Why isn’t ArenaX the minors for SX?

They tried that a few years ago.

Great idea. They should call it the RC road to SX!

Seems like kids are too prideful nowadays. They don't wont to go from amateur hot shot to getting beat by a local indoors. I think AX is a great way to develop skill. Especially if supercross is going to continue to be the highest paying series. No reason for kids to learn Loretta type tracks, rather learn technical and tight riding indoors. Take Michael Hicks, he was never dominant at Lorettas, other than is collegeboy classes. He stayed indoors, and I'd put him up against any pro on an AX track and he can make SX mains now because of the skills he learned from AX imo. I don't get why more people don't go that route, all I can think is pride. 

Remember the "Road to Supercross"?

Yes I agree with you it would make sense for AX to be a stepping stone into SX.

However, It doesn't make sense for Supercross to run an AX series as it would be a lot of work and cost and not bring in much money. 

It doesn't make sense for an AX promoter to pay Supercross for rights and branding when it doesn't bring much if any return to their series. 


On the flip side, I see value in WSX trying to be a sports league because there are areas like this where improvements could be made to have SX become a stronger professional sport.

I recall Ryan Surratt saying "the only thing I learned from ArenaCross is that you can take someone out, and nobody cares"

signed Vince Freise 

The same reason there isn’t a minor league for monster truck racing.  Feld doesn’t think there is enough entertainment value ($$$) in minor league motorsports racing to bother with it.

I know some of the drivers.  According to them, it’s legit (and quite painful).

I talked to Jeremy after he raced and he told me he’s one and done.  He told me he was literally counting down how many times he had left to jump that night because every landing was so painful.

It was short lived and even with paying RC for the use of his name and endorsement I do not think it had the influx of racers that they were shooting for. It was pretty easy to get the points and move on. As I recall it was 6 points and easily done in 3 races?

Nah, that'll never catch on... 😂

didn’t Forkner run a few AX races before he went pro?

He did. So did AP, he won his first one

they changed the rule a few times. The first year it was only making 3 night shows then after they switched it to making 3 main events. Which was much harder to get your points.

Jacob Hayes did an interview with Zac Herrin and talked about why he went the route of AX, and why it was a good stepping stone for him.  In doing so, he learned how to race week in and week out, dealing with the pressure of the championship, the media, the travel, and learning to train and peak at the right times, etc.  

It's an interesting listen for someone who's clicked into this thread interested in AX as a minors for SX; it seems like a lot of his points would support the idea.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ama-arenacross/id1777430217?i=100…

It would make sense for the euro guys wanting to come over to do some AX to get used to the style of racing SX is,  but that's not the show they want to be in if they come over.

What if they brought in an aging hair metal band singer to write a catchy tune to promote it?

Arenacross is just different enough to be its own thing.

Kids also weren't too stoked to come off the puppy farm / training facilities just to get sent over the boards in an Iowa barn by a plumber on a 4-year old Suzuki.

Hence we have 'the futures'.

Money and control.  our sport is the only sport in the world that eats it's own.

all the others nurture their riders and provide stepping stones to get them ready 

ours. 

thrown to the wolves the tough survive the others quit.  it's a cruel reality.

look around.  only two run it all.  that hasn't changed in a very long time and it won't any time soon.

Cooksey?

AX was amazing when the big name retired Pros stepped down to AX. There were factory B teams doing it.

I'm not familiar with AMA AX but Euro riders already have some "local" options, they can perfect their art in AX UK against national MX champs, MXGP riders, top 10 MXON riders... such as Kullas, Soubeyras, Mewse, Searle... Dean Wilson will also race there for 2025.

Then there is France SX tour (with outdoors and indoors SX tracks, including Paris SX), Germany ADAC SX (including King of Dortmund) plus individual races like SX Tampere...

We'll see what Harri Kullas can do in AMA 250SX in a couple of months with all his euro AX/SX training.

Time to log out for a bit buddy. 

Blair has his group of kids racing some of them as they learn and work their way into SX, so it can be. It’s up to the riders/teams/trainers. 

My question is how are there so many AX series?! Isn’t there like 3-4 different ones right now in the US alone?

They tried, no one cared

Ever town practically has a expo center or a arena.  90% cheaper for a family to attend. And much more exciting racing than sx.  Much quicker racing with creative stuff like 1 on 1 , 1 lap races, dash for cash spectators chip in.  97 Rc,s 1st sx Chad Pederson a AX guy holeshot & had a big lead. Then went backwards industry guys at the post race parties said that has to suck but it’s totally different racing.  They had the wrong shock on his bike , Chad was trying to hang on to it.