London's 02 a Super success
By TMX Archives on 5th Feb 09
...my absence being chiefly because I live 280 miles away and had an alternative offer of entertainment (wouldn't you like to know!)
I DIDN'T make it to the Future West Supercross at the 02 Arena in London last weekend. And that, I hasten to add, is not because I have anything against SX or London - my absence being chiefly because I live all of 280 miles away and had an alternative offer of entertainment (wouldn't you like to know!) about 274 miles closer to home.
But it was with considerable pleasure that I learnt that the London SX had proved to be a surprise success. "Surprise” - not because I didn't expect the racing to be up to scratch, I take that as a given, but that the event turned out to be a virtual sell-out and the venue was packed with thrill-seeking fans!
I mean, there have been several attempts to crack the potentially limitless London market with Indoor Supercross events but for whatever reason it has never captured the imagination of the urbanites. In theory you would think that SX would go down a storm. With a potential audience of some 10,000,000 people, all within a tube ride of the 02, you would think it would prove a cinch persuading a mere couple of thousand adrenalin junkies. But in the past the simple fact is that this simply hasn't happened.
Just why SX has captured the imagination this time I don't know, maybe it is that the 02 Arena has suddenly become something of the hot ticket in the capital. Don't know, but who cares! In these uncertain times it is just good to have something positive to shout about. And what a great base to build on...
MEANWHILE, I happened upon a screening of the Monster Energy World/ AMA Supercross upon my ever glowing telly. It was the opening round from the Angel Stadium, Los Angeles, (which took place live some four weeks ago) and as ever I was stunned by the sheer scale of the operation. Armed with my obligatory can of Monster Energy just like the stars drink non-stop from their sponsored cans, I was genuinely awed (as in awesome) by the crowd of well over 40,000, by the sheer scale of the track and its complexity and by the racing.
I'll add a qualifier there: by some of the racing. The Lites class was exciting from start to finish as it is populated by young dudes out to make a name for themselves and every battle from potential podium to way downfield was to the death. Which is how racing is supposed to be and why spectators pay good money.
The Supercross class appeared, on my screen at least, to be not quite so fiercely contested. Sure, Reed, Stewart and co were duking it out. But downfield the battles were noticeable by their absence. Could it be that some of the boys are just happy to pocket their fat fees and then simply trundle round and round, staying out of trouble? Surely not. Maybe it is the fact that the 450s are a lot harder to race flat-out than the 250cc Lites. Don't know, all I know is that I'd be happy to pay my dollar to watch the Lites but would feel short-changed by the main feature. Maybe viewed live it isn't like that anyway - but it sure looks like it to me from the safety of the sofa, six thousand miles away...
nWELL, the unveiling of the prototype Greeves trials bike at the recent Telford Classic Bike Show has certainly stirred people into life. Many have had their say and, as ever, those shouting the loudest on the various forums never even went to the show or saw the bike!
Well, we can all sit in pubs shouting our mouths off. But not many of us actually get round to putting our world beating theories into practise. And as a lifelong member of the procrastinators' club I'm in awe of anyone who ever gets round to producing anything. So hats off to the Greeves team for turning an idea into genuine metal.
The question now is, will it work? Will the single upright, linkless, single shock do its stuff? My guess is that it will - up to a point. Beta has surely shown us that with the REV3 and EVO. Is the fuel in the right place? Again, not sure. Anyone who ever rode a JCM will tell you that its handling and balance was very good indeed. But the under-seat JCM tank was more centrally situated, the Greeves looks a bit too far back to me. Then again, the engine may well be positioned to take this into account.
And what about that Spanishy/ Chinesy-looking engine? Again, the only question is, will it work. And then the 64,000 dollar question, how will the bike work compared to a Gas Gas, Beta or Sherco? All are so damned good now that any newcomer has a real tough task on its hands. The 2009 trials tests that we have attended have simply proved that the standard is now incredibly high. The Gas Gas, Beta and Sherco two-strokes will all perform WAY above their riders.
Would you try and top them?