Now what was I telling you..?
By John Dickinson on 1st Oct 09
JD is back from his holidays and has been reading last week's column about regarding the economy according to Mr Ippolito...
YOU may have read in this column last week that no less a person than FIM President Vito Ippolito has been addressing his disciples (that's you and me) and I was heartened to learn that he has come to the conclusion that (relating to World Championship MX) ”...some teams will face economic difficulties...” and that these costs must be reduced in order maintain the number of riders in the Championships.
Now I'm not knocking Mr Ippolito, I'm just happy to be justified at last as I've been voicing these self-same points for years now and been scoffed-at by the dudes who inhabit the exclusive inner paddocks. But as Mr Ippolito's name carries a lot more weight than mine in the corridors of power, where smart blazers and shiny badges and lanyards straining under the weight of free passes reign supreme, maybe we just may see some changes... or maybe not.
We don't just need cuts in order to maintain the number of riders on the grid, we need cuts so that the cost for the event promoter can be reduced which in turn might lead to the costs to the guys who are supposed to pick up the eventual tab for the GPs, the paying customer, (that's you and me again) is also reduced. Otherwise we will continue to spin round in ever decreasing circles with would-be promoters going bust on an annual basis. Heaven knows, Gareth Hockey has spelt it out to us enough times within these pages. In a nutshell, under the current format it has proved to be impossible to make running an MXGP in Britain even cover its costs, never mind make it pay. This is a proven fact.
In reality I don't actually expect anything much to change, in the same way that nothing has changed in the world of bankers and business fatcats. They continue to pay themselves bonuses whether or not their companies make a profit or a loss or even if they are sacked. Golden hellos and golden goodbyes continue unabated. While there's money in the kitty for the junketeers the party will boogie-on regardless.
Let me state my case. If the sums add up, I will applaud all the excesses you like. Teams can have a dozen shiny, brand-new fully tricked-out artics parked the length of the track, they can have beautifully turned-out teams of 100 people – all on free passes – in order for them to look after their two riders, the VIP tents can stand three-deep right down the pit straight fully stocked with caviar and champagne for the great and the good to guzzle and the riders can be paid on a scale that even Tiger Woods would envy. Tiger picked up a cool ten million dollars for winning the FedEx Cup last weekend so expect a bonzer payday. If the sums add up I'll gladly pay my £25 quid and doff my cap to the promoters and the FIM as you lap-up all of the above.
But they don't and so I won't.
So for how many more years will we have a GP circus that ‘we' can't actually afford? Mr Ippolito has said that things must change but is he really in a position to bring this about? He was, once upon a time, when the FIM actually ran its own World Championship. But they were quick to sell-out to a third party, pocket its money and effectively relinquish control. Contrary to what you may think, I don't blame the series promoter, he has paid his money and is entitled to run the show however he sees fit. I blame those in power who sold out. And I await the year ahead with much interest...
American Supercross remains the role model for all MX promotors – and would that we could fill stadiums in Europe like they do in the good ol' US of A. That the European riders clearly think the same is proven by the simple fact that they can't wait to earn their ticket Stateside. For many years the World Championship was used as a qualifier for the Supercross series. These days riders ideally ship straight out to the stadiums across the pond from the Youth or Euro series.
Talking of SX, I loved the comment I saw on the web when the all-new 2010 Yamaha 450 was previewed using their stadium-only contracted rider James Bubba Stewart. Quipped one wag: "I heard that it only runs indoors!” Very amusing – but it did make me think.
Trials meanwhile doesn't figure highly on the top table at the FIM. Not enough money sloshing around in that kitty for the bigwigs. They've tried the sellout routine and that didn't work so its back to the drawing board and trials is back ‘in house'. And credit where its due, those charged with running trials are actually having a fair stab at understanding the real-world problems in the feet-up pond.
Trust me, T+MX will keep you fully up to date with developments.