Si Racha - Thailand MXGP

[wavydave13]

Do you really believe having someone from YS join in here would do any good? Mich has already said he contacted them with a view to them improving communication but it's absolutely clear that the anti YS crew don't want that. What on earth could YS achieve by posting on here? Everything they said would be dismissed as propoganda. Incidentally, when did Mitch ever say or even suggest he was connected at YS?

Away from MX but not too far. World Enduro has ABC (enduro's version of YS) and things are the best they've ever been. Better show, better exposure, better tracks, better special tests but the number of riders has reduced and the money isn't where it was a few years ago. So things are much better and there are fewer paid rides; the reason? Because there's not as much money available for sponsorship. At last weekends World Enduro in Chile at least two of the top 8 riders don't get a wage from a team.

In the USA the biggest dirt bike series by far is GNCC but last years XC2 champion can't get a full on paid ride (no offence meant to Wattsy who has come up with the goods). None of the Japanese factories have supported teams and money from big sponsors has reduced substantially. Suzuki, Yamaha and Kawasaki are all losing money on motorcycle production.

In his interview (referenced on another thread) Steve Turner mentioned the cost of the two recent fly away GPs being something like £25,000. That's a fair bit to race motorbikes twice round a bumpy field !

Youthstream's entry fees do add up but they're not the major obstacle. The problem is the all up cost and that's what needs controlling. Youthstream will keep doing what they do until there's a majority saying "stop, we need to do it differently".

I'm reliably informed that Herling's SXF250 has 50hp. Bikes like that drive the costs up enormously as everyone plays catch up. Those costs need controlling. Moto 3 and to a lesser extent Moto 2 do it.

What about travel costs? Of course it's good to have a genuine world championship but not at any cost surely.

KTM don't seem to give a toss about the costs and it's likely that the other factory teams think in a similar way. That's not healthy. Those teams are the ones who have the real influence but it seems they're ok so sod everyone else. Unless all the teams get together and lobby Youthstream it's unlikely things will change substantially - what are Youthstream expected to do when they're being told, by the teams, that it's all ok?

I agree with all you say except the last sentence. youthstream are making sure the teams are looked after. it's the riders money that is the problem .

[PhilG]

Away from MX but not too far. World Enduro has ABC (enduro's version of YS) and things are the best they've ever been. Better show, better exposure, better tracks, better special tests but the number of riders has reduced and the money isn't where it was a few years ago. So things are much better and there are fewer paid rides; the reason? Because there's not as much money available for sponsorship. At last weekends World Enduro in Chile at least two of the top 8 riders don't get a wage from a team.

When ABC ran Supermoto, it was on the up , they got a huge crowd at Lydden for a round of the Euros, YS ran the worlds at Lydd , a month later and had one man and his dog.........Alain Blanchard is a top top bloke , he should be FIM president.

[RattraySx]

UKAF,

most of us so called anti YS guys on the forum have been asking for exactly what you have said.

Reduced costs all around which the majority YS is ultimately responsible for whichever way you look at it. Promotor, travel, entry fees are all directly driven by youth stream. Their job as a promotor is to produce the best they can but surely it also take into consideration with what they have and not what they can get. A promotor with such a long contract with the FIM should be safe guarding the teams/riders more. When the worlds economy does eventually recover (3 years at best from now which is being very optimistic) then the series should start pushing towards a more elitist model (if the finances allow it). Right now and for the past 4-5 years that has not been the case.

YS have tested the waters for the past few years with the current model and not exactly brought the money in for the teams (or they would be trying to step up to GP level from domestic). Now is the time to reduce costs, introduce some caps on the bikes, logistically move around the series a little smarter to minimise travel. Bring back better racing, push the younger riders to the top and reap the benefits of that effort when the time comes financially.


But I doubt very much we will see that happen. Share holders to greedy to see the forrest for the trees.

[Fraser]

In direct response to some of the comments above, YS yesterday laid out their various social media platforms-

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MXGP
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MXGPlife
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/MXGP
Instagram: http://instagram.com/MXGPlife
Foursquare: https://foursquare.com/user/48769957
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/MXLIFEtv

So in future if you have an issue with YS you can tell them direct via their facebook page etc. How long criticism will be tolerated has yet to be seen.

Thanks Geoff.

[biker85]

Roger Harvey (honda europe): most fantastic thing about the qatar and thailand gp ... 40 riders behind the gate in the superfinal, it was awesome. Sad thing abouth the superfinal ... mix between mx1 and mx2

[biker85]

steve dixon and the superfinal

https://soundcloud.com/mxlarge-1/ste...interview-2013