Riders storm to sign-on...
By TMX Archives on 27th Jan 10
As the new year of off-road competition finally gets underway there's plenty to talk about so editor JD makes a positive start thanks to some encouragingly large entries...
THE sport has certainly taken a battering from the weather these last few weeks and the heavy snowfalls, followed by the freeze, virtually brought a halt to motorcycle sport over the Christmas/ New Year holidays. I take my hat off to those clubs who did manage to stage the odd event. Maybe some were lucky and dodged the worst of the weather but they still held their nerve and didn't cancel and then got stuck-in so that the lads and lasses got out on their bikes.
This last week or so has seen quite a bit more action nationwide and as well as events that were already scheduled there have been some re-scheduled events after clubs were forced to cancel over Christmas and the New Year. So if you see the odd Boxing Day Trial report or New Year results in the paper this week it isn't the clubs – or us for that matter – who have been lazy, it is that the events have just been run!
One point that we have noticed, following the enforced weather-induced lay-off, is that those events that have been run, mainly trials at this time of year, have drawn big entries which must have been very satisfying for the organisers. There's nothing like a big turnout to make it all worthwhile for those stalwarts doing the donkey-work.
The obvious conclusion is that you were all going stir-crazy after a week or two shovelling snow out of the drive, or being dragged round B and Q, or worse still being subjected to having to kick your heels in some awful shopping mall, that it was pure heaven to be able to get back out on the bike. Those 100-plus entries surely prove the point...
Meanwhile, the 2010 AMA supercross season has kicked-off with a vengeance and once you have read about the current week's action in T+MX you can catch the action out-of-sequence on Motors TV. I let ‘Sky Plus' do the work and view at my late-night leisure. There's even British interest in the Lites with Max Anstie and Tommy Searle out on track.
As the commentators pointed out at the opening round, Searle is a talented and experienced outdoor rider but a whole new set of skills have to be honed for the stadium SX courses. Having only watched one event this year it is obvious that the Lites class is going to be very aggresively fought out. Those hungry kids take no prisoners. That Searle and Anstie can hold their own is clear and by the end of the series I'm sure they'll have made their mark.
The massive crowds at the AMA SX never cease to amaze me, all having a great time like they would at a baseball game or whatever. It's all burgers and hot-dogs and beer and popcorn. Yes, I know America is a big place and the Supercross series has established itself over some 30-years but honestly, do you ever see a similar state of affairs in Britain?
We have stadiums all over the place – including Cardiff with a roof – and I'd love to think that a genuine full-sized SX with all the top riders, Stewart and Reed and Dungey and Weimer – and Searle and Anstie – could be staged there in front of 50,000 excited fans... I have a dream!
Moving on, I've had several interesting conversations and correspondence regarding last week's column which focussed on the massive contrast between the humble origins of schoolboy scrambles and the Youth scene as it is today. Several remembered when it all began, John Sinnett recalled the very Westmorland club meeting I described – and you might even find John's thoughts alongside this column.
Several readers told me that they were perfectly happy with how the Youth scene had evolved. I accept 100 per cent that you can't stop progress and we are where we are. It doesn't alter the fact though that all the emphasis is on life at the top end of the sport. Which is great for those involved and they are catered for superbly with several excellent National series.
I remain convinced that there remains a substantial untapped market for off-road sport much lower down the spectrum. There really does need to be an alternative to spending £6,000 on a 250F in order to get your lads and lasses started in off-road.
There's a lot to be said for some kind of ‘Formula' system whereby, say, inexpensive 125 four-stroke machines could be utilised to cover a large age range, rather than the currently accepted competition age format which keeps our sport so exclusive and precious. The practise track operators could have a huge part to play if they are looking to increase their numbers and bring more young riders into the sport.
Other motor sports, such as karting, have a plethora of different classes so that you can spend as little – or indeed as much – as you can afford.
Any thoughts anyone...?