Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

"ESPN and the AMA need to realize that one-week-old coverage does not do our sport justice" Give Them More $ beginning of the race. The leaders the upcoming seasons. Will I have to race in Europe for came across a section of the race- The attendance at supercross events my number plate to mean anything? course that still had arrows up from a is growing. Typically, there are at Or will we put a stop to this NASCAR previous race and were thus directed least 45,000 fans and sometimes cancer? Next you'll be telling me that down the wrong trail and rode an over 60,000. The competition is all bikes will have to be the same - extra half mile or so. A course mar- great. Even with the unfortunate oh, wait, you did with the announce- shal was still pulling down the injuries to some of the top riders, we ment that Kawasaki and Suzuki arrows when Rodney Smith, Mike get to watch good, close racing would be sharing product lines. Lafferty, Fred Andrews and other rid- KurtElbel1 Here's something to think about: ers came by. The race officials admit- via the Internet throughout the field. ted the mistake, so the top riders had a very legitimate complaint. The team The riders' purse is about $70,000 More GNCC per race. Definitely a lot of money. But that means that only about $ 1.50 of each fan's ticket price - which can exceed $30 - goes to the riders! I know there are contingencies, the managers, riders and race officials got together afterward and tried to solve The season's first GNCC race that the problem fairly. Even Team Suzu- took place in Florida was a very good ki, Kawasaki and KTM didn't want to one. It was muddy, rainy and difficult punish the Yamaha team for finishing privateer fund, etc. that are paid by a lot of sponsors and supporters of the sport, but it seems a little out of balance to me as far as what Clear no Grand Prix racing foreigner had Channel pays our athletes from the anything for Ricky Carmichael - the actual ticket prices. kid is the fastest on the planet. Mam Leopold RayBiazak via the Internet JolIet IL The Numbers Game In Love With SX TV II After just reading the February 26 I am writing to thank Speed Channel issue of Cycle News, it just dawned for the excellent coverage they pro- on me what the "By The Numbers" vided of the Daytona Supercross. It section of the GNCC preview meant: was awesome watching more than that the G NCC Series has adopted five laps of 15- and 20-lap main NASCAR style numbers, just as AMA events. I was floored by the camera Supercross has. angles, especially when they drove Well, this fan and racer is appalled! down the side of the track, filming the We of the off-road persuasion are not racers in the whoops and jumps. your typical housewives, nor are we so Those were the best camera shots I dumbed down by TV and Adult Atten- have ever seen of a supercross or tion Disorder to not recognize riders motocross race. Kudos to Rick John- when their numbers change each year. In fact, we look forward to it. The difference between stock car racing and GNCC Racing (and even AMA supercross/motocross) is that the fan is not just a casual observer. We are immersed in our sport and follow our heroes from bike, sponsor, number and series. Dirt bike fans don't just turn on the TV and go, - like a true off-road race should be. the race. Racer Productions, the son and Brian Drebber for the excel- My hat goes off to Barry Hawk and all GNCC organizers, ultimately decided lent commentary. the guys who finished the race. The the only fair thing to do was add one The packaging of the two-hour only bad thing is that the rest of the throwaway round into the series ... coverage was perfect. Short recaps of Pro riders are complaining, and they Editor. the 125 and 250 qualifying heats and I don't think this is right. They should just ride their bikes and race like men and not like wimps. It's not look Honey, that guy has a fair to the guys who stuck it out and pretty orange bike! And look, it has finished the race. One more thing, if my favorite number - 2! I hope he you cannot ride in a little mud, stay wins!" No, we look to the GNCC web home. "0000, semis, in order to make room for the want this race to be a throwaway. main events, is a great idea. I also In Love With SX TV liked the bold NASCAR-style rider positioning update banner scrolling Wow, what a great job Speedvision across the top of the screen. I could did with the coverage of the Daytona actually read it. Supercross. The front stretch camera I hope that ESPN was paying shots took us riding with the best rid- attention to this coverage. They have ers in the world. ESPN and the AMA site or in Cycle News to see just Brian Keegan where our favorite riders placed and via the Internet been severely lacking with their need to realize that one-week-old supercross coverage this season. coverage does not do our sport jus- Speed Channel only had hours to put tice. Same-day coverage is what what number(s) to look for. together the majority of this racing Never was I so proud as when I As long as a race can be run safely, received my national number in the brought NASCAR to the public eye plus it is a lot more exciting to watch coverage, unlike the many days we agree that off-road races should go GNCC series. It was a display of on, rain or shine, but the reason some something that isn't old news. Channel has raised the bar in super- years of work and accomplishment of the riders wanted the Palatka race As a former ARC A pit crewmem- all rolled into one season. My Y2K thrown out wasn't because of the ber, I have seen a few races at Day- triple digit number was a hallmark - conditions but because of the course- tona, and this was the best one I have and now a benchmark to achieve in marking problem they had at the ESPN has. In my opinion, Speed ever seen broadcasted on TV. Finally, c U .. I e cross coverage. Will ESPN be able to respond? Everyone I know is hoping. Scott Benlfey Coventry, RI n e _ S • MARCH 19, 2003 5

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