Is Geico/AMA a good thing?

Yup, more is way better than less!!!

 

Sweet!

 

I think you're trying to ruin roadracing along with Mongo

shame on you

stay out of our threads of reason with your babble

 

But our day jobs suck (but the pay is good) and we'd rather talk about something more related to something more interesting.

 

Well you do get to get onto TV. Also there are more people there to watch you get lapped than at a club race.

 

I'm a grid filler at the TT but I don't do it because I think it's cool....

 

What other reason is there to do it??

 

L-O-N-G after my use-by date I kept at it because it is the most fun I've had outside of two of my wedding nights!

 

meaning I don't do it so I can say "everyone look at me I'm racing at the TT" which is what I think Mongo was getting at with his comment about people that go AMA racing here in the USA

the TT is about challenging yourself rather than your fellow competitors. if you're going there to just say you did it then you're going there for the wrong reason

 

two of your wedding nights.... out of how many

 

Oh, I gotcha. I didn't catch the difference between cool and "cool." You go because it's a challenge, and because you think it's cool/fun to do. Not because it makes you "cool." :up:

 

I know, in general I agree with you

there is a reason I have never done an AMA event

 

Another point to make that you will agree with...

I don't just go race one AMA event to say I did it, the only AMA event I would even consider doing that at would be the Daytona 200

racers that do that don't help sustain the long term vision of AMA Pro Racing or any pro racing event/series IMHO

the TT looks for riders who want to do it and keep coming back, not a rider who just wants to tick off their bucket list because riders who continue coming back help ensure the long term success of the event'

the AMA should look for the same thing. BSB does, why not the AMA?

sure there are a few exceptions or those that fully intend to do more but then the support fades away

 

3.5

 

If that's the case, what would be a good reason for a sponsor to financially support a rider that comes in 20th out of 50 riders at any given weekend? What about the racer in 45th or 11th? The value in sponsorship comes from the perceived return on their investment via advertising. When those riders (finishing in 11th, 20th, 45th, etc) receive no camera time except a fly by during the sighting lap and a mention when the announcer runs through the grid positions, where's their value?

I'm not just saying this as a reaction for my riding or my team. We've managed to make it work and in my opinion have had a very successful season as a rookie team on a penny budget. I go to great lengths to find ways to make this work but I also see a lot of racers who pick up a chunk of cash by passing on the illusion that their sponsor is going to be "on the TV", etc. I hate seeing that happen because when the rider doesn't get on TV, the sponsor starts to doubt sponsorship in general and may not return to the sport.

The racers/teams are offering advertising/marketing but there is little room for a return on investment unless you're on the box every weekend. Even then additional off-track promotions should be necessary to fulfill the sponsor's ROI. The series on the other hand is selling entertainment. Their market is spectators on site and viewers on TV and via the internet.

Being a series, sustainability and longevity should be key components to the success of their entertainment offering. Draining sponsors dry and having new racers not able to run a full season isn't going to cut it.

I agree with JU that it's a good thing more money and corporate sponsorship is coming to pro motorcycle racing in the US. Hopefully it gets noticed and others follow. Just mentioning my opinion on the matter of how a national pro series could attain long-term success.