Bring MotoGp and Superbike to NZ !!

[Fart]

What is the stats on the onwership of bikes in NZ?
What is the membership on KB?

Was just wondering why there are no major international bike racing events in NZ? Would love to see the Superbikes and MotoGP in Auckland or Welly. Surely there would be enough interest from the public if organised properly. I know alot of friends who dont own bikes but are interested in watching bike races.

[That Guy]

If Hampton Downs actually gets built or Taupo upgraded then who knows? I can't see MotoGP happening to be honest (but would be stoked if it did) but SBK? Been here before so if we could get a facility that could take them, maybe. Not so far from Phillip Island we aren't so not a huge extra expense for the teams to pop over the ditch.

[Fart]

If the international Rally and V8s can make it over here, so can the SBK or other international bike races. I too think motogp is only a dream for us. I wouldnt mind doing a cashflow Cost analysis to see if it is viable to bring SBK to NZ. Will need major sponsors for it to work.

[James Deuce]

What is the stats on the onwership of bikes in NZ?
What is the membership on KB?

Was just wondering why there are no major international bike racing events in NZ? Would love to see the Superbikes and MotoGP in Auckland or Welly. Surely there would be enough interest from the public if organised properly. I know alot of friends who dont own bikes but are interested in watching bike races.
Our racetracks aren't good enough to attract the events, and the attendance at the events is pathetic compared to, say, Spain. Gate entry is where the event organiser makes their money to pay for or the organisational costs, such as TV and DORNA/FIM fees to host the event. If no one goes the local organiser/track owner lose millions. You need tens of thousands of people to turn up to these events. You would be lucky to get gate entries of 5000 in NZ.

The only track that gets close is the new one proposed for the Waikato, and even it is being planned and built at a level that doesn't qualify to host top level motorsport events.

[White trash]

The only track that gets close is the new one proposed for the Waikato, and even it is being planned and built at a level that doesn't qualify to host top level motorsport events.

I believe it will be built to standards agreeable to all forms of motorsport with the exception of F1. The plans have included the ability to upgrade easily to the required grade if ever required.

[Motu]

New Zealand holds the final round in the World Long Track Speedway Championship,2006 the ISDE is being held in New Zealand - we are on the world map...just not in your world eh?

[James Deuce]

I believe it will be built to standards agreeable to all forms of motorsport with the exception of F1. The plans have included the ability to upgrade easily to the required grade if ever required.


Insert Tui ad response here.

[onearmedbandit]

Tens of thousands? Recent Motogp race I watched (can't remember) had an attendance well over 100,000 people. Very very very small chance of that happening over here. But like someone said, WSB has been here before so maybe just maybe, who knows.

[TwoSeven]

Was just wondering why there are no major international bike racing events in NZ? Would love to see the Superbikes and MotoGP in Auckland or Welly. Surely there would be enough interest from the public if organised properly. I know alot of friends who dont own bikes but are interested in watching bike races.

There isnt a NZ owned company big enough to cover the cost of building the track venue and having it certified to DORNA and FIM regulations. Also, not enough people in the country to fund the cost of development thru taxes.

It costs about $5m+ to do the track and your looking at about another $10-20m for the required facilities. Then there is the license costs you'd have to pay to host the event etc etc.

Given that they cant even sort out the v8 racing event, I doubt anyone would be able to commision a proper track.

[Fart]

There isnt a NZ owned company big enough to cover the
It costs about $5m+ to do the track and your looking at about another $10-20m for the required facilities. Then there is the license costs you'd have to pay to host the event etc etc.


$20 million is small money when compare to the huge amount of money coming from revenues generated from the tens of thousands of motorsports fans coming into the country. Lets put it into perspective. Tax payer funded the America's cup that lasted only a few months of every fours years and cost over $50 million.

[bugjuice]

If Hampton Downs actually gets built or Taupo upgraded then who knows? I can't see MotoGP happening to be honest (but would be stoked if it did) but SBK? Been here before so if we could get a facility that could take them, maybe. Not so far from Phillip Island we aren't so not a huge extra expense for the teams to pop over the ditch.
could you really see the worlds best going round Taupo after coming from tracks like Brands Hatch, Sepang, Malaysia etc..? it'd be funny, but I don't think they'd stay for lunch

One problem that NZ has time over, is the fact that if events like this were brought here, the country would grind to a halt. The traffic of people and vehicles alone would desimate our network.. We need to fix that before we invite more people to come to our wonderful country..

[Fart]

Never say "NO" Bugjuice. Many years back the Americans were laughing at us when we tried to bring the America's Cup South.

[James Deuce]

$20 million is small money when compare to the huge amount of money coming from revenues generated from the tens of thousands of motorsports fans coming into the country. Lets put it into perspective. Tax payer funded the America's cup that lasted only a few months of every fours years and cost over $50 million.
You can't compare it to the America's cup as that "event" lasted years, with months of run up to the final event, which takes place over weeks. A motorsport event would last a weekend. The money might be "small money" but motorsport has less profile than women's hockey in NZ. Then there is the small issue of the RMA provisions for the site. Tens of thousands of people would no doubt be in abeyance of the conditions and provisions Hampton Downs is built under. There is also the small matter of enough hotel accommodation at the site that needs to turn a profit during the rest of the year.

I doubt we would attract more than say 5-6000 from the Pacific rim, and then there is the small matter of getting them to the track. Local attendance needs to recoup the losses that the organisers take up front, which can amount to 100s of millions at the very top level of motorsport. There are penalties for not meeting attendance minimums, track condition, and general level of facilites.

I think we should aim for having an Aussie V8 race, and an Aussie superbike round in the near to medium future at Hampton Downs. The profit from the cars would probably offset the loss from the bikes.

Remember you are arguing from a passionate, knowledgeable position. I would be surprised if we could rustle up double percentage figures of the overall NZ population who would have a positive image of motorcycle racing, let alone provide financial support to the venture.

[onearmedbandit]

Off topic a bit, but I'm sure a few years ago (maybe 10?) there was a plan to bring a number of top level racers to NZ for a one-off race to be held annually. Racers such as (and this will prove the '10 years ago' bit) Schwantz (sp?), Gardner, Lawson, Rainey, Mamola, Doohan and many others. Never eventuated though. Anyone else remember this?

[bugjuice]

Never say "NO" Bugjuice. Many years back the Americans were laughing at us when we tried to bring the America's Cup South.
oh not sayig "NO", just saying fair way to "GO" if it isn't to cripple the place and make NZ look like a right dik..
I'd love to see it here, just trying to imagine the extra peeps in the country (well, city..)

[GSVR]

I think someone with a long memory might remember when there was a WSB round at manfield 1989 or 90 (When the series was in its infancy) . Apparently it was a financial disaster due to poor spectator attendance.

[Motu]

One problem that NZ has time over, is the fact that if events like this were brought here, the country would grind to a halt. The traffic of people and vehicles alone would desimate our network.. We need to fix that before we invite more people to come to our wonderful country..
I was talking to someone last week about the 2006 ISDE in Taupo....acomodation is being organised right now,there are about 500 officials,3000 team members etc...I guess they will outnumber spectators.There is nowhere in Taupo with a big enough area for Park Ferme and a location elsewhere is being sourced.A pretty big event,but small I guess to the WRC when it comes here.

[Fart]

The reality is that we have a small population.

[GSVR]

The reality is that we have a small population.
And geographically isolated. And aren't represented in the racing.

MNZ:In the first year of its inception New Zealand hosted the final round of the World Superbike Championships on the 2nd October 1988. We continued to host rounds in 1989, 1990 and 1992.

That was when Fred Merkel and Aaron Slight were major players.

[gav]

How about a round of the World MX? Current world champ and all......

[GSVR]

How about a round of the World MX? Current world champ and all......

Far more likely I reacon

By the amount of Motocross activity you see around these parts anyway I'd say that offroad racers must outnumber roadracers by at least 3 to 1.

[Skyryder]

$20 million is small money when compare to the huge amount of money coming from revenues generated from the tens of thousands of motorsports fans coming into the country. Lets put it into perspective. Tax payer funded the America's cup that lasted only a few months of every fours years and cost over $50 million.

The reason that the America's cup was so successful was marketing not only of products but the Cups personalities.
In New Zealand it was both local products and the homegrown image of the yachties and the team corperate that was used for it's success. To try and translate that success to a motorcycle race would be doubtfull to say the least. Let's face it guys smoke, leathers, and noise just does not cut the mustard with salt, seaspray and Line 7 to most Kiwi's.

Skyryder

[Kickaha]

It costs about $5m+ to do the track and your looking at about another $10-20m for the required facilities. Then there is the license costs you'd have to pay to host the event etc etc.


It costs approx $1M per km to lay a track

Does anyone know what any of the NZ tracks are certified to run? or what their grading is?

[Bob]

Tens of thousands? Recent Motogp race I watched (can't remember) had an attendance well over 100,000 people. Very very very small chance of that happening over here. But like someone said, WSB has been here before so maybe just maybe, who knows.

I don't know how many "Tens of thousands" you are talking about - but to give things a little contex, not that many years back (I'm thinking about when 120,000 people - me included - packed themselves into Brands Hatch for the SBK round, so 1999 possibly?), the UK round of MotoGP was under threat as the crowds were too small. Dorna didn't like seeing lots of empty spaces at Donington.

What was too small? About 45,000 if I recall correctly. Next year it picked up to something like 68,000 which gave the round a reprieve. And then along came some bloke called Rossi and since then, the crowds (I'm pretty sure) have been hitting the 100,000 mark. So now Dorna are happy bunnies.

SBK are, I think, more 'tolerant' of smaller crowds. But you do need a track up to standard. If your new track is good enough, then it would make sense to have an NZ round as the teams could then stop over rather than visit Oz then head off to the other side of the world.

[onearmedbandit]

Bob, I may have the wrong end of the stick here, but I was questioning the comment of 'tens of thousands' countering it by saying crowds of over 100,000 are more accurate.

[Bob]

I wasn't trying to disagree with you or anything - in fact, I was trying to emphasise what you were saying by backing it up with some examples of audience figures.

It would be worth having a look at the MotoGP site (and the SBK site, come to think of it) to see if they mention attendance figures for each round. That would give a good idea of what would be required in terms of audience... unless the round is held in Qatar of course, when they throw so much money at it, it really isn't relevent if anybody turns up outside of the 127 member royal family!

But offhand, I'd say your 100,000 plus figure is about right. 45k was low enough for threats of losing the round, so NZ would need to be able to guarantee upwards of that I'd think.

[Bob]

I just found the following:

"Another record year for MotoGP attendance in 2004

The WSC MotoGP Championship has recorded its best ever figures for attendance. 15 of the 16 circuits that made up the calendar in 2004 have beaten their particular records.

A total of 1,700,000 spectators saw the 16 races this season at the 16 circuits spread around five continents. The highest figure was seen at the GP Comunidad Valenciana, with 211,000 people watching in spite of the three championships having already been decided. Another two GPs in Spain (Jerez) and Germany exceeded the 200,000 spectator barrier."

So there you have it. Take off the big ones and the average works out as 85,000 per GP.

[Lee Rusty]

was a NZ idea and indeed as stated above the final rounds were held in NZ in late eighties to 1990 all held at MAnfield. But then the people involved sold the whole idea and organisation set up etc to overseas interests.
THat was end of NZ rounds - nearest we get is Philip Island - NZ just does not have the population (interest) needed to make this type of event pay.

We still get car rallies etc due to the fact there are there are plenty of petrol heads who support that sort of thing.

Bikers are renowned for their apathy - just look at the number of people pn this site that say they would go for a ride IF it aint raining. How you going to get people to buy tickets to events that may be affected by rain.

Dont say that is not relevant - it is I am involved in lots of events and training etc numbers are always down if it rains.

[White trash]

motorsport has less profile than women's hockey in NZ.

Rubbish.

Motorracing is the second highest spectated sport in NZ.

[James Deuce]

Rubbish.

Motorracing is the second highest spectated sport in NZ.

Cars mate, not bikes. The Trentham and Auckland cup days (horse racing) get more people turning up to them than national motorsport rounds get all year, all disciplines combined, if you exclude motocross.

Motorcross has way more support than motorcycle road racing. I work with people who had no idea until I "educated" them (yelling, swear words, and questioning their claim that they had a double figure IQ let alone 3 figure) about NZ National Road racing series. They honestly thought that there was no motorcycle road racing in NZ. These are the people that would need to go to a top level event to ensure its financial viability, and they've never been exposed to motorcycle road racing ever.

[Motu]

Rubbish.

Motorracing is the second highest spectated sport in NZ.
Back in the late 60s and the 70s we used to go to the bike racing at Puke - you couldn't find a seat in the main stand or on the hill,standing room only.Now the biggest meeting at Puke is the Classic meet - you could count the people on the hill stands on one bloody hand! It's apathy - they'd rather watch a reality show on TV or play on PS2.

[White trash]

Yeah I'll agree with that.

But I know a hell of alot of car racing folks who, although don't have an interest in bikes, watch bike racing religiously.

Wether or not they'd travell to watch international level bikes in person is another story.

Fact is, there's probably not 50000 motorcyclists in NZ, let alone what proportion would be prepared to fork out spot fiddy to watch racing.

We're fucked, I'm moving to Europe.

See y'all.

[denill]

Not so far from Phillip Island we aren't so not a huge extra expense for the teams to pop over the ditch.

Can't remember how many MILLIONS the Victorian Government contributes to the running of Phillip Island...........

And you won't get ONE to run it here..........

[denill]

I just found the following:

"Another record year for MotoGP attendance in 2004

The WSC MotoGP Championship has recorded its best ever figures for attendance. 15 of the 16 circuits that made up the calendar in 2004 have beaten their particular records.

A total of 1,700,000 spectators saw the 16 races this season at the 16 circuits spread around five continents. The highest figure was seen at the GP Comunidad Valenciana, with 211,000 people watching in spite of the three championships having already been decided. Another two GPs in Spain (Jerez) and Germany exceeded the 200,000 spectator barrier."

So there you have it. Take off the big ones and the average works out as 85,000 per GP.

Yet Phillip Island with it's Aussie poulation depth only gets around 35,000 for Moto GPs.
Prob'ly quite a bit less for WSBK??

I can say I was at ALL the WSBK meets at Manfield. And would dearly love to see that back in NZ. Anywhere in NZ.........
But that's just dreaming.........

[denill]

<a href=http://www.grandprixbureau.com/docsMotogp/aboutmotogp/about_spectators.html>Here are the 2000 MotoGP spectator figures</A>

Probably the Total attendance figures - for the two days practice and race day.

Valencia 210,000!!!!!!

[Gremlin]

Part of the problem with attendance is the advent of technology. Circuit races are very well covered by TV now.

You can see replays, the whole of the circuit and get a drink anytime a couple of metres away. You also see the racing up close, but you obviously don't see the bikes in the flesh.

However, from what I've seen from the rest of you, just turning up to a KB ride would keep you drooling from one ride to the next.

[Fart]

I would say that part of the problem with poor attendance at the bike races is the lack of professional and creative advertising. When there is a race on, the public hardly hear about it. If we can capture the imagination of the boy racers to think riding a bike is cool, there immediately presented to us a much larger market.

[Gremlin]

If we can capture the imagination of the boy racers to think riding a bike is cool, there immediately presented to us a much larger market.
:killingme :killingme :killingme

All boy racers ever seem to think about is soundz. They want to sit next to the gf, and don't want to get wet. I doubt they will ever see bikes as cool.

They could do wheelies and stoppies (not that I can) but they still seem to have a really thick skull.

Don't get me wrong, I wish they would like bikes, because at least then they would look out for bikers more. Maybe we should beat them at every set of lights, and then maybe they might realise how fast bikes can go.

An added bonus would be that idiots with no skills and full of crap would "remove" themselves and driving/riding standards would generally improve heaps (if they practiced, went on courses etc)...