<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Talpa @ Jul 17 2009, 09:56 PM)
<{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>His team would not exist without the sport??!! His team would have no money to pay him without the public buying Ducati's, alpinestars leathers, nolan helmets, Shell V-power.....do I need to go on?
You would not know who Casey Stoner is without the fans buying these products....I think though that Casey is doing a good job at pleasing his fans, people who like him are generally like him-pretty bland and serious-meat and 2 veg types (married at his age??-with all the potentials of his status??!!), people who like Rossi are the opposite. And the two shall never agree, that is what makes this sport entertaining. Like it or not the personalities do dictate where your allegiance lies.
Well, yes you do need to go on and I will argue (debate) why.
People were buying all of these products well before Casey Stoner rode for Ducati, or used Aloinestar leathers, Nolan Helmets etc. So each of these companies is not dependent on Casey Stoner for the marketing of their products as they have numerous marketing forces behind them to make the consumer buy the product just as these same companies will not be dependent on CS when he leaves. This alos means that these numerous marketing forces are able to ensure sufficient funds for these companies to pay Stoner today.
Whilst riders will say that they are there for the fans in truth, the fans are not the primary reason for the rider being in this game. The fans are an integral part however and as such they can determine certain aspects of popularity which some riders covet, whilst others have no such illusions.
But to say that we would not lnow of CS without the products and fans purchasing of these products is a different argument altogether and one that I believe is flawed. Many people who follow sprt will recognise talent and follow it without buying the products that the rider may endorse or those products of their sponsors. This does not show a lack of support but many people already have products with which they are happy so will not change, certainly however some may change brands but personally I do not.
CS is there first and foremost to ride bikes extremely fast, which is something he can do well and as such that draws attention onto him and his tealent. Fans swanning around in Ducati jackets, Nolan helmets etc do not bring the attention to Stoner, but his riding does. I would even go so far as to say that most people could not tell you the sponsors of CS not Ducati. Yes they may get some but they will not get all and that is because most people simply do not really care.
As a slight aside, the only two helmet designs that I recognise when I see a replica on teh street are Rossi and Doohan, I simply could not tell you the designs of other helmets because I focus on the racing and riding, not merchandising.
As for personalities, absolutely as people will be drawn to support a rider because of the riders personality and achievements. But to generalise Stoner's fans in terms of 'pretty bland and serious-meat and 2 veg types' could be risky as to generalise Rossi fans as all being good humoured, fun loving always smiling characters would be wrong.
Garry
i was answering to this
