Just listened to LvK, looks like MXSports is shutting down pit interviews, forcing teams to turn away media members when they go up the riders after the races. MXSports has always been pretty backwards, but this is just absolutely horrible. See 1:02:00 mark.
1. Media members will lose their jobs, and 2. fans will miss out on so much content. For me, the riders just half-ass press conference answers, and it's only the top 3 riders, so losing out on stories (e.g. rider crashes first turn, misses OA podium) and the actual insight you gain from an informal setting is absolutely detrimental.
Imo, it seems like MXSports is always trying to keep the sport small (this move will literally make our sport even smaller) not to mention the MavTV debacle, while Feld at least tries to grow the sport.
Did Brian Deegan sponsor this new legislation?
If it’s true, what a blow to the fans and media who actually try and get us content other than the boring ass press conferences.
Need to raise hell if that is true.
Pretty much the full weeks scope to dicuss comes from those interviews.
What the fuck are they thinking? Press conferences will not be better, because its a crappy environment where you will get PC statements from top 3 and that's it.
Make all top 20 riders go to press conference for 1.5h first, then you can shut down other interviews
If they do this, are they going to get all the riders to a "media corral" where they will be accessible? Is this to round everyone up in 1 place? Otherwise I fail to see the logic.
That should help grow the sport.
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Unless of course you happen to be at that race, and also happen to work for one of the names under the Racer umbrella (Racer X, MX Sports)...... oh, and also just so happen to be a journalist that falls into one of the afore mentioned names listed above. You think the Weege Show is gonna go anywhere??? Hide and watch........ If I am wrong, I'll gladly own it.
This is off base, I’m driving right now but I can give a full explanation later.
We’re not penalized to do interviews at the trucks if no one shows up at the media scrum. It is suggested we do them at the scrum / press conference, but we still have freedom if no one is showing up. I did all but one of my interviews Southwick in the pits at trucks by example.
And for the user trying to put down Mx Sports and say Feld doesn’t better, the idea of no truck interviews was put forward by Feld first and has had consequences attached to it. MX Sports gives us more overall freedom at events to shoot and work when compared to Supercross races, from my on the ground experience over the past decade.
Meh after the press conference they riders should be "finished work" for the day and not expect any more commitments
This is fine as long as the riders do their part and make themselves available when they are supposed to and act halfway professional.
Thanks for the explanation.
Comparing Fled and MX sports with this issues is like choosing between a shit and a fart. Both options aren't great. Just because MX doesn't suck as much as Feld doesn't mean they don't suck and have huge room to improve. We all laugh at the money grab that is MXGP and the clowns running the show over there, but in reality the people at the top aren't much different in the US
Only 3 guys from each class do the press conference.
Do you only care about their thoughts on the race or do you have any interest in what the other 74 guys who raced think?
Yeah that wasn’t exactly what they said.
I see both sides of the argument. I was kind of Gypsys side originally, especially when he bought up the point of the goal being to get the press conference on peacock. Kellen brought up some really good points though, much better than Matthes who just says it’s a waste of time and just kind of has a bad attitude about it in general. I think Feld/MXSports needs to try and find a way to facilitate both.
Follow the formula one model, have the riders attend a press pen when they finish, be that after the race or during if they dnf (and are ok) then once they are out of there they are free to do what they want unbothered.
Unfortunately the privateers will miss out on exposure.
Both Pro Motocross and Supercross have tried this, but the riders and teams don’t show up. They just keep skipping it. In F1 and MotoGP, there are financial and sporting penalties for skipping these press pens though.
They do. Its called the Media Scrum. Both Feld and MX Sports have been doing it for 2+ years, and in addition to the post race 3 rider press conference. It is open to every rider who entered the event, even if they did not qualify.
At Pala, not one rider showed up. At Hangtown, exactly one rider showed up - Michael Mosiman.
Right, as you pointed out, it’s not the same situation. In F1, there’s a financial penalty if they don’t appear—so of course they show up. Without a penalty, why would riders bother? Eventually, they’ll realize that spending a bit of time in the press pen actually benefits them: it frees them up afterwards and stops every journalist with a pass from chasing them around the paddock. In the end, it’s better for both the riders and the media.
I've been saying this! A media corral must be mandatory, idc! How come our sport is the only sport where a top guy can just leave without saying a word to the media?
Maybe enforce it then...fine them if they don't show up, simple as that. I feel like this is a no brainer, idk why Mxsports can't get behind it to support the media channels that are putting in the work to come to every race, just to get snubbed by the riders.
Pit Row
That really sucks. Would be so much better if all the riders went to that. Of course it was Mosiman. That guy is so down to earth and genuine.
Waiting to see how this shakes out so not saying it’s a good idea or a horrible idea. What most don’t understand is the time restraints during the day for the riders. With so much technology involved now and the very tight schedule it’s go, go, go… soon as you hit the track for the first time in the morning. The riders need to talk set up look at tape go over all the input from everyone on the team and try to keep an eye on how the track is shaping up. Then they have obligations to have their fan interaction, try to get some food down and try to get their core temps down on the hot days. Kinda how ML just said he got most of his interviews was after the races. I do feel as if that’s a better time even though the riders want to get out of there. They’re just not as pressed with responsibilities and the pressure.
Also imagine dealing with some type of injury or illness on top of the schedule they are on already…. Trying to get taped up, adjusted, or even trying to get liquids down if you’re ill.
So ML is this a recently reintroduced idea?
Reason I ask is Riders recent “off the cuff” conversation, aka Prado and sexton. Also Brian and stars displeasure and comments about there favourite podcaster adding fuel to the fire.
If the relaxed conversations at the trucks don’t happen, we as fans are fucked for content. Very rarely do I watch the press conferences. Same 5 people with the same questions week in week out.
We would literally not know what the hell Chizz, Nicoletti ,savatgy , colt Nichols even Webb are up to let alone any of the privateers are.
Two words: bush and league
Even if 5-10 went, they would certainly benefit with a bunch of coverage.
Personally I've never even watched a single press conference on YouTube (or listened when Weege puts them on his podcast feed) but I've listened to plenty of Pulp / ML / Weege / Lewis's interviews.
Yeh nah for sure.
lol, what area at an outdoor National is going to hold 40 riders for interviews? Baking in the sun after racing for 30+2, yeah I wonder why they wouldn’t show…
To do after race interviews at a "scrum" style location, instead of the trucks, has been something Feld started pushing around three years ago. Basically, do media pens like other motorsports and get all the people in the same place so they can all be interviewed.
However, the execution has been okay, to meh, to absolutely terrible at points. The biggest factor is that there is nothing that forces the teams or riders to participate. So why show up if you don't want to?
Davey (MXSports) is a media guy. What does he have to say about this? I don't want to believe this is his idea cause I dig the dude. Are the teams/riders pushing it? ML...you'll have to ask him and relay an answer (if one is forthcoming). I dont expect him to try another swim in the Vital shark tank.
DC and I spoke about this yesterday. There’ll be more discussions about it this weekend. He’s absolutely not for the restricting our post race access to teams and riders.
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