Why do people watch moto gp?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tinks @ Aug 29 2007, 09:08 AM) [snapback]87473[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>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.

Fair enough. On the other hand, those who follow Moto GP just for Rossi must understand that fans of the sport itself are going to be annoyed when Rossi fans say the sport will be dull without him. It's as if they don't see the value of Moto GP.

Why do I watch? Well, I love racing. My life as an American race fan has been pretty depressing over the past few years. The demise of CART and the American Le Mans Series' troubles had me wondering when I would be able to enjoy racing again. You see, I'm no longer satisfied by watching bland, slow "stock" cars drone around in circles. I started out as a NASCAR fan, but my love for cars drew me to other forms of racing.

When I discovered CART, I was in heaven! Beautiful, technically interesting cars were racing closely and on a variety of circuits. And they were fast too, damn fast!

NASCAR just didn't cut it anymore. The cars were (and still are) fat, ugly slugs. And the seemingly endless schedule of ovals grew tiresome. The two road course races they had were an embarassment since most of the drivers had no idea how to road race. In addition, the cars looked ridiculous trying to change direction and slow down. It was a joke!

After "the split" with the Indy speedway finally began to get the best of CART, I moved on to sports car racing. The cars here were even better! While not as fast, you had a crazy variety of GTs and prototypes. These were the cars you dreamed of. Porsches, ferraris, Vipers, vettes, not to mention the ultra cool prototypes. My favorite sports car series was the ALMS.

Well, as the ALMS grew into a respectable force in the U.S. racing scene, the Frances (NASCAR's ruling family) had to step in. They turned their attentions to the Grand-American series. They wrote the rules for slow, ugly, relatively cheap cars and lured teams over. The Frances even handed out spnsorships to teams willing to run Grand-Am. The ALMS has floundered ever since. although factory involvement has recently increased.

Sad and distressed, I discovered Moto GP. I had never cared about bikes before, but I couldn't turn away! This series had cool machines. The tracks were, for the most part, cool. And its international popularity brought a certain intensity to each race. Throw in a return to the states, a familiar face in Nicky Hayden, and I'm in! Last year's rollercoaster ride really fortified my status as a Moto GP fan. I'll be watching when Rossi and Nicky are gone too.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(krusty @ Aug 30 2007, 08:45 PM) [snapback]87601[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
The only reason I watch it is because my wife HATES it!

What is wrong with your wife?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Checa_7 @ Aug 29 2007, 11:47 PM) [snapback]87533[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
Exactly.. look at F1, things have move don pretty quickly from Schumacher haven't they?


Thanks to Hamilton.
Myself i watch motogp because i enjoy it.
I prefer ofcourse races with fights for the top places instead of the few recent f1-like ones.

The thing is that most people need a 'hero' at the show.

That's why Ecclestone wanted Rossi at F1. He knew that without Schumacher around, his circus needed a new hero. And Rossi was perfect.

I watched a lot of F1 and was generally unhappy with it - 99% boring races. So I looked around. Unfortunately, American racing - NASCAR, Cart - though exciting were not readily available and then only in highlights so you can't really get a feel for a whole race. I've seen less NASCAR races on Telly than F1 but I've seen more good NASCAR races than F1 races.

However, one Sunday, I managed to get to watch Eurosport and there were some demented teenagers on 125cc. Wowee! This was at the very end of the 500cc and I was hooked. Simply put it was the racing. Sure, I loved Rossi, but it was the racing, the racing was brilliant. I love Motogp so much that Biaggi is my favourite rider in WSBK.

Hamilton has made F1 more interesting but the on track stuff is still dull. F1 is more interesting to talk about than watch.

I watch because the close racing is/was fantastic. F1 is boring since Senna Died.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Racejumkie @ Aug 30 2007, 03:52 AM) [snapback]87509[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
What a great question Tinks.

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

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.


Well RJ... this pretty much covers it for me as well, so rather than try to say the same thing in a different way I'll just lend my support to your wise words...