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We’re going off topic but there’s definitely value in the junior market. KTM didn’t become a sales leader until it started dominating junior racing. Honda and Suzuki are missing the boat there.
It's less the vibe that someone wants to ride what his favorite rider is on, to me anyway, but rather an elite 50+ SX win rider showing the bike performs well. The reverse cylinder 450 had a spotty development record and Eli more than anybody (again, to me) established that it is a go-to bike, especially with his elevated performance after the dark years at Kawi where he had more bike failures than at any other time I can remember. More than Dylan or the Coopers. And I think whether you're a fan or not most people have a ton of respect for Eli, his talent and work ethic, and freezing him out doesn't seem like a ray of sunshine in terms of brand image.
But business is business.
Only guessing but I'd doubt most of Haiden's followers don't even ride.
I was once influenced by Pastrana to go with the RM250 2 stroke (18 years ago) I was still shit, but that was a fun bike nonetheless.
RV made me want to buy the 2013 KX450F because of how he made the bike look, he was so fast on that thing. Especially during the 2012-2013 season and 2013-2014 season. Granted, I was 17 but it still made a huge impact
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Does Cairoli not count?
Not for supercross with whoops 😬
Even then, his heat race at A2 he absolutely smoked everyone and I genuinely believe he would have won if he didn’t get major wheel spin on the start. It had just started to rain during the 250 main.
My opinion only but I don’t think the connection between winning and selling is what it used to be.
I think there is value in brand association from a rider’s younger years that is more likely to carry through.
I also believe the connection with racing is much more about the fact that the OEMs are out there competing vs actual results. I mean these are race bikes and it’s case of having to do it because your competitors are doing it.
Fwiw
You doubt they don't ride? Or you doubt they ride?
Tomac and Ferrandis winning titles have definitely made the YZ450 more popular than it was. You see more at the track now then you did in 2018.
I 100% had to have an RM 85 because TP199 rode yellow. Had to have the handguards too!
Having a great, and popular, rider on a bike certainly won't hurt sales or brand image.
Eli will make whatever decision is best for his needs and situation, which leads me to believe he'll stick with Yamaha for his last year if possible, no sense making change this late.
I just built my kid a Supermini to race this year, and now you're telling me Eli is going to KTM to cherry-pick the Supermini class???
You may be on to something here. A change in triple crown format - 1st race is on 450s, 2nd race on 250/300 2-strokes, and 3rd race on superminis.....
I think all of the shootouts had as much or more to do with the yz450 selling so well
Yep. I doubt many “normal” racers decide on what bike to spend their $12-15k on based on the results of pro riders on factory bikes any more. Maybe I’m wrong…
In the US, I believe that what is successful in SX for a professional has almost zero relation to what might work for me. May as well be a MotoGP bike. At least for the Nationals I can sort of maybe make a stretch connection to something that might apply to me.
Pit Row
A lot of MXGP riders have an influence on development.
I was actually going to add that. Because the MXGP riders focus on outdoors year round I tend to think what they use and how they setup bikes may apply to us normal folks the most. This is why I liked the MXGP Pit Bits so much (RIP). US based riders spend so much time on SX I assume their outdoor settings are influenced by SX. I don't know that for certain, just an assumption.
Jett’s got age on his side though.
Prior to 18 it was also a much worse bike. Then there are those that prefer the 18-22 gen to the current.
I nominate Carson Brown.
Ahh man, I posted this in the wrong thread Haha
They were often panned pretty badly still until '21, when Ferrandis proved it can win. This, despite decent reviews and owner satisfaction.
The 'blue pig' was alive and well as a moniker here for sure.
I agree the shootouts helped but watching the bike win titles is confirmation especially coming off a bad rep from 2009-2017. The two go hand in hand.
If I remember right on Eli's career so far, and its been a hell of a career, He's won on all 4 Japanese brands with ease. Suzuki, Honda, Kawasaki and Yamaha. And has pro championships on at least Honda, Kawasaki and Yamaha. So to say the Yamaha fits him? Is kinda silly. He could easily continuse to be great on Yamaha, or would do the same on at least Honda or Kawi. Possibly Suzuki as well. Possibly Triumph? Who knows, but it isn't just Yami
Ok, I'm not sure why that 1 particular detail has you hung up. Clearly I realize he has won on other brands. But my point in saying that where he is at fits him is because 1) it has a cable clutch, which he prefers. 2) he is at the end of his career and would already be familiar with everything from the bike to the team dynamics, so there would be no adjustment period. 3) The Star team gives him a lot of freedom with parts and set-up that he didn't have at some other teams and may not have if he goes somewhere else.
So is me saying that really all that controversial? I thought it was a reasonable statement given the points I just listed.
So we are really gonna go 4 years of Eli on a Yamaha and ZERO videos of him riding a YZ250. Fucked.
If they build him a YZ250 they better harden those transmission parts 😂
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