Why do people watch moto gp?

A common argument for stoner fans at the moment seems to be " so do people only watch moto gp to watch rossi?"

The answer to this is partly yes.

People have to remember there will be various people watching for different reasons.

1 - They are bikers themselves and love everything from the riders to the build up of the bikes.

2 - they are interested in it enough to watch it but dont ride themselves.

3 - Rossi has been a massive name in moto gp for the past 10 years. People will tell their friends about this amazing rider theyve seen which will make them start watching it. People have followed rossi through his career as they see him as incredible. Even the commentators describe him as possibly the best motocyle racer theyve ever seen. What people must understand is a selection of people wil have watched moto gp <u>because </u> of rossi which is why they find races duller than before.

People on this forum cannot expect everyone to love moto gp because of the sport as they need to take into account different peoples views on it.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tinks @ Aug 29 2007, 03:08 PM) [snapback]87473[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
A common argument for stoner fans at the moment seems to be " so do people only watch moto gp to watch rossi?"

The answer to this is partly yes.

People have to remember there will be various people watching for different reasons.

1 - They are bikers themselves and love everything from the riders to the build up of the bikes.

2 - they are interested in it enough to watch it but dont ride themselves.

3 - Rossi has been a massive name in moto gp for the past 10 years. People will tell their friends about this amazing rider theyve seen which will make them start watching it. People have followed rossi through his career as they see him as incredible. Even the commentators describe him as possibly the best motocyle racer theyve ever seen. What people must understand is a selection of people wil have watched moto gp <u>because </u> of rossi which is why they find races duller than before.

People on this forum cannot expect everyone to love moto gp because of the sport as they need to take into account different peoples views on it.


I can quite see your point of view. Even as a stoner fan, I can't see him ever having as much style/charisma as rossi, whatever he achieves. He certainly to this point has shown little sign of a sense of humour. I don't find rossi so amusing now, but he was great in his younger days when he didn't take himself very seriously (carrying an inflatable doll on his victory lap in the 125s etc).

People watch for a myriad of reasons,such as;

to see Vale beaten
to see Casey beaten
to see riders fall (if you`re that sick)
to see tyre smoke
to support their fave rider
to simply honour past riders in the sport
to honour riders killed whilst racing
to see Nicky defend his title (not this year though)
to see 125/250 riders develop

.......the list could be endless,these are just a few that came to mind.

I would say Rossi is responsible for 90% of new motogp fans in the last ten years.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Reel Nauti @ Aug 29 2007, 04:58 PM) [snapback]87487[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
I would say Rossi is responsible for 90% of new motogp fans in the last ten years.


perhaps indirectly. New fans do not all support Rossi, however the sport has increased in popularity a lot since Rossi's arrival and he can be partially credited with the growth in commercial success and accessability of the sport, particularly in non latin countries. However i think the switch to 4 strokes has had a possibly larger affect than Rossi in terms of TV coverage, marketability and interest in motogp racing.

I watch motogp because i love bike racing and this is as good as it gets. It doesn't matter who the riders are, we know they are the very best in the world.

What a great question Tinks.

I suppose people tune in for various reasons. One of which, as you point out, revolves around Rossi.

We have something similar here in the States. The most successful baseball franchise is the New York Yankees. Most baseball fans either love them or hate them, yet they may be fans of other teams. I for one am a Los Angeles Dodgers fan. We say we love to hate the Yankees, and the San Francisco Giants. (Why? Well a long time ago, all three teams were from New York and there was a rivalry). But more to your point, its this issue that when one team or person has so much success, we on the other side of the fan club have this tendency of booing them (or hating them). Its just part of sport. I’ve never met Rossi personally, but I don't root for him because I'm a Hayden fan. But guess what, I tune in to see Rossi too. I hope he gets beat. But to Rossi fans, this should be a badge of honor, because it is your guy who we are chasing and is considered the standard of success.

But the above is simply the story line and nothing more. I tune in because I am fist a motorcycle fanatic. I like bikes. I liked bikes before I even knew there was such a thing as MotoGP. I love to see these men manage these machines I love so much and do amazing things with them. That is first and foremost why I tune in. BTW, I tune into anything that has to do with bikes (motocross, freestyle, bike building, etc). Perhaps the most amazing things ever done on a bike, in my opinion, have been accomplished by Travis Pastrana. So good question Tinks, I don't tune ing just just for the racing, not just for Hayden or Rossi. These men have become the instruments of my enjoyment because they are on bikes, but when they are gone, I will continue to tune in.

How about that it's simply great entertainment on many different levels?!

I watch it because I like motorbikes and I like racing

That's the reason why everyone watches it, obviously you're going to see riders you like and dislike and you cheer them on etc... when watching, but to put it simple, its because we like the sport.

I watch because I love motorcycles and motorcycle racing. I have been watching grand prix racing for almost 20 years. It's my absolute favourite sport and nothing comes even remotely close.
It got me into riding bikes and I have been doing so for the last 15 years.
As for the question of Rossi I have loved watching him from his 125's and on. His chicken themed antics used to hilarious, and I have no doubt in my mind I have watched pure greatness on a motorcycle. I once thought he was the greatest ever but I have come to realise that you really can't compare eras (although I would have loved to see Rossi against Doohan on a 500).
As for this season, I will support an Aussie because I am one and I could see the talent Stoner has and now he's starting to shine it's fantastic!
Grand prix racing will continue without Rossi and the show will go on - no one sportsman is ever bigger than their sport!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Son of Doohan @ Aug 29 2007, 09:33 PM) [snapback]87530[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
Grand prix racing will continue without Rossi and the show will go on - no one sportsman is ever bigger than their sport!


Exactly.. look at F1, things have move don pretty quickly from Schumacher haven't they?

I watch racing because I love to see people over come a tough challenge and triumph in the end. Nothing is more exciting then watching 2,3,4,etc racers battle it out lap after lap and have a race come down to the final corners. Conversely nothing is more boring then watching someone get way out in the front, and win without an unchallenged fight (although I do respect their skills at maintaining that high of level without the need of someone "racing" them).

For me I have always enjoyed rooting on the underdog, the guy who has always been right there, but just can't quite get a win or championship. I also love to see a comeback, for example it was great watching Rossi come from back in the pack and win Assen this year. I love to cheer on my favorites but its not the reason why I watch. For some people its the love of sports heroes for other is the love of the sport itself. Moto GP is about competitive racing, so long as there is competition and great racing, I will be there, even if the heroes come and go.

Why do i watch GP?
The bikes,the advancement of bikes,admiration of all riders even though i have favorites.Did i mention bikes,oh yea and

Umbrella girls

Im a racing fanatic and i will prove it to you.Im riding hundreds of miles this weekend to watch AMA Superbike racing at Road Atlanta and will be on the road Sunday when GP is aired.Thank whoever for tivo.

im hoping like in soccer nicky wins and has the sudden desire to rip off his shirt

Pure and simply its the best sport on the planet.. Skillful, adrenaline pumping, hair raising competition that is extremely closely fought... Often with three or four manucaturers duking it out at the front with a fantastic tyre war being fought at the same time.. All this at 300kph+ mind you.. What more could you want?

Perhaps this sounds a bit fruity, but I watch motorcycle racing for the aesthetic appeal. I watch MotoGP for the competition as well and to cheer on my countrymen in an international venue. However, I watch motorcycling in general for visceral reasons.

I can't be on my bike at a track day 24/7. In fact, I rarely make it to roadways where I can ride with reckless abandon. Watching motorcycling helps me enjoy motorcycles even when I can't be on one.

I'm somewhat obsessed with activities that are managed chaos. When you get a motorcycle on its side, you have a machine groaning to be stood back up. Tires squealing, engine trying to throw its parts to the outer extremities of our solar system, brakes hissing, exhaust trying to rupture your eardrums. Plus, you have a hurricane force wind trying to knock you off the back and tarmac reaching up from just a few inches below trying to get a taste of your nutrient rich epidermis.

But in the midst of this melee your mind is clear. Completely relieved from any moral responsibility to engage in upper level reasoning, the mind focuses on managing the choas on an instictual level. Why else would riding around in circles is so therapeutic?

Like I said, kind of out there, but that's what makes it so addicting. That's what I'm looking for when I watch MGP or any other form of motorcycling.

@Sheri - didn't Toseland already pull the Chastain for all motorcycledom?

The only reason I watch it is because my wife HATES it!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(michaelm @ Aug 29 2007, 04:23 PM) [snapback]87481[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
I can quite see your point of view. Even as a stoner fan, I can't see him ever having as much style/charisma as rossi, whatever he achieves. He certainly to this point has shown little sign of a sense of humour. I don't find rossi so amusing now, but he was great in his younger days when he didn't take himself very seriously (carrying an inflatable doll on his victory lap in the 125s etc).



I just feel in some of the threads a lot of comments particularly from some stoner fans not necessarily all is tht oh " so do people only watch moto gp for rossi" i was simply pointing out the answer for some people is yes and its not a bad thing its just their own opinion, however in arguments it is always said as though that person has shallow reasons for watching.

plain and simple,, i enjoy it.
close racing, scandle, mind games, all of it.

My husband has been a fan forever...but as much as I hate to admit it, it was Rossi's antics and over the top personality that caught my attention. From there, I became more and more interested in the racing and all of the riders.

Like Roger-m, I enjoy every aspect of it, including the scandal and personalities. I only wish the US coverage included more "extra" stuff. I think all of the guys are the coolest boys on the planet!

But Rossi was the hook.

Its quite strange when you think about it really. I think if anybody should be congratulated with the recent sucsess of motogp, it should be Dorna. They've made great steps from taking motogp from an event that had people on the track on the last lap, to a sport that almost rivals F1 in professionalism. And I agree that Rossi has brought in an influx of ravid lunitics, sorry I meant fans to motogp but I dont think its the 90 percent that someone already mentioned. Dont forget that MotoGP's most watches season was also the year that Rossi lost his crown.
I also think that MotoGP's growth has alot to do with the borefest thats known as F1. This may come as abit of a shock to alot of F1 die hards but some people actually want to see some racing and they aint gonna get it from F1.

IMO people could see the rise of motogp years back, it just lacked the professional appeal that it has now.