Motard scarcity at VMCC. Options?

**Clivoris** · 23rd July 2009, 14:35

I've posted about this in the Motard section but no-one has turned up to offer suggestions

. The question is, why don't we get bigger Motard fields at the Actrix Winter Series? Personally I am a fan and have defended their inclusion for years but this is getting laughable given the size of the fields. Any realistic ideas about how we can draw them in, or do we write the class off and explore other options? I can hear The Bears pounding at the door, or perhaps the Post Post-Classics? Do we cancel the class and use the time for extra races in the other classes?

**quallman1234** · 23rd July 2009, 14:45

Could be to do with the circuit they run on?

**Clivoris** · 23rd July 2009, 14:48

Could be. They get the same as everyone else now. If it just isn't what they want then we can't really help it.

**Str8 Jacket** · 23rd July 2009, 14:48

I had a very interesting chat with a Motard racer at the Hill Climb this year Clive. Remind me to have a chat with you on Sat at the track...

**James Deuce** · 23rd July 2009, 14:51

I should buy one and then race myself.

**Str8 Jacket** · 23rd July 2009, 14:52

Originally Posted by James Deuce

I should buy one and then race myself.

We would probably rather that you raced a bike.

**Clivoris** · 23rd July 2009, 14:52

Originally Posted by Str8 Jacket

I had a very interesting chat with a Motard racer at the Hill Climb this year Clive. Remind me to have a chat with you on Sat at the track...

Originally Posted by James Deuce

I should buy one and then race myself.

Same answer to both posts. Bloody tease

**Tony.OK** · 23rd July 2009, 14:53

Sounds like the SBK issue with a chook chasing twist mate...........

What sort of numbers are ya talking Clive? And at what number do ya pull the pin?

Seems to be alot of people with alot to say in the past about letting 'em on track, now the numbers are falling? Go figure

Bung 'em in with F3 again, then everyone can get more laps in (did I say that out loud)

**Str8 Jacket** · 23rd July 2009, 14:53

Originally Posted by Clivoris

Same answer to both posts. Bloody tease

Hey, we all know that you cannot have a 'sensible' discussion on KB mate!!

**Quasievil** · 23rd July 2009, 15:05

Yes its slack and I agree we are on the verge of loosing the VMCC support.
Im coming on Saturday to btw (changed my mind)

Anyway there are 9 entries there should be way more but in its defence the issues are

1/ There arent as many motard racers out there as there are sportsbike riders. so you will usually get smaller feilds
2/ Some motarders (I said some) feel the longer tracks cook their engines and pipes (remember a Motard revs fuck loads higher than any sportsbike) for me I am fine with the bigger tracks.
3/ There is the distance thing most motarders I guess are Auckland?

Anyway here is what Im doing about it

Shortly I will be promoting a new website that will be 100% motards, it wont be super active as obviously its a smaller group, but it will provide a one stop shop for Motarders to go to in relation to events as well as racing tips etc etc etc, think KB but smaller.
I already have support from KTM nz as well as a bunch of other businesses and I believe it will also promote the sport.

Currently Motards are out on a limb and have no real unification, this is what I want to change.

So if I can ask VMCC to stick with it and hopefully we can turn it around for next year, in the meantime I will be doing what I can to get punters to the track.

**montsta56** · 23rd July 2009, 15:14

Originally Posted by Tony.OK

Sounds like the SBK issue with a chook chasing twist mate...........

What sort of numbers are ya talking Clive? And at what number do ya pull the pin?

Seems to be alot of people with alot to say in the past about letting 'em on track, now the numbers are falling? Go figure

Bung 'em in with F3 again, then everyone can get more laps in (did I say that out loud)

Do not bung them in with F3 please just get rid of them to allow more track time for proper bikes.

**bistard** · 23rd July 2009, 15:17

Originally Posted by Tony.OK

Sounds like the SBK issue with a chook chasing twist mate...........

What sort of numbers are ya talking Clive? And at what number do ya pull the pin?

Seems to be alot of people with alot to say in the past about letting 'em on track, now the numbers are falling? Go figure

Bung 'em in with F3 again, then everyone can get more laps in (did I say that out loud)

Tony.you cant just bung them back in F3,as the speed difference at the end of the front & rear straights is down right dangerous,not to mention the weird lines they take

Clive,no doubt you have some contact details for the Motarders,send them out a letter,stating you front up in numbers,or they will loose their spot

Bears,now theres an idea

Good luck sorting this one

**sinfull** · 23rd July 2009, 15:20

Originally Posted by Quasievil

So if I can ask VMCC to stick with it and hopefully we can turn it around for next year, in the meantime I will be doing what I can to get punters to the track.

Nahhhhh too late, out with the tards in with the bears !!!!!! Hip Hip ....

Orrr getting back on topic, someone could do a promo drive at the MX race scene ! See if a few of them riders want to save washing their bikes all the time !
What does it cost for a MX rider to convert a bike for road racing ?

**Clivoris** · 23rd July 2009, 15:25

Originally Posted by Tony.OK

Sounds like the SBK issue with a chook chasing twist mate...........

What sort of numbers are ya talking Clive? And at what number do ya pull the pin?

Seems to be alot of people with alot to say in the past about letting 'em on track, now the numbers are falling? Go figure

Bung 'em in with F3 again, then everyone can get more laps in (did I say that out loud)

We have had a lot of pressure in the past to keep the class with lots of promises that people will come. We have 9 entered in 2 classes for this weekend. It will need to be more to justify the use of the track-time over next season. Including them in F3 is certainly an option now that MNZ have opened it up again (with restrictions), but there are pro's and cons on this for the Actrix Winter Series.

Originally Posted by Quasievil

Yes its slack and I agree we are on the verge of loosing the VMCC support.
Im coming on Saturday to btw (changed my mind)

Anyway there are 9 entries there should be way more but in its defence the issues are

1/ There arent as many motard racers out there as there are sportsbike riders. so you will usually get smaller feilds
2/ Some motarders (I said some) feel the longer tracks cook their engines and pipes (remember a Motard revs fuck loads higher than any sportsbike) for me I am fine with the bigger tracks.
3/ There is the distance thing most motarders I guess are Auckland?

Anyway here is what Im doing about it

Shortly I will be promoting a new website that will be 100% motards, it wont be super active as obviously its a smaller group, but it will provide a one stop shop for Motarders to go to in relation to events as well as racing tips etc etc etc, think KB but smaller.
I already have support from KTM nz as well as a bunch of other businesses and I believe it will also promote the sport.

Currently Motards are out on a limb and have no real unification, this is what I want to change.

So if I can ask VMCC to stick with it and hopefully we can turn it around for next year, in the meantime I will be doing what I can to get punters to the track.

Cheers Quasi,
that sheds some light and I can appreciate the effort. There are lots of motards out there mate if the street meetings are any evidence. However, it seems that there are similarities to other situations we have encountered. Some people will point out that there are garages full of (insert class here) bikes that aren't being raced, because(insert reason here). The suggestion is then made to create or bring back a class, but the bikes just don't turn up. We could actually handle it if we were told that the Winter Series just doesn't work for motards, then we could get on with doing what does interest racers.
We have also toyed with the idea of hiring the track extension at Manfield exclusively for motards (and maybe buckets) on the weekends we are using the short circuit. Problems with this would be no timing (I think), and having a complete and independent crew to run it. We just don't have the person-power or a motard obsessed person to run with this idea, to do this at the moment. The plus would obviously be the mega track time for the motards at 3 meeting over winter.