Too many classes at National Championship?

[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.

[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.

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 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.