Moto Journalists

philG
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GB
7/21/2026 5:17am
joshd wrote:
Lewis’ stuff has become one of my favorite listens. When Barica said we change some stuff on the bike Lewis actually asks what did you change. He...

Lewis’ stuff has become one of my favorite listens. When Barica said we change some stuff on the bike Lewis actually asks what did you change. 

He finally got Barica to reluctantly say they slid the forks down in the clamps. I don’t know why Barica had to act so weird about it. 

Maybe because it is such a basic thing that he is embarrassed that they didnt do it before.  Or maybe they werent allowed. 

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3strokemx
Posts
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USA
7/21/2026 5:30am Edited Date/Time 7/21/2026 2:09pm

Hey I don't know if you guys know this, but if you don't like a particular journalist or media outlet you can choose to not consume their content.

It works amazingly well.

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7/21/2026 5:36am

You all seem to be confused about the difference between journalism and commentary.

There’s not a single example of actual journalism here.


 

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RACING
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Waddafeuque, FR
7/21/2026 5:54am
joshd wrote:
I enjoy your post Lew! Do you know what Barica was so weird about saying they slid the forks down the the clamps? Does he think Yamaha...

I enjoy your post Lew! 

Do you know what Barica was so weird about saying they slid the forks down the the clamps? Does he think Yamaha will hear that and be like Oh! Why didn’t we think of that? Something I just never understood about this sport. 

Can some real journalist tell me who da f*** that Barica guy is? 

 

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The Shop

RACING
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7/21/2026 6:02am

Easy! Every time I post in the forum, I seem to be hit with negativity. I used to love posting. Now, it makes no sense.

Poor Lew...

I read here many delusional dithyrambic rants about how great he his, the very best there ever was in the whole world, daring to ask the "real questions" on touchy matters, bringing us exclusive answers no one can get... And all he can focus on is those who don't feel that way. 

Life is cruel.

 

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Spoonguy
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Mc Kean, PA, USA
7/21/2026 6:57am
3strokemx wrote:
Hey I don't know if you guys know this, but if you don't like a particular journalist or media outlet you can choose to not consume...

Hey I don't know if you guys know this, but if you don't like a particular journalist or media outlet you can choose to not consume their content.

It works amazingly well.

Absolutely, without a doubt. But even in this very thread it is displayed with Lewis's comments, the media has a condescending attitude to the audience. It is a recurring theme. How can that possibly be healthy for the sport. Especially knowing many of the media work for DC. And it goes further with the recent delayed payments to riders it appears in our sport there are two clubs, the media and promoters, and everybody else.

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englishman
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England, GB
7/21/2026 7:13am
Spoonguy wrote:
Absolutely, without a doubt. But even in this very thread it is displayed with Lewis's comments, the media has a condescending attitude to the audience. It...

Absolutely, without a doubt. But even in this very thread it is displayed with Lewis's comments, the media has a condescending attitude to the audience. It is a recurring theme. How can that possibly be healthy for the sport. Especially knowing many of the media work for DC. And it goes further with the recent delayed payments to riders it appears in our sport there are two clubs, the media and promoters, and everybody else.

The Dunning-Kruger Effect / illusory superiority . 

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3strokemx
Posts
2766
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Location
USA
7/21/2026 7:39am
3strokemx wrote:
Hey I don't know if you guys know this, but if you don't like a particular journalist or media outlet you can choose to not consume...

Hey I don't know if you guys know this, but if you don't like a particular journalist or media outlet you can choose to not consume their content.

It works amazingly well.

Spoonguy wrote:
Absolutely, without a doubt. But even in this very thread it is displayed with Lewis's comments, the media has a condescending attitude to the audience. It...

Absolutely, without a doubt. But even in this very thread it is displayed with Lewis's comments, the media has a condescending attitude to the audience. It is a recurring theme. How can that possibly be healthy for the sport. Especially knowing many of the media work for DC. And it goes further with the recent delayed payments to riders it appears in our sport there are two clubs, the media and promoters, and everybody else.

The divide is more noticable because the bulk of "the Sport" is people that buy stickers, apperal, etc. from companies that don't know they exist; to pose as industry insiders and trick other posers.


 

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early
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Location
University Heights, OH, USA
7/21/2026 7:57am

ESPN laying off a bunch of people, cycle world and dirt rider stopped publishing, sports coverage is in a tough place. I'm in he minority in thinking we are in a pretty decent place with motocross coverage at the moment.

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RACING
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Waddafeuque, FR
7/21/2026 9:20am
RACING wrote:
Poor Lew...I read here many delusional dithyrambic rants about how great he his, the very best there ever was in the whole world, daring to ask...

Poor Lew...

I read here many delusional dithyrambic rants about how great he his, the very best there ever was in the whole world, daring to ask the "real questions" on touchy matters, bringing us exclusive answers no one can get... And all he can focus on is those who don't feel that way. 

Life is cruel.

 

See Lew, people downvote me, they like you!!

You're da shit, man!!!

🤣

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Mototech853
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Itasca, IL, USA
7/21/2026 10:37am
30minmotos wrote:
Shit many of us know more than those people rv,rc, mathes, weege, and more about the bikes.Even though Steve was a mechanic and the others top...

Shit many of us know more than those people rv,rc, mathes, weege, and more about the bikes.


Even though Steve was a mechanic and the others top pros, when you listen to them talk about the technical side of the bikes, they are very low iq in that area. Rv and rc are particularly bad.


They talk about the fans like we couldn’t know as much about moto, because of how plugged in they are.  They have their areas where they know a lot, sure, but technically, many of them are nobody compared to some on here.


They also are obviously corporate shills in many situations and completely blind and deaf to real issues that they just say is good or fine, instead of calling it what it is, which is trash. Such as rc’s broadcasting, or the production doing segments on mosimans piano and marvs cats during a fucking race. Lolol


Plenty of examples but you made a great point Spoonbro.


Which is why I gave Lew the credit I did, he jumps across the lines constantly, pushes the hard questions, and actually pulls information out of the folks he interviews, including the team management, the riders, etc. 

remember all the info he pulled from the kawi team bosses and really it didn’t do them favors but Lew pulled it out, and he knows enough about the bikes and about riding in order to ask the follow up questions , he hears their answers and doesn’t just take their canned deflection PR speak as gospel.


ML does some good work as well on the technical side and team roster changes.


Not sure who else comes to mind but the vital media certainly seems the least corporate PC despite being one of the larger outlets.

I laugh every time I hear a media member mention the high revving Desmo Ducati. I would like to hear any of the maybe with the exception of Keefer explain the Desmo system. I had a long talk with a Ducati rep at the Ironman GNCC about the bike and Ducati in general. One of the many things he said was he wished the media would stop saying the bike was high revving and instead explain the Desmo valve train. 

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Moto Nomad
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Location
Grass Valley, CA, USA
7/21/2026 10:39am
First off, despite the number of journalism schools willing to take people’s hard earned money, journalism as we boomers used to understand it, has long been...

First off, despite the number of journalism schools willing to take people’s hard earned money, journalism as we boomers used to understand it, has long been dead, killed by consolidation and monopolization by a few mega corporations. The internet once held promise for the supposed “democratization” of the media, but the corporations got that on lock too.

As for our absolutely tiny sport, the “media” has always played a lapdog role to the companies that make the races happen. Anger any of these companies and your access to events and athletes will be denied. 

Who’s reporting on the purse payout situation?

Moto Nomad wrote:
Being a journalist for 25 years now, including a few years as a full-time moto journalist, I'd have to agree that mainstream journalism is pretty pathetic...

Being a journalist for 25 years now, including a few years as a full-time moto journalist, I'd have to agree that mainstream journalism is pretty pathetic right now. Just nakedly biased and ridiculous.

The moto industry can be pretty cut-throat, and I would say that journalism in moto is a special world. You need access and advertisers, and that colors things. That said, there are some great journalists working at RacerX and Vital. The We Went Fast Guy is great and there are a lot of solid podcasters. Maybe I am not as critical since I know what it's like to operate in the journalism world and how much work it can be. But there has always been a web of secrecy among the insiders in MX/SX. And a lot of hyper-sensitive riders and industry people that think journalism is the same as PR and should only reflect good things.

Hey Matthes, thanks for your input...

Hey Matthes, thanks for your input...

Screenshot 2026-03-06 185416 0

If you're saying you think I'm Matthes under an alias, I can assure you I am not.

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El_Rayo
Posts
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Location
Valparaiso, IN, USA
Fantasy
7/21/2026 11:22am
Moto Nomad wrote:
Being a journalist for 25 years now, including a few years as a full-time moto journalist, I'd have to agree that mainstream journalism is pretty pathetic...

Being a journalist for 25 years now, including a few years as a full-time moto journalist, I'd have to agree that mainstream journalism is pretty pathetic right now. Just nakedly biased and ridiculous.

The moto industry can be pretty cut-throat, and I would say that journalism in moto is a special world. You need access and advertisers, and that colors things. That said, there are some great journalists working at RacerX and Vital. The We Went Fast Guy is great and there are a lot of solid podcasters. Maybe I am not as critical since I know what it's like to operate in the journalism world and how much work it can be. But there has always been a web of secrecy among the insiders in MX/SX. And a lot of hyper-sensitive riders and industry people that think journalism is the same as PR and should only reflect good things.

Hey Matthes, thanks for your input...

Hey Matthes, thanks for your input...

Screenshot 2026-03-06 185416 0
Moto Nomad wrote:

If you're saying you think I'm Matthes under an alias, I can assure you I am not.

That sounds exactly like what Matthes would say. 

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1
dingaling
Posts
294
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AU
7/21/2026 12:35pm
RACING wrote:
Poor Lew...I read here many delusional dithyrambic rants about how great he his, the very best there ever was in the whole world, daring to ask...

Poor Lew...

I read here many delusional dithyrambic rants about how great he his, the very best there ever was in the whole world, daring to ask the "real questions" on touchy matters, bringing us exclusive answers no one can get... And all he can focus on is those who don't feel that way. 

Life is cruel.

 

Lewis seems like a "glass half empty" type of person. Whinges about everything, engages in a sarcastic, snarky, combative way to negative criticism only and says "why I am a target?". He argues in the YT comment section aswell. Weird that it triggers him so much. 

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7/21/2026 12:48pm
early wrote:
ESPN laying off a bunch of people, cycle world and dirt rider stopped publishing, sports coverage is in a tough place. I'm in he minority in...

ESPN laying off a bunch of people, cycle world and dirt rider stopped publishing, sports coverage is in a tough place. I'm in he minority in thinking we are in a pretty decent place with motocross coverage at the moment.

I cant view this as anything more than "it's never been easier to be great." 

I see Fan Duel and other gambling entities sponsoring media segments on sports analysis programs. So, safe to say, it MAY be possible to approach the journalism side of the sport through the avenue of one of those gambling entities.  While I hate the idea of sportsbetting itself, one of those entities may provide a lot of top cover for a journalist on their payroll, if you were on their payroll.  

But for my money, it's a combination of Burkeens YT and Ruperts pictures, and I'll so the analysis on my own.  

early
Posts
10000
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Location
University Heights, OH, USA
7/21/2026 1:25pm
early wrote:
ESPN laying off a bunch of people, cycle world and dirt rider stopped publishing, sports coverage is in a tough place. I'm in he minority in...

ESPN laying off a bunch of people, cycle world and dirt rider stopped publishing, sports coverage is in a tough place. I'm in he minority in thinking we are in a pretty decent place with motocross coverage at the moment.

I cant view this as anything more than "it's never been easier to be great." I see Fan Duel and other gambling entities sponsoring media segments on...

I cant view this as anything more than "it's never been easier to be great." 

I see Fan Duel and other gambling entities sponsoring media segments on sports analysis programs. So, safe to say, it MAY be possible to approach the journalism side of the sport through the avenue of one of those gambling entities.  While I hate the idea of sportsbetting itself, one of those entities may provide a lot of top cover for a journalist on their payroll, if you were on their payroll.  

But for my money, it's a combination of Burkeens YT and Ruperts pictures, and I'll so the analysis on my own.  

Ok, but when was coverage of professional motocross better? Was cycle news really giving any better inside information than we get today from various outlets?

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7/21/2026 1:36pm
early wrote:
ESPN laying off a bunch of people, cycle world and dirt rider stopped publishing, sports coverage is in a tough place. I'm in he minority in...

ESPN laying off a bunch of people, cycle world and dirt rider stopped publishing, sports coverage is in a tough place. I'm in he minority in thinking we are in a pretty decent place with motocross coverage at the moment.

I cant view this as anything more than "it's never been easier to be great." I see Fan Duel and other gambling entities sponsoring media segments on...

I cant view this as anything more than "it's never been easier to be great." 

I see Fan Duel and other gambling entities sponsoring media segments on sports analysis programs. So, safe to say, it MAY be possible to approach the journalism side of the sport through the avenue of one of those gambling entities.  While I hate the idea of sportsbetting itself, one of those entities may provide a lot of top cover for a journalist on their payroll, if you were on their payroll.  

But for my money, it's a combination of Burkeens YT and Ruperts pictures, and I'll so the analysis on my own.  

early wrote:

Ok, but when was coverage of professional motocross better? Was cycle news really giving any better inside information than we get today from various outlets?

Oh moto coverage has always sucked. I think that Lewis guy does a pretty good job with what he's handed.  

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7/21/2026 3:12pm

There’s too much “moto journalism” now IMO….too much of a good thing. I don’t listen to or watch any of it anymore, I started just tuning into the races on Saturday and honestly it’s much more enjoyable to watch now 


I have gotten back into baseball a lot heavier in the last two years and the difference in MLB and Moto journalism is astounding. 

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7/21/2026 3:13pm
early wrote:
ESPN laying off a bunch of people, cycle world and dirt rider stopped publishing, sports coverage is in a tough place. I'm in he minority in...

ESPN laying off a bunch of people, cycle world and dirt rider stopped publishing, sports coverage is in a tough place. I'm in he minority in thinking we are in a pretty decent place with motocross coverage at the moment.

I cant view this as anything more than "it's never been easier to be great." I see Fan Duel and other gambling entities sponsoring media segments on...

I cant view this as anything more than "it's never been easier to be great." 

I see Fan Duel and other gambling entities sponsoring media segments on sports analysis programs. So, safe to say, it MAY be possible to approach the journalism side of the sport through the avenue of one of those gambling entities.  While I hate the idea of sportsbetting itself, one of those entities may provide a lot of top cover for a journalist on their payroll, if you were on their payroll.  

But for my money, it's a combination of Burkeens YT and Ruperts pictures, and I'll so the analysis on my own.  

early wrote:

Ok, but when was coverage of professional motocross better? Was cycle news really giving any better inside information than we get today from various outlets?

It’s not that anything is wrong with the actual coverage it’s all the bullshit and fluff that comes with it. Back when it was mostly magazines that content just meant more. Now any one with a cell phone and an opinion can claim to be “covering the sport” 

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7/21/2026 3:15pm

I would give up every single podcast to bring back the moto world tv show!!!!

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The Wolf Man
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935
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Location
Suburb, NSW, AU
7/21/2026 9:07pm
joshd wrote:
I enjoy your post Lew! Do you know what Barica was so weird about saying they slid the forks down the the clamps? Does he think Yamaha...

I enjoy your post Lew! 

Do you know what Barica was so weird about saying they slid the forks down the the clamps? Does he think Yamaha will hear that and be like Oh! Why didn’t we think of that? Something I just never understood about this sport. 

RACING wrote:

Can some real journalist tell me who da f*** that Barica guy is? 

 

Screenshot 2026-07-11 111732.png?VersionId=kXIY ivBbuzt
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The Wolf Man
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7/21/2026 9:10pm
Spoonguy wrote:
Absolutely, without a doubt. But even in this very thread it is displayed with Lewis's comments, the media has a condescending attitude to the audience. It...

Absolutely, without a doubt. But even in this very thread it is displayed with Lewis's comments, the media has a condescending attitude to the audience. It is a recurring theme. How can that possibly be healthy for the sport. Especially knowing many of the media work for DC. And it goes further with the recent delayed payments to riders it appears in our sport there are two clubs, the media and promoters, and everybody else.

englishman wrote:

The Dunning-Kruger Effect / illusory superiority . 

Yes, getting condescended to by a bunch of people that most likely couldn't graduate from the Derek Zoolander School for Kids who Can't Read Good is a bit much.

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The Wolf Man
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Location
Suburb, NSW, AU
7/21/2026 9:14pm Edited Date/Time 7/21/2026 9:15pm
There’s too much “moto journalism” now IMO….too much of a good thing. I don’t listen to or watch any of it anymore, I started just tuning...

There’s too much “moto journalism” now IMO….too much of a good thing. I don’t listen to or watch any of it anymore, I started just tuning into the races on Saturday and honestly it’s much more enjoyable to watch now 


I have gotten back into baseball a lot heavier in the last two years and the difference in MLB and Moto journalism is astounding. 

Check out some boxing commentary to be reminded of the shit we're being served up on a weekly basis in contrast...

RC (below) trying to understand what English is...

Hint: It's a language RC...and you can't use it...

Screenshot 2026-07-15 184515.png?VersionId= g8CLr
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7/21/2026 11:16pm

In journalism class we were told to write the “who what when where and why” and leave opinions out. Thats what journalism is supposed to be. Facts.  Let the reader/viewer form their own opinion. In mx we are told what to believe.  What teams and bikes are better. Even Stew was starting to be afraid to make his comments, because as soon as he would say his opinion, something during the race would happen to contradict what he just said.

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3strokemx
Posts
2766
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Location
USA
7/22/2026 5:01am Edited Date/Time 7/22/2026 5:01am
In journalism class we were told to write the “who what when where and why” and leave opinions out. Thats what journalism is supposed to be...

In journalism class we were told to write the “who what when where and why” and leave opinions out. Thats what journalism is supposed to be. Facts.  Let the reader/viewer form their own opinion. In mx we are told what to believe.  What teams and bikes are better. Even Stew was starting to be afraid to make his comments, because as soon as he would say his opinion, something during the race would happen to contradict what he just said.

That's what Slowie was doing and he got Banned!

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BoxcarWilly
Posts
1195
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Location
Thunder Bay, ON, CA
7/22/2026 8:15am

I listen to all of the Pulp content and consume a lot of Vital's as well. I think it's a generally a good listen/watch/read, but again, mostly commentary versus actual journalism. 

 

There definitely is something to be said about the majority of the "media" network being employed by the series promoter. Regardless of how many times they say "They let me say whatever I want" anyone with a brain knows, that's not true. 

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blockhead17
Posts
2827
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Location
Tokyo, JP
7/22/2026 11:20pm

The problem is the system, teams and the series allow riders like Eli (who I love) to just be radio silent and do no media. Plus have the ability to just avoid media like pulp. So it’s hard to break news when you can be blacklisted by riders. If they had media obligations in their contracts then people could actually break news and tell their group chat secrets and the riders will have to live with it.

But I think the media enjoys being buddies with the riders

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DadBod86
Posts
230
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Location
Pittsworth, QLD, AU
Fantasy
7/22/2026 11:31pm

I’d love to see a moto journalist ask Deegs about the bike claim saga! 

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The Wolf Man
Posts
935
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Location
Suburb, NSW, AU
7/23/2026 11:16pm
DadBod86 wrote:

I’d love to see a moto journalist ask Deegs about the bike claim saga! 

There aren't any moto journalists, just 'journalists'. 

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7/24/2026 7:43am

i'm at the final stage of this process: ACCEPTANCE. 

Moto-journalism doesn't exist, and the moto "journalists" are perfectly fine with this arrangement. They have created a situation where those asking the quesitons hold zero power, and thus the industry as a whole knows they can flip you off if they don't like your questions. It's sad, honestly.

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