For whatever reason all the pods this week keep talking about how smx needs to eventually go overseas and I think this is a dumb idea. The mxgp (world championship) exists because of the unique layout of europe and how its a large continent made up of a lot of small separate countries. It went international out of necessity because running a whole series in just france, or germany, or belgium would be too small, and wouldnt make any sense when theres plenty of other riders close by in the other countries. To run a series in europe the size of the US series you already need to go across borders so it makes sense to expand from there.
The us is not the same as europe so the need to go across borders is not the same. America is the size of a whole continent on its own and it has all different types of climates and elevations and temperatures…etc. You can go from the hot and humid south up to the rainy pacific northwest and everywhere in between. The US being so large is actually a huge benefit because the entire series can be accessed without a passport, with no language barriers, no different currencies, and you can drive by car/truck to every track without having to ship anything overseas, and basically everywhere can be flown to in 6 hours or less. Also because of the nfl and mlb we already have the perfect sized stadiums scattered all around the country.
There is literally no benefit to going overseas and it instead just takes the greatest strength of the AMA series being all within one country and throws it in the trash. The US is huge, but its also very far away from the rest of the world. Unless by international they mean canada or mexico it is going to mean some serious travel times. Its just unnecessary to add in all the extra hassle of international borders, shipping by air, tv times being all jacked up, and making everything a million times more expensive, when you have everything you need right here already.
When supercross goes “global” or international or whatever it would make a lot more sense for it to slowly grow out of europe and become a complement to the mxgp the way the ama series is here than to try to blow up what we have and force it overseas. That would also make it so theres enough riders to fill up a second series like there is with ama mx and mxgp. I dont think its a good idea to jack up what we have here just to go “global”, a series in europe would already need to cross borders so that would make much more sense to expand to the rest of the world from than to try to take smx and turn it international with a couple super far away races. Dumb idea.
From my experience, the intended final product is always best when improving on what works, not reinventing its purpose entirely.
Supercross is great and structured in a way that works in America. Change the product a little by climbing the ladder another rung, don’t try to make a new version that does the exact same thing.
All of this to say, improve upon what works. The structure is there. The fan base is there. The relationships with stadiums exist. Just continue making it better using ingredients that exist already.
Build better, more unique tracks. Bring in more dirt. Find a way to add exciting elements to the individual events that are already packed. Give the fans a better experience overall.
Maybe you'd feel differently if the top US racers all left and only raced in Europe or Australia?
I know the teams are always very against racing out of the country, even barely out of the country in Toronto. The assumption is they are against it because of money, which I’m sure is somewhat of a concern. I’ve always thought, but never heard anyone else talk about it, the major concern was getting everyone across the border. Many of the riders and mechanics don’t have a reputation for being super organized and on top of things. Securing a valid passport would be a major feat for some of them.
Then you consider how many top riders we have that aren’t US citizens. For them leaving the country to race would require them to travel back through their home country to return to the US.
I also think there is a fair amount of guys who simply couldn’t leave the country for legal reasons none of us have any idea about.
"It went international out of necessity because running a whole series in just france, or germany, or belgium would be too small, and wouldnt make any sense when theres plenty of other riders close by in the other countries."
cant get more stereotypically American than that LMAO
Yeah, you’re right. If only one country in Europe weren’t so damn small, the “World Championship” could just take place there. Too bad there isn’t enough room or enough riders to run a full series within its borders, so people from all over Europe had to come together and create MXGP just so they could finally race!
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Teams are already looking for reasons to save a buck and not race SMX. This idea will definitely help them make that decision, plus Kawaski U.S.A has already shown they don't partake in overseas races. The only way I see this happening is if Feld opens the pocketbook to pay teams to load up and go overseas, and I don't see that happening.
MXGP started holding races internationally because those countries would PAY for it.
SMX will have races internationally because someone will pay for them to be there. It's that simple.
Now do i think that's a good idea? No. It will be just like the flyaway MXGP events with most of the factory supported riders there minimal if not zero privateers and some local to the region "gatefillers" to make up the missing spots on the gate.
Now saying that if a round was in the Aus/NZ area or say France for example there would be some quality locals to mix it up with. But say Indonesia? Eh, pass.
If you’re from another country you don’t have to travel through said country to get back to the US
"Then you consider how many top riders we have that aren’t US citizens. For them leaving the country to race would require them to travel back through their home country to return to the US. "
Where did you get this notion from? Because that's completely wrong
I am no expert on this matter. However, I’ve heard a handful of guys talk about it in interviews. I believe Lewis Phillips spoke about it over the summer as a reason he wasn’t going to a MXGP that he wanted to attend. A couple of other riders (I honestly can’t remember which guys…I want to say Minear) mentioned difficulties on returning if they traveled outside of the US.
I could be totally off on that. And it may only apply to some of the guys with work visas nearing expiration or something. I know I didn’t dream hearing it though.
Marty Missed a round when the series went to Canada, due to fair of not being able to return,
The teams are already burned out and unenthusiastic about the 3 US rounds. Add in international travel and we may have a revolt.
It's a perfect time to take the championship internationally with the top talent in the series is no longer American. There is a good chance every title goes to an international rider next year, it got close this year. France, Spain or Australia are good candidates, they have riders the locals can get behind. It just needs to get the local government on board to help finance it and for Feld to cover the travel expenses, the same way every other international series does. F1, MotoGP, MXGP, etc. don't pay to host the event in another country, they get the country to pay them.
Everyone wants a bigger sport, manufactures, teams, riders, sponsors, broadcast partners. Growth is US market is likely already near its peak potential, expanding to international markets makes sense. Feld have experience with Monster Trucks on the international stage, supercross should be easy.
the big issue of going overseas, which WSX also ran into, is supercross is built and run off OEM's USA marketing budgets, it always has been,
Craig Dack ran into this with Yamaha Aussie , YMA (yamaha motors Australia) didnt want to spend its budget on overseas racers, its budget was for AUssie marketing so,
People don't seem to grasp that this industry is powered by the manufactures not the promoters. If bikes aren't selling in a market, no teams are going. Which basically means we'd be lucky to ever get a round in Aus or maybe EU. It doesn't matter what the local government is paying. No team is going to risk their marketing asset (the rider) in a market that's not bringing ROI
I cannot understand how so many people (fans and industry people) are so narrow minded.
I facepalm every time i hear a US based OEM person say that their objective is to sell bikes and products in USA and they don't give a shit about the international market like we would live in the '70s without internet and social media.
Sure, the budgets come from national subsidiaries. But to think that they're detached from the international scene and the parent companies is just so low IQ. You don't think that the parent companies fund these national subsidiaries in any way?
Haiden Deegan winning on a Yamaha or Chase Sexton winning on a Kawasaki has a positive impact globally. Not only nationally.
Sadly I’m no longer surprised by the close-minded nationalistic views that are often on display here.
I get where you’re coming from and agree that a lot of people are geared that way, but in this case I don’t think it’s the nationalism aspect as much as just what’s practical
It's probably just another money grab from the circus that is smx.🤷🤙
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I agree, It’s a good idea not to have the SMX overseas. How many Americans since this is a AMA thing would be dedicated enough to want to go ?
Realistically most Americans don’t want to leave their precious, safe borders of their blessed country due to the American popularity known globally.
You’re missing the point. KTM, HRC, Yamaha, Kawi, etc. USA are in the business of selling bikes in the US. That’s not narrow minded, that is the scope of their business. If the factories were to support (fund) them to do events that support worldwide sales it might be different. Until then, it makes no sense for them to do events outside their market.
It’s a terrible idea. Let’s race all year in the states then have the “play offs” over seas. The teams and riders are all burned out by this point in the year. The teams don’t even want to go to Canada. Hell Kawasaki doesn’t even want to support riders at MXON. Speaking of that you’d have 3 weeks of international travel, followed by another week for the guys and team's that get picked for MXON. So a month of international travel after the meat grinder of a schedule these guys are already on. Make it make sense.
The closed minded nationalistic view comment is just dumb in this context.
Can you imagine the nfl or mlb going over seas for their playoffs?
Brilliant take bro, as if folks from the US don’t travels internationally. The thing is the US fans wouldn’t need to go as the fans from around the globe would line up to see the AMA pros race. Plus we would have 28 other races to attend inside the precious, safe borders of our blessed country.
I agree in that you are no expert in this matter.
Racing in soccer stadiums in the US is a dumb idea. But those are the premier stadiums internationally.
The unique and distinct new discipline combining supercross and pro motocross was never the plan.
Get rid of MXON.
Take the top 20 MXGP and the top 20 in "SMX" points and race, alternate between a US and European venue each year and that's your first round of SMX, countries points are tallied up for your winner but the SMX points are also tallied up separately. MXGP guys treat it like a money race they are paid for results from the same pie.
It will take too much coordinating between two different organizations and would never happen but a cool idea.
The U.S. based teams get their budgets for racing in the “U.S. market”. This has already been an issue when it comes to U.S. “OEM team” riders doing off shore events/international events…from WSX to the MXON…
Namely: budget and “who’s gonna pay for our bikes and crew”.
This would be a problem for the Teams/OEMs as far as budgets. That’s how they’d tell it.
And I'm no longer surprised by your anti-everything-american views that allow you conflate business and practicality with nationalism. Be better.
yup, but hey also kind of amusing tho
Maybe I’m misunderstanding you but could you not use similar logic to explain why the US series’ going overseas is a waste of time? Do you think it makes that much of a difference as far as global marketing goes if people see Hayden win a race in France for example, as opposed to California? I have a hard time believing it would. As you said we have internet and social media so any of his wins will get as much exposure regardless of location.
Supercross is a G R E A T product... it's basically evel knievael jumping a shark tank... with dozens of people doing it lap after lap.... it's a true blood sport... not only is it breathe taking to watch, it's a gold mine to be monetized...
But stupidcross... loll... ya hell nawww...
Some media sources are saying feld was looking at buying wsx... now that makes sense.... but expanding stupidcross not so much....
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