First, Americans don't care about motorcycle racing. Therefore, few kids grow up thinking they want to race in MotoGP, SBK or any other series.
Second, Americans don't care about motorcycle racing so there's no real support series to develop talent.
Third, Americans don't care about motorcycle racing so the tracks are all in a state of disrepair and largely less safe than those around the world.
Fourth, Americans don't care about motorcycle racing so nobody wants to spend money on any of the things I've mentioned.
Fifth, Americans don't care about motorcycle racing so neither do would be sponsors here.
All that being said, I don't care if there's an American in the series. It means nothing to me. I like the racing regardless of the nationalities present. We have an absolute plethora of sporting options here. It's fine with me if this one remains largely ignored. I don't like the idea of going to Austin and wading through 100,000 people. I like the laid back nature of the racing culture here.
Of the three you mentioned above, I think Spies had the best shot and doing something special. I'm still confused about why he was so bad. He retired and I stopped thinking about him. Not to mention, I loudly cheered against him the year he beat my man Haga so I was never a Speez guy in the first place. Nicky suffered badly when the RCV was miniaturized and was once again fairly unfortunate to ride the Ducati at a time when it was a terrible bike. I won't be terribly upset when he's gone either. He should have taken the Ducati SBK offer but instead elected to remain in GP in far inferior equipment.
Finally, like I said, I enjoy the racing culture here. Stoner mentioned it in his book. American fans are not nationalistic in their rider choices. Most of us enjoy the sport organically and take the riders as they come. Several MotoGP riders have made reference to that. We don't cheer when someone crashes (except Jumkie who always cheers when Dani crashes). We don't boo the participants. I'm happy with the status quo.
Second, Americans don't care about motorcycle racing so there's no real support series to develop talent.
Third, Americans don't care about motorcycle racing so the tracks are all in a state of disrepair and largely less safe than those around the world.
Fourth, Americans don't care about motorcycle racing so nobody wants to spend money on any of the things I've mentioned.
Fifth, Americans don't care about motorcycle racing so neither do would be sponsors here.
All that being said, I don't care if there's an American in the series. It means nothing to me. I like the racing regardless of the nationalities present. We have an absolute plethora of sporting options here. It's fine with me if this one remains largely ignored. I don't like the idea of going to Austin and wading through 100,000 people. I like the laid back nature of the racing culture here.
Of the three you mentioned above, I think Spies had the best shot and doing something special. I'm still confused about why he was so bad. He retired and I stopped thinking about him. Not to mention, I loudly cheered against him the year he beat my man Haga so I was never a Speez guy in the first place. Nicky suffered badly when the RCV was miniaturized and was once again fairly unfortunate to ride the Ducati at a time when it was a terrible bike. I won't be terribly upset when he's gone either. He should have taken the Ducati SBK offer but instead elected to remain in GP in far inferior equipment.
Finally, like I said, I enjoy the racing culture here. Stoner mentioned it in his book. American fans are not nationalistic in their rider choices. Most of us enjoy the sport organically and take the riders as they come. Several MotoGP riders have made reference to that. We don't cheer when someone crashes (except Jumkie who always cheers when Dani crashes). We don't boo the participants. I'm happy with the status quo.
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Joined Apr 2015
1K Posts | 731+
neptune
Lingering inability of AMA Pro (MotoAmerica) to captivate TV audiences and attract manufacturer/sponsor interest. Even when AMA was "popular", it was actually just an infommerical the manufacturers paid to put on television. US racing hasn't been a sustainable business for a long time, hence AMA selling off the commercial rights and sanctioning to virtually all of their motorsport properties.
Without professional motorsport, American riders have no chance.
Without professional motorsport, American riders have no chance.
Joined Aug 2013
902 Posts | 508+
USA
Americans do care about motorcycle racing... the problem the last decade or so has been the AMA road racing program, not only the pro classes but the feeder series as well. there has been little if any support, poor marketing strategies, and they ...... over a lot of people and a lot of tracks. their most marketable class the last few seasons has been the XR1200 (Harley Davidson). the regional series have been good, CMRA and WERA, and are still very popular, but with out a quality national series, there is really nowhere to go.
things are different this year with Moto America, and its support classes, there is finally a viable next step for young riders to move to from out of their regions. take for example the KTM class, I had a number of customers run in that race last week. things are changing, its going to take a few seasons before we start to see riders move moto3 and moto2, but its going to happen.
things are different this year with Moto America, and its support classes, there is finally a viable next step for young riders to move to from out of their regions. take for example the KTM class, I had a number of customers run in that race last week. things are changing, its going to take a few seasons before we start to see riders move moto3 and moto2, but its going to happen.
If the decay we've witnessed in US motorcycle racing over the last decade happened in Spain or Italy do you suppose someone would have stepped in to stop it? I think so. Yet nobody here really made waves to revive the sport. No sponsors came running, no 30 for 30 ESPN stories were written....nothing. It just basically vanished. I don't truly believe there's American support for what happens effortlessly in Europe. Too many TV options are already available and viable.
Joined Feb 2008
3K Posts | 470+
Outback Steakhouse
I've enjoyed every race in the US I've attended ( Laguna, Austin, Daytona ). Met loads of very knowledge people. Made a lot of good friends....but I do agree with Levi. Motorcycle racing off all sorts ( Motorsport in general ) is ingrained in European culture and I could not imagine the sort of decline happening.
I really like the fact you can be at a motogp round and wander around without too much effort. Go to Brno and there's 145,000 on race day ( great place to go watch a race though )
I really like the fact you can be at a motogp round and wander around without too much effort. Go to Brno and there's 145,000 on race day ( great place to go watch a race though )
Joined Feb 2008
3K Posts | 470+
Outback Steakhouse
I actually watched a bit of the Indy500 when I was over in St Louis...I mean those chaps are not hanging around but after the first 20 laps I lost a bit of interest...
But I imagine being there may well be different....noise, atmosphere, 500,000 hicks
What's the difference between a hick and a red neck ??? Is that a stupid question ?
Joined Aug 2013
902 Posts | 508+
USA
you have to remember that the AMA for the most part is an amateur class, the premiere class or motorcycle racing in the US is MotoGP, up until last year there were 3 motogp races in the US, thats more then half a season in the last ama season
Joined Apr 2015
1K Posts | 731+
neptune
good question...maybe they are the same? hicks i think are upperclass rednecks?
i wish someone was redneck enough to clarify this...
Joined Feb 2008
3K Posts | 470+
Outback Steakhouse
Joined Feb 2008
3K Posts | 470+
Outback Steakhouse
Highlight of my last trip to St Louis was when I walked into a cafe 1 hour south of STL with a suit on and my laptop....open the door and walk in. The whole place stops and looks at me.
It was a bit like an audition for Duck Dynasty. Never seen so much Camo, beard, dungarees in one place....had the biscuits and gravy. Nice.
Later that day, a woman says ' nice accent, where you from ? Germany ? '
The rest of the population think I'm ... because my jeans are a bit too tight apparently.
I'm basically a ... German
It was a bit like an audition for Duck Dynasty. Never seen so much Camo, beard, dungarees in one place....had the biscuits and gravy. Nice.
Later that day, a woman says ' nice accent, where you from ? Germany ? '
The rest of the population think I'm ... because my jeans are a bit too tight apparently.
I'm basically a ... German
Joined Apr 2015
1K Posts | 731+
neptune
hahahahahahaahahahahahahahah! you guys over the pond def wear tighter pants than guys over here.
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Joined Feb 2008
3K Posts | 470+
Outback Steakhouse
Yeah I know ! So I'm sitting at a bar next to a man and his wife. He leans over and says you're either an artist, a hairdresser or ......or all three.
He says your jeans are too tight, they can't be comfortable.
Then he says tell me frankly ( as so as he said be frank, that's the green light ) what you think about the way I'm dressed.
I said you look like a very uncool version of Don Johnson from Miami Vice back in the 80's...plus your hair looks like someone has just dropped some road kill on top of your head. I did also say I wouldn't be seen dead dressed like that.
He said I didn't expect you to speak so frankly hahaha
He must have enjoyed the conversation though because I get the distinct feeling him and his wife were lining me up for a threesome
Joined Apr 2015
1K Posts | 731+
neptune
i'm not saying it's a bad thing, i do prefer when a when a guy wears a clothes that fit. i'm not talking skinny jeans like what girls wear, but if you look kind of ... (like all the motoGP riders when they are not in their leathers) then i approve. MM is particularly good at looking ... & handsome.
so carry on you tight pants mother .......
however - if your more of a girl than me. you can go sit on a .....
Joined Feb 2008
3K Posts | 470+
Outback Steakhouse
.... man, I warned you about the middle of the country. I wish I was wrong but I suspect is was being too kind. I'm on record not liking the Midwest, nothing appealing about it.
Joined Oct 2008
6K Posts | 5K+
In Cider
Be careful there Sparrow, in the UK 'Pants' are what we call underpants, what you call pants we call trousers.
So now you got me thinking, have you been pulling off mens trousers when you find out they are from the UK to see how much tighter their pants are than the average 'murican? PERVE!!!
No, Willski's pants/trousers are so tight they've pushed his .... & balls up into his body so he now has a vigina. Kinda like a verruca is to a wart, so does that make him more girl that sparrows?
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