Nationals: Where the hell were ya?!

[Maido]

HRC japan are the only ones selling a new 250 now (only a few being made for the all japan series, and no major changes since 03), yamaha japan only released 9 last year, none of which were brought by the public, and aprillia, well as jay said, rob a bank and you might afford one.
go to a japanese manufacturer motorbike shop (ie szuki, kwaka, honda yami), and ask to buy a brand new 2007 2 stroke motorcross bike, sorry don't make them anymore.

Anyway, as i said before it is not the bikes that make good racing but the guys riding them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We definately need 125's no question.
I believe that the 125 to 600 is still a big step up, unless you have a mentor, such as sam and dom had which make the swap easier.
currently in japan they are trialing and racing a 250 and 400 4 stroke class to replace the 125/250 gap left.
also, look up the hrc web site (not the crap american one but the actual japanses one http://www.honda.co.jp/HRC/) and check out the nsf100 class, it is huge, they had an endurance race there last year with 150 (yes 150) entries. I see this as the logical step to get into racing in nz in a few years when the 150's are obsolete or parts dry up for them, granted they are expensive now but that will change after a few years.
our typical step once we do well in nz is to head to aussie, so it makes sence we are aligned with aussie, they race 125, 600 and 1000 as their main classes, so should we.

anyway, back to the original thread, i think in about 3-4 years time, there will be a racing boom in nz again, all these guys pete is mentoring will grow up (there are already some damn good riders coming through now), sure a couple will drop off but a lot will come through and they will be bolstering the ranks. but for now we will have to weather the storm.
Domestic racing world wide took a dive about about 5 years ago, now it is as big as ever. examples of this were evident in japan they went from about 20 showing up and racing to getting fields of around 60 showing up just to qualify. (there were 9 showing up to race 250's dig dig my bad!!).
remember nz is typically behind in trends and we also have a strong rugger culture here that takes alot of young people from other sports. (check out soccer, biggest game in the world, yet we can't raise 1m for an A league team)

[Brian d marge]

I can respond to the Japanese side , There is a clear step between dad ( actually family ) and son ( daughter aswell!!)

Just round the corner is Kita anasagawa prk where they start about 4/5\6 years old on pocket bikes ( the family all behind the kids ,,great fun I have taken my boy there ,,he is 2 and a half ,,( Ive got the bike lined up !!)

its a great track ,,a small go kart track ...big pit area

Anyway they run ... pocket bikes ,,80 cc /ns100 ( now that class is HUGE ,,BECAUSE of the licience system , and the young kids love the honda ape ( monkey bike ..Nsr80 etc

Honda has responded to the home market ( and does very well though what sells in Shibuya ,,aint what you fellas want !!! and I feel something is wrong at Honda at the mo ..I know the out board motor and Motorcycle division are merging ,,,but thats been talked about for years but they have been having a few meetings about it of late )

Anyway So we have a BIG ns100 class for kids around 12/13 ..then its 125

Now there aint alot of these things for sale .. then the next is 250 ,, here a lot of people run modded road bikes ,,and these thing are up to gp level ( so to speak...Have a look at a company called JHA )

You can buy and run a NSR 250 quite cheaply ..they cost 100 000 to buy for a rough one ..and you could spend that again to make it a flier ..that is still cheap

After that its ST600 , pick up a 2003/4 Cbr for around 2-300 000 yen and get a full season easily just tyres and oil / crash damage ..

Finally the JSB these are the 1000 cc bike and again you can buy a few years old model ,,you will be last ,,but you can have a lot of fun doing it ! ..


the steps are clear AND affordable

One thing that I see people do is form a club .. They have 10 /15 people in the club and just like the old mans RSA ..they run a bike for the season ,,,and get right behind it in the race ( I even saw a Honda X11 club in and Endurance race .....)

The key I think is affordability .. Just thinking about it ,, for 2 months Salary ..yes kids dont get fed / rent not paid ... no food ......

I could buy a bike up to 600 cc.... leathers and a set of sticky road tyres and race

If I was to be smart about it ,,and feed the kids I could be done way cheaper ... you would be mid field to last though ,,,,,


As for Racing in NZ

The street circuits are a hidden Gem ..sod the IOM ( nice breakfasts and beer ,,,but I would prefer Paeroa )

10 000 people on main street on sunday ,,,a retailers dream!!! , pubs , food ,,sun ..restraunts??( not sure I had a stevies meat pie and watched the racing )

compare that with the Nationals ...... ( have the video here ,,,handfull of bikes on a large windswept field ,,, with a hot dog stand ( well it looked like it !!! at Ruapuna ,,, )

Not a lot to say about the racing in NZ .. The buckets i not to keen on as to be honest there is too much No 8 fencing wire ..BUT and thats a Big BUT ...I think they are essential , as it fosters that creativity that NZ engineers are famous for ... ,,presentation wise I think the bar needs to be lifted

not a lot happens till 600 cc good class looked full and the racing was close ...
1000 cc .. seems to be the same 4 or five bikes ....ho hum

Everyone needs to get something from the sport ..spectators ( wives/girlfriends) need an interesting day worth the 20 dollars entry fee ...

Business need traffic and money /advertising ..to make it worth while

Racers need a level playing field and a good day out ..( be a whole lot better if you could take some money home to cover the costs)

IMHO

Stephen

[Maido]

Hey Stephen, You heard much about the up and coming Japanese road race around the volcanoe island!!, looks like the japas are finally cashing into their own IOM!!! I imagine that to be a massive event.

[roogazza]

[QUOTE=Two Smoker;975293]I believe it has been dead for a while due to the lack of riders... More riders=more competition=harder/faster riding=closer racing at the front.

I feel for the young guys out there, it must be so hard and bloody expensive ?
I have no answers to the problems unless we can some how get back to real production (so called standard bikes )
I'm so glad I came from the 70's era where tyres were fifty bucks and you'd use about one front and two rears for the whole points series!
and you bought an RD350 for $500 to race against 40 odd others.
( I actually made money racing in those days) !!!!!!!!!! Gaz.

[bistard]

[QUOTE=roogazza;976934]

I believe it has been dead for a while due to the lack of riders... More riders=more competition=harder/faster riding=closer racing at the front.

I feel for the young guys out there, it must be so hard and bloody expensive ?
I have no answers to the problems unless we can some how get back to real production (so called standard bikes )
I'm so glad I came from the 70's era where tyres were fifty bucks and you'd use about one front and two rears for the whole points series!
and you bought an RD350 for $500 to race against 40 odd others.
( I actually made money racing in those days) !!!!!!!!!! Gaz.

Gazza,is that how you made your fortune?? I wondered ??
As I know you are independantly wealthy,You & Bazza Sheene aye

[roogazza]

Yep and I'm still jumping off the damm things (as of last Sat morn !!!!) G.

[Brian d marge]

Hey Stephen, You heard much about the up and coming Japanese road race around the volcanoe island!!, looks like the japas are finally cashing into their own IOM!!! I imagine that to be a massive event.

No I havent ,,,I am off to Motegi on the 4th for the superbikes ( If I have time )

Just had a look through this years MFJ race calender and didnt see anything? okayama maybe??


the classes for motegi are superbikes , St600 Gp 250 Gp125 and supermono .. ?? ( I asume something like Jason Eastons bike )


Stephen

[Maido]

With a class that size, I would assume it is all japan??
Also, the 250 4 i was talking about that is replacing the 125's is a gpmr250x, which is the gp mono you were talking about.
as far as that road race goes, it is on an island off the main land (sounds like IOM!!) and is not okayama.

[Brian d marge]

Ahh I see this is why Honda havent entered in the lower ranks this year ,,Just JSB

here is the bike you are talking about ,,,which makes Eastons bike even better ,,he has been campaining that thing for years and it goes quite well to

Stephen

[slowpoke]

Just logged on after the weekend and read through resulting storm of opinions and thought I might as well revive a spluttering thread.

My thoughts:

1) I think racers like being able to buy/ride a street bike and get a taste for racing with the same bike, which makes GP style two strokes a difficult proposition for all but the very comitted. See any trade me add for a race bike and one of the first questions asked is usually "can it be road registered?". A road capable race bike is a far more attractive option for prospective racers than something that sits in the shed 350 days of the year, and is far easier to on sell.

2) At club level I think most racers would prefer more shorter races (3 x 8laps) than less longer ones (2 x 12laps). The way the field spreads out I think the spectators would also enjoy the races more. The starts and initial tussling for position are the most exciting part of a race unless the race is very close, which is less likely the longer the race goes on. This would also have the added benefit of giving the aspiring riders more exposure to the better riders, thereby giving them the chance to improve before they guns disappear into the distance.

3) The availabilty of instruction for those riders who are serious about improving themselves. Maybe the clubs could run trackdays for aspiring or novice racers with the bonus of some setup, bike prep, or riding tips from some more experienced racers. I for one would be keen to actually participate in something that would actively help me improve my riding (gawd knows I need it...) rather than just hammering around at a trackday with little idea of what to do to actually improve. The riders would improve, the clubs could make a bit of dosh, and more people might get on the track.

[kickingzebra]

6 or 8 lap races go by far too quickly, slightly longer allows race craft to be practised, rather than just straight out sprinting skills.

[cowpoos]

6 or 8 lap races go by far too quickly, slightly longer allows race craft to be practised, rather than just straight out sprinting skills.

I dunno man....some of us need to stop for a sausage roll a cuppa and a smoke after 6-8 laps!!

[JayRacer37]

I dunno man....some of us need to stop for a sausage roll a cuppa and a smoke after 6-8 laps!!

Nah, KZ is right...longer races. none of the stuff o'seas is short...lets bring our standards up too.

[kickingzebra]

We will all learn more in longer races, and be able to consolidate skills faster, hence lifting the standard, making racing in NZ (perish the thought) something that the general public might actually want to see.

[Goblin]

We will all learn more in longer races, and be able to consolidate skills faster, hence lifting the standard, making racing in NZ (perish the thought) something that the general public might actually want to see.

Agree 100%! I'd love to do some 10-20 lap racing. Longest races I've ever done were 6 laps and I was just warming up. Most of my best times are the last lap. I'm all for longer races.