Anyone still follow local Superbikes etc?

http://www.mcnews.com.au/NewsArchives/2011/April/Racing.htm
Doesnt sound flash..

Add to that Super-X has gone tits up owing a million odd if I read it right...

http://www.mcnews.com.au/NewsArchives/2011/April/SX_Bust.pdf

 

It doesn't look at all good that Super-X report, there's bugger all
assets and a pile of debt.

Unless someone comes up with a lot of money quickly (unlikely) they're
gone for good.


G-S

 

It doesn't look at all good that Super-X report, there's bugger all

yea, I think bike racing in general isnt in a good way.

anyone been to an Aussie superbike meeting in last 5yrs? do they get any
crowd?

 

In aus.motorcycles on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 11:08:25 +0000 (UTC)

It's better on television is why.

Racing's really only worth it if you are doing it, and most racing in
NSW with the (possible) exception of post classic is way too
expensive for most people.

I was impressed at the size of the paddock for the bracket racing in
South Oz. And each racer brought a few people to help and to watch.

Bracket racing is about the times not the bike, so in the top class
you had at one end a drum braked TZ250 and at the other a couple of
1196 Ducatis. Meanwhile at the bottom end of the timesheets were
bikes that had been lockwired and taped up for the weekend and would
go back on the road on Monday competing with various racebikes that
had been pulled out of mothballs or put together from whatever was
around. (and a scatter of post classic racers...)

Point is that money didn't matter except at the top end, and even then
you didn't need the massive amounts you do to do superbikes. Of
course if you are travelling you need a lot (the TZ came from Qld) and
you aren't going to make a national championship out of it, but who
much cares?

If you can't get TV the big expensive race classes will die. The dirt
bike circus does well at TV and live, roadraces can't ever be that
good live.

Only future racing has got is to run classes you can compete in
without spending a house's worth of money every year.

Zebee

 

I disagree.
I've taken the trouble to ride from Perth to PI 12 times in the last
15 years to watch the MotoGP live rather than 0n TV.
There's no way it's better on TV. OTOH I've never been to an Aussie
Superbike meeting. I did go to Bathurst twice in the eighties.
Although once from Sydney.

Theo

Zebee Johnstone" wrote in message

In aus.motorcycles on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 11:08:25 +0000 (UTC)

It's better on television is why.

Racing's really only worth it if you are doing it, and most racing in
NSW with the (possible) exception of post classic is way too
expensive for most people.

 

In aus.motorcycles on Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:32:40 +0800

Did you go to watch the GP or for the social aspect?

If there was no one else you knew there, perhaps only a handful of
people, and it was only one day and no camping would you go?

Zebee

 

"Zebee Johnstone" wrote

In aus.motorcycles on Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:32:40 +0800

Did you go to watch the GP or for the social aspect?

If there was no one else you knew there, perhaps only a handful of
people, and it was only one day and no camping would you go?

------
I primarily went to watch the GP. On a couple of occasions when I knew
no-one else there.
I camped there because I had to camp somewhere.

Theo

 

I disagree.

years to watch the MotoGP live rather than 0n TV.

For the GP I'd agree with you, for world supers I agree - but for local Superbikes
and roadracing 99+% of the population would not know one name in the field
- I'd probably go as far as saying more than 95% of motorcycle owners wouldnt
know...


Very interesting write up from "Ex ASBK employee airs his view on the state
of Aussie road racing"
http://thomasr.org/blog/2011/04/fixing-motorcycle-racing-in-australia/

I cant believe how much bullshit and carry on is happening in the background.

maybe it was different, but there was little in the way of this sort of shit
when I was on NSW Roadrace Sub-Committee.. we just got on with the job.

 

Racing's really only worth it if you are doing it, and most racing in NSW
with the (possible) exception of post classic is way too expensive for most
people.
Yep, agree. even the basics like license and riding gear are gettin silly,
but most is insurance with the license.

you didn't need the massive amounts you do to do superbikes. Of

you aren't going to make a national championship out of it, but who much
cares?
If Im not competitive I didnt enjoy it even on the TZ350A

bike circus does well at TV and live, roadraces can't ever be that good live.
but even they are dying, maybe its mismanagement.

spending a house's worth of money every year.
pretty much what killed it for me, I wanted to do 600's but worked out 20-30k
wouldnt scratch the surface.

 

Late as usual; I can contribute some to this discussion.
Except for club meets, I attend most racing in Vic.
It would be an interesting challenge for a marketing expert to try and
make a
commercial success of local racing. Crowd attendance is so poor I
can't see
why promoters even bother to become involved. I think that from an
entertainment
perspective, the GP being the ultimate event is actually R.S. I don't
bother getting
to the track until lunchtime and if we didn't have good local input,
probably wouldn't
bother going at all. One just sits for most of the day doing nothing,
Even the on
track entertainment has lessened in quality in recent years. Yet the
crowd rolls up.

In contrast, the world supers has a lot more racing and yet draws a
much smaller crowd.
Within that event, is included quality local competition at the
highest level.
And, this is where it gets me, on the Sat arvo after qualifying, about
half the crowd
leaves the track and doesn't bother to watch the local boys at work???
They are riding within a couple of second of the worlds best who are
on much more expensive
machinery. Thus when it comes to Winton, or other racing at the
Island, generally the
Melbourne crew couldn't care less. The Classics draw a reasonable
crowd, but
in a couple of more years, most of them will have died of old age like
me.

Poliitics or not, seems to me - the people are just not interested.

 

In aus.motorcycles on Sun, 17 Apr 2011 11:57:24 +0000 (UTC)

That's why bracket is so good.

THe "bracket" you are in is based on your laptimes in practice and/or
last race at that track. And yes, sandbaggers find the blokes doing
the checking are wise to that!

So you ride in your time bracket with other people who have similar
laptimes. If you win a race or two, you might get promoted to the
next bracket.

So doesn't matter what you ride, what matters is how fast you are, and
you race against people who are about as fast as you are, so it's
close competitive racing.

Of course it's all amateur and grassroots because you can't get
sponsorship really, plus not national. But it gets the bikes out and
racing happening. Plus some of the bods at the top end are seriously
fast.

Zebee

 

Late as usual; I can contribute some to this discussion.

make a commercial success of local racing. Crowd attendance is so poor I
can't see why promoters even bother to become involved.

This is sort of what I was gettin at. Fawk knows how people these days attract
sponsors for Club Racing!

event is actually R.S. I don't bother getting to the track until lunchtime
and if we didn't have good local input, probably wouldn't bother going at
all. One just sits for most of the day doing nothing,
Yea, the GP has lost its attractiveness, but the Moto2 is right on the cash.

Yet the crowd rolls up.
I've never understood the planes flying over as "entertainment"...

even the stunt riders - they are only on the main straight! 98% of crowd
dont see shit

half the crowd leaves the track and doesn't bother to watch the local boys
at work???
Maybe its cause they arent "household names"... as said, 90% of AU bike riders
wouldnt know whose in the AU supers...

 

I still get out to watch the local round when the circus comes to town.
Generally Sunday-only though.

 

But are they decent crowds there Clem? Or do you have the place to yourself?
This is how I picture it.