Stand-up and be counted!
By TMX Archives on 12th Nov 09
JD visited the DBS last week and was impressed by the number of people flocking there, he also had some gripes....
AND so the Dirt Bike Show.
Now, bike shows mean different things to different people and I don't really want to get bogged down in the trivia, but the bottom line is that, given the testing economic times in which we live, the huge turnout of dirt bikers over the four days, was a pleasant surprise to everyone. The Show organisers are officially claiming a 14 per cent rise in visitors and from what I saw I'm not arguing. It all goes to show that whatever else people may give up, their off-road sport is a long way down the list, even when times is ‘ard, guvnor.
I do have several gripes though. The first is the sudden disappearance of support from the Japanese manufacturers, following the NEC motorcycle show's decision to include off-road, after 30-odd years of their supporting the Dirt Bike Show. I do understand that they effectively ARE the NEC show, through their trade organisation the Motorcycle Industry Association, but I'm sorry chaps, taking the decision NOT to support the Dirt Bike Show is nothing short of a slap in the face to the 20,000 fans who visited. Like it or not, these 20,000 fans are YOUR hard-core off-road customers.
T+MX actually has no axes to grind on the Show front, the paper will broadly support ANY organisation that attempts to promote the off-road movement. The Dirt Bike Show has been through several owners in its chequered history and in fact T+MX was once a ‘shareholder' in the show - along with those self-same Japanese manufacturers. Possibly those in charge of the British arms of the Japanese industry aren't aware of the history. If they are interested I can always fill them in but the short version is that The Dirt Bike Show came about in the first place because the big NEC show didn't want to know about off-road...
Whatever, we are where we are. I fully understand the need to rationalise and in the current climate two shows probably doesn't make much sense to many people. Honda has actually taken this a stage further and clearly feels that actually, NO shows make sense, as the mighty H doesn't even have a stand at what is effectively its own show, the upcoming NEC!
My other gripe? Just that after several years of trying hard with the trials side, the show had reverted to being very MX biased. Yes, that's where the money is and that's the majority of the crowd BUT there are a lot of trials and enduro fans for that matter who give the Show a swerve. It's a shame as I acknowledge the work that the DBS did in building-up the trials side. The new Sherco was a major boost of course while John Shirt always puts on a great display for Gas Gas. And Tony Kay at B&B had the trials retail market pretty well sewn-up. All credit to him and he was doing good business but as it stands this is not a reason on its own to give up a day to go the the Show - as several trials riders told me over the weekend.
On the other hand, trials is at the moment effectively down to just three manufacturers, Gas Gas, Sherco and Beta. Two-thirds of them were there with a stand while you could find a Beta EVO if you looked so you can't really shout at the DBS organisers for a less than burgeoning trials marketplace.We certainly live in difficult times and who knows what twist of fate will fall before Showtime next year. Before that it's next stop the NEC, kicking-off on Thursday, November 26...
The NEC Show is, compared to the DBS, a beast of a Show encompassing all aspects of the motorcycle industry including this year a newly-introduced Off-Road Zone. It will be rubbing shoulders with virtually everything on two wheels, road bikes, choppers, scooters, electric bikes, you name it and it will be there. In theory a great idea, the really interesting bit being that off-road gets a chance to show its wares in front of the 100,000 plus show crowd. It is important that off-road is placed in front of the largest possible audience and this is a really excellent opportunity.
If you are into bikes and have never been to the NEC Show , then this year offers you the perfect excuse - there's an off-road zone. And don't forget, there's British Championship Supercross at the NEC following-on from the show on BOTH Saturday nights - Saturday, November 28 and Saturday December 5...
Oh! And if any of you were wondering who the blond rock chick was, gracing the T+MX/ DBR stand at the Dirt Bike Show, it was of course our resident Ad Director Debs Stuchbury, dazzling the crowds and bewitching the standholders. Gentlemen, I have pleasure in telling you - you've been Stuched...!