If you don't want to listen to the usual sexton Lewis banter go to 42:00 mark and listen from there before it gets pulled.
https://www.vitalmx.com/features/post-race-interviews-2026-anaheim-2
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He's not wrong.
Nope and that's why it won't be received well
Chase is not afraid to speak is mind, Lewis should start a podcast with him
I’m sure there will be the typical “shut up and dribble” type of comments from that interview but he does make some good points with not wanting to come across as an asshole to fans when he’s trying to lock in or focus on the race day. But at the same time, it’s how the sport has always been with how accessible the riders and pits are and that’s what makes it so special and fun for the attendees. I guess that’s why most of these guys lock themselves inside their RV or rig during pit pass time.
I’m all for shortening the SX schedule though. 12 indoor and 12 outdoor and shit, even add the 3 SMX at the end and it would be perfect IMO.
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Fan access is part of the sport and chase seems to understand that but I totally get the frustration from his standpoint. Other professional sports guys are staying in hotel rooms even for home games and totally isolated for day before they compete.
Maybe some pit access on Friday? I'd totally go and just avoid the pits altogether on race day. Not sure if the riders would like that better or not? I also wonder how much fan behavior makes it worse. Standing back and watching mechanics work is a little different than constantly yelling for handouts or pictures or generally trying to be involved. I imagine it just becomes too much.
Never understood why fans have so much access to the riders. The riders must hate it.
I get what he is saying …But for the fans This is the only sport where you can actually meet or get close to your hero’s ! My son got a.autograph from Eli at high point and the pure joy of seeing him actually meeting ELI was a memory I will never forget!
I take it you have never been to an NHRA event. They make it super easy for fans to get up close and personal with the drivers, much more so than mx/sx.
I agree about the series length.
I agree about FELD treating it like a circus.
I can partially agree that he lacks "privacy". The pits are pretty secure (meaning Chase can stay in his trailer and focus if he wants) and of course autographs are great. His story of walking to track walk and being stopped 45x is part where I'd agree with him. They shouldn't have to be stopped by fans all afternoon anytime they need to walk the facility.
Since he's looking for a little privacy, I wonder if Sexton wouldn't like Phillips to leave him alone, every once in a while.
😄
I can totally see his take. I mean, it’s not like he’s paid an assload of money to promote his sponsors and interact with fans…oh wait
Pretty sure the majority of his contract is to deliver race results not play with kids in the pits.
And flat track. True grass roots motorcycle racing.
Chase is 100% right, Feld does view it like a business and really don’t care a whole lot about the riders. At their core they are a circus company and this is what they think SX is. Is Monster Jam a real sport/competition…. no. Maybe one day they’ll turn it into a MJ kind of thing. If they can make more money doing that, what do you think will happen? And MX Sports will be right there with them!
He’s 100% right. Feld produces Supercross like Monster Jam with dirt bikes — they treat it like a kid’s weekend entertainment event, not like a professional motorsport series. I was out for drinks last night with some non-moto friends, and the brewery happened to have the race on (shout out to whichever bartender was into moto). Non-moto friends immediately made Xgames comparisons rather than a series like Formula 1 or even MotoGP. Feld is stuck in early 2000s mindset, and they will be until the Comcast/NBC checks stop clearing.
Let the record show that my response was simultaneous… but, yeah, exactly what Mike said.
I'm pretty sure sponsors care more about engagement than actual results. The teams and OEM's care about results, but they're not the only ones footing the bill.
Not saying that's a good or bad thing, btw.
12 SX
10 MX
3 SMX.
MXdN
That’s more than enough.
Fan engagement is one thing SX/MX does right.
Pit Row
I really enjoy the pit access. I like to see the riders. I dont engage them though. I do like talking to riders from past eras however. At A1 this year me and my buddy chatted to Glover for 30o minutes. I asked him about getting cheated out of the 85 sx title. This led to an interesting take from him. Also bullshitted with Shane Drew at honda. Chassis tech. Fellow Canadian. I enjoy those opportunities.
Chase said that Feld runs supercross like a circus. I wonder if he knows that’s because Feld also runs an actual circus 🎪!
how many riders will like the drop in pay that will mean, considering most of them do international races on top of the current 31 races,
Pretty sure you’re wrong.
Why is Eli Tomac on a $2M annual salary from KTM and another $1M from Alpinestars? Is it for fan engagement in the pits?
It is kinda ironic, isn't it? The US schedule is absolutely brutal, no doubt about it. But then some riders go out and do these international races on top of that, they obviously do these because they get paid good money mostly just to show up and without having to win.
But I feel like what riders actually want is less races but get paid the same. If you'd tell them there will be 30% less races next year but they also have to take a 30% pay cut, would most of them still want it?
Seriously though.. less races would obviously mean a cut in salaries, less chances of earning bonus money, maybe a cut in championship bonuses aswell. These riders only ride for a limited time of their lives and they don't just race for honor and glory. They want to make as much money as possible in that period. So I doubt most of them would take a lighter schedule if that would also mean a heavy pay cut (except for the riders at the end of their careers that just don't want to race outdoors anymore for example).
Pit activation is a massive part of TEAM deals, how do you get people in the pits and score emails and phone numbers. A chance at seeing a rider and getting his autograph.
Sexton would love me: I don't have the slightest desire to go and see him, chat with him about his latest balayage, ask for a side by side selfie or an autographed Alpinestars visor. He can spend the whole day concentrating and emptying his mind in his motorhome's relax armchair, I'm totally fine with it!
So why has history proven you wrong? The argument is 'engagement is worth more than results'. If that was true, Josh Hill would be paid more than than these top factory riders.
I get it but meanwhile Jett and Hunter have the “Lawrence Fan Zone” and that doesn’t seem to distract Jett from getting his countless championships….and I’m a Sexton fan.
This, 100%
I think MX/SX deserves to be treated like a sport and not a spectacle. It's not just some novel thing that people do to entertain their kid.
I’ve being wishing for a qualifying only ticket for years. Friday pit access with practice/qualifying seem like a good idea. Then race day have a couple practice sessions and limited pit access. That would be fine by me because I’d go to the practice day only and leave the drunks to fight in the stands on race day where me and my kids watch from the comfort of our couch.
FWIW Chase doesn't do off season races other than mxon.
I think all chase was saying about fan engagement is that during the day they need to do better protecting the times that supposedly aren't for fan engagement. Fans aren't hanging out in the staging lanes or trying to help gather up the parachute after the run at NHRA events.
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