A few days ago, MD asked the question “Is it possible for Supermoto to achieve a similar level of fan popularity to Supercross?” Here is what our readers had to say:
- Supermoto might attract some attention if it were to draw the top competitors from road racing, flat track, and motocross like it’s ancestor, “superbikers”, did back in the 70’s. However, even Moto GP is pretty well unknown here in the States, so Supermoto will never be huge. The silver lining to this lack of popularity is that it will remain more affordable and accessible to us hacks.
- It’s possible. But, I think it’s a matter of time and exposure. They need
to get off cable and on to network or at least ESPN to get more exposure.
It definitely has more appeal to me (41 years old!) than motocross and I
would think urban kids would feel the same way. I can see a whole new group
of kids zipping around the streets on tricked out supermotos. Cheaper than
the latest 600cc or liter racebike.
- There is a reason why Supercross is where it is today….its the BEST dirt bike sport to watch! period.
Supermoto is just a distraction, sure its fun, but it won’t ever have the best racers going at it …. its not inside a stadium, the factories sell MX bikes not SM bikes – except KTM. Just cant happen.
- Interesting article regarding the popularity of supermoto. Who knows what the future holds for supermoto. In my case I am happy to build the sport to be number 3 discipline in the motorcycle racing community.
Will it ever achieve the status of supercross, only if the industry and media want it to be. The possibilities are endless as to where you can hold an event and who can participate.
When you think about it when has any normal racer been able to race through the streets of their local community on a motorcycle and have the stories and memories to relive every time they drive to work.
I have built some tracks in the coolest places, held a race and looked back on it and said how cool is that, racing, jumping, sliding and just hanging out in the city after a race.
The basic fact about supermoto is it is fun to ride. You do not have to spend thousands on tires every weekend, take crazy risks jumping 100ft and it’s generally just easier on your body.
Where can young kids learn the craft of riding on pavement, supermoto. Where can road racers go to step down while still having fun and without have to ride an old bike, supermoto. Motocrossers that hate whoops, huge leaps or just plane tired of the punishment, supermoto.
So where does it go from here, I only see up. Once you try it your hooked.- Yes, it can be as big as Supercross, look at the X Games turn out in
Carson.
But, for it to make a major leap forward, the Japanese mfgers need to
produce race ready SM bikes like Husky and KTM are currently doing.
Otherwise, it’ll be an upscale riding sport and not a mainstream riding
sport. It’s just too expensive to buy a CR450F and buy 17″ wheels, rotors,
etc.
I’m waiting for a KTM 450 SMR myself and will then start SM racing, but if
any of the Big 4 had a race ready SM bike, I’d buy it in a heart beat.
- I don’t think supermoto will ever become a major draw in the U.S. This country has a limited amount of interest in motorsports (as opposed to Europe) and what we do have is saturated by Nascar and other oval racing series and NHRA Drag Racing. Supercross is the exception for motorcycles, enjoying great popularity. But other two-wheel racing that is far superior to Supermoto, like MotoGP and other street racing series has failed to become popular here. Supermoto looks fun as a participant sport, but it doesn’t have the same appeal when viewed on TV as supercross.
- I would love to see it go on. Maybe some places like Vagas and maybe do some stadium stuff. Keep attracting the top riders in the off season for thier rides. If if ever came close to SW Louisana I’d have to so see it.
- I had, (have), high hopes for SuperMoto. I’ve been at Cyclefest in Copper Mountain Colorado to watch the races the last two years. As with most racing, the excitement of the race depends entirely on who is racing. Watching Kevin Schwantz race Jeff Ward was as fun a day at the track as I’ve ever had. The added bonus of being able to talk with the racers in a casual environment in the pits was a big plus. The mix of mature riders and young riders was fabulous and the fact that you can see the whole track is great too.
I fear that the concept might be beyond Americans in large numbers. It’s a much more subtle race than Supercross. It requires some appreciation of the multiple race disciplines of the riders in order to really enjoy it. Then again,…I’ve never understood why half mile and mile flat track racing isn’t huge. If you’ve ever seen riders execute a half dozen lead changes in turn three at the Springfield mile you’d know what I mean. Scott Parker, Jay Springsteen and Chris Carr should be household names along side Michael Jordan. But I digress.
I’d love to see SuperMoto take off. My guess is that it better do it soon or it won’t draw the quality of riders it takes to make it interesting. Now if we could just convince Speed Television to show a little less NASCAR.
- The great thing about supermoto is that it can be set-up any where. The possiblities are endless as to where a venue could be set-up. The other good thing is that the racing would be more centerally located. Where road racing the tracks are miles outside of town. Supercross unless your lucky enough to live in So-Cal is widely abundant. This sport brings the best of both world. It definately would be easier to approach as a casual fan. Roadracing has so many specialized classes it can confuse a casual fan. Not to explain to them okay it’s a friggin dirt bike with slicks. Oh by the way they have negoiate dirt and jumps with said slicks. Just need to get a major non industry company to sponsor it. Hell even the NASCRAP fans could even understand this concept.
- Dear MCD – First let me say I have enjoyed your site since my son directed me to it this summer. You seem to have a different spin on things then the other two sites that lean heavily on editorial content. I like them too, but yours seems a bit broader in scope. Your request for SM comment is a good example. So here goes…
While the concept of Supermoto racing seems like it should be a winner, I doubt it has any legs unless it is nurtured along better. If fans don’t come then commercial interest will drop like a stone. As a motor racing sport, Supermoto offers a lot of benefits for spectators. The racing can safely take place in compact urban settings; fans can get up close to the action; and the action, while not as spectacular looking as SX, is a pretty spectacular showcase of what top riders can do with a motorcycle. Moreover, the machines are pretty much everyday showroom products. It should be a good attraction, but so far it seems a lot of empty hype.
Based on fans, Reno seems to have been a strikingly model event. Meanwhile Nashville was the opposite. The rest of the rounds seem to be closer to Nashville then Reno. I am hoping the AMA studies that phenomenon carefully.
Reno seems to be a wide open happinin’ place with a long history of successfully hosting unique attractions, such as their Air Races, their big Rodeo and “Hot August Nites”. In retrospect, hosting a Supermoto right downtown is a natural. The fans came and were there several deep all along the course, sorta’ like the old Trans-AMA MX events back in the day. While fan access was free, my guess is they could charge a modest gate fee and still have a big crowd. Maybe even bigger.
The rest of the rounds, though, seemed like it didn’t matter whether it was free or not. It attracted no interest among the local population, and I doubt that putting Supermoto in a 60k seat stadium helps the cause. If Reno was successful, promoters need to learn why and replicate it. My guess is the the character of the towns selected are all-important.
Most importantly, however, the Supermoto purse has to be a lot bigger to jump start it. The purse speaks volumes to potential fans about the value of the competition. If the winner’s purse wouldn’t even cover his hotel room, who cares? On the other hand, if the winner was chasing a $100k check, it tells a whole different story. I think the entire industry could learn a little something about putting on a show from the cage crowd. World of Outlaws comes most prominantly to mind. I think Supermoto is a prime place to start.
- But do you want it to? I think the trick is to keep the prices low for the time being, and build a fan base.
The urban setting sounds like it would be pretty sweet – you can get up close to watch the action – plus it makes it more accessible to people. I could see some of these events being sponsored by organizations within the community – possibly making them free to attend.
From my spectator experience at Road America, proximity to the track makes a huge difference. The first year I watched, they had the course roped off – but you could watch from about 20-30 feet away, as riders kicked the back end out into turns, then spun the tires leaving the turn, riding a wheely to the next turn, where they would slam the brake again to bring the front down and kick the back end out again – it was AWESOME!
The next year, they had the course more securely cordoned off – and you could get nearly as close to the action. That was a disappointment, because the realization of speed and technique wasn’t nearly as pronounced from the further distance.
Either way, the layout of the track was a big benefit over roadracing – you can see the whole track at once.
But, IMHO superb talent at a grass roots level is much more entertaining than superb talent on a commercialized, edited and sanitized level.
- I watched the first(?) AMA Sanctioned Supermoto race at Laguna Seca in ’03 and I didn’t stay because I couldn’t get a good view of the action, and the track layout wasn’t very interesting. This season I was able to catch a couple of races on OLN and I had a much different take on it, partly because the other tracks hit higher speeds and I got a better feel for how fun it looks. The X-games race was AWESOME! Definitely the highlight of the whole event. I’d definitely go if they held it here at some Bay Area Venue (where I can get a better view than I got at Laguna)!
- If the supercross stadium tracks would/could be set up for both venues and
held the same weekend/location…. then attendance questions go
away………don’t they?
Once Motard gains popularity then they have their own weekends/tracks
On TV, motard racing is somewhat boring and unless the track layouts or race
formats are changed, I doubt the parking lot format will ever be popular in
the USA.
In contrast, telecasts of prior “motard” types of made for tv races in the
past (5 or so years ago) seemed to have more excitement and passing as I
recall.
- No it will not ever reach the mass public..and here is why.
1. Stadiums with huge jumps. fans want air..
2. Flat track is not popular empty stands.
3. America loves Harley’s
4. Road Racing has still not caught on..Yet.
5. Table Top..Knack Knack etc.
- It’s just veterans and wussys
sport and like this it’s good.
Specially for injured mx riders 🙂
It’s good way to train and get some
additional bike touch but still it’s not serious
due the lack of dimensions in it both
in physically and mentally.
SM will be forever MX small, weak
and stupid brother in sport wise :)))
From motorcycle industry and culture
wise it’s just great addition to the pic.
Bike owners who are bored riding
around ass towards to sky police
hunting behind every corner and
of course for women an very good
opportunity how to learn and finally have
some fun without buying some
pointless bikes for high price.
SM bikes and their design concept is
stronger when the SM sport itself for sure!
- Unfortunately if it does gain all the popularity then the purity of the sport will be compromised. A doubled edged sword.
- Supermoto will not achieve the same level of popularity as Supercross. Without 40 foot jumps, and the possibility of crippling injury or death on every lap, the sport cannot hope to capture the small attention spans of the average American spectator.
- I think the key for Supermoto to become more popular is to have the manufacturers sell street-based Supermotos to the public. There are very few supermoto machines available to the public. Recently, Suzuki made their DRZ400 available as a Supermoto, so it’s a start…..
- its possible but you’d have to get the ama out of the deal – they suck
- I hope super moto does increase in popularity. I don’t take cable / sat. television, but while out of town a while back, saw a super moto race with Ben Bostrom and McGrath battling it out. It was great, that combo of dirt and street. I wish the major networks would run motorcycle events like they do nascar. To me, it takes so much more talent to ride two wheels inches apart as opposed to riding on a four wheel cage.
- No. I can’t imagine that.
Super Moto can not garner fans where there are none. Though there are plenty of motorcycle fans and fans of motorcycling, most have already chosen their corner.
In today’s world of instant access everything, there’s just not time to bite off more when your mouth is already full and busy chewing. This is especially true when it comes to combo sports, those that combine two or more element of other sports into a new one. Super Moto, for example. Is it dirt? Is it street? No, it’s street on dirt bikes.
As ultra popular as both Supercross and Superbike / GP are, most fans don’t cross over. If you follow one, you probably don’t really follow the other. Even these firmly established sports with huge followings have difficulty enticing fans from the other side, let alone a combo sport in the middle.
Some dirt fans may be intrigued by their bikes on street. Some street fans may be curious to see those running their streets with dirt bikes. But, unfortunately, only some. Others may open one eye during a TV broadcast, but probably not both eyes required to find and open their wallets.
Their is inherently another problem that would be practically insurmountable. How much can you charge a skateboarder to enter your skate park when almost the entire city is like a skate park? You want to see GP? You want to see Supercross? Then you know the venue where you’re going to see them. Got a few hay bails, some old tires and string? Then you got a Super Moto track in just about any parking lot. There is no logical transitioning point to go from there, trying to build the sport into a stadium event.
That’s just my opinion, and it’s perhaps worth exactly what you paid for it.
- As a current Motard racer and champion (Superbikers2, 2002 and 2003 Unlimited Sport class) and one who also ran dirt bikes in WERA roadraces back in the late 70’s, I have not seen the extreme interest from the riders or spectators either today or back then. The racing is close, intense, and it brings great riders from many disciplines all together for great shoot-outs and bragging rights. But it’s missing the extreme jumps and high-flying antics that Supercross delivers. For those of us who are in the industry and can appreciate the best of each discipline getting together, it’s absolutely fantastic and I love it. But for the general population, I don’t think it will ever be as big or draw as large a crowd as an indoor Supercross. Not enough “extreme” action to interest Joe public. A stadium venue and much better promotion could help, but I don’t see it growing bigger in size than a typical draw for an AMA outdoor MX national.
- Lets hope that SuperMoto gets the kind of attention it deserves. I think the SuperMoto race at the X Games was an excellent venue for the sport and it brought a national audience. It would really be cool to see some more riders get involved like the Hayden boys.
- If supermoto is to go ahead then better not let the AMA be involved in it!! after one year they have nearly riuined it by cutting the races down to seven and by not getting out a scedule early enough it makes it hard for teams to come up with sponsorship.
- I think with some good promotion as more manufacturers produce supermoto bikes it could. I think they should us it as the opening segment for surpercross a time or two to get the exposure to a broader audience wouldn’t hurt either.
I think a street legal supermoto bike would be the ultimate play bike and bike to use to navigate some of the roads out in the “real world”.
- Unfortunately, Supermoto will never achieve the level of mass popularity enjoyed by Supercross. While it pains me to make this statement … as Nicky H. would say … I’d be lyin if I didn’t say it was true.
Supermoto is comparable to motorcycle roadracing in America. It is an enthusiast sport. Like roadracing, it almost requires a personal understanding of actually riding fast to appreciate the on track action. It also requires a very un-American understanding of a sub sub sub niche of bike. Take it from some who rides a KTM Duke II as a daily rider .. “is that a dirt bike? why would you buy that bike? what do you do with it? a Superwhat?” (I kid you not)
To an actual rider, sliding it on the pavement or making a daring pass is a Herculean achievement which requires much skill and risk. To a non-rider (or even a casual rider) these mad maneuvers goes almost unnoticed and certainly unappreciated.
Supercross by comparison … with its dramatic jumps and equally dramatic crashes … is easy to understand and enjoy for just about anybody .. riders and non-riders alike. Its a seemingly simple sport on the surface .. kinda like Nascar .. which explains alot.
I hope I am wrong.
Long live the Super Motard.
- When I saw the supermoto race on television as part of the X-games I thought
it was some of the best racing I have seen in long time. The combination of
riders clearing 60 ft dirt jumps and backing the bikes into the tarmac
corners provided for fast paced exciting action. I was so pumped that I
considered driving to the race at Copper Mountain, no small task considering
my starting point of eastern Kansas. It certainly is more exciting to watch
than rally cars driving a course by themselves in some remote location in
Europe. Hook up some television coverage and I’m there.
- Yes, I think Supermoto could be huge in the US, as it could be marketed as
“SuperCross in the Streets!”, but not with AMA Pro Racing in charge.
SuperCross is big because of Clear Channel, not because of the AMA.
All you have to do is look at the sorry state of road racing in this country
to see how miserable AMA Pro Racing is as a sanctioning body. Where does a
privateer race to get noticed? What’s the difference between those 600s and
those 600s? What, the Sportster spec class is drawing crowds? Kill it,
they don’t stay for Superbike!
Clear Channel, really Pace before them, understood how to marketing racing.
Make it clear, understandable and accessible. That’s what Supermoto needs
to be. Let Pace have it, and it will probably be bigger than Superbike in 5
years.
- To answer you’re question, I’d simply say yes. It CAN be as popular as Supercross is today. But I don’t think it’s going to happen anytime soon. I’m not a Supermoto expert, but I think it’s a fun type of race to watch. The fact that you can have riders from across the industry compete at high levels is a positive. However, to achieve success, I think Supermoto needs to be marketed appropriately. Moving to large venues and charging high ticket prices isn’t what the sport needs. I think it needs venues where people can gather and watch at little cost, while the brand is built. It would require long term focus, and investment from sponsors who see what it can be in the future. Just my 2 cents.
- I think Supermoto could get popular. It may take a few years. My brother isn’t into bikes at all and he watched Super Moto at the X games and really liked it.
How about a Supermotard event alongside the AMA race at Pikes Peak. A stadium like track. The event at South Boston Speedway is a hit as well! Overall, I think that the sport needs to grow right from the heart of Motorcross…. Southern California. It all starts right there!
Hopefully it will catch on more!
- In answer to your query: No.
I fail to see why Supercross/Motocross draws such large crowds, but then I
am not all that big a fan of closed course racing. When people are
forbidden from riding off-road (which is happening all the time here in
America), I suspect that the allure of Super/Moto cross racing will begin to
fade, as there will no longer be a viable “connection” between the fans and
the event.
Of the aforementioned genres of racing, I do prefer the motard races over
the motorcross variants, but that is personal preference and nothing more.
I tend to avoid any so-called sport that associates itself with the term,
“extreme”. No thank you!
Now that Suzuki is finally selling a motard bike here in the U.S., I can see
a possible connection for fans to make with this type of racing, and it’s a
viable one as this bike is affordable and should be reliable too. KTM
motards have been available for some time now, but are neither affordable or
all that reliable, and they cost far too much to maintain. Suzuki shoud
sell more than a few DRZ400SMs.
If they would only give the bike a decent sized gas tank I would consider
one myself. The dinky 2.3 gallons or whatever it is tank that comes on the
bike is nothing short of thoughtless for real world conditions, and to be
honest, most of these bikes will never see a race track, but they will be
seeing a gas station and that being far too often given their puny fuel
range courtesy of that teensie-weensie tank. Way to think Suzuki.
I shouldn’t have to buy a real gas tank right away just so I can ride the
bike further than to the gas station. Aftermarket tanks be damned! Just
give the bike a four or five gallon tank to begin with. But most people do
not think about such things when they buy a bike, they buy with their
emotions, and then tend to have them run wild (especially that wondrous
emotion, “anger”) when they run out of gas in the middle of nowhere because
life isn’t a closed-course race track.
It is good that the new Suzuki is a 400cc model, but I tend to think that
most journalists (especially those putrid wimps at “Motorcyclist”) will be
crying within a year or so that the bike “needs” more power, when what it
really needs is a rider capable of using the power it already has. I hope
that Supermoto racing becomes popular enough to support a nice series and
nothing more. It is after all, just racing. Racing should be fun.
Watching racing should be fun. SM racing can be pure, unadulterated, fun.
I also hope that it inspires people to purchase Suzuki’s nice 400SM, and
that other manufacturers join them in importing similar bikes (i.e.,
street-legal!) and that they stay away from yet another “displacement war”.
Bigger isn’t always better, but it is always bigger.
- As for my feedback regarding the question in today’s article, I’m confused
as to why Supermoto isn’t growing faster than it is. It’s appeal should
span all motorcycle racing disciplines. Road racers, motocrossers, and flat
trackers alike should all see their sport’s influence on supermoto. But
more than anything I think the Supermoto venues need to be upgraded to more
of a professional appearance for the sport to be given the respect it
deserves. I think large indoor venues are necessary to take the sport to
the next level, but I’m sure it won’t be an easy task. Promoters will need
to make a significant leap of faith to book a venue of that size and hope
that they can fill it. And there will need to be a major television
contract in place for it work. Even then, promoters will probably need to
weather a few costly events before the crowds show up.
I hope a few intrepid souls take the challenge. As I said earlier, I think
Supermoto will appeal to almost everyone who likes motorcycle racing once it
gets a little bit of a makeover and a more polished look.
- If you build it they will come.
I believe that Supermoto is one of the most exciting form of racing there is
today. If the same level of profesionalism and production level was brought
to the AMA Supermoto series like they did at the X-Games you would have a
hit.
- No. Supermoto will not rival Supercross for attendance. The main
problem is logistics. The X Games did a great job with their stadium
/parking lot track and had great attendance; the problem was that all of
the sweet high speed stuff was outside in the parking lots. ‘THE PASS’
that Bostrom made on the last lap was outside and very few people saw it
unless they were watching the big screen or a TV replay. I think
supermoto will continue as a series because more and more racers enjoy
it so much. Fields are swelling, club enrollment is growing, the
apparent affordability and overall skill as riders being the main draw.
Awesome sport, but may better be served as an AMA support race at
selected stops…the urban cross jumps are an EXCELLENT solution for the
promoter that doesn’t want to dump tons of dirt in a parking lot. I
would LOVE to see a supermoto race before an AMA main event as part of
the ‘show’. The season finale in Vegas should still be a stand-alone
event.
- I think to answer your question is we must first look at the growth of
Supermoto in Europe. Its taken 10 plus years for it to grow to anormous
size in Europe. They use street races, make shift tracks and parking
lots, purpose built tracks as well as stadiums. I believe the most
popular venues are the stadiums and city street races.
It fair to say, it to early to tell if this type of racing will continue
with a large audience.
On another note, free style motorcross venues use stadiums, indoor and
out. Look at the response. Stadiums allow all the fans to see the
race.
- Maybe having both events in the same time, same place would help AMA supermoto. Having a larger crowed as those enjoying supercross, watching the supermoto event might open their eyes to a new and I believe still obscure(but definitely entertaining) sport in the US.
- I have been to two races and they are BORING. They need to do away with the dirt sections and the jumps.
- I attended the AMA Supermoto in downtown Dallas last
year and it was great (wish they would’ve had a round
there again this year – listening AMA?). The whole
place had a really laid back atmosphere. You could
get an arms length away from the riders, going by at
speed, at several parts of the track. You could also
walk right into the pits (without paying extra) and
talk to some very well know riders (Metz was really
cool). Try getting that experience at a Supercross!
Now, I really love Supercross and have attended races
in Dallas, Houston and Anaheim. But, to compare
Supercross to Supermoto right now is not very fair.
Supercross has been around for over 25 years, that’s
why it is so popular and can fill major stadiums.
With the right promotion, I believe that Supermoto
could achieve sell-out status at major stadiums in a
lot less than 25 years.
- I wish it would be. To forecast this is a tough call. I can’t understand
why it hasn’t taken off with more popularity. I remember the first time I
saw it a few years back I was hooked immediately and scrounged to find more
coverage of the sport. I guess maybe the best evidence is in the
superbike\motogp arena that is so much more popular in Europe. Americans
like car racing….and supercross is ok because cars don’t fly. Another
thing is it will take some king of the sport like Jeremy McGrath to come in
and dominate and win championships and build a fan base. It’s great racing
– I love it and I hope it only gets bigger and better here.
- Anything on 2 wheels is fun but Supermoto seems like an oddball idea trying to be shoved down our throat.Motocross is still the king in my eyes,anyone can buy a bike and go to a track on Sunday and race or practice during the week,Supercross is becoming a circus show where timing and precision are at a premium on short tracks where if you get a bad start your pretty much out.I long for the days of the old Saddleback and Indian Dunes,Escape Country ect where enduance and precision counted.Supermoto showcases shills you needed to have to outrun the cops when riding in the local hills.
- I really want to like SuperMoto but something about the track layouts
cause me to get bored with the race. I think it would be really cool
if they were held at a go-kart track with some well placed jumps in the
course.
- Supermoto will never get to Supercross popularity because it’s just a
tighter version of Flattrack. I’ll watch it for free, for a short time, but
will never pay to see it.
Maybe you could say it’s similar to go kart racing. I’m sure both are
a LOT of fun to do, w/o getting really hurt, but they will never have a big
paid following, IMHO I see it as a good way to hone your RR/dirt racing
skills.
BTW, I’m a HUGE road racing fan.
- Thanks for the topic. Here’s what I said in an email too AMA.
I’m an 9 year AMA member.
I attended my first Supermoto event Oct. 9th in South Boston, Va. I was very disappointed. I was in the area for the Superbike races at VIR and was excited to see my first Supermoto event. The venue was great, the riders were amazing, the racing close but the organization by the AMA was atrocious. Forty minute delays between seeing a single bike on the track. Lots (Lots!!)) of AMA officials scurrying around back and forth from the Pits with clip boards ect. usually riding on quads. The crowds grew restless and talk began. ” What are these guys doing? How can it take this long to get a race going? Why are there so many officials? Is this just a jobs program for the AMA?
Some of the audience were regular’s at the track car races that had come out to see something new. You lost them! They watch over one hundred cars race every weekend with efficiency and precision that I’m used to seeing at my local Florida tracks. I see you (AMA) do it in Roadracing. WHAT IS GOING ON. You are killing a promising sport by this incompetence. There is a small window to grab fans and sponsors. Three men in the stands said they quit going to AMA flat track races for the same reason.
- I attended the last 2 smr’s at del mar and the difference from last year to this year was huge. Events like the X-Games and the up coming Las Vegas A Go-Go will help, but I think you need dedicated venues or like you suggest, city streets. There are many towns with paved short tracks with stands for spectators, drag strips? Fans are lazy, that’s why supercross is a little more popular than motocross. Make it easy to see and they will come, because the racing is awsome.
- You can sell an improved igloo to an Eskimo if it has the right features at the right price and if it has been hyped adequately. I am in the wastelands of El Paso, Texas and never hear about much. I see a lot of open real estate and think, if I was a promoter, what could I do with this? Supermoto and Supercross come to mind. You have to sell it, create the expectation that the crowd will like what they see, and meet that expectation. If networks can sell people on watching golf, poker, and namesomeotherboringwhatistheattraction,wasteofmytime, why can’t they sell supermoto? I hear all the time, there is nothing to do here. Give ’em supermoto.
- I think supermoto should be a class to develope younger riders from motorcross backgrounds, to flatrack, or roadracing introductions. A simple makeover of their current MX machine allows a low cost approach. Races could be run with current scheduling of outdoor MX , Flatrack, or Superbike circuits, on friday nights, to raise ticket sales.
- Some years ago as I sat eating breakfast I reflected back on the previous
days events of watching some kids at a skate park skating in a bowl.
I had thought what a blast it would be to throw on some slicks on an 80 and
try some tricks.
Taking that idea further I began to dream how cool it would be to have a
paved MX track. Each bike would be like a Supermotorad bike
but the tracks more SX like. Nice whoops that never changed, waves of
rollers. Some nice table top jumps and some high speed bowl turns where the
riders got
completely vertical. I sat there imaging loops like roller coasters.
Then I heard this strange voice say” Honey you’re drooling in your oatmeal”
Dang it, the wife always finds a way to ruin my fun.
Yes, Supermotorad can be as big as SX with imagination, permanent locations,
and tons of concrete !
- I don’t see supermoto ever generating the attendance that supercross does. Supercross inherently has more show in it, with the style jumps and the like, and the crowd excitement factor of ‘moto will never be close to supercross. I’m a huge supermoto fan, but I’m also a realist.
- I think that this country is too concerned with the all mighty dollar. Racing events are no longer about the racing, but how much money an event will draw in. Have we forgotten the point of Supermoto? It is a racing experience designed to find the best motorcycle rider from all disciplines of the sport.
I feel that the sport should stay true to it’s roots. I would much rather see the races take place in parking lots, city streets, etc. with a small ticket fee, than to see $50-$100 ticket charges to see a homologized race in a large arena setting. Racing should be about who is the best rider and what is the best bike, not about who will bring the most money and the largest crowd.
- I could be wrong, but I think Supermoto has a real fight ahead of it as a
major crowd drawing motorcycle sport. Most cycle riders are basically
either fully into street riding (cruiser or sportbike) or fully into dirt
riding. Supermoto would be a blast to participate in for sure, and I even
thought of getting a Supermotard bike myself to blast around town on
and to canyon carve on. As one who primarily rides a street bike and
loves roadracing, I haven’t gotten into Supermoto because (for me) it
attempts to blend two diametrically opposed elements of motorcycling –
the relative looseness of dirt, with the extreme exactness of roadracing.
I find it difficult to mix the two. At this point, I couldn’t justify
paying pay for a Disneyland priced ticket to watch a dirt bike
attempting to be a roadracer, and a roadracer attempting to produce a
roostertail.
- If they follow the format and promotion for supermoto at the x games it can work. Make it an indoor party–dude.
- Two observations;
1. The Supermoto events that I have attended had very poor (if any) seating, it was impossible to view the entire race, standing at a fence 20 people deep doesn’t get it.
2. The cost of building one of the bikes is expensive – contrary to reports that I have read. The suspension, wheels, tires, brakes alone will cost between $5,000 and $10,000 – and this is without any frame modifications – yes, the competitive bikes have had their swing-arms and front ends relocated. I for one observed McGrath’s bike at Laguna having the frame switched between practice and the race – yes, the frame, not the engine.
- I hope it can reach the masses, it is great racing.
- Here in America, we have a thriving Supercross/Motocross, Flat Track and
Road Racing series. Why would or should we embrace an amalgamation of the
three?
- I don’t see it ever being bigger than supercross / motocross. In fact the
only way I could see it happening is if the supercross series split up the
way the Indycar series did back when.. Causing awful racing and non-factory
team support.. Then maybe over time Supermoto could gain popularity like
the IRL did by default, but on a smaller scale. Its cool to watch, but I
don’t see myself going out and getting a supermoto bike to ride on the
weekends.
- I hope so. Maybe it will take combining sports, much like Monster trucks used to show with mud bogging or tractor pulls, before their popularity supported their sport. The combination may draw in the crowds and expose what super moto has to offer. Personally, I don’t follow motocross, and rarely opt to watch it, but I will watch almost any road racing event. I very much enjoy watching what the moto racers and have to not only offer in terms of control of there bikes on the street surface, but their continued control over the opposite of these conditions.
Hopefully the popularity continues to rise, as it will certainly then increase the television exposure and make it easier to catch the races on the tube.
- Nope. Supercross just plain looks spectacular with the huge jumps, tight turns, incredible whoops sections, sharp turns, and well thought out flashy productions; whereas, Supermoto kind of looks slow and boring to the untrained eye. It just doesn’t have the flash that Supercross has, so I can’t imagine that it will ever get much beyond an enthusiast’s sport.
- Never underestimate the power of marketing. I think the AMA have totally forgotten this fact, judging from how they’re mishandling their premiere roadracing class, Superbike these days. You never know, though. There’s no law of nature that says they can’t wake up and smell the toast burning…
- I asked myself the same question while reading the RacerX article covering the X Games version of Supermoto.
I’ve only witnessed one SM race in person, which was the one to kick it all off here in The States at Laguna Seca a couple of years ago. I remember the race being fast and furious and extremely competitive. Overall I felt the track was pretty weak but saw tons of potential for the sport and spectator attendance was impressive. The hills at LS were pretty much emptied of those who were watching the road racers as they’d all migrated to the standing room only view of the SM track. Personally my friend and I were there for the SM race. The road course activities were just the opening act.
Did I think then that SM was going big here in the states? I certainly thought it was exciting enough to be (even better if the dirt portions were beefed up), but I wasn’t sure if there was going to be room for it if it was to be run simultaneously with Pro MX & SX seasons, since it seemed those were the riders who always dominated the sport in the past (Superbikers) and were still the biggest names interested in racing SM. Sure, names of past MX/SX greats like Jeff Ward, MC, and Doug Henry are going to attract interest in the sport and have so far carried what popularity it now has, but SM is not pretending to be a nostalgia race. To go big, as big as supercross, it needs the champions of today’s professional motorcycle racing to be regular, avid participants. If the names are there the spectators will come. If the spectators are there the venues will come. To be an as satisfying experience as possible for spectators however, the races will most likely need to be held at a car tracks throughout the country, not baseball stadiums which would most certainly require the SM race to exit the stadium for some decent blacktop action and out of the view of those in the stadium save for what can be experience up on the jumbotrons. That’s weak.
To sum up my opinion – money talks and [you-know-what] walks. Big purses will bring the big names (hype is king), which will bring the big numbers in fans (we can’t get enough), which will demand the big venues (ESPN likes those places).
Oh, yeah, and don’t the bikes look cool? Street legal models on showroom floors would probably help a little too.
- No Way. In a phrase, it’s way too 2-dimensional. Supercross is like
watching the “Greatest Show on Earth. SEE THEM DEFY GRAVITY!!!!. Supermoto
is a fantastic sport for the die-hard racer and race fan but it will never
reach the general public the way supercross has. Supermoto is a type of
boutique racing in this country. It appeals mainly to specialists. It
might make better headway in attracting new fans if it attached itself to
the gravity games.
