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of course if you don't have a contract or a smaller contract....going to mxon and doing well will benefit you. But in cases like tomac or any of the other top tier riders (who we want to represent us)....its a lose/lose to them outside of pride in country.
i don't understand how many of you don't see this. *shrugs. pride in country is great but it don't put food on the table.
if you read between the lines thats what mathes or mitch are saying...its gotta be attractive for them wanting to commit such large resources or risk.
From the other side.... maybe Luongo doesn’t think the US presence has any incremental impact on revenue... therefore he has no incentive to offer anything special to them.
Once again... stop with the for country bullshit. This is a for profit race. It has to make sense for all parties involved.
Would the race go on if Luongo was losing money? Would he subsidize it with earnings from the regular season?
The Shop
I get the flag waving (Go Canada!) and it's a way cool race. I spend my own money to go there for twelve years in a row to report on it. But there are so many things stacked against the USA here that make it tough to go. Win or lose, that doesn't matter but all the things they have to do make it tougher and tougher to win.
Not too mention when they do lose there's a percentage of people that just light them up on social media when they can't overcome all the obstacles and win. Who would want that?
The race doesn't need the USA to be successful but it's not the same. USA has the hammer and should use it a bit to try and ease their costs/burdens.
Don't agree with me? Fine, ask Mitch Payton who was on the show and echoed many of my points.
I’ve heard podcasts & interviews with these guys & they say it was an honour to ride for their country & to prove they was the best in the world.
That's apples to oranges though. You're not understanding the costs now versus then nor the time put in now versus then. Nor the shit the guys get when all the obstacles in front of them makes it tougher to win than ever before and then when they don't win, a lot of people let them know that they suck.
I despise Luongo, for so many things, but the event was run in front of vast amounts of spectators, well before that bastard got his claws into our sport.
And, to the poster that wrote about about Americans having high paying contracts they put at risk for "patriotism", there's quite a few more riders at the event than just your 3 that put their high dollar contracts and careers at risk, just to represent their countries.
The US team doesn't win for a few years, so now it's not important, and, you need / demand special treatment to represent your Country. You are displaying the same sort of avarice nature that Luongo is so known for. It's just pathetic, and not something I thought I'd ever see coming from such a great peoples. Shameful, shameful stuff.
Back in the 80s there was a skill gap between American and GP riders, and our SX series increased the American riders' skillset on the bike. The Euros (and all the other MXGP-based riders) have not only closed that gap with respect to outdoor MX, but they've surpassed us in many ways. Their throttle control, outdoor suspension setup, ability to deal with large variances in terrain and conditions, etc. is a clear result of spending the entire year specializing in one thing.
I hope we go, but I'm not at all opposed to using the leverage we have with YS to get the fat Italian vulture to give us some concessions.
You last statement is bullshit - no one is asking for special treatment to represent their country. Way to twist the facts around...you should be a CNN contributor.
I think Eli Tomac is one the worlds top riders and it would be great for anyone attending the biggest race of the year to see him. He’s a millionaire now and 10k is nothing to the guy the same as whatever herlings spent to come to redbud is nothing to him. Some of the excuses is down right laughable.
If the USA give the event a by ball this year and show up for Ernee the following year then I think everyone including USA mx fans will have the real story.
Pit Row
This speaks to a larger point about Moto fans. WTF is wrong with some of the people on here, and on Instagram?? I see things written on riders' social media that should never be said. Some of it by grown men, a lot of it by teenagers who just want to talk with a big dick. I am equally immersed in professional cycling and I rarely see the same level of vitriol spewed on a rider's social media.
That’s really not the subject matter here it’s the image of the USA mx fraternity if they won’t go to Assen. If they lose they lose and will have to take some criticism on the chin. Are we really in “everyone should get a trophy” grounds now for grown up guys that have made millions from this.
Asking / demanding special treatment is Exactly what is being suggested. Re arranging dates, wanting money that others don't get isn't asking for special treatment?
Getting ready for Supercross is what your riders, and those foreigners that choose to go and compete in it - well, it's their decision.
Why in hell should a decades held International competition in a completely different discipline, be changed for that? Or, The World Championships of Motocross' schedule be changed because of it? For most GP riders, on top of the World Championships, they compete in other National series, and International series and races. They too, have a hellishly difficult and long racing season.
To others here : I've written this before - probably the last few years with the usual "MXDN means nothing and we shouldn't go (since ''we" didn't win)" threads , here and elsewhere: a significant help would be if Monster, who are the title sponsor of the GPs and the MXDN, and who are the "Owners" of the MEC, put that, stand alone race, after the MXDN. I sometimes think their PR department revel in the extra exposure they get, due to the placement of their 'owned' race, and the controversy it generates.
250: Cooper, Nichols, Mosiman
450: Webb, Zacho, Anderson, Barcia, AP
Realistically maybe all of those 250 guys are not quite ready except Cooper. Barcia is a proven fighter at MXoN, and honestly he's done his best every time he's been asked to go, but his wrists are effed and one needs surgery so I would list him as extremely doubtful. AP is an unknown, coming back from injury. Logically, the best team of motivated guys who all want to be there and have mfr support would be Webb, Anderson, Osborne with Zacho hopping on the 250. Stamp it.
Like Matthes, I'm Canadian so I don't watch with nationalistic pride (though I'm pumped if we don't end up in the B main). But honestly, MXoN would suck without team USA. Ever since the shocker in 1981 it has really been USA vs the rest of the world in many ways, and nothing stokes the fires better than MXoN speculation.
i disagree with Geoff , USA does have a chance at Assen ..its MXON , you still need 3 decent and good finishes and most teams still struggle to get 2 solid riders , Team USA has had and will always be a favorite and have a shot at winning on any track
would love to see Tomac in Assen , but for team USA it might be better to go with El Hombre , Zacho and BamBam when fit ...dont think there is room for Tomac and his redemption in Assen .. Team result counts
Realize this is not a US rider problem but a US factory team/industry issue as they are usually on the hook for sending a minimum of 8-10 US based riders, bikes and support over each year....
Stop making it an individual rider issue and understand the amounts of money the US teams spend each year to support more than just the US teams but multiple teams for nothing in return from the promoter.
Gotcha
I have no idea what you're talking about concerning Herling's "cheater" bike. This is the first I've heard of it.
As far as Geoff goes his history and reputation are well known here and I'll leave it at that.
This is of course in addition to Glen Helen cancelling the MXoN in 2017 which was switched to Matterley Basin.
Gotcha
Anyway, Steve, I do get your point, and I think you do have a point.
Here's my thoughts. I think it was 1979. I was just finishing up high school. I remember somebody started a campaign to send a U.S. team over. If you donated, you got a pretty cool t-shirt. I think it was MXA (not an MXA shirt, but a shirt that had riders on it and said something about MXON) but could be mistaken as to who sponsored the campaign. It worked. I got a nifty shirt I wish I still had, and we sent a team.
Why don't we try something like that again? With your voice and audience reach backing it, it could be at least a minor success. These days we can be a lot more creative than a t-shirt too. How about largest donor gets interviewed by you? Or prize packs for donations over such and such an amount? Autographed swag? All sorts of ways to get folks involved.
We all (most of us) say, "Send a team!" OK, talk is cheap. Who's willing to put their money where their mouth is? I'll donate for a t-shirt. Actually, if I had a place to donate I'd do it without getting a shirt. This could be easily made to work with today's electronic reach and quick shipping, but it will take someone with a big voice backing it.
Also, wouldn't funding it by us - the people the riders are representing - make it all the more a team thing? Wouldn't such and action take a lot of pressure off the team - not having to deal with monetary issues?
I don't know. Just food for thought. Go head and rip me up with down votes. Lately I've been craving them.
Also, Steve, are you in Jacksonville for this weekends race?
Edited because since I turned about 55 I can't seem to write a sentence without leaving a word out - not to mention post with clarity.
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