What is the current state of the sport? And where do you see it going in 5-10 years?

There may be a lot of viewership, but how many of those spectators actually participate at the local level? 
When I got into the sport in the mid-90's I thought that was peak MX/SX/AX, but that's also when I was paying attention the most. Local tracks raced every weekend, rain or shine. Now we're lucky to get one practice day every two weeks at the same tracks. I know insurance, attendance, etc. plays a major factor. The big show is growing while the little show is dying. It'll eventually all come full circle. 

I don't see the sport growing for recreation and hobby ever again unless we have something like another national covid shut down.  The covid shut down and money printing gave bike sales a huge boost and now we are back to reality.  We are now seeing a fallout with the downturn in the economy and cost of living being so high.  When this happens, the toys are the first things to go.

Plus, the younger generation is just not into bikes like we were as kids.  A lot of them don't even want or care to get drivers licenses.  It's very strange, but I guess that's what the internet has done to civilization.

I could see viewership go up though for the big show especially during a recession because people just sit around and watch TV instead of traveling.  It's the Netflix affect as there will always be a huge demand for couch potatoes in a strong or weak economy.   

I think with social media personalities being such a thing now, it is easier for individual riders to grow a "brand" that attracts fans that typically don't pay attention to SX/MX. For example, Deegan has a huge fanbase of 16 year olds that aren't necessarily moto die-hards or anything, but were pulled in through social media and youtube and now pay attention to the sport to follow him. Similar to what Tiger did for golf (yes, I'm aware that golf is a bigger sport than SX/MX). He became such a phenomenon that tons of people tuned in to majors just to watch him play, even if they weren't regular golf fans.

However, I don't see the sport as a whole becoming much bigger than it currently is. We'll continue to have a few standout riders, but I don't think we'll ever see a point where the average American knows the top riders in the 450 class.

to echo wht the 2 posters said above , participation wise its prolly goona be the same if not a lil lower but tv viewership wise it can be right up there with mainstream sports with the right promotion & with haiden and Jett at the helm , moto is in a good spot 

(A.)  I think riders will have longer careers, more of the top riders will be competing into their mid to high 30s.  

(B.)  I think the gap between privateers and the factory teams will widen even more, and you may even see a couple of those factory teams level up creating more separation in the top teams.

(C.)  Action cameras (GoPro/ Insta360) will become part of the broadcast, maybe even allowing viewers with VR goggles to ride along with their favorite rider.  This will definitely get kids interested.  

(D.)  I wouldn't be surprised if the Supercross portion of the season shifted around a bit, possibly to meet the needs of a new media deal.  

Black Diesel Bomber said: Plus, the younger generation is just not into bikes like we were as kids.  A lot of them don't even want or care to get drivers licenses.  It's very strange, but I guess that's what the internet has done to civilization.

I can't agree more. Young adults these days cannot operate a car very well at all, for the most part. I strongly believe it's because none of them ever even rode a bike, much less a motorcycle. 

I know most people hate them here but electric bikes have to be a part of the growth. Back when I was a kid my dad bought my neighbors pw 50 and gave it to me for my birthday. I used to spin laps around the yard all day long. Back then (90’s) kids used to be outside. These days nobody wants to hear that shit. Hell I dont wanna hear that shit if Im relaxing on my couch after work…and I love moto. The fact that kids can silently spin laps 24/7 365 wherever whenever is a MASSIVE opportunity. We all know the sport starts with the kids so the more kids that throw a leg over a bike the more ppl will ride. 

On top of that though I think we can tap into the sur ron e-bike people as well. Companies like renthal, guts racing…etc have had huge increases in sales due to all of the new riders on sur rons. Getting those people into sx/mx is a much smaller leap than your rando off the street. 

Beyond that I think we should all be rooting for world sx. Not for us as something to compete with smx or mxgp but because they can tap into india, africa, china, indonesia, brazil, and the markets that arent being served. If world sx plays their cards right and can keep this thing solvent for a few more years I think it has huge potential for bringing in new fans from around the world. 

The sport we love, and in my case raced and participated in since 1977, is becoming a spectator only sport.  

Listening to call in podcasts and shows, the spectators calling in just repeat the same points that the show they are listening to point out.

You old guys like me, i have a question.  When you watch a national live, don't  you think sometimes what you see live is much different than the wrap ups of the race sometimes?  

And as I've been told before: Careful what you wish for. As it has become more mainstream,  it was so much better when you felt a "connection" to another person hauling a dirt bike in a truck in the 70's, 80's or 90's.  That's all gone, at least for me.  

I heard from am racers at redbud there was 80 in 250c, 125 32 or more.  We should hv a full gate in 150 c tomorrow non ama . Sunday @  Aztalan 50+ aprox 26 top 10 are Real fast .  Cheap riding in Wi.  10 bucks on wed , fri- sun 20’best sand park in America maybe At Dyracuse. Some counties fund the ride areas .  Because they know people will drop money in the country doing more than riding .  Tell you what  you see the cool lakes you want to be there too. 

Fair to say the best days are behind us?

Similar to auto racing. Less people means less commerce. Prices will continue to increase, exacerbating this effect. I think people who are into it will be significantly less and most pros will be the children of past pros since they have the infrastructure and connections to do this. I will not introduce my children to this sport most likely.

Rt off i43 Denmark Mx 50 bucks unlimited classes , 15 at gate sat. Just b4 Green Bay .   Sunday race Aztalan big gates .  Your not that far away a ton of IL. Or Chicago Ride in Wi. Most of them r at Dyracuse. 

Rapid, accelarating change from participant based to spectator based. Nobody goes to the circus if every neighborhood has an elephant. The brands competing use the sport for the spectacle, to raise brand awareness. Promoters use it to sell tickets and Tv viewership. Nobody, not even the users give shit one about local tracks or riding areas. We are doomed and nobody cares.

It will probably never happen but let’s revisit pre -Loretta’s days, the CMC series, the stronger AMA districts with more organized events. Not everybody can make a living as a pro racer. But in those days a pro could be motivated at the local level every time they showed up. 5 or ten more and you got a show to watch. Go race your local races and maybe win some money and go home .Have a good time. Be a legend as Rarick says.

This sport is focused at starting kids at a young age. Amateur and expert only needs to come back. No more A,B,C bullshit. Your kid turns expert racing minis he can race experts the rest of his life. As it should be. 

This is a disposable income sport.  Participation hinges on people having money for things "they like to do".  We just came off 25% inflation over the past 5 years.  You think everyone got a 25% bump in income?  Nope.  There goes the money for things "they like to do".  Throw in dramatically increasing costs to find a track (and the time involved to get there) and pay for a day of fun.  And a LOT of the first and second generations of motocrossers (my people from the 70's & 80's) are truly starting to age out of the sport.  Look at the hard core vets that currently show up and picture turnouts without us in 10 years.  My hope for the sport is that it can at least stay stable, but the big picture view IMHO isn't good.

This sport is more of a culture than a hobby or activity. It requires humongous amounts of buy-in and commitment beyond what I think is healthy or realistic. Also, I will not feasibly be able to provide for them a regular riding schedule and certainly wont pass the buck onto my wife for that. Many reasons honestly. The biggest is probably that I want my children to pursue Christ primarily and motocross is so consuming that it conflicts with literally everything in a persons life if done at any level above D class.

If they see me riding and love it than so be it but I don't plan on putting PW's under the tree when they aren't asking for them.

For us it came down to costs and injury rate. It's a blast to ride and/or race, but it's strictly a financial loss scenario. After 15 years and likely over $200,000 we stopped. The real driver though was injuries. My rider got tired of being hurt, and after some big crashes, decided he was done pushing his luck. My wallet is glad he is done although he learned many good lessons, developed good habits, and met a lot of good people along the way and we will miss that. I think there is not more than 10-15 years left in the sport at the amateur level for all the reasons already mentioned.

Fri they raced redbud watched the pro race then left.  Sunday always has a lighter turn out.  Red Bud has a bigger turnout for the vet classes in August for the Racer X  vet race.    I,m a member at Denmark Mx it’s 200 for annual membership.  I can hv you as a guest it’s 30 bucks.  If it rains you can’t ride.  But there’s quite a few sand tracks aprox 1 - 2 hrs.  The Berms track is 1/2 hr the fast guys ride there big banked berms big gaps , beginner or easier track too.  I haven’t been there yet trying to get in riding shape & hv a few injections yet. The private tracks are 20-30 bucks.  Eaa air show at the end of the month all hotels will be full .  I,m done traveling did it since 88 , there’s manufacturing jobs  the low is 25 others 29-32 a hr & all the ot you want.  I hear there looking for maintenance techs I did that b4 easy job.  Remember Dustin Pulley ? He’s from rt down route 30 from you .  He married a Manitowoc women real nice girl yrs ago. He got 4th in 25+ at LL Rupert X on here had a pic of him

Recently on here  Temps are lower up here so riding , camping , outdoor stuff is Huge .great energy in the summer .  Not in Green Bay tho. Auto insurance is the cheapest of the Midwest states .  Raining again ah

I am always surveiling the tracks that I ride and often times the 40+ crowd clearly outnumbers the rest and often wonder the future when I see turnouts such as this.  Last time at Perris and Cuhillia you would have sworn it was a vet only weekend. 

However, the towns I frequent are absolutely loaded with kids on Surrons and there are jumps hidden all throughout the neighborhoods and hills.  If that transfers over that’ll be good and in fact when I was selling my last dirt bike atleast 2 times a day I would get asked if I wanted to trade for a Surron plus cash.  There is hope out here as long as tracks can remain open…

I'm pretty sure this same doom n gloom thread topic 15 years ago was saying this very samething. Here we are later still going. 

Everyone does the 700 acres on deep sand trails threw the trees , the sand bowl . They do the Mx track threw  the trees then back to the trails. But Wi. Is a racing state we had the 1st auto race in America, we race anything on the ice , we even race our pigs. Haha .  Aztalan last August had 26 in 50+  not sure why there wasn’t a July race .  Many skip watching the big buck pro races & use the money for there racing .  Some local racers are getting 2,500-3,500 from each buisness sponsoring them plus free 250f,s .  2 weeks ago a d16 sand track had a record turnout, they raced since 98.  Wi. Is a hot bed now in 94 40  acres cost 16k some of this land is in riders hands now. 9k  to 10k an acre now. 

We focus too much on the Pro side of the sport. It is healthy and they are doing the right things overall.

At the local and grassroots level we need to take much better and active care. 

There are a lot of folks that ride and race for years, then just quit for various reasons and are never heard from again. In general this will always be a reality - it is a young man's game - but the people who stick around beyond their racing days are the ones who keep it alive. The best ones make it thrive. 

I would like to see much more positive outreach made to these types and help build more of a volunteer spirit, to give back to the sport. Clubs and local tracks are dying for support. Track work, scorekeeping, refereeing, flagging, organization, marketing, sponsorship - you name it. 

Everyone in this sport has an opinion on how things ought to be. More people should get involved in the doing. 

I think the speed of bikes these days (which has likely been a driver of more injuries), the cost of racing relative to the amount of money people earn, and that people won’t spend a whole Sunday for 8 laps, is pushing more people, including me, to practice days and trail riding. Hell, I typically choose a sandy turn track at a pit in NJ over a practice day. More laps and the pit is free.

I really don’t want my kid to race, but I hope he has the same love for riding I do.

Man there’s a lot of doom and gloom in here fellas. Some of it understandably so. We’re constantly bombarded with it in our everyday lives so it becomes hard not bring it along into our hobbies we enjoy as a distraction. 5-10 years out is gonna be what it’s gonna be, today loading up to go ride and enjoy the day with my 16 year old who loves it as much if not more than me is all I care about. More about living in the moment at this point of my life rather than caring what 5-10 looks like 🤷🏼‍♂️

Many kids today do not go outside.  It is crazy.  They sit inside playing video games with headsets on talking to each other.  There are kids  in my neighborhood  that the only time  they come out of their house is to catch the school bus.