What would you change to help “legitimize” the sport.

Agreed to an extent. Yes you have to have prime tv time slots. But let’s not kid ourselves, we aren’t exactly taking the reigns here. Diffey aka Mrs NBC and RC are dreadful, and do more harm than good. 

Here is what I am saying. It doesn’t matter if you are in those slots, if the production itself continuously falters and is missing things. You can however, shore up all the little details and have the best polished presentation possible, so when you ARE on that stage you are able to capitalize. 

The sport will never be mainstream or legitimate in the eyes of the stick and ball sport fans…so I say they stop trying…stop dumbing down the sport trying to cater the broadcast to potential/casual fans and start catering it to the die hard fans…

How many sports are on peacock that you scroll past and never check out? That's what moto is to everyone else. Would love to know what percentage of fans ride themselves or have close personal relationship with someone who does? I bet it's nearly all of them. This notion of growing the fan base of the professional sport by any other method other than increasing the number of people who ride is a waste of time. I understand the manufacturers call the shots, but if you were feld or peacock or someone only interested in growing viewership you would welcome Stark and surroms and any other brand that puts people riding offroad.

Same with supporting tracks. Have an SMX ride day at a local track the day after supercross and get a few of these brand ambassadors to show up. Use one of the luxury boxes to invite some politicians so you can advocate for legislation that limits liability and keeps riding areas open. Lead the way on safety innovation so mom's let their kids ride. Bring the fun back to amateur racing so it's not mini dads, motorhomes, facility living..... 

The popularity of the professional sport will never outpace popularity of participation at the grass roots level. Stop chasing thecasuals that are never showing up at the expense of giving the fans you do have what they want. Literally zero people are tuning in because Leigh called the Olympics but he sure pisses off plenty of the fans you do have. 

Yeah! Ban them from automobiles too!  /s  Idiot.

There's conflicting ideas here. We know that Supercross is what pays the bills no doubt about it. Yet the overwhelming mindset here is "stop trying to appeal to the casuals." 

Uhhh who do you think is filling up stadiums at SX races? At least half of the crowd has a Fox hoodie on with a Monster flatbill. None of them ride/rode ever and will be right back at the stadium the next week for monster trucks. The sport wouldn't survive on "core" fans alone. 

It gets no more "legit" than motocross. It's up to you how deep you want to be a part if it. 
The casual fan can't comprehend the risk involved. That's what makes it a core sport. Who gives a fuck about what people think about it. Take the pride that comes with knowing you're a part of something very unique. 
It's not for everyone and that's ok. Honestly, I like it that way. It makes for more compelling conversations. 

I just don't believe this is true. When's the last time you spent that kind of money to go to a lesser known sporting event in your local city just because it was in town? Not sure I've ever done it. Judging by who is getting cheered for and boo'ed at the races I've been to it seems most of the fans there have some knowledge of the sport. Maybe we're just defining casuals differently? I don't think that many people filling up the stands aren't already fans for one reason or another. You'd think feld would have data on this but who knows? 

I mean casuals as in people that think motorcycles are cool and seeing them jump and whip is cool. But would never buy a bike, ride moto, go to a local race, etc. SX races are littered with these types. The other half are dads that ride/used to ride taking their kid to experience SX. The people that show up to outdoor races are more of the core fans. 

FF to 3:11, half the crowd at SX races are these dudes. Yes, they're a pain in the ass. But the more FMF shirts, Honda hats, and tickets they buy help get more riders paid.

I think they need more money than that. Having the most points out of all those races and having to be good indoors and out?? I’d say like a million for each title (SX, MX) but then make the grand national title the premier title. Like a 3-5 mil bonus. 

Why would you want to ? I remember when F1 was a gritty, counterculture sport. Tickets were cheap and you could buy them at the gate, all track areas were accessible as were the drivers and team staff.

Was a fun, cheap, no BS day out with a bunch of like minded petrol heads .

Now that it’s mainstream ? Total shitshow. Full of clueless idiots that are only there ‘cos they think it’s cool to be at an F1 race. Insane prices, limited spectator areas, cannot access drivers or pit unless you drop $$$$. Queues for miles to get anywhere. Hours to get in and out …

As a follower of F1 for more than 50 years apart from drivers no longer dying and now actually getting paid thier worth F1 in 2025, as an overall experience, is much worse than F1 in 1975. 

Motocross/supercross and F1 to a large degree appeal to different demographics. There is some crossover - motorsports fans - but F1 has always been a sport that appeals to the upper echelons of society and the mega rich. As much as it seems to pain people on here motocross has a large number of bogans (Australia and NZ) and rednecks (USA) who seem to like the sport. Elite people and elite manufacturers don't usually want to be associated with this crowd. 

As for Deegan, saying that a guy with a million followers is going to fundamentally change the sport is absurd. Not to mention he is exactly the kind of person who appeals to the people already into the sport. To those outside the sport and unfamiliar with it he comes across as a bratty FMX Metal Mulisha type. Max Verstappen he is not. 

I agree with making the broadcast better though. Also, cut all ties associations with FMX and Monster Trucks. Motocross is a proper motorsport. FMX and Monster Trucks are bullshit. 

How many children died or became permanently disabled last year playing Baseball? Football? Basketball? BMX? Racing Karts? Keep burying your head in the sand for all i care, doesn’t effect me any 👍

One look at the state of motocross today and it’s obvious at every level that something’s wrong. People with your mentality will be the reason it’s gone in 50 years or less. Why would anyone in their right mind get their children involved in a sport where the BEST case scenario is a broken collar bone and a few concussions by the time they’re adults? I’ve seen more than my share of friends and acquaintances fall victim to the evolution of motocross bikes. If the sanctioning bodies and manufacturers cared about anything other than our wallets they would find a solution….. 

This includes the parents that some how think it's worth the financial investment and the endangerment to their kids. Put the investment into tennis or golf and leave $occer tournament life out of it. Dang kids have no interest in it once growed.

I'll admit that we all have enough idiot in us to believe that we are able to keep mayhem and destruction at bay. The addiction is real. 

I don't quite know how to say it, but a big challenge to legitimacy is the good ole boy culture that exists between the "press" and the riders. 

Legit press in stick/ball sports have full access to athletes and aren't afraid to ask some of the real questions for fear of being blackballed. Its a tough position to be in with the way things are ran now...I understand why they operate the way that they do and sure don't envy their jobs. 

Case in point is Lewis' attempt to capture what's up with Prado right now...or the softball questions that get asked in the press conferences. I hear repeatedly here that there are stories that just aren't being covered. 

I guess what I'm saying is that making the riders/teams (and their full stories) more accessible would add credibility and legitimacy. 

Just following the TdF these past couple weeks is reminding me about ‘proper’ journalism in sport. 

But what is the answer? 

yeah yeah, why know why they behave like they do, we don’t need to discuss that. 

I was just thinking the same thing about the Tour. 

Every July I am engrossed for 3 weeks in that race only to go another 11 months without thinking about bicycle racing.  

Maybe we have a great opportunity with the MXdN that could be capitalized on but isn't. 

The problem likely arises from the fact there are too few news outlets, Too few journalists & the journalists who are here only work in this sport and will always work in this sport. 

If there was a succession of new journalists, they could ask proper questions, burn some bridges and once they’re out of favour they move to reporting on a different sport whilst a new journalist takes his spot. 

Exactly this. I feel like any spare time here is spent bitching about the "broadcast" and it "unprofessionalism". I keep thinking about the type of person that makes the original posts on this subject or chime in on every related thread, and figure that they must be a big Karen. What kind of p****es that are in to MX, dirtbikes, or racing in general are concerned about TV graphics and what they do on commercials... Jesus. I put it on and watch in silence as I work on my bike. The racing is usually secondary to what I am doing, and the commentary is soooo far down the list of shit going on my life, I can't fathom how some are getting there to even consider analyzing it. Don't these people have lawn bowling tournaments they need to attend?

So anyone who views the announcers as terrible, unprofessional, or is seriously at the point that they would rather not watch than listen to that, I view as a Karen. Maybe it's just me.

Sorry, never posted in a thread like this, and they drive me nuts as they are every other thread on the homepage. Maybe we need a special section to bitch about dumb shit. Call it the Karen section...  

Yup, it's odd how when I am curious about a sport the broadcast isn't treating every event like it's introducing the sport to noobs. And yeah, stop with thinking this sport can go huge. It's like surfing, it is limited access. Nothing like stick and ball facilitated around every corner.

Two things. 

We could ask and expect a lot more from the athletes. 

A riders union. 

Hey, here's a great idea.  Let's post a thread on a MX message board (i.e. echo chamber for motocross fans) for the 1000th time and expect a different result.  Doing what "core" moto fans want isn't going to grow the sport.  So feel free to pick: Choose what you think you want (get your industry announcers and reporters, etc.) and accept the sport isn't going to grow or be more legit.  OR, choose something that core moto fans are bothered by but grows the sport by getting more eyeballs watching.   Love or hate the Deegans, they have helped grow the sport.  I know kids that watch MX/SX now that had ZERO interest in it a few years ago.  And they got into it watching a young Haiden Deegan do a backflip on social media.  They decide to follow him and now they watch MX/SX.  And by default, their parents watch SX/MX.  A bunch of these kids now ride around on Surron's and Talaria electric dirt bikes begging for a local place in town to ride. Get a local indoor or in town track for electric dirt bikes to ride.  They later move up to real big bikes. You want to get a new generation watching, that's one way you do it.  That's going to piss off the core riders, but they have a choice to make.  Stay niche' and STFU or do things that gain exposure to the sport.  OR accept things that draw in more people.  Realize for the average person, motocross is not a good spectator sport live.  You can't watch the whole race from your seat and it's hard to even tell who the leader is.  Supercross is far superior in that the average person can go watch it and still be entertained.

I think one huge issue is, the teams treat it as a sport, the riders train and race like it's a sport, the core fans view it as a sport, and then Feld promotes and markets it like it's a show. 

Olympic style podium steps arent a bad idea imo.

I'm going to have to step in here brother.  There are no journalists in the sport. Only 'journalists' (read: amateur enthusiasts). 

I mean... in european football foruns you always have guys saying "What should we do to grow our sport? To attract youngsters"? 
But they are all older* fellas (like us) just wishing more people were in love with their favorite sport (like us). 
I'd argue They dont AAACTUAAALLY want change.

Because "CHANGE" to attract "youngsters" turned into this f*cktard crap called "Kings League" (please dont  google it). Where "Influencers" have teams, the team's president can stop the game to kick a penalty out of nothing, the game starts with 1x1 and adds player after each minute or something like that, and you get CARDS for special moves, One goal sometimes worth 2 goals.... and this crap is Getting sh1t tons of $$ in investment (money going AWAY from actual football), expanding globally (instead of ACTUAL football), getting more fans to big stadiums than "some" actual football games (thats happening in espana, brasil, italia frequently apparently). And then we get left behind ... because 'we wanted to attract youngsters" - who are NOT interested in our passion, they have theirs.

Soooo eehh, idk, lets keep it 'niche'

I’d say the sport was legit when Wide World of Sports showed the USGP at Carlsbad back in the ‘70s. We were now in National TV, and look at what out top riders make today, millions! But what does “legit” even mean? It’s a thousand different things to 1000 different people. To those lucky enough to twist the throttle and experience a gate drop, you know it’s legit. You lived it. We don’t need anyone else’s approval!

100%….

Teams could stop acting like the details of their bikes/settings are nuclear codes. Every rider is different, every frame is different and one brand/rider's settings wouldn't translate to another rider, let alone another team! Yet they act like telling you how many clicks of LSC they went in or out is going to send some other guy to the top!  F1 racing is incredibly boring, but the technical details of the cars are cool. Trying to dumb down MX for the magical "new" fans just makes MX look like there really isn't that much going on (at least technologically) when really, there is.  

Example: Remember when Phil got all mad at Matthes for talking about a THROTTLE BODY? Getttttttt realllllllllllll

The overall production of Supercross made a lot more sense after I took my little guy to Monster Jam this year. Monster Jam, for me at least, is entertainment with some mild competition sprinkled in. If you’re on this forum, think that most of you would agree that Supercross/Motocross is just the opposite, but Feld seems to treat them the same exact way. 

I’m not poo pooing Feld, but if we want to see a paradigm shift, I think the promoter will need to change. 

Also, let’s not have a guy run across the start gate signaling riders to start racing again after a red flag… that was both comical and atrocious. 

A few points to your comments: 

The trophies are handed out live? Not sure what you mean with that? 

The champagne bottles at all nationals are the large format bottles - they are the size that is between Magnum and the normal size, but a larger format.  Most riders dont empty them when sprayed...and they almost always give the left overs to mechanics.  Keep in mind a few of the 250 riders are under the actual drinking age....