State of Superbike in NZ

[brads]

Just for the record,over the past few years Oamaru Honda as well as myself as supported
Shaun Harris
John Hepburn
Brian Humm
James Mcnutt
John Humm
McIver & Veitch
Shaun Harris
James Smith.
Riders need to do more for themselves to attract sponsors,the riders we have looked after were racers that became good friends and we gave them something to help them out,we have never had a rider send a cv or come to the shop asking for sponsorship,by the way? what do people class as sponsorship,money?how much?product?

[Tony.OK]

Just for the record,over the past few years Oamaru Honda as well as myself as supported
Shaun Harris
John Hepburn
Brian Humm
James Mcnutt
John Humm
McIver & Veitch
Shaun Harris
James Smith.
Riders need to do more for themselves to attract sponsors,the riders we have looked after were racers that became good friends and we gave them something to help them out,we have never had a rider send a cv or come to the shop asking for sponsorship,by the way? what do people class as sponsorship,money?(yes)how much?(lots)product?

Well if you're offering.........................

[enigma51]

sure, you guys are right, currently we racers (and crashers) put on a show. No one knows, and no one cares that the show is on. Why?

Answer that question and we have a REAL WORLD marketable commodity.

No one gets something for nothing.

Cause it aint rugby and therefore the average kiwi dont care or show any interest

Good example is the enduro scrivy is putting togethar. I have been trying to find some unconvential sponsors for myself (ie not fully bike related and defintely not a company that is sponsoring someone else). The one question that comes up every time. How many people are you expecting to watch? ..... hmmmmmmm I dont know?

No question about are you going to win or what is you race expectation its all about advertising (as it should be).

You guys wanna make a difference? Then make sure you tell eveyone about the enduro and start organizing some parties for the weekend so that those of us that want to race and put a show on can do that with backing!

[scrivy]

start organizing some parties for the weekend....... and put a show on......

Parties? Shows?? Fark!! I've gotta see this......

[R1madness]

Good on ya Brad. Nice to see that there are plenty of local support out there in the deep (in snow haha) south. Shame the other shops dont help out as much.
Sponsership comes in many forms from us. It depends on what the particular rider needs. Some need better gear, some cash, some entrys paid, others want engine work, or suspension, it just depends. As a side note we are happy to open our workshop afterhours free of charge (all night if needed) during national race weekends to help crashed or mechanical failures from anyone needing help. I dont care who they ride for or what brand or class. Like i say its all for the love of the sport. I dont ask anything in return.
Its true that most riders dont come asking for help with prepared CVs, but if they have the right attitude and will show up at the meetings and prizegivings wether they win or not then i will try to look after them. Brand is not important to me. Attitude is.

[Rob Taylor]

Dont forget KTL motorcycles in Auckland(Kerry Jeffs owner).They import second hand bikes from Japan & the USA. For the last year ,They have owned ,repaired & maintained Vicki (FLAME) & Drews Ducati 749r race bikes in association with the Anglo American Motorcycle club (A bunch of Harley & Triumph riders).The pit crew are Anglo club members. Natuarally ,for KTL, advertising is one reason,but the love of Motorcycles is the main reason. Im sure TV coverage would be welcomed by KTL also.Do the sums,2 Ducati 749r's. Its a big investment in the local race scene

[Shaun P]

With comments from Mr Shirriffs on Speed TV about not being able competitive on superbike and when he is one of the front runners how is anyone else going to be? Where does that leave the series if people of his caliber are turning away from the class? It is normally only a 2 or 3 horse race these days, are there any ways to fix it thru regs/control tyre etc??

Interestin how this has panned out, didnt see it comin....

[Robert Taylor]

125s, protwins, 600 production, 600 supersport, open superstock.

For once I basically agree with you. Superstock leaves engines completely stock but allows a can ( or a pipe ) and a power commander to smoothen out all the torque dips and therefore keep the suspension loaded. 600 production will prove the folly of running stock suspension!

[svr]

For once I basically agree with you. Superstock leaves engines completely stock but allows a can ( or a pipe ) and a power commander to smoothen out all the torque dips and therefore keep the suspension loaded. 600 production will prove the folly of running stock suspension!

It's the End of Ideology RT: the cold war ended, MMP, coalition governments & now even we agree!
And I'm sure you'd get a kick out of seeing us bounce around on 600s?!
With 8 Superbikes on the grid and a tougher year ahead, MNZ will surely make changes this winter. Is this the last year for NZ Superbikes?

[t3mp0r4ry nzr]

It's the End of Ideology RT: the cold war ended, MMP, coalition governments & now even we agree!
And I'm sure you'd get a kick out of seeing us bounce around on 600s?!
With 8 Superbikes on the grid and a tougher year ahead, MNZ will surely make changes this winter. Is this the last year for NZ Superbikes?

Hope so svr, purely for the selfish reasons that I want to run a superbike in 2010 and I dont really see the logic (and sunk costs) of opening up an engine that is already 150+whp in stock form!

[Robert Taylor]

It's the End of Ideology RT: the cold war ended, MMP, coalition governments & now even we agree!
And I'm sure you'd get a kick out of seeing us bounce around on 600s?!
With 8 Superbikes on the grid and a tougher year ahead, MNZ will surely make changes this winter. Is this the last year for NZ Superbikes?

And the end of Helengrad, thats a BIG result. I dont think its the end of Superbikes, we will see more as the series moves further north. Teretonga is at the ''end of the world ''and its costly to get there ( it must be pointed out that the people there are old world friendly, very refreshing ) That is one of the big issues re costs. But I think we should perhaps see a Superstock formula in S/bike and 600 Sports production, that WILL reduce costs significantly. No need to go overboard as has been suggested in certain quarters, thereby compromising safety, machine stability, advancing tyre degradation etc. Not getting into that argument again as there are a number of very rude emotional people that participate.
2 regular Superbike runners didnt make it, one decided to go on holiday offshore ( much more cost ) and one has pressure of work commitments. So not all is as clear cut as it seems....
The important thing is that the MNZ decisions are based on unemotional well researched data / findings by people that actually know a lot about the reasons.

[Robert Taylor]

Hope so svr, purely for the selfish reasons that I want to run a superbike in 2010 and I dont really see the logic (and sunk costs) of opening up an engine that is already 150+whp in stock form!

Id have to fundamentally agree and it would in fact be the biggest leveller. The time and money spent building a Superbike engine is scary.

[Rob Taylor]

Hope so svr, purely for the selfish reasons that I want to run a superbike in 2010 and I dont really see the logic (and sunk costs) of opening up an engine that is already 150+whp in stock form!

Yea keep the jap big 4s stock and let us hot the shit out of our 999 to 150 whp.That will make it interestingIf that was allowed we would run in superbike too

[White trash]

The important thing is that the MNZ decisions are based on unemotional well researched data / findings by people that actually know a lot about the reasons.

Robert, you and I agree on almost everything regarding bike racing. I think the money invested in tyres and suspension is a SMALL price to pay opposed to the dangers of not having good gear.

In regards to this particular comment about MNZ, I can not disagree more. I personaly feel that MNZ are by far the biggest reason street bike racing is on a very serious down turn. There's too much influence from the "old guard" and loyalty to the big sponsors.

Mate, I've raised issues with MNZ in the past, only to be ignored. During that period, I had a number of PMs and emails from those in support outlining some truly disgusting one sided rulings and decisions on MNZs part.

I've said it privately to a few people (most of whom aggreed) and now I'll say it very publicly.

New Zealand needs a renegade authority to provide a proper, realistic and truly unbiased alternative to MNZ sanctioned events. And this needs to happen soon.


This statement will undoubtably cost me one day, but bugger it, things need to change.

[White trash]

Teretonga is at the ''end of the world ''and its costly to get there ( it must be pointed out that the people there are old world friendly, very refreshing ) That is one of the big issues re costs.

Sorry, forgot to disagree with this bit too mate.

The Nationals race over five weekends, the SI rounds subsequent weekends. For North Island riders, the Invercargill round adds little to the overall cost of running a bike for a year. What's an extra grand when you've already thrown eighty away for the year?

Only an idiot (or Eddy) would race Timaru and Christchurch while not attending Teretonga.