve witnessed how that can work negatively against one of us also. It’s really a matter of finding the line. 

well, then my comment remains applicable. why not let the manufacturers know the gig is up and they talk to you guys or they get ZERO screen time. They'll call your bluff immediately but if you guys can stick together, it's game on. 

4
aees
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1/22/2024 1:34pm

I think Darkside is one of the few that asks more straight fwd questions. Just last time on Pulp as an example.

Almost like some of the other hosta becomes uncomfortable, but they really shouldn't be since the riders just answer them as any other question.

 

3
Sideways
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SE
1/22/2024 1:39pm

That Gypsy guy is the master of this. Asking a question, then answering it himself while including 10 other questions. When he's done talking after 10minutes no one knows what the first question was or what they where even talking about.

 

Sorry but cant stand the dude.

3
1
No hope ozi
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1/22/2024 2:13pm

That Gypsy geek is such an annoying fool. Why anyone would go on his dumb show is beyond me. Fool,fool,fool 

2
blockhead17
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Tokyo, JP
1/22/2024 6:55pm
More annoying is the fact the media know real scoops and facts, like injuries, behind the scenes things etc, yet don’t report on it because they...

More annoying is the fact the media know real scoops and facts, like injuries, behind the scenes things etc, yet don’t report on it because they wanna all be buddies..

To clarify, it's not because we want to be buddies. It's because our sport is so small, if I ask a question that a rider or...

To clarify, it's not because we want to be buddies. It's because our sport is so small, if I ask a question that a rider or team doesn't like, then we can easily be shut down from talking to those rides and teams. It's happened and then you get little to no content. We are not a sport like the NFL or NASCAR. We have to report accordingly. There's a fine line in this sport and whether it's right or wrong, I like to have access to the teams.

Yeah, I get that and it makes sense, it still sux for us fans though.. 

I almost feel like the riders should be contracted to do media and interviews regardless of their feelings towards the outlets. 
That way we could have proper Journalists that report facts without worrying about being cut off..

dont other sports do that?

3

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