NZs next World Road Race Champion?

[bluninja]

I was at the AMCC awards evening last night watching among others, Dave (KiwiBiker) receiving his award for 2nd in GP125s. An interesting speech by Paul Cook when receiving 2nd in GP250, (at the age of 47) who wonders where the future NZ world champions are coming from in road racing.

There were 3 very talented youngsters receiving awards last night, but 3 isn't enough. So where is NZs next World Champion or IOM TT winner coming from? Is road racing in NZ so apathetic that it will just disapear up it's own arse in a few years?

I want to race as hard and as fast as I can, and probably my only claim to fame in bike racing may be that I raced against a world champion. But without a thriving race scene and a way for younger riders to enter the sport 'safely' and progress it's not going to happen.

So if you were in charge of MNZ, how would you fix this?

TTFN

[Motu]

Just a refection of what young people are doing - they would rather do some trendy ''extreme'' sport that requires no pure guts and comitment.How many young guys are riding on the street = SFA,thats where you get your new riders from.Speedway is worse - the glamour gladiator motorcycle sport in this country is almost dead,we've had more world championships in this sport than anyother,but who gives a fuck eh? Of road riding is doing better,thanks to some rich Dads who are getting their kids involved,but otherwise it's grim alright.

[Racey Rider]

Someone had suggested a rent a racer class of 150cc bikes. This could be easily slid into the streetstock scene some clubs are supporting. But the cost would have to be a lot cheaper then the SV650 class Tim ran. Would need to be able to rent the whole package, leathers/boots/gloves/helmet, And everyone is a different size, so that causes problems.
Then there's club fees, (first race day is free maybe?)
MNZ is a tough one! As a new to the sport person myself, I have found them VERY unhelpful as far as getting me started straight away is concerned. I see they want a $50 fee for a one-off race day rider for the coming year. $50 here - $20 there - $200 maybe to rent the gear?? + bond. It all adds up! So why should someone spend that sort of money to try our sport? When they can get a similiar rush from a Kart racing trail day, where crashing is not such a big deal?
Still, maybe it's worth looking into. Would consider it myself, but I'm based too far away from a track. Plus I haven't even had my first race yet,,, so what do I know!!! But it could be done! It's just a question of all relevant groups doing their bit to support the idea.
We,, YOU need new comers! So are we going to write about it,,, or are those in the right positions going to get together and DO something about it!!

[Kwaka-Kid]

i say DO somthing about it - think companies out there should be looking @ motorcycle racing to sponsor new comers who look promising... im the youngest here so that means i hopefully have the most chance :P no but honestly, i think we need to get companies or smothing to look into the motorcycle racing scene and started helping more of us, i think that there is so few of us and the few that there are can not afford top notch bikes to go anywhere near as fast as they need to become recognised, but like Racey, i dont know much.

I have seen those 3 sons or whatever of that dudes @ 2 tracktimes... rode with 1 of them and mate! he was awesome for his age and stuff, on a Race prepd RGV150 i cold barely hold ahead of him on my crap ZXR400, even on the backstreight we had equalish speeds, i really enjoyed it and it made me think maybe i was riding alongside one of NZ's soon-2-be's.  I think we need to get them real young too, like i learnt to ride @ 9 on trail and like to think thats young and good enough to give racing a damn good go but according to my old man there are kids starting @ 4 etc (actually i know one) and that i started a bit too late.  I dunno, id like to prove him wrong and try to at least be seen a little.

But main point - WHERE IS THE SPONSORSHIP @? -i know you need to get out there and prove yourself a bit first apparently, but i mean, shit i can barely afford tyres with any tread @ all letalone ones that will allow me to fly through corners @ the speeds every1 else seems to

good topic dude, we need to bring this up blu. -and yes oneday i will attend another AMC thursday night do.

[bluninja]

Thanks guys for your responses so far, especially your feedback on MNZ as newbies. As an old newbie, I went through this process last year.

Before people start talking sponsorship, you need to have a product that firms can invest their marketing dollars in. If there's little or no interest in motorcycling, there's no publicity, no crowds, and so bugger all money around.

As for most racers, half of them can't be bothered with supporting organisers, or debating issues with MNZ. they just wear their dark visors and assume the races will be run and they just need to pay their fees and turn up. the only time they are vocal is when they can't get what they want at a race meeting, or the rules no longer suit them.

For me the first thing to do is to raise the professionalism of the organisation of road racing, and raise the public profile of racing. As well as people racing, if we want sponsorship and prize money to help offset racing costs we need people coming to watch and be involved. A lot of these events are free to spectataors, why not get your friends to come down and watch the racing, they don't need safety gear, they don't even need to ride a bike.

TTFN

 

[Kwaka-Kid]

very true -cmon even i did this last track time i brought 4x mates down (welll 2 only stayed half the day) but still, none of them ride yet they were interested enough just in tracktime - let alone full blown race action

good thinking Si, everybody is welcome (exept people that dont ride bikes, hahah no!)

[wari]

I think tv exposure is a big thing ... most people dont realise just how exciting bike racing is.

Does anyone know if the IOM TT is going to get any air time ? Kiwis had a bit of success there this year and although I havent seen a lot of tv lately , there's been didlee squat reporting of what our guys have achieved ... !

[Motu]

They have to want to race - how do you do that? The modern kid doesn't jump on a bike and hoon around,think he's pretty good and go racing,he has no motorcycling heros (Rossi could be a help here) Bikes are too expensive to have a shot at something he knows nothing about.I don't know what the answer is,but I think motorcycle racing has had it's day as a dangerous motor sport that attracted a ''certain type''.That certain type now sits on their arse and plays playstation,rides a skate board when they are grown up and is more concerned with how they look than stripping a bike down durring the week to race on sunday.Racing a bike is just too bloody complicated - and that means it's boring.

[Dave]

On getting people to the races, I had an idea;
Amcc is one of the biggest clubs in NZ,If they sent 5 tickets to every member that would be about 1500 tickets,.the members would be asked to either return money or unsold tickets back to the club-this would also allow them to know how many people will
be at the meetings,it will also boost the numbers of spectators at their meetings.The extra income generated by the extra spectators would then be put straight into a marketing budget for the next race meeting,not back into the club kitty.
At the moment,I wouldn't be surprised if the roadriding members of the club aren't even aware when race meetings occur.
As Blue stated,Paul cook at the prizegiving was getting into the MNZX for their proposed structure of classes.As it stands,You have to be under 17 yrs to get a wild card entry into a world 125GP.No local riders would be able to qualify to be on the grid in world supersport,there is no way of getting on a world superbike without some previous world championship exterience,so the only class left that you or I could buy a bike and get a wild card entry on a world championship event is 250GP-A class that MNZ does everything to try and shut down in favour of 600 sports production.

[bluninja]

Here's a good one. I've just received my license renewal for 2003/4 from MNZ. the good news is that all the national championship racers only pay $80 instead of $100, but everyone else now pays $80. They also sent a calendar wallchart out with dates of Bike races over the nexr 12 months. Guess what ? not a single track road race, not even the nationals is on there. It would seem from MNZ that even Battle of the Streets has a higher profile than the National Road race Champs.

Yes MOTU, motorbike racing is quite self selecting in you have to want to ride a motorbike and then be able to do that before you go racing. Yes it's also expensive, and people need to have the pasion fired inside them to want to look at or become involved in the sport before they part with their cash. I think TV coverage of world events and AMA events is pretty good, it's just lacking in NZ stuff.

Tim Gibbes managed to get TV coverage last year at 2 events. I even saw myself on tele at the back of the pack in the 'D' grade race. So it's possible, probably just very hard work to make it happen. 

Great idea Dave, you gonna float that one at the AGM tomorrow night? Advance ticket sales, if they've paid they will proabbly turn up.

TTFN

 

[Dave]

Theres an AGM?

[bluninja]

Dave, you ARE joking aren't you???

10th June 2003 AMCC AGM, at the Clubrooms, 7:30 pm

You've clearly not checked your riders briefs recently, it's also posted on the web page. I know the prizegiving wasn't publicised too well, but then they did sell all the tickets for that anyway. Any other Kiwi Bikers that are AMCC members, do try and get along. I will be there, I want to see what happens and be able to vote for the people that will be standing for office. If you don't attend, don't vote, or more importantly don't contribute in any way then you better hope those people voted in want the same things you do.

TTFN

[Dave]

Its my rural mail-I think a goat ate my news letter.Last year I only found out about the prizegiving one day before and had other committments.This year at least they rang me.(I got second last year as well!)

[Racey Rider]

Originally posted by bluninja

I think TV coverage of world events and AMA events is pretty good, it's just lacking in NZ stuff.

Those of us without "Sky" don't see much!
Yes the sport needs to be seen on TV. that would give a number of benefits.
To enthuse new comers into the sport. (thats what got me keen. I had never been to a track day/race. Though had rode bikes for some years).
Then strengthen club membership.
Give the chance for sponsorship.
Even show us ourselves riding, so we can improve our technique.

Perhaps we need to see the top class, to show people how it should be done, and the entry level class, to show how to get started.

How do we get more coverage? One thing we can all easily do is write to TVNZ and ask for it! If we don't ask, we won't get.
TVNZ
Attention: Sports
PO Box 3819
Auckland

Let's get 100 requests for more coverage in to them over the next 3 months

[Kwaka-Kid]

theres a good idea racey rider.

and good posts guys its got me thinking about it all - and yeah, @ my skool of 2400 students (well actually prolly 25% were too young) i was THE ONLY one who rode a bike to skool scince i turned 15 in 4th form, and i later heard of 1 guy who got a bike near the end of skool but didnt ride it much, and another who got one just after he left skool.   pretty bad stats there eh? considering from the stories my parents tell me, back in the day there woulda been half the friggin skool on them or somthing, mind you they were msotly SL/CB125s :P  wish i could go back then with my CB250 and show them what technology is all about :P hahaha!