Superstock 600 championship cancelled

[Billy]

Due to a lack of entries,We regret to inform all competitors that the Superstock 600 class will not run for the 2013 NZSBK Series,I will be applying for a rulechange in the New Year to have both Superstock classes removed from the rulebook as they have not taken off as was anticipated by the previuos commission,There is an official announcement due up on the MNZ website shortly.

Graeme Billington
Roadrace commissioner
Motorcycling NZ

[Billy]

On a brighter note however,There are,

19 Superbike entries
24 600s
13 Pro twins
12 Superlite
15 250 production
8 125GP
23 Development class
And wait for it.... 13 sidecars
Plus the clubbies

[Crasherfromwayback]

On a brighter note however,There are,

19 Superbike entries
24 600s
13 Pro twins
12 Superlite
15 250 production
8 125GP
23 Development class
And wait for it.... 13 sidecars
Plus the clubbies

Awesome effort people!

[RDjase]

8 125's !


Come on people, get the only REAL race bikes out there

They never had lights, blinkers and rego's from the factory;)

[Deano]

8 125's !


Come on people, got the only REAL race bikes out there

They never had light, blinkers and rego's from the factory;)

Are you trying to suggest my 'chick's commuter' is not a proper race bike....oh, ok , as you were.

[Billy]

8 125's !


Come on people, get the only REAL race bikes out there

They never had lights, blinkers and rego's from the factory;)

Problem is mate,The so called "REAL" racebikes are all 10 year or more worn out old shitters,Time for somebody to bite the bullet and bring some late model factory stuff to bring the class alive again.

[SWERVE]

Problem is mate,The so called "REAL" racebikes are all 10 year or more worn out old shitters,Time for somebody to bite the bullet and bring some late model factory stuff to bring the class alive again.

BILLY......... light the blue touch paper and stand well back..................... awaiting some comments to that statement

[Drew]

Problem is mate,The so called "REAL" racebikes are all 10 year or more worn out old shitters,Time for somebody to bite the bullet and bring some late model factory stuff to bring the class alive again.$90,000 gets you a KTM moto3 bike.

Bring in ten of those, and spend the last $100,000 from you mill on promoting a series.

[Billy]

$90,000 gets you a KTM moto3 bike.

Bring in ten of those, and spend the last $100,000 from you mill on promoting a series.

"My mill"?????? When did that happen and why did I not notice it????? Even if I did have a mill,I wouldnt be sponsoring anybody in this country again anyway,Just a bunch of wannabe takers who dont give back,No they can find their own machinery,I'm happy doing the job as roadrace commissioner and when that ends,I'm done.

[Drew]

"My mill"?????? When did that happen and why did I not notice it????? Even if I did have a mill,I wouldnt be sponsoring anybody in this country again anyway,Just a bunch of wannabe takers who dont give back,No they can find their own machinery,I'm happy doing the job as roadrace commissioner and when that ends,I'm done.Some of us try and give back mate.

You'll never be done. You'll keep showing up at races till you're dead.

[Billy]

BILLY......... light the blue touch paper and stand well back..................... awaiting some comments to that statement

Make that 2 fuses,Don't see any point sugar coating it Merv,Its a fact,Not knocking the guys like Steve Ward and Kevin Goddard and co,They put in a lot of hard work for not much return,But we are constantly hearing at MNZ how we dont promote the sport enough and a lot of that criticism is from the middle of the feild nobodys who only put in a halfhearted effort themselves and dont really give us much to work with,Turning up with machinery that looks like it was dragged there behind the van,Not in it and so on,Its a 2 way street.

[RDjase]

Problem is mate,The so called "REAL" racebikes are all 10 year or more worn out old shitters,Time for somebody to bite the bullet and bring some late model factory stuff to bring the class alive again.

!0 years old................Tylers bike will turn twelve at the 2013 Nats:lol:

Not many old parts left in it tho, the HRC bits are cheap too

Are any 250 4 strokes entered? will Wolf Packs 250 be there? I dont think Steve's IMD 250 will be

[SWERVE]

I hear ya mate.......... but anybody who did import such a machine would instantly be "be-headed" (aka tall poppie) for making it unfair to the rest of ther competitors. And unless there are other bikes/riders of similar status then it would be a fruitless exercise..especially for a young rider hoping to move up. Be good for a rich/older "trophy stealer"

[Billy]

I hear ya mate.......... but anybody who did import such a machine would instantly be "be-headed" (aka tall poppie) for making it unfair to the rest of ther competitors. And unless there are other bikes/riders of similar status then it would be a fruitless exercise..especially for a young rider hoping to move up. Be good for a rich/older "trophy stealer"

Yip,I'm hearing ya re the tall poppy thing,But we call it progress,Its happened before here,Anybody who was around in the 80s will remember BJs total domination of the F2 class on his new exotic machinery,But the rest of us just had to try harder to keep up and rather than attack BJ and his dad Craig for making the effort we all just raced for the "Non BJ F2 championship" and whoever got 2nd Bj,Won our championship....Aye Miper LOL ! Again,Its called progress,Cant keep living in the last century,

Did you mention "Trophy stealer",I thought that was now spelt R.A.M.A.G.E. and that only happened when I stacked it up for him,Bwahahahahaha.

[SWERVE]

Im ALL FOR IT........ just makes the prize even sweeter when you get it. Andrew / Dennis / Jake competing in 250 proddy was the best thing for that class and its riders this year......... You helping bring Luke over is the icing on the cake......... well at least this team thinks it is. Ramage...........whos he!!!!!!

[CHOPPA]

There seems to be a lot of support for young road racers in NZ, some of them get a lot of people helping them when they dont understand how hard it is to do it for yourself. I think doing it for yourself gives you a real appreciation when someone does offer you help. Problem is we end up with all our Champions in their mid 40s haha but thats not such a bad thing. The sport needs the heros like Stroud, Shirriffs, Charlotte, Clee, Rees etc when I say I race bikes no one has a clue who I am but if I say I race with guys like this then it gives some credit to what I do.

Its quite hard to get support in MX for a kid because there are so many doing it and the older guys dont feel they need to draw kids in to keep the sport alive. The draw card for the kids racing MX is seeing some of the older guys that get a bit of support and they develop their own drive and commitment to get where they need to be.

If your not getting the appreciation you expect from the guys at the bottom end of the spectrum maybe try a different tact and focus on guys up the charts a bit, guys that are busting there ass to do it already spending their hard earned money. These are the guys that will appreciate it and then the young guys will be able to see some career progression and give them more will to struggle to get there.

I had wanted to ride road bike for years because I would see Team Bernard and it looked amazing! I wanted to be on the team bad! I saw an ex team 600 for sale and I emailed Brian when I was looking at my first road bike, he didnt accept my offer I even asked him to do it cheaper for sponsorship hahaha he didnt accept it but I told him to remember my name lol

My Point is that there is a lot of focus to get the young guys into the sport, maybe the focus could shift to make the top of the sport more attractive so young guys want to get into the sport

How about we start up a lotto syndicate so we can win a shit load of money and do a bit of both...

[wharfy]

How about we start up a lotto syndicate so we can win a shit load of money and do a bit of both...

I'll be in !!!

[CHOPPA]

I'll be in !!!

Ill make a plan!

[HenryDorsetCase]

I hear ya mate.......... but anybody who did import such a machine would instantly be "be-headed" (aka tall poppie) for making it unfair to the rest of ther competitors. And unless there are other bikes/riders of similar status then it would be a fruitless exercise..especially for a young rider hoping to move up. Be good for a rich/older "trophy stealer"

keep talking.... I'm older. not so much rich or talented though.

[SWERVE]

There seems to be a lot of support for young road racers in NZ, some of them get a lot of people helping them when they dont understand how hard it is to do it for yourself. I think doing it for yourself gives you a real appreciation when someone does offer you help. Problem is we end up with all our Champions in their mid 40s haha but thats not such a bad thing. The sport needs the heros like Stroud, Shirriffs, Charlotte, Clee, Rees etc when I say I race bikes no one has a clue who I am but if I say I race with guys like this then it gives some credit to what I do.

Its quite hard to get support in MX for a kid because there are so many doing it and the older guys dont feel they need to draw kids in to keep the sport alive. The draw card for the kids racing MX is seeing some of the older guys that get a bit of support and they develop their own drive and commitment to get where they need to be.

If your not getting the appreciation you expect from the guys at the bottom end of the spectrum maybe try a different tact and focus on guys up the charts a bit, guys that are busting there ass to do it already spending their hard earned money. These are the guys that will appreciate it and then the young guys will be able to see some career progression and give them more will to struggle to get there.

I had wanted to ride road bike for years because I would see Team Bernard and it looked amazing! I wanted to be on the team bad! I saw an ex team 600 for sale and I emailed Brian when I was looking at my first road bike, he didnt accept my offer I even asked him to do it cheaper for sponsorship hahaha he didnt accept it but I told him to remember my name lol

My Point is that there is a lot of focus to get the young guys into the sport, maybe the focus could shift to make the top of the sport more attractive so young guys want to get into the sport

How about we start up a lotto syndicate so we can win a shit load of money and do a bit of both...

Thats a very valid point of view Sloan. The young guys should be in AWE of the guys at the top (and most are) the dream to be that man and to have what he has is the furthest carrot on the stick. Admittedly seeing the top guys still busting a gut doesnt exactly inspire you always.
What i saw when i formed KIWISTARS was a lot of young talant who did look up in awe of the top riders and wanted to be them............... but the end result seemed so far away and un-achievable. So what we do is give them there first chance at what it is like to be a team rider. Although i spend all my money and time providing for them.. i do expect a lot in return. Personal sponsorship from the individual - commitment to racing both on and off track - a professional approach and sportsmanlike attitude. I will do what ever i can to help my rider(s) if they show those qualities............. if they dont its on the trailor (that happened this year) Thus giving them an insight into the "real world" where you only get out if yu putin. Unlike school whch teaches the 'medal for all principle"
I realise that i may get bitten!!! but thats life ... but the look on a young guys face the first time he wins (or goes faster than ever before) and that sudden change from " im a racer to im a winner" is worth every moment.
It must be even more frustrating for you.... when you can produce the goods, but dont seem to be able to make that a viable package or some. Its damn frustrating when you see heaps of support/money thrown at some people who will never really benifit from it or really appreciate it. And to make it worse niether will the provider. I have lost count of how many people i have approached for help said that they had done it before and only got false promises and no thanks.;
I think we have hi-jacked the thread:innocent:

[CHOPPA]

Thats a very valid point of view Sloan. The young guys should be in AWE of the guys at the top (and most are) the dream to be that man and to have what he has is the furthest carrot on the stick. Admittedly seeing the top guys still busting a gut doesnt exactly inspire you always.
What i saw when i formed KIWISTARS was a lot of young talant who did look up in awe of the top riders and wanted to be them............... but the end result seemed so far away and un-achievable. So what we do is give them there first chance at what it is like to be a team rider. Although i spend all my money and time providing for them.. i do expect a lot in return. Personal sponsorship from the individual - commitment to racing both on and off track - a professional approach and sportsmanlike attitude. I will do what ever i can to help my rider(s) if they show those qualities............. if they dont its on the trailor (that happened this year) Thus giving them an insight into the "real world" where you only get out if yu putin. Unlike school whch teaches the 'medal for all principle"
I realise that i may get bitten!!! but thats life ... but the look on a young guys face the first time he wins (or goes faster than ever before) and that sudden change from " im a racer to im a winner" is worth every moment.
It must be even more frustrating for you.... when you can produce the goods, but dont seem to be able to make that a viable package or some. Its damn frustrating when you see heaps of support/money thrown at some people who will never really benifit from it or really appreciate it. And to make it worse niether will the provider. I have lost count of how many people i have approached for help said that they had done it before and only got false promises and no thanks.;
I think we have hi-jacked the thread:innocent:

And your doing a top job! I have a lot of respect for Seth, I know you have been working together over the last few years and he has the right attitude (now) to be successful for years to come. Looking forward to see how your latest young fella gets on for sure!

[suzuki21]

I wanted to ride road bike for years because I would see Team Bernard and it looked amazing!

I think you mean I looked amazing Sloan, I always shave when I go to the track. And FYI Craig is my hero.

[gammaguy]

"My mill"?????? When did that happen and why did I not notice it????? Even if I did have a mill,I wouldnt be sponsoring anybody in this country again anyway,Just a bunch of wannabe takers who dont give back,No they can find their own machinery,I'm happy doing the job as roadrace commissioner and when that ends,I'm done.

Spoken like a true optimist

Clearly you have been around road racing long enough to draw the same conclusions i.did

[Robert Taylor]

And your doing a top job! I have a lot of respect for Seth, I know you have been working together over the last few years and he has the right attitude (now) to be successful for years to come. Looking forward to see how your latest young fella gets on for sure!

Seth is actually a very good example, he has TOTAL committment and is a magnet for expanding his setup knowledge. His immediate goals are extremely ambitious but that is no bad thing, and his outgoing personality is always a sunny disposition. That encourages help from many quarters and a following. And I see another rider who came up through 125s at the same time who has graduated to 600 Supersport this season, just like Seth. Much touted, overseas experience, has got the bike and equipment underneath him but he is SLOW. It doesnt help if you have also had a personality bypass operation. If you had a choice between two such riders it is a no -brainer.
Our messed up education and social system plus PC bollocks( courtesy of the pseudo communists who were in control of the country) has ''dumbed down'' a lot of peoples sheer drive and determination to succeed. That is very evident in road racing, many people want it to be easy and for everything to be provided on a plate.That usually doesnt happen, nor should it.

I imagine that ultimately 600 Supersport will ultimately morph back somewhere closer to the old rules, which werent ''broken'' anyway.

[Drew]

old rules, which werent ''broken'' anyway.There's a thread about that somewhere...

[Billy]

I imagine that ultimately 600 Supersport will ultimately morph back somewhere closer to the old rules, which werent ''broken'' anyway.

I wouldn't count on that Robert,Its long been my opinion that we run 10 races a year for Supersport and a 100 for F2 and by bringing them even closer together we may be able to increase the amount of those with 600s that don't do the Nationals at all and convince them to do atleast their local round,Bear in mind that with 24 600s entered for round 1 of this years Nationals,We are probably never going to double that figure,But another 4 or 5 would be the icing on the cake,Lets be realistic here,The European Superstock class that Jake Lewis competed in recently,Only ran with feilds in the mid to low 20s,On that basis we're not too far away IMO.

We need to also be mindful that,In todays economic climate,We cannot rely on and nor should we,The distributors to front with hoards of machinery to fill the grids and lets be honest,Theres only one distributor with any real input at the moment in any class of significance.

[The Chow]

I imagine that ultimately 600 Supersport will ultimately morph back somewhere closer to the old rules, which werent ''broken'' anyway.

Why would this happen Robert. Our point was that people were bitching things were too expensive , and we choose a route that their were two options. And please no one go on about the two classes being mixed blah , blah and if I won my class I didn't get a reward excuse etc. Boo Bloody Hoo. It works in Pro Twin / and Superlite and this year the pro twins have come back to closer to the original season numbers. In my opinion the 125GP class should be in the Superlite and the Pro Twins deserve their own race. But that isn't likely to happen as that would require a rule change.

Hats off to Dan Ornsby who was going to do Superstock , but now has another mission to beat as many Supersport bikes as he can. Good on you Dan , pity more didn't have his atitude , instead of Glory and Trophy hunting.

As aside why would we go back , the numbers speak for themselves. We changed the rules in
2011 and have had increases in entries.

The entry fiqures for Round 1 of the NZ Superbike Championship 2007-2013
125GP
2007 16
2008 14
2009 11
2010 12
2011 13
2012 13
2013 8
600
2007 22
2008 18
2009 17
2010 19
2011 20
2012 20
2013 24
SBK
2007 15
2008 15
2009 10
2010 16
2011 14
2012 18
2013 19
F3/Pro650
2007 18
2008 23
2009 17
2010 16
2011 23
2012 19
2013 27 14 Pro Twins/13 Superlites
Prolite/250 Production
2011 6
2012 18
2013 15

Merry Xmas and See you at Ruapuna January 4-6th

[Robert Taylor]

I wouldn't count on that Robert,Its long been my opinion that we run 10 races a year for Supersport and a 100 for F2 and by bringing them even closer together we may be able to increase the amount of those with 600s that don't do the Nationals at all and convince them to do atleast their local round,Bear in mind that with 24 600s entered for round 1 of this years Nationals,We are probably never going to double that figure,But another 4 or 5 would be the icing on the cake,Lets be realistic here,The European Superstock class that Jake Lewis competed in recently,Only ran with feilds in the mid to low 20s,On that basis we're not too far away IMO.

We need to also be mindful that,In todays economic climate,We cannot rely on and nor should we,The distributors to front with hoards of machinery to fill the grids and lets be honest,Theres only one distributor with any real input at the moment in any class of significance.

Yes that makes sense. And following on with Ians comments its bizarre that there was so much grizzling about the cost but the Supersport class is very well subscribed!

[codgyoleracer]

I wouldn't count on that Robert,Its long been my opinion that we run 10 races a year for Supersport and a 100 for F2 and by bringing them even closer together we may be able to increase the amount of those with 600s that don't do the Nationals at all and convince them to do atleast their local round,Bear in mind that with 24 600s entered for round 1 of this years Nationals,We are probably never going to double that figure,But another 4 or 5 would be the icing on the cake,Lets be realistic here,The European Superstock class that Jake Lewis competed in recently,Only ran with feilds in the mid to low 20s,On that basis we're not too far away IMO.

We need to also be mindful that,In todays economic climate,We cannot rely on and nor should we,The distributors to front with hoards of machinery to fill the grids and lets be honest,Theres only one distributor with any real input at the moment in any class of significance.

F2 Billy ? - sure would be great to see a proper and modern 2013 F2 bike whizzing around. Of course they would be Methanol burning, carbon fibre for africa, inc wheels, open electronic aids inc traction, on-board data logging and suspension, Trick frames, Slicks, Aftermarket brakes, discs, clutches. Oh Yeah baby - 150hp & 130kg ! , WooHooo

Might show up our Superbikes in lap times though ? (& we couldnt have that could we ?) :-)

Or are we talking some sort of dumbed down F2 ? :-)

Its obvious to many why some clubs run F1, F2,F3. They simply do not have the resources to apply the rules. Is it really that bloody simple........

[slowpoke]

F2 Billy ? - sure would be great to see a proper and modern 2013 F2 bike whizzing around. Of course they would be Methanol burning, carbon fibre for africa, inc wheels, open electronic aids inc traction, on-board data logging and suspension, Trick frames, Slicks, Aftermarket brakes, discs, clutches. Oh Yeah baby - 150hp & 130kg ! , WooHooo

Might show up our Superbikes in lap times though ? (& we couldnt have that could we ?) :-)

Or are we talking some sort of dumbed down F2 ? :-)

Its obvious to many why some clubs run F1, F2,F3. They simply do not have the resources to apply the rules. Is it really that bloody simple........

Sorta related to that, when Dr Steve started building his trick lil' 250 I wondered about the market for a trick Moto2 style tube frame 600 instead. I know his heart lies with the smaller bikes but I thought a 140kg F2 bike would be a pretty attractive prospect for a lot of club/street racing punters who mostly never do the Nat's.

You've gone down the custom frame route Glen, is it naive to try and compete with decades of OEM Supersport frame development? Bettering an R6 is a bit different to bettering an SV650 eh?

[wharfy]

F2 Billy ? - sure would be great to see a proper and modern 2013 F2 bike whizzing around. Of course they would be Methanol burning, carbon fibre for africa, inc wheels, open electronic aids inc traction, on-board data logging and suspension, Trick frames, Slicks, Aftermarket brakes, discs, clutches. Oh Yeah baby - 150hp & 130kg ! , WooHooo

Might show up our Superbikes in lap times though ? (& we couldnt have that could we ?) :-)

Or are we talking some sort of dumbed down F2 ? :-)

Its obvious to many why some clubs run F1, F2,F3. They simply do not have the resources to apply the rules. Is it really that bloody simple........

My bike is no longer eligible for any of the National classes as it has had to many bits replaced with after-market items e.g. front subframe, rear sub-frame - not for performance reason but pure economic ones these items are approx 1/3 the cost of the genuine factory ones. So even if I did harbour some fantasy about being a National class rider I'd need to spend some money making it compliant.

[Drew]

My bike is no longer eligible for any of the National classes as it has had to many bits replaced with after-market items e.g. front subframe, rear sub-frame - not for performance reason but pure economic ones these items are approx 1/3 the cost of the genuine factory ones. So even if I did harbour some fantasy about being a National class rider I'd need to spend some money making it compliant.I was under the impression after market subframes were legit. I know my Ducati had them.

[Billy]

I was under the impression after market subframes were legit. I know my Ducati had them.

Nope,Pro twin and 250 production only that I am aware of,Supersport is def only fron fairing bracket

[quallman1234]

The main issue with the 125's is that there was probably only about 30 of them imported if not less, with only about 15 active ones still around. So you have to have everyone onboard to really have a good showing.

The one positive thing about 125's this year, is that there really isn't one slow rider in it (Including Troy G from aussie). There will be 9 after levels (Zayne is still recovering), and i expect the NI rounds will see another few pop up. (Katie,Joel,Matt etc)
Its inevitable that the 125's are going to die, as the support from HRC will be disappear in a few years, if not sooner.
Will be a great pity as they are very cool little bikes.

[merv]

Surely the real issue is as usual, money! Instead of bagging him, everyone on here ought to team up with Paul Owen and encourage his writing and try and market more motorcycles.

The golden years we all remember are when sales boosted the distributors who in turn paid for race teams which encouraged more racers.

We have talked about this many times before, you have lost the interest of the yoof of today and its got nothing to do with the reasons espoused in the ramblings of right wing Dr Robert either, as no matter what persuasion of Govt this is a world phenomenon. There are just too many other interests grabbing their attention and they'd sooner get wasted and be out all hours impressing chicks doing burnouts in their own illegal way for more street cred than being all disciplined at a race track. You don't run your races from 2am on so you aren't grabbing the target age group.

They meet by electronic networking and its more fun for them doing that with little up front cost, no commitment and no effort. Life has just got too easy and they are now just all fat, dumb and happy.

So how to get the interest? That's when you need help from someone smarter than me I'd say. Maybe back to the future. "You meet the nicest people on a Honda" did it in the 60's, now there is a real ground swell to commuter scooters, so how do you turn the rider of every one of those into a motorcyclist as they age so that sales of bikes rise. Its like we need that cycle of the 60's and 70's to repeat with growth in the market. I am sure the "...nicest..." pitch won't work with the yoof of today but some other sort of ego booster might. Think about it.

p.s. where did that thumbs up come from on this post I don't think I put it there?

[quallman1234]

Perhaps we could have some brainstorming and actual group cooperation instead of relying on a select few to promote our sport and then bad mouthing them for not doing enough.
Goals are required as a first step.

Yes money it is always, but referring to the 125 class it doesn't help that there our only 15 active ones, and you have to have alot of dedication to run one properly

[CHOPPA]

Oh no its turning into one of these ones again haha

[scrivy]

They meet by electronic networking and its more fun for them doing that with little up front cost, no commitment and no effort. Life has just got too easy and they are now just all fat, dumb and happy.
I wouldn't say happier...... my customers are getting ruder and ruder (all ages too)


So how to get the interest? Think about it.

If they love electronic gadgets so much and are digital natives, why not pitch electric bikes at them....... :shifty::laugh:

[merv]

If they love electronic gadgets so much and are digital natives, why not pitch electric bikes at them....... :shifty::laugh:

Haha now you're talking.

[Drew]

Oh no its turning into one of these ones again hahaYou forget where you were or summat? KB baby, where no matter what conversation you want to have, it is not the same as the conversation everyone else wants to have.

[merv]

The thread is about a class being cancelled due to lack of interest, so how do you get that interest back up I'm thinking? Or are you saying that's not what we should be talking about?

[Drew]

The thread is about a class being cancelled due to lack of interest, so how do you get that interest back up I'm thinking? Or are you saying that's not what we should be talking about?Read into anything I say, whatever you will.

[MarcusWyatt]

I'm quite new to the racing scene in good ol' New Zealand, having my first race at the AMCC Rnd 1 in September on a F3 SV650.

Anyways, I always thought the Superstock 600 and then later 1000 would be the natural progression for me. Since I don't have to tinker much on the engine side, it would reduce the setup and running costs. I'm sure that's probably not a 100% true. So, it's a pity the classes would probably disappear...

The other thing that I've noticed is most club racers in the F1 and F2 class would rather buy a ex National bike from one of the top racers, than convert a bike themselves. It's much more cost effective to buy an ex-Ray Clee bike (maybe $25k), than having to fork out $15k for a street legal late model, add suspension and yoshi bits for motor and we are starting to talk big bucks. Even if you do Superstock spec it will cost good mint. Could be a reason as well for the poor uptake?

In my case, the original idea was to look for a Pro-Twin spec SV650. But they where very rare and hard to find. So I ended up with a good Superlight SV instead. To be honest, I've not seen a Superstock 600/1000 race bike been advertised on TM since I've been looking in the last year or so.

On the Moto3 story. I would love to see a MD250 type rolling chassis or complete racing bikes being build and sold. I don't know how much it's cost so far to build the first one, but if you could get a complete bike for say $8k, I would think that the GP125 class could start growing again.

How about this idea, similar to Red Bull rookies, have 5 GP125 or later MD250 in like a development team running at the National Rounds. Firstly, work on getting the funding from some big Corporate or maybe multiple Corporates (Each bike/rider being sponsored separately). For this to work, firstly you need to keep the sponsors happy, without the money, nothing flies. The whole idea would be to focus on finding new talent, not just supplying bikes to existing national riders. Give those young club/bucket racers who's showing promise, but maybe don't have the means, a go.

On biking in general, I believe the exorbitant ACC levies been applied to motorcycle licensing is one major factors in dampening the sales of new bikes and also scaring people away from buying motorcycles.

Another idea on getting young people interested in motorcycles is TV advertisement(Although it is expensive). Why don't the four big Japanese importers or even all the NZ motorbike importers work together and get some TV exposure, by making a combined TV advert to get people interested in motorcycling. They can all have equal slice of the 30sec advert with their logo's at the end and a slogan like "Motorcycling...makes your car feel dull and dreary!" or something... I'm sure some advertising executive can do much better... The thing is, you need to plant the little seed in the mind of the young person. Maybe target the advert at the learner market. Try capture the 15/16 year old to buy a bike, instead of a car for his first form of transport.

How about this idea for club racing to get more spectators to the races and make a bit more money at the gates. Why don't we add $10/$5 onto the entry fee for each class and use that money for a bill board somewhere prominent. A slogan like "Bored, got nothing to do this Saturday!! Auckland Motorcycle Racing Championship 10 March 2012 Hampton Downs Motorsport Park".

Even as a racer and AMCC member I'm finding it hard sometime to find information. When I wanted to start racing earlier this year, it took me quite some time to get the information I needed to know where, when and how. So how would a every day Joe know about a AMCC club event on the 10th of March? They don't, unless they are part of AMCC or know someone that races, etc.

Anyways, I'll stop rambling now...

[SWERVE]

How about this idea, similar to Red Bull rookies, have 5 GP125 or later MD250 in like a development team running at the National Rounds. Firstly, work on getting the funding from some big Corporate or maybe multiple Corporates (Each bike/rider being sponsored separately). For this to work, firstly you need to keep the sponsors happy, without the money, nothing flies. The whole idea would be to focus on finding new talent, not just supplying bikes to existing national riders. Give those young club/bucket racers who's showing promise, but maybe don't have the means, a go.


Marcus that is exactly what i am trying to get off the ground with KIWISTARS but using the 250 Production class and Kawasaki Ninjas as the bikes. You have already supported this effort by purchasing a Shorai battery from us.
Steve Ward (Sth Is) & Steve Bagshaw (Nth Is) have similar ideas with 125gp and have already helped youngsters progress. If you have any ideas or know any potential investors please PM me or pop in and say hello nat a round of the Nats.

[Robert Taylor]

Surely the real issue is as usual, money! Instead of bagging him, everyone on here ought to team up with Paul Owen and encourage his writing and try and market more motorcycles.

The golden years we all remember are when sales boosted the distributors who in turn paid for race teams which encouraged more racers.

We have talked about this many times before, you have lost the interest of the yoof of today and its got nothing to do with the reasons espoused in the ramblings of right wing Dr Robert either, as no matter what persuasion of Govt this is a world phenomenon. There are just too many other interests grabbing their attention and they'd sooner get wasted and be out all hours impressing chicks doing burnouts in their own illegal way for more street cred than being all disciplined at a race track. You don't run your races from 2am on so you aren't grabbing the target age group.

They meet by electronic networking and its more fun for them doing that with little up front cost, no commitment and no effort. Life has just got too easy and they are now just all fat, dumb and happy.

So how to get the interest? That's when you need help from someone smarter than me I'd say. Maybe back to the future. "You meet the nicest people on a Honda" did it in the 60's, now there is a real ground swell to commuter scooters, so how do you turn the rider of every one of those into a motorcyclist as they age so that sales of bikes rise. Its like we need that cycle of the 60's and 70's to repeat with growth in the market. I am sure the "...nicest..." pitch won't work with the yoof of today but some other sort of ego booster might. Think about it.

p.s. where did that thumbs up come from on this post I don't think I put it there?

Merv, valid points but Im sticking by what I said. We have lost a lot of personal ambition ( as an overall, doesnt apply to everyone ) and many things have been dumbed down via social engineering from the lesbo/ pacifist / socialist sisterhood. Thank god many of those types of ''leaders'' have now been eradicated.

[Edbear]

Read into anything I say, whatever you will.

That's what you say...


Merv, valid points but Im sticking by what I said. We have lost a lot of personal ambition ( as an overall, doesnt apply to everyone ) and many things have been dumbed down via social engineering from the lesbo/ pacifist / socialist sisterhood. Thank god many of those types of ''leaders'' have now been eradicated.

I'm not so sure about TPTB dumbing down things, the WFC did that very effectively and people are now much more careful and conservative in spending their money.

Having said that, I think TPTB could do a lot to promote enterprise and lateral thinking. John Key is a very successful businessman but not too forthcoming on how he moves business forward in a time when many are in survival mode.

What I mean is let's get the top guys in the public media promoting ideas and enthusiasm with practical advice.

[wharfy]

That's what you say...



John Key is a very successful businessman but not too forthcoming on how he moves business forward in a time when many are in survival mode.

.

He was a stock/share broker/ money lender - basically a gambler with other peoples money and and taking a % win or loose !! Those were the guy's responsible for the Global Financial crisis, he got out just in time so he could dabble in politics and hang out with junior Royals. The country is being run by the Treasury (which in turn is run by people who believe all the shite they heard at the Harvard Business School while they were getting MBA's along side all the people running the US banks and share broking firms - The NEW RIGHT ) When it all turned to shit they got the taxpayers to bail them out. This Government is also in the process of selling/giving away all of NZ's assets It is going to be a rude awakening for all those people that "pooh pooh" the effects of colonization when they discover we are just a colony of multinational ( read US) BIG business !

[gammaguy]

He was a stock/share broker/ money lender - basically a gambler with other peoples money and and taking a % win or loose !! Those were the guy's responsible for the Global Financial crisis, he got out just in time so he could dabble in politics and hang out with junior Royals. The country is being run by the Treasury (which in turn is run by people who believe all the shite they heard at the Harvard Business School while they were getting MBA's along side all the people running the US banks and share broking firms - The NEW RIGHT ) When it all turned to shit they got the taxpayers to bail them out. This Government is also in the process of selling/giving away all of NZ's assets It is going to be a rude awakening for all those people that "pooh pooh" the effects of colonization when they discover we are just a colony of multinational ( read US) BIG business !

I disagree

The US is last years big dog

The new alpha male is Asia

[wharfy]

I disagree

The US is last years big dog

The new alpha male is Asia

Maybe, but as far as I am aware we are not about to sign away our sovereignty to Asian big business. The "free trade" agreement that is so commercially sensitive the NZ people are not allowed to know what is in it is Bi-Lateral NZ - US. There has been some "leak" that it will contain clauses that give foreign companies the right to sue the NZ Government (not just this one but future ones) if it makes laws that reduce their profit !!

[Robert Taylor]

He was a stock/share broker/ money lender - basically a gambler with other peoples money and and taking a % win or loose !! Those were the guy's responsible for the Global Financial crisis, he got out just in time so he could dabble in politics and hang out with junior Royals. The country is being run by the Treasury (which in turn is run by people who believe all the shite they heard at the Harvard Business School while they were getting MBA's along side all the people running the US banks and share broking firms - The NEW RIGHT ) When it all turned to shit they got the taxpayers to bail them out. This Government is also in the process of selling/giving away all of NZ's assets It is going to be a rude awakening for all those people that "pooh pooh" the effects of colonization when they discover we are just a colony of multinational ( read US) BIG business !

Although Im of a right wing persuasion ( not the ''new'' right ) I do have to agree with you about JK. Stockbrokers as a means of making money I have little time for. Business people that actually create something useful and employ people is something very agreeable. America in many ways needs kicking to the kerb, they are a source of many of the worlds ills

[merv]

John Key was a money trader not a stock broker wasn't he? Either way they always win while for every client that wins, someone else's client loses.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Key