World MX GPs - Something wrong?

[Shorty_925]

Reading motocross action online friday updates and they have found this great website on World GP's. Dodgey dealings showen and who's in bed with who and which part of the FIM they are in. Covers lots of good interesting facts from prize money(lack of), tracks, rules etc etc. Shows how bad the GP's have become.

http://www.gpmxactiongroup.org/Home_Page.html

[scott411]

its quite simple, if the guys like the Kings, or Josh Coppins were trying now, they would not have made it, these guys made a living racing GP's and the qualifying and prize money paid thier way till the next races, riders like DArryl Hurley, Craig Brown, Michael Cotter, Cameron Negus, Stacey Olderman, Damon Smith all tried it GP's as well, and if they made it in they made good money that weekend, i know of stories of some of these guys picking the best set of clutch plates from the worn out sets in the vanfor qualifying, as if they did not get in and get the start money, they were going home,

now with 1500 euro entry fees, no prize money, they would not have made it, thier used to be over 100 riders trying to qualify for GP's, now they struggle to put 20 riders on the gate of a GP, even in Europe,

[Shorty_925]

I read up on the Honda 150 euro cup thingy for younger riders, $8,000 euro's to enter that class, similar to the European Jnr cup that follows the Superbikes, pay the money and turn up and ride the bike.

I still enjoy watching the 500cc GP's from mid to late '80's. The tracks were great, and you could get up and close with the riders in the pits and on the track.

[Crasherfromwayback]

now with 1500 euro entry fees, no prize money, they would not have made it, thier used to be over 100 riders trying to qualify for GP's, now they struggle to put 20 riders on the gate of a GP, even in Europe,

Sad state eh!

[scott411]

I read up on the Honda 150 euro cup thingy for younger riders, $8,000 euro's to enter that class, similar to the European Jnr cup that follows the Superbikes, pay the money and turn up and ride the bike.

I still enjoy watching the 500cc GP's from mid to late '80's. The tracks were great, and you could get up and close with the riders in the pits and on the track.

i don't like the way its going, its like car racing always was, and road racing went this way a while back, I liked the fact that motocross was still ability based, where as a good rider could turn up and qualify,

[Shorty_925]

Completely agree with you, its why the AMA gets my following, Ive become less and less interested in world GP's abd more interested in the domestic champs in europe as ther seem much better with better tracks.

Its like the FIM needs to clean the floor as well, espically that Dr Srb, he's been there far too long and in ca-hoots with Youthstream, maybe he has shares in the business!

Just need to look at the entry list for Hangtown for both classes compared to any GP this year.

[sugilite]

Holy heck, I just read that whole website, very sad. I did used to follow the world championship, but simply stopped as I lost interest. I thought it was because the nz'ers in the championship left, but now I know why there are no NZ replacements in the series. Super sux.

[ktm84mxc]

TOTALLY AGREE it's now a defacto cheque book racing , Longo and Srb are just like the crooks at DORNA you gotta pay to play in their circus. It's almost invitation only racing and you'll need very deep pockets or sponsors. Years ago riders made their money doing the Invitational races to finance the GP's .
There are a lot of very good series in Europe with big prize money Germany's ADAC springs to mind France also has a very good series for MX & SX.

[oldguy]

Completely agree with you, its why the AMA gets my following, Ive become less and less interested in world GP's abd more interested in the domestic champs in europe as ther seem much better with better tracks.

Its like the FIM needs to clean the floor as well, espically that Dr Srb, he's been there far too long and in ca-hoots with Youthstream, maybe he has shares in the business!

Just need to look at the entry list for Hangtown for both classes compared to any GP this year.

this is a good read
http://motocrossactionmag.com/Main/News/ASK-THE-MXPERTS-How-Much-Money-Can-A-National-Priv-2384.aspx

[CHOPPA]

All racing is going that way, time to go back to grassroots, look at racing as an enjoyable sport instead of a career opportunity. Let the cream naturally rise to the top instead of the guys with the large checkbooks jump the que and beat out faster riders because they have more money to buy the rides.

I didnt know any kid racing in the early 90s that would say I wanna be a professional MX rider when I grow up it just wasnt an option. (Obviously a few have) but now I think you would be lucky to ask a kid the same thing and for them to have any other answer.

[ktm84mxc]

The simple facts are talent alone may not even get you a foot in the door, there are exceptions Courtney Duncan being a case in point if she wins the US crown and wants to race Europe a team will pick her up as she's a proven race winner.
To be a world mx champ you'll need to be super fast on all tracks esp sand , muddy tracks don't appear as often as the deep sand tracks. Cairoli was shit on sand till he based himself in Belgium and rode the local and Dutch tracks till he was a master at it now he's a 5 times champ. Deep mud is his Achilles heel those short legs.

[F5 Dave]

I think the main problem from a spectators point of view is the bikes all sound like crap now.

[Crasherfromwayback]

I think the main problem from a spectators point of view is the bikes all sound like crap now.

Yeah where's the Brrrrraaaaap gone!!??

[Shorty_925]

Yeah where's the Brrrrraaaaap gone!!??

History books.

[Crasherfromwayback]

History books.

Not quite. Tis why I like Vintage Moto-x. And Courtney Duncan is also keep the braaaarp alive I see!

[ktm84mxc]

You got it Crasher ring a ding ding and barrrrrrrp in Vintage MX, would love to see and hear a EMX125 race 40 screaming 125 2ts being thrashed and caned like 40 angry hornets.
4 bangers all sound the same 125/250/500 2 smokes all had a distinctive sound and smells mmmmmmmmm castor oil.

[scott411]

You got it Crasher ring a ding ding and barrrrrrrp in Vintage MX, would love to see and hear a EMX125 race 40 screaming 125 2ts being thrashed and caned like 40 angry hornets.
4 bangers all sound the same 125/250/500 2 smokes all had a distinctive sound and smells mmmmmmmmm castor oil.

it was not so good of a sound when i turned up to the Czech GP a couple of years ago with a massive hang over from a wicked night out in Prague, in saying that tho, the MX2 that followed it was just as bad ;)

[Flettner]

How ironic, the end of the twostroke!
Why not allow 300cc twostroke, modern perimeter frame, EFI, that would be interesting.
Probably not allowed, too cheap to run a season, and Honda would not approve.

[NordieBoy]

Youthstream screwed up the motard as well...

[shoutout]

Youthstream screwed up the motard as well...

in what way ??

[Shorty_925]

in what way ??

Seen the grid size these days? Used to be 3 classes and full grids, now 1 class and a small grid.

[NordieBoy]

in what way ??

The marquee class used to be basically unlimited.
They'd pick the engine to suit the tracks. Boris Chambon used to ride KTM's up around 730-740cc. Now they're all namby pamby 450's.
Whoops were regulated out, asphalt landings were banned...

Now I see things are coming back to more normal with the tracks...