| Author | Message | ||
     Trojan |
By the logic you offer, MotoGP would be the only Moto road racing that people want to watch. Here's the truth: It's more about money. If DMG announced a $10M purse for future Daytona 200 races, we'd see top racers from around the world flocking to get in on the action, and the television networks would be eager to obtain the broadcast rights. When it comes to just about any sporting competition, the greater the prize, the more interest by fans. No misdirection Blake, I just hadn't seen your earlier post  MotoGP is pretty much the only road racing that millions of people want to watch in a lot of countries. Outside of the English speaking world and Italy (where any bike sport is guaranteed an audience!) Moto GP is the only class that attracts audiences of any decent size. If I remember correctly the TV viewing figures for Spain alone are in the region of 25 million every GP (More for Spanish races). Superbikes actually get a tiny fraction of that volume and by your own admissions AMA Superbike gets very little at all. You are also right about the money. BUT...that brings us full circle once again. Where will DMG/AMA get that kind of money when people are not investing in it because of the poor (and very publicly poor) organisation? If they did manage to attract a multi million dollar purse for one race then of course you would get the worlds best riders competing. That is exactly what used to happen at Daytona and Ontario amongst other events back in the day, and those event attracted ALL of the top road racers and factory teams in the world. I remember watching Daytona when you would have Hailwood, Agostini, Saarinen, Sheene, Read and all the top world stars battling the US riders for the big prize back in the early 70's, and although contracts and sponsorship deals would probably preclude that kind of star turn out these days you would still get a good selection of world stars IF (and probaly only if) the race itself was run to rules that the rest of the world recognise and already run. What rules would you run to attract the best in the world? MotoGP? WSBK? Supersport? I doubt if any of the big foreign teams would build an AMA spec only bike for just one event, regardles of how lucrative that event was. The moment the event was over though everyone would pack up and leave again. The AMA can't afford to offer millions at every round or every event, so the rest of the season would be even more stripped bare just to pay for the one big event. Racing is in a crisis, and changes will have to be made worldwide very soon. I and millions of other fans worldwide don't want to see any watering down of the classes at all, but it will probably happen. The trick is to keep everyone happy and on board while making those changes, and not to alienate any segment of the pie that makes up the sport, be it riders, teams, sponsors, fans, manufacturers, TV networks etc etc. That is where the AMA/DMG has got it wrong and why the series is now devalued in he eyes of an awful of those people in the pie. | ||
| Crusty |
You know, this sounds crazy, but part of me wants to see Haga win. Spies is moving on to Moto GP, but Haga is staying to race the real bikes. While I like Spies, and I enjoy seeing a fellow American win, Haga has heart, and has worked his ass off to still be in contention. I think the last round is going to be a very interesting race. Hopefully as good as the Edwards/Corser war was. | ||
| Blake |
"You are also right about the money. BUT...that brings us full circle once again. Where will DMG/AMA get that kind of money when people are not investing in it because of the poor (and very publicly poor) organisation? " You just can't stop beating the DMG sucks drum. LOL. Matt, to bet against DMG is just plain not wise. They made mistakes this year and they suffered the antics of some very unprofessional employees. They've also made a number of adjustments, and I'll be surprised, very surprised if the unprofessionalism is not once and for all properly dispatched. So what are you saying? That AMA was somehow wonderfully successful before DMG took the reins? No, then what??? There's no where to go but up, period. Back to your original contention, that a slight reduction to the allowed modifications to ASBK is going to render the racers unable to move to WSBK? BALONEY! That is just pure nonsense. The very best riders will always have a ride in whatever series they like. "Racing is in a crisis" Mate. Not in America. We just added two entirely new venues to the series and one saw record attendance. We have two MotoGP events here. We'd have more and at least three or four WSBK events if the distribution of races was geologically fair. (Message edited by blake on October 09, 2009) | ||
| Blake |
Jaime, If I had to bet, I'd bet on Ben. That young man is a pit bull when the chips are down. Recall the last race of the season one year ago at Laguna Seca? Mladin didn't know what hit him. That said, Nori is cut from much the same cloth. I hope it is frighteningly close racing either way. Another stupid tire choice, the bike running out of fuel, or either of them being punted by another racer would be a real let-down. | ||
| Vagelis46 |
I think Spies lost a lot of points at Imola. Was his mind on his new motoGP deal ?? Haga and Spies are the best WSBK riders. But for historical reasons, Haga should win this title. But it would be better if he did it with Yamaha. Spies has many titles to win in the future. | ||
| Trojan |
"Racing is in a crisis" Mate. Not in America. We just added two entirely new venues to the series and one saw record attendance. We have two MotoGP events here. We'd have more and at least three or four WSBK events if the distribution of races was geologically fair. If you think that racing is not iin a financial crisis in the USA then you are obvioulsy watching some other sport entirely (or have some pretty good rose tinted glasses). New venues don't mean that the sport is financially secure at all, just that AMA hasn't raced there before. Manufacturers, sponsors and teams pulling out should at least hint at some severe financial restrictions? Having record attendance at one new circuit also doesn't mean anything, as by definition a NEW circuit will get record attendance at its first meeting anyway. How many other rounds rcorded record attendance in 2009? Why should the US have more MotoGP or WSBK races when it is pretty clear that most people in the US don't appear to want them anyway? If races were worked out geographically then China and Russia would get a few more too, and Africa doesn't have any except the WSBK round at Kyalami! Haga and Spies are the best WSBK riders. But for historical reasons, Haga should win this title. But it would be better if he did it with Yamaha. Spies has many titles to win in the future. I couldn't agree more. I hope Haga wins just because he has been trying for so long and has been so close in the past. Spies is still young and I'm sure will be around for a long time to win titles, but Haga mustbe looking at retirement soon and it would be nice to see him win it at last. | ||
| Blake |
I'm just weary of the over-use of the "crisis" label. Tough economic times are not crises; they are just challenges. Racing will survive and thrive. It always has. | ||
| Jaimec |
This is it! The final weekend. If anyone can win two in a row with his back up against the wall, it's Ben Spies! | ||
| Jaimec |
Provisional pole has Spies third, Haga ninth. Rea is on the pole. Superpole tomorrow! | ||
| Crusty |
Holy Smokes!!! Look who's on the pole! | ||
| Jaimec |
And Haga in tenth. Of course, Haga has won from down that low before, but he'll have a harder time getting up to Ben at the front. Unless, of course, Fabrizio decides to "take one for the team" again. God I hope its a clean couple of races tomorrow!! | ||
| 46champ |
Ah but Haga doesn't have to beat Spies in both races, but if Spies wins both races and Haga finishes 2nd Haga still looses championship. | ||
| Backcountryme |
Great races. Good job Ben. Keep it up next year. | ||
| Jaimec |
Disappointed it wasn't a balls-to-the-walls fight to the end, and I'm VERY surprised Fabrizio took the win in Race 2. Next year is definitely Haga's year, though. He's learned the bike, knows the tracks, and with Ben gone... who's to challenge him?? Break out year for Yamaha, though! In one day they sealed THREE World Championships! MotoGP (Valentino Rossi) WSBK (Ben Spies) WSS (Cal Crutchlow) The WSBK title is the FIRST for the tuning fork company, and it was won by a ROOKIE seeing most of the tracks for the first time, riding a brand new (and unfamiliar) bike. Amazing, the more you think about it. Look out, MotoGP: Here comes the Texas Terror! | ||
| Blake |
Ben Spies of Longview, Texas is the 2009 WSBK champion. Pretty cool. Also pretty cool was his brief interview with SpeedTV last night where he said that the high level of competition in America prepared him very well for WSBK. Haga has proved time and again that he is not a champion. I like him, but he is not a champion. Yamaha for sure is dominating in the top series. So nice to see Honda struggling for a change. | ||
| Endoman33 |
way to go Ben Spies | ||
| Jaimec |
I think that was the closest you'll ever see to Ben thanking the ornery cuss who was his team mate in AMA for four years. Certainly no one else in AMA SB pushed him that hard. WSBK must've seemed like a vacation compared to those days. Hey, he was even FRIENDLY with his fiercest competitor in this series! | ||
| Bads1 |
Blake, I am happy with the WSB results but saying Haga isn't a champion?? Come on man. The guy had a injury this year and the points were close right down to the wire. I think he has proven this year he is champion material. | ||
| Simond |
I still don't like watching Nori on the Ducati. It's just not right having him on anything but the Yamaha. Ducati Team orders at Imola and Portimau would have made up the difference between Spies and Haga but that is never good to watch. .......and yes I know Spies would have just ridden harder in race 2 to get the points he needed anyway. A well deserved WSBK Champion and an impressive result for Crutchlow in the ultra competitive Supersport class in his rookie year. | ||
| Gaesati |
Roll on valencia for Spies!! | ||
| 46champ |
I don't think team orders have a thing to do with it. I think Nori has a STUPID EGOTISTICAL IDIOT for a teammate. | ||
| Trojan |
I don't think team orders have a thing to do with it. I think Nori has a STUPID EGOTISTICAL IDIOT for a teammate. More fool Ducati for re-signing Fabrizio so early in the season. If they had held his contract until the end of the season maybe he would have been more amenable to team orders. As it stood, he had nothing lose by taking points away from Haga. | ||
| Blake |
"taking points from Haga" The best racer by far won the championship. Team orders are for those who are unable to win a championship outright. | ||
| Fast1075 |
Spies has been a winner since his youngest days...he won it, he worked for it, he deserved it...period... | ||
| Backcountryme |
Team orders have no place in motorsports. If it takes team orders for you to win a championship then it is pretty hollow. | ||
| Blake |
Some folks just cannot stand to see an American, let alone a American Rookie in WSBK, blow the competition off the track like young Ben Spies did. Better to try to paint a picture where the runner up might-could/should have won instead. It's nonsense. | ||
| Backcountryme |
Ben won it fair and square. The kid rode his ass off. | ||
| 46champ |
Hey I'm glad Spies won the title, but if I was a manager for any factory backed race team and I needed a #2 rider which Fabrizio is and by the time we get 2/3 the way thru the season he can't figure out which place he should take he is to stupid to race for me. The're several tens of millions of sales hinged on who wins the world championship his job to first sell bikes glory is a by product. | ||
| Trojan |
Some folks just cannot stand to see an American, let alone a American Rookie in WSBK, blow the competition off the track like young Ben Spies did. Better to try to paint a picture where the runner up might-could/should have won instead. It's nonsense. Unbelievable! Why do you have to try and bring it down to an argument over nationality again? The riders passport has noting to do with it and I don't care if the guys come from Europe, the US or Venus to be honest. The comment made was that Fabrizio took 10 points away from Haga when he should not have done. FACT. If he had followed his team orders then Haga would be 10 points better off, but that doesn't mean he would have won the championship as Spies was obviously riding well within himself in race two and could probably have countered a move by Haga. I'm sure that if Tom Sykes had taken 10 points away from Spies in the very last race you would be making heated comments about that. The title came down to two very talented riders, and Haga threw it away in race one when he crashed. To say that Spies 'blew the competition off the track' is a little too strong as it all came down to the very last race of the season to see who won. Now the season is over I am already looking forward to the 2010 MotoGP and WSB series as I think both will prove to be even better and with even closer racing than this year | ||
| Liquorwhere |
I cannot believe I am in the abyss till next march....I hate the end of the season...time to watch supercross I guess....well the truly silly season is upon us, so let's see if there are any bombshell announcements to at least get the blood flowing. Ben races in spain this weekend, so we shall see how he does, but with limited time a top ten would be like a win I think. |
