Shayne King....whinge......yawn

[ali-s]

being a long term husky fan couldn't help but pick up a copy of the latest ADB mag with a review of the new husky FI 450, up pops a Shayne King (almost) full page interview on p.26, oh good, lets see what the man's got to say. First off dad owned a bike shop (nice) then bought a farm so the boys could get into mx proper (double nice) dad bought a van and took the the lads all over the place mx'ing ( sweeet) then our Shayne ends up world champ ( luvin it) - last question in interview " is mx healthy in NZ ?" Shayne reckons we've taken a step backwards and havn't capitalised on 'our' opportunities (?) he reckons "at the bottom end it's good" ( so all you guys and girls buying and maintaining your YZ's & CR's busting a gut to get a van to a meet and paying to race and buying kit and oil and everything else are good) "Trailbike market is good" (phew, so all of us on klx's drz's etc. are doing our bit paying to ride, buying oil.............well you get the message.) but "i'd still be in the sport for two or three years yet if i didn't think it was going backwards...(?)we need to focus on the top instead of the bottom end" (:Oops::gob:uuuuuuum, well that would be up to the likes of you then i reckon shayney, you are at the top so get on and do something about it instead of whinging in some aussie mag about the state of mx in nz, all us at the 'bottom' are doing our bit - you've got the cred - well did have - and the fancy mx import company....make it happen)

[Coyote]

Let them eat cake

[ali-s]

Let them eat cake
...........


:beer:

[ali-s]

the missus just pointed out another cracker from said interview,
"We are a minority sport in New Zealand"
:doh: uuum, make that the world Shayne.

[merv]

...... and your point is?

[scott411]

hes right, the top end of nz mx is very sick at the moment, yet the junior scene is very strong,
150 riders and less than 1000 paying spectators at the motocross nationals, he has a fucken point,

good old kiwi knocking machine, screw anyone for having a opinion right,

[ali-s]

are you sure he's got a point tho? my point is he's in the top level of nz mx and he's using his interview to have a moan about the top level of nz mx, instead of telling us all what he's doing to get things going. I only say this cos he's still involved in the scene with his import/distribution business - so the junior/grassroots/trail scene is healthy and buying lots of product - (off the importers/distributors/shops) making them money - well, do something with it!

[takitimu]

hes right, the top end of nz mx is very sick at the moment, yet the junior scene is very strong,
150 riders and less than 1000 paying spectators at the motocross nationals, he has a fucken point,

good old kiwi knocking machine, screw anyone for having a opinion right,

I'm with Scott, look at the numbers at trail rides & then the national enduro's. The base is strong but at the top level it's just not looking so good, which reduces the sponsorship, which makes it tougher for the riders, bit of a vicious circle.

Though I do think that I'd rather be MNZ facing a strong base with issues at the top level, rather than the NZRFU which ( excepting the WC ) has the opposite problem.

[ali-s]

Though I do think that I'd rather be MNZ facing a strong base with issues at the top level, rather than the NZRFU which ( excepting the WC ) has the opposite problem.

In a way takitimu that is my point - the scene is healthy, from groms to clubmen we do our day jobs, buy the bikes, gear, maintenence etc. so for the people who are in the industry and at the top to have a moan seems a bit rich, after all they do the sponsoring. Do they want us to organise the mx nats as well.

[takitimu]

In a way takitimu that is my point - the scene is healthy, from groms to clubmen we do our day jobs, buy the bikes, gear, maintenence etc. so for the people who are in the industry and at the top to have a moan seems a bit rich, after all they do the sponsoring. Do they want us to organise the mx nats as well.

I have not read the original article, but from what was in your original posting, I think you're misjudging his intent, my gut feel is he's saying we've got this great base, but it's not being leveraged it at the top end to generate publicity/revenue which would circle back around again ( attract more riders / spectators to feed the circle ).

Which to me suggests there is an opportunity in terms of promotion of the key events & getting media coverage, I do think things look interesting on the Enduro side, with the North Island series over 2 weeks attracting alot of interest from Australian riders, which is great ( kinda scarey for novices like me who'll be in the first one which is a TTR/National/North Island round mind you ).

So I read the comments as glass 1/2 full, vs 1/2 empty & all it'll take is Coppin's to win MX1 in Europe or Townley to win in the US or Prumm to get on the podium in a men's 250 event to generate the volume of media coverage that will feed the local MX series & then how long before say 3 do live TV coverage of something like the Fall's MX series ( nice cause it's one track & they use sat to get back to base ) or SX series or MX series, the Free to Air broadcasters are screaming for content but they need a bit more profile yet is my read, mind you there has to be more interest in SX than the boring as watching paint dry Mini's running around Puke, just a matter of proving it.

[scott411]

are you sure he's got a point tho?

yes i am sure he has a point, 150 riders and 1000 spectators at a mx nationals is a joke compared to what it was 10 years ago,

i have not read the article, but you seem to be jumping down his troat for having an opinion, he does more than most the other gear distrubtors in nz, in regards to sponsorship of mx meetings and riders, so i am unsure of why you think is opinion is not valid,

[telliman]

i think bringing the a supercross round to auckland is gonna be a shot in the arm for the sport. i hope its a start of bigger and better things in nz's main city!
the bike industry must be pretty big in auckland and yet its starved of any exposure of this kind.i went to a round in tokaroa (SX) last year and it was packed,wasnt a huge venue but wat a night.

[telliman]

good luck with that by the way scott,me and my family cant wait!

[ali-s]

all it'll take is Coppin's to win MX1 in Europe or Townley to win in the US or Prumm to get on the podium in a men's 250 event

that ain't a bad outlook for a sport that is "sick at the top" - fans in the uk or oz would be rubbing their hands together if their riders were cutting it this good internationally (mind you after reading Mr Coppins column in the same issue of ADB you'd think he'd won it already !)

I am looking forward to the SX in auck as well, as telliman says tokoroa was ace, just been to whakatane summer x and it was brilliant - i suppose some folks realise that if things are 'sick at the top' it's up to the top to sort it. look at what Reedy's up to in oz.

"good old kiwi knocking machine" - now that's what Scott said about my opinion BUT that is exactly what i'm saying about Shayne - why is he knocking?

[takitimu]

that ain't a bad outlook for a sport that is "sick at the top" - fans in the uk or oz would be rubbing their hands together if their riders were cutting it this good internationally (mind you after reading Mr Coppins column in the same issue of ADB you'd think he'd won it already !)

Well the uk would be happy to win anything, so safe to leave them out :devil2:


"good old kiwi knocking machine" - now that's what Scott said about my opinion BUT that is exactly what i'm saying about Shayne - why is he knocking?

I'll reiterate, I also don't think Shayne was knocking, he was making valid critical observations on the state of top level MX/SX/Enduro in NZ ( I added Enduro :) ) & they are valid & I don't think the answer is quite as simple as you make out or indeed that Shayne is part of the problem, there's got to be a few elements of good luck ( winning overseas titles does include an element of luck ) to help raise the profile & help get back spectators.

Maybe there are some people the comments targeted who are dragging the chain & need a wake up call, but that's be just a suspicion & has no fundamental impact on the validity of the comments Shayne made.

[ali-s]

Well the uk would be happy to win anything, so safe to leave them out :devil2:

:shifty:he he he - mind you they did kick our butt at the mxon - but then i spose everbody did really, and they wern't too shabby at the isde either, and on a tangent how did the dutch get fourth !!!! nutters, i know they've got a lot of sand but it's flatter than a witches tit - fair play, must be all the heineken.

[DrewBroadley]

I would be a top rider if I had a bike.... :P

In all seriousness, I'm trying to give the sport good exposure in this country (check out the latest Racer-X march edition, managed to get photos in there of us kiwis!)

I tried to up the mini and junior motocross (Dirtstar) and am covering them as a priority to the big boys (they are swamped with photographers).

I have limited resources, but if anyone knows of a way to use my photos to help promote the sport (without ripping me off), then I'm all for it!

[scott411]

I would be a top rider if I had a bike.... :P

In all seriousness, I'm trying to give the sport good exposure in this country (check out the latest Racer-X march edition, managed to get photos in there of us kiwis!)

I tried to up the mini and junior motocross (Dirtstar) and am covering them as a priority to the big boys (they are swamped with photographers).

I have limited resources, but if anyone knows of a way to use my photos to help promote the sport (without ripping me off), then I'm all for it!

and we are gratfull for your efforts,
thanks

[DrewBroadley]

I'm definitely not asking for thanks, but i'm just stating my personal goals for the sport and if anyone else has any ideas.

I hope magazines like ADB and Stroke really push the NZ side a bit more, it feels like they are an aussie magazine with a page or two about nz so they can claim they are australasian.

All I can say, is there is an audience out there (Taupo, 2006.. wow) willing to come spectate. Now it's just figuring out ways to do it, or hiring half naked starter girls that's going to do it.

[Katoomer]

You photo guys are an important part of the sport if we are going to get to the next level. I personally think that MX is the strrongest its ever been and am a little surprised at SKs comments. Take this years Summercross ,the open class was full of good riders and the 125/250 class 60 + needed to run Qualifying to get 40 at the gate. Tokoroa SX had the biggest field of top riders I have seen there last night.
Next week at Woodville we will see Coppins go up against Hurley ,Broxy ,Cooper maybe + plenty of other fast guys so whats the prob with that.:yes:

[ali-s]

Interesting to read Mr. Coppins column in the latest issue of ADB with the headline "MX in OZ & NZ booming" with a glowing summer report of his recent stint back here racing and checking out the scene - rock on sicko's.

[Coyote]

My brother just bought King's old MX gear off trademe. Looks awesome! The bright orange suit should look interesting on a Kawasaki. He's ripped off the Honda stickers of course...

[slowpoke]

hes right, the top end of nz mx is very sick at the moment, yet the junior scene is very strong,
150 riders and less than 1000 paying spectators at the motocross nationals, he has a fucken point,

good old kiwi knocking machine, screw anyone for having a opinion right,

Yep, compare say Spain with it's huge base of 125cc road race juniors feeding into world championship 125, 250 and MotoGP classes. There is a never ending stream of the lil' buggers, all raising the bar for each other, and many competing for world championships.

We seem to have a similar fantastic base of juniors and up and comers at the grass roots level but it's not translating into riders progressing on to the world stage.

As for Shayne not doing anything about it, I don't think you'll find him all talk and no action. But at the end of the day the skill set he has built up over the years is all to do with being freaky fast on a motorcycle.....being an effective promoter or organiser requires a completely different set of abilities.

[ali-s]

Yep, compare say Spain with it's huge base of 125cc road race juniors

and it's population of 40 million compared to our 4 million - i've said it before on this thread - i ain't knockin' anyone - for a population less than that of north madrid i think we're doing bloody good - long may it continue - i'm not whinging (Josh ain't either, none of the riders i chat too are either)
just riding
:cool:

[slowpoke]

and it's population of 40 million compared to our 4 million - i've said it before on this thread - i ain't knockin' anyone - for a population less than that of north madrid i think we're doing bloody good - long may it continue - i'm not whinging (Josh ain't either, none of the riders i chat too are either)
just riding
:cool:

But divide the number of Spanish up and comers by 10 and there are still hundreds of the lil' fuckers, haha. Somehow they have created a system that churns out world class riders with monotonous regularity.
We can't compete with their facilities on the road race scene, but MX wise there is no reason we shouldn't have a similar, albeit smaller, steady stream of riders flowing onto the world stage.

[telliman]

we;re still to far away from that world class competition!!
the opportunitys are few and far between for the top talent we produce.
not enough funding for minority sports in this country.
in saying that though, hamish dobbyn is the next big thing to come from here.
will coppins ever go to the states???

[Danger]

Read recently that after he won the World Championship last year that he would see out his two year contract at Yamaha this year then ride a year in the States. Unfortunatley he did not win his Championship last year so its all up in the air how much longer he has to keep trying. So who knows? I would be surprised to see him do more than a year if at all in the USA.

[ali-s]

We can't compete with their facilities on the road race scene, but MX wise there is no reason we shouldn't have a similar, albeit smaller, steady stream of riders flowing onto the world stage.
Good point, although mx wise we have already got more talent on the world stage than say spain if you take copps etc and then compare populations. Having said that I think we should be looking at the Belgian system - like the Spanish/Italian road race scene the Belgy's can't stop producing world class mx talent (don't forget Steve Ramon is actually the current world champ) so there's hope for us yet and as Telliman says more funding wouldn't go amiss. Also would love to see Josh take on Bubba at an AMA outdoor sometime in the near future although i fear it could well be a
:spanking: for our lad....