If you want to increase viewership of the pro races, you have to increase turnout at local tracks. People who ride, spin laps, and have done some local races are the ones who watch racing. Sure some wives and friends watch to but they only did because the guy who races or rides got them hooked.
The way to get more people riding and racing is by fixing amateur racing and fixing the local track designs.
Make the tracks safer , more forgiving, more fun, floaty forgiving ski jumps, fun hip jumps, fun turns, less jumps, less risk, more fun.
Make motos 30 minutes for amateurs and have everyone grouped by speed, cap registration to fit maximum of 7-8 classes of 40 riders each. All grouped by speed so you’ll have 10+ riders your speed to battle with.
Make moto what is always should have been instead of this inbred Loretta’s format where there’s 740 classes and you get 6 minute motos after sitting all day.
If you make the race formats worth your while you’ll have race days sold out ahead of time.
If you make practice tracks fun you’ll actually have people who ride willing to go to tracks again.
I know we all have buddies who “used to ride” and are actually pretty skilled but have zero desire to go to the track now a days. The tracks are too peaky, too unforgiving, too many jumps,
The supercross influence has wrecked local tracks. Tracks should look like Italian gp tracks. Some singles built into hills, a couple forgiving floaters, and just fun turns to link together and RIDE not pilot your dirtbike.
You know how many more people would ride.
90+% of the turnout is youth, vets, and beginners. And yet tracks are built for what seems Loretta’s level c and above.
Look to an off-road race and see their turnout? I guarantee half of those guys wish they were at a motocross track and are only doing off road because the tracks have gone full inbred between design and then the Loretta’s race day class inbredation.
And then the whole “most people can’t even do 5 laps how will they do 35 minute motos?”
Everyone is full panic mode sprinting for these 4 lap races, that isn’t sustainable. Supposed to pace yourself, measure your energy, plan your bursts, it’s supposed to be an actual athletic and mental event. Not just a hold your breath and pin it. 4 lap races aren’t motocross. It’s a joke and it’s a sin against the sport honestly.
Probably need some 125 only vet classes also. 30+ 125 only. Make it so everyone can battle and hold it pinned without the roost and the speeds from the 450s.
Make moto fun again!
Great idea. Heres your opportunity to build a safe, fun track and show us how it's done.
"Less risk"
"30 minute motos"
Bruh.
come race offroad with the rest of us, local MX is FUBAR
I am old enough to remember when D7 had smoother tracks with smaller jumps and 30 minute A class motos at points races but tracks have gotten much larger jumps since those days.
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I like the 125 vet class idea
Truth. Local practice day around me was 15 minute minutes motos split between A/B, C, Vet, and 85s over 8 hours. I went out 4 times….yikes😳
I'd make a scientific wild ass guess that 95-98% of people have never swung a leg over a motocross bike, and even less have spun a lap on a motocross bike. I think that's one of the biggest barriers. Motocross is a very "if you know you know" kind of sport. If you've never been on motocross track then you have zero context for what a thrill and challenge it is in a multitude of ways.
Next imo is our sports relationship with public school systems. The better a young MX talent is, the more he is distanced from middle/high school, until they're eventually just pulled out of it and homeschooled. So during the years where kids are discovering the sports that they'll follow for life, MX is basically hiding in their blind spot.
It'd be sick if one of the manufacturers held K-12 riding classes & practice days. Honda "Red-ucation" or something lol. Sign waivers, have riding gear rentals & then get them on demo bikes (slower trail bikes and stuff), and then do riding classes. Do it every other weekend for a semester so it can grow. It'd cost some $ and obviously liability would require some attention from the corporate lawyers, but I feel like 5-10 year ROI on it would be really promising.
I feel like motocross is built on its casual fans who aren't weekend racers, but have been on a bike enough to realize how batshit insane the professional riders are. They'll never get it if the sport doesn't meet them where they're at, and where they're at during their most impressionable years is public school.
More local tracks are closing than opening. It's hugely expensive to even rent a track for a race day. Even if you can cover all the upfront fixed costs, tiny turnouts for each separate class you're trying to run gates for means they have to combine classes for full gates and then you're back to mixed types of skill levels and machines combined- defeating the purpose of what has been proposed by OP.
You're ignoring the elephant on the room. No matter how we feel...
Build practice tracks at MX facilities for the plethora of E bikes and E scooters.
Build of few practice tracks in neighborhoods and empty warehouses. Take advantage of the no noise to build the sport.
Unfortunately the answer is already an option and people won’t adopt it until it’s too late…
E-bike tracks in industrial zone areas in/near the city would bring our sport back.
Grow the sport = Live and Free on youtube /thread
First off, not a single local racer below expert/A class wants to do a 30 minute moto. Even then, most of those guys like doing 20 minutes.
9 out of 10 vet guys I know would never race a 125. Call it stupid, ego, whatever... Most of them think they absolutely need a 450.
As far as roping in E-bike riders as sugested in other posts I'm starting to see it a bit. GH just had some org there holding a huge race on the vet track. However, I don't see how that will correlate to speifically growing moto again. Most of those kids look at dirtbikes as old school, inconvenient, and expensive. They can ride their e-bike down the street from their house. A dirtbike is a whole thing with no quick satisfaction.
Anyway, the other thing people don't want to talk about is the recent drop in turn out directly correlates to the economy and economic uncertainty. Shits happening and people are holding tight with their money. I'm not going to go all non-moto, but the last huge surge in rider turn outs was mid-pandemic after everyone got their free money from the government and wanted to get out of the house. Remember all the sold out dealerships? Bike prices? Crazy times and gates were packed on the weekend. That all went away when we got back to reality, now it's a whole different problem.
I'm with you, but part of the problem is that a lot of local modern MX tracks are too small to accommodate so many riders at one time.
Not Ignoring anything just saying do something not whine that someone else needs to fix it.
I actually feel the same as OP but I didn't whine i built the kind of track he describes. I provide a very fun safe challenging track for those who like a natural terrain GP style track. I charge no fees track is free to ride. I exsist on donations from riders who appreciate the passion and effort I put into keeping it nice. It's a lot of hard work but worth it to me to see folks actually enjoying themselves instead of riding in fear.
I'm doing my part if you want change talking don't get it done.
The last one I went to had 8 groups!
This dude gets it. Seen the videos and respect what you’re doing. Would love to come ride your track and help with maintenance for a weekend
Thanks. you're welcome anytime.
Sounds just like people who say you can’t criticize a pro unless you’re faster than them.
So now you can’t comment on the state of riding without buying a track. Sure everyone can do that…
Pit Row
The customer is actually the best person to criticize a business.
I'm 37, ride a 150sx, and go out with the vets during open practice days. I've never had more fun on a dirt bike.
Ouch!! sorry you're so but hurt but hey losers always want someone else to do the work.
I actually built it myself cos I can't afford help on some very rugged land, cheap land as I ain't got all that much. Bought a used small tractor with a loader attachment learned how to use it and started building. That was Jan 2014 I was 57 by Jan 2016 I finished it and opened for riding and have been enjoying it since. I saw the state of tracks and how things were going long ago I stopped racing in 2001 due to spending 14 to 15 hours at the track to get in 2, 5 lap motos. It sucked and then the tracks started closing down so I decided to do something. This sport has given me years of good times started riding in 1972. I'm just trying to pay it forward and give some back.
I'm sure you'll have some witty remarks but here's the thing. You're just a loser that will keep on complaining.
You got an idea and a vantage point on something? Better go do it yourself!
dumb.
Most vet guys are carrying too many lbs for 125s..
So instead of saying, “I saw the same things you’re saying man. Things aren’t headed the right direction. I hope more tracks do some of what you’re saying. I actually built my own track because of this exact discussion.”
You went full insult name calling.
Sick bro, we’re all very proud of you.
It’s not as bad as you’re thinking. Instead of sprinting wide open , you’d be able to ease into the moto, learn the lines, plan your passes, and ride in a way that moto is intended for.
You're right and I apologize. You didn't deserve that. I'm just so tired of hearing people complain and offer solutions that someone else needs to carry out. This is our sport and it's slipping away so we all need to do what we can to salvage what's left and try to turn it back to what it was meant to be.
I agree. Moto is amazing and it could be SO GOOD if a few tweaks happened.
I genuinely hope to be in your position to have a track but for now I can atleast try to plant some seeds and ideas.
Make motos 30 min?! lol you think the average guy can do a 30 + 2? Most pros are gassed after one, let alone an out of shape middle age guy.
Go slower. All any of us ever do is go as fast as we can for 4-5 laps because that’s what the program is.
I’m a 30+ guy into fitness and doing 5 laps is really tough for me on a 1:30 minute lap time track haha. A 7 lap moto for A class feels like a lifetime haha
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