Too many classes at National Championship?

[scracha]

The board of MNZ is discussing the idea of starting a riders forum at the conference this year in Palmy North, the idea is the riders meet, discuss/argue and then attend the Road Race Workshop with ONE voice (not everyone throwing in 2

Road riders forum or all disciplines? Where do the riders meet? Surely each area and class should have representaton for this meet.



The other idea to try and make it worthwhile for racers to actually attend the conference and be part of the solution is to have interesting and relevant speakers on such topics as suspension, nutrition etc etc that would be relevant to NATIONAL level racers.
Last year only 1 National level road racer attended the conference!

Why should only the "nationals level" riders (whatever they are) be the focus at these workshops? What's MNZ doing for the MAJORITY of its road racing members?



How about the NZRRC been 6-7 rounds but spread over 7-8 months so as to ease the burden on cash flow, time from work, time away from home/family, recovery time when good times go bad, major bike repairs etc etc. I know ultimately it will cost a few more $$ but its more affordable spread out and easier on everyone.

More affordable spread out....most competitors have credit cards and whopping big bank loans so in terms of cash-flow it makes sod all difference. It'll cost shedloads more in terms of both cash and time off work. The exact opposite is required. Bang in all the rounds as quickly as possible. I'm talking first weekend Teretonga, mid-week, Levels, 2nd weekend Ruapuna, mid-week Manfield, 3rd weekend Hampton Downs. Far easier on competitors, support crew and even dedicated spectators. Would attract more foreign riders too

[Kickaha]

mid-week, Levels

That's been put to MNZ before and they weren't interested


Bang in all the rounds as quickly as possible. I'm talking first weekend Teretonga, mid-week, Levels, 2nd weekend Ruapuna, mid-week Manfield, 3rd weekend Hampton Downs. Far easier on competitors, support crew and even dedicated spectators. Would attract more foreign riders too

I would disagree i wouldn't want to do so many meetings in such a short time I'd rather a break between North and South of at least a month

[lostinflyz]

More affordable spread out....most competitors have credit cards and whopping big bank loans so in terms of cash-flow it makes sod all difference. It'll cost shedloads more in terms of both cash and time off work. The exact opposite is required. Bang in all the rounds as quickly as possible. I'm talking first weekend Teretonga, mid-week, Levels, 2nd weekend Ruapuna, mid-week Manfield, 3rd weekend Hampton Downs. Far easier on competitors, support crew and even dedicated spectators. Would attract more foreign riders too

no way. Its almost a full time job trying to keep organised between the meetings to keep everything up to spec and moving forward. People get pretty burned out after the 3 weekends in a row down south, imagine 3 solid weeks of riding.

and if you had a crash that required greater repairs than you could do at the track that would be the end of any hope you had at nats. It'd greatly increase costs as you'd have to carry a spare everything, or at a minimum a spare bike.

not to mention its alot harder to arrange 3 straight weeks off work than it is to arrange a week or two and a couple of fridays ect.

Its a rock and hard place problem really, its either 3 weekends in a row, or 2 trips down, neithers ideal but thats life.

[Shaun]

Because the sidecar guys can't get their shit in one fuckin sock.

Whatever the reasons for the split in the sidecar scene, I can't help but feel very few of them can see the damage it's doing to the sport.

It is a motorcycle based machine, so I think it should run at bike events, and the nationals is the best stage for it.

They are so much fun, and such a challenge to ride, that if we had our shit together we could get more new people into it.



NZSRA comes across as a total bunch of tossers that just stroke each others things


It must be getting done in a CONSTRUCTIVE way though, as they are so clever

[Drew]

I'd say at least 90% of spectators at the nationals can only hope and pray this happens, seriously.

Everyone gets it, you have no time for sidecars, thankfully only a fraction of the people you think share your view, actually do.

[White trash]

I'd say at least 90% of spectators at the nationals can only hope and pray this happens, seriously.

Fuck yeah, it looks boring as hell.

[sidecar bob]

Going by the amount of people we have visit our pits over a weekend I would seriously doubt that figure would be even close
If you subtract the ones that just showed up because they heard they could get some free man love, the figure would be piss poor.:p

[Nonbeliever]

Everyone gets it, you have no time for sidecars, thankfully only a fraction of the people you think share your view, actually do.

So when the sidecars come out and the viewing area empties this means people wanna watch them?? Im confused, can you tell me how that works?

[Drew]

So when the sidecars come out and the viewing area empties this means people wanna watch them?? Im confused, can you tell me how that works?Let me get this straight, you left the viewing area, but you knew how many people were there anyway?

The hill at the pit exit always drops numbers when Supersport or Superbike pull in, but I would kinda like to point out that the people viewing from there are usually from the paddock of racers. So, the paying punters who line the track all around, are mostly still there.

You are a tool, goodbye.

[Kickaha]

NZSRA comes across as a total bunch of tossers that just stroke each others things

So you've actually talked to them yourself?


If you subtract the ones that just showed up because they heard they could get some free man love, the figure would be piss poor.:p

Maybe it was for the beer I was shouting

[Drew]

Maybe it was for the beer I was shouting

Doubt it, Jimmy and I polished most of that off.

[scracha]

no way. Its almost a full time job trying to keep organised between the meetings to keep everything up to spec and moving forward.

You'd more likely get a decent pit bitch(es), more sponsors and better distributer backup if the whole thing was over 3 weekends solid. Also some sort of group transportation/storage could be easier organised as bikes etc would be going straight from one meeting to another.



People get pretty burned out after the 3 weekends in a row down south, imagine 3 solid weeks of riding.

Imagine....sounds like hell :innocent: Can't think why any talented foreign riders (or wealthy motorcycle fans) would want to come over to sunny New Zealand for a crack at the Nationals if it were over 3 weeks.



and if you had a crash that required greater repairs than you could do at the track that would be the end of any hope you had at nats. It'd greatly increase costs as you'd have to carry a spare everything, or at a minimum a spare bike.

Well don't crash. Realistically if you blew an engine or had a big tumbley wumbley then your chances at the nats would likely be over anyhoo.



not to mention its alot harder to arrange 3 straight weeks off work than it is to arrange a week or two and a couple of fridays ect.

That's not true for a lot of people.


Horses for courses.
Its a rock and hard place problem really, its either 3 weekends in a row, or 2 trips down, neithers ideal but thats life.
Agreed...but the Nats current format (3 weekends/3 trips down or 2 weekends/2 trips up) isn't working for many people. Most regular racers don't do the nats. Of those that do, most only do the rounds in their island.



that's been put to MNZ before and they weren't interested

I know it sounds fanciful with their antics in recent years, but aren't MNZ are there to represent us and respond to OUR wishes.

The Suzuki Tri-series seem to do a hell of a lot better over a short period of time than the drawn out (over many months) Nationals.

[Tim 39]

Going back to the original point about having too many classes. The main thing that's a problem in my view is letting the support classes do Friday practice. Fridays should ONLY be for the championship classes. During the race weekends, I think it's important that streetstock/pro lites are in there as they're the feeder class (that class is the future of the sport in simple terms)

personal view

[oyster]

Right with you Tim
And to back up your comment on Streetstock as a VITAL support class.
Get the program for NZGP at Ruapuna this year. Put a tick beside all the riders on 600's that have graduated through Streetstock and / or 125 GP and it's over 50% in both Supersport and Superstock. It's unfortunate both yourself and Nick Cain weren't able to ride your 600's. If you were there as planned Superstock would be over 70%!

[jellywrestler]

Maybe it was for the beer I was shouting
Shout? more like a whisper...

[slowpoke]

Going back to the original point about having too many classes. The main thing that's a problem in my view is letting the support classes do Friday practice. Fridays should ONLY be for the championship classes. During the race weekends, I think it's important that streetstock/pro lites are in there as they're the feeder class (that class is the future of the sport in simple terms)

personal view

Hmmmmm, I don't see Friday practice for non-championship classes as being a big deal. If it's structured correctly everyone still gets heaps of track time, especially with the more segregated practice Saturday to come.

But I think too much time is wasted on practice/qualifying. Take the Supers for example: all Friday, and all Saturday are practice and/or qualifying, with another practice Sunday morning before 2 races Sunday arvo. They should lose one of the 2 x qualifying sessions on Saturday and make it a race. Make it 3 x 12laps instead of 2 x 15laps over the weekend and give the punters more reason to come through the gate on Saturday.