Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

AVIEW FROM THE. FENCE B Eric'Johnson. ecently, I visited a local Manhattan Beach area surf shop. While aimlessly wandering through the store and checking out the latest offerings from the ultrahip salt-water world, I heard a big conversation amopg a few of the guys working the counter. They were talking about the national motocross race a few of them had watched the previous evening on ESPN2. As they bantered back-andforth, I casually attempted to drop in on their conversation. While it was somewhat apparent that they did not know all of the intricate details about the sport of professional motocross, they were very enthusiastic and intrigued nonetheless. They raved on about Jeremy McGrath (who they all knew of), the cir~ cuit the race was broadcast from, the crashes and of course, the jumps. I was impressed. As I walked home, I got to thinking about the surf-shop conversation. The fact that a number of guys were standing around in a shop and talking about the sport of motocross is a direct testament to the current, amazing popularity of the AMA National outdoor circuit. Now, perhaps more than ever, the sport is managing to make inroads in the living rooms, bedrooms, and 'apartments of the casual American sports fan. And it's not just the casual fan that is jumping on the motocross bandwagon. For years the nationals have been experiencing only modest growth in the area of attendance, but somehow, someway, things have changed. You may have noticed that Nationals have been drawing record crowds. But what has caused this recent surge in overall p'opularity, interest, spectator turnouts and unprecedented media attention in American outdoor motocross? Good question. While it is hard to put a finger on anyone thing, there are a few theories and elements worth considering. More than anything, big brother television can be directly cited as the major reason. The significant amount of wellproduced, exci~g, comprehensive television coverage on ESPN and little R brother network ESPN2 has worked wonders for the sport. Said one anonymous source close to the national promoter group: 'TV has made the major difference on the health and well-being of the Nationals. People are just sick of watching the 'stick and ball' professional sports. Those guys have more or less shot themselves in the foot with their bickering and greed. People are sick of that; they want to see new sports where the athletes are refreshing and not so money-driven. So they watch motocross on TV, find it interesting and are compelled to come out and watch a race when the circuit comes near their town." Interesting words and an interesting theory. It is certainly no secret that TV can cast a magic spell over a young sport, creating more imagery, awareness and intrigue in one two-hour broadcast than any 10 years of local advertising or word-of-mouth promotion. While there are millions of people across the U.S. who may have a minor interest in the sport, chances are that a large majority of them are not compelled enough to seek out an event schedule, directions and logistical information (not to mention packing up a lunch, a camera and filling the car up with gas) to drive hours on end to watch a race. Let's face it, most nationals are held in rural regions far off the beaten path that do not offer much in the way of exciting nightlife and sightseeing expeditions. That said, television, with its electronic imagery and push-button convenience, has managed to promote and convey the action and excitement of motocross to a degree that these more "casual" fans are being visually coaxed to come out to the potato field to see just what is IJgoing down." While TV provides an electronic medium to which the American general public can experience the wild and woolly sport of motocross, there is another unique element that has helped push the sport to higher ground. A human element named Jeremy McGrath. Without a doubt, McGrath is the best thing ever to happen to the sport of motocross in Ameri~a. His effect on the sport in this country, and perhaps around the world, is immeasurable. He is the Michael Jordan of motocross and his mere presence and image has single-handedly transcended the sport to another leveL On more than one occasion, McGrath has gone on record as saying that he places just as much emphasis on promoting the sport as he does on winning. He has truly met his objective. Not only do motocross fans around the world know who McGra th is, but the sports fan that doesn't know a damn thing about motocross is now aware of Jeremy McGrath. And he's also managed to cross the sport over into the mainstream media (his supercross winning streak was even featured on ESPN's SportsCenter). Perhaps just as much as his mind-boggling winning percentage, McGrath's personality and image are very cOI\ducive to generating interest in the sport among American youth. Be it a few kids standing around talking in a surf shop in Southern California, or a group of snowboarders out in the middle nowhere in upstate New York, young Americans know who Jeremy McGrath is. What does all of this amount to? Jeremy McGrath is bringing droves of spectators out to the Nationals by just being Jeremy McGrath. Another factor contributing to the stunning success of the AMA National championship circuit is the overall success of American motors ports as a whole. It is no great shakes of a secret that NASCAR, Indy Car and NHRA automobile racing have been on an amazing growth curve. In fact, as we speak, gleaming new circuits are being constructed in Las Vegas, Dallas, St. Louis, and Southern California in an effort to capitalize (and cash in) on the wild popularity of auto racing. This overall popularity of motorsports has trickled right on down to motocross. While the sport of motocross is a distant cousin to the four-wheel set, it is safe to assume that if a person enjoys watching automobile racing, they will have at least a passing interest in motorcycle racing. To put this dynamic into per- spective one has to look no .further than the plethora of auto racing oriented endeav{)rs that have taken the sport of motocross under their wing. To start with, the major weekly motorsports overview TV shows such as ESPN 2's RPM 2 Night and TNN's Race Day have done an outstanding job of consistently including the sport of motocross in their broadcasts. Finally, an accusing finger can b'e pointed toward the "helmet painter to the stars," Troy Lee. Lee's helmets now adorn the heads of such acclaimed automobile racers as F-l star Jean Alesi, Indy Car competitors Jimmy Vasser, Paul Tracy, Robby Gordon, Parker Johnstone, Michael Andretti, Scott Pruett, Greg Moore and NASCAR stars Ricky Rud and John Andretti. It has been well-doc umented in the automobile racing worl that Troy Lee cut his teeth in the helrne pain ting business by creating wild wacked-out, color-saturated images fo young West Coast motocross riders. And you can be assured that when th cameras of ESPN, TNN ABC, and CB are locked-off on the helmets (and th easily discernible Troy Lee 10go) of th aforementioned racers as they climb int their automobiles, numerous fans ar making the connection between the aut racing Troy Lee and the motocross rac ing Troy Lee. Finally, the sport of motocross ha recently seen a number of athletes fro other unique, extreme sports cross ove (no pun intended) to the world of dirt sand, rocks, and pre-mix. Professiona surfing heros Sunny Garcia, Kalan' Robb and Broc Little have gone 0 record as being major motocross enthu siasts. So there you have it. A number 0 theories - some of them probably a bi half-baked - on just why the AM motocross nationals now have thou sands of spectators hanging off th fences, television networks cranking ou action-packed, high-polished broad casts (with good time slots to boot), an thousands of kids ranting and ravin about the latest Jeremy McGrath an l,~ Jeff Emig duel. I:. LOOKING BACK",-,' ·1 25 YEARS AGO... AUGUST 17, 1971 C ycle News \0 0\ 0\ ,..... t'-.' ..... m So .3 ......... 80 started a series of articles by the Nori Fellow on . -:~ trials rid ing, or -I';; "bogwheel- 'fl'. ing" as it was . also called in Britain titled, "The Trials and Tribulations of Trials Riding."... Cycle News did a test, using three of its editors, on the 1971 250cc AJS Stormer and they all came out quite impressed with its per. formance... Harley-mounted Cal Rayborn won the Livonia AMA National Mile in Michigan after the race was called short due to dust. Chuck Palmgren finished third on a Yamaha and Harley-mounted Dave Sehl rounded .-::---.;;;.:=----_J the Washougal 125/500cc National MX, by winning both motos and locking up the championship with the moto-one win. Tom Benolkin finished second on a Kawasaki and Donnie Cantaloupi finished third on a Yamaha. Yamaha's Broe Glover won the 500cc class, followed by :'TiF.'i"'rT~,.., Mike Bell on a Yamaha, and Hondamounted Danny LaPorte rounded out :-;;~~~....,~ the top three. out the top three ... Italian Giacomo Agostini became the "world's champion of champions" by winning the 350cc class at the Finnish GP and his 10th world title in the process. 15 YEARS AGO... AUGUST 12, 1981 merica n A speedway champion 6ruce "The Fox" Penhall became the Intercontinental Champion by winning at his favorite track, Vojens in Denmark, and advanced to the World Finals in London's Wimbley Stadium. Denmark's own Erik Gunderson and Hans Nielson finished second and third, respectively... Suzuki's Mark Barnett moved two steps closer to winning every 125ccNational moto of the year at 5YEARS AGO... AUGUST 14, 1991 arley-Davidson's Chris Carr scored his record-setting, fouith consecutive Peoria National TT in Illinois. Teammate Scott Parker finished' sec

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