MotoAmerica 2022 silly season

He also reiterated he wanted a crew change and was told no. Jake Gange went from being a top 3 rider to amazing with a crew change.

Then went on to say he is still the same top rider that won 3 races the year before. Last year he didn’t even get laps on many Friday’s and had bike problems all year long.

 

It's their team and they can do what they want, but I've heard they are very "it's my way or the highway".

 

Fonger is a good dude and racer, but everyone knows it was more than just a "personnel change" at Yamerhaw that got Gagne to the top of the box regularly.

 

I saw on the instagroms that Elias has been “hired” as a brand ambassador for MV.

they have anything legal in MA and a team running them?

 

the 800 is legal as a next gen supersport bike. That bike with the right team can be a serious contender

 

Yea, that interview turned me off on him a bit. Very much felt whiny. I'm sure there was merit to much of what he said. But at the end of the day, his teammate did fine. I'll grant that he does seem to have some bad luck. I've never seen someone before who was guaranteed to yard sale a bike from a simple lowside like he does. It's almost a skill. That dude is a master of destroying equipment without necessarily crashing any more frequently or in different way than most others. But the Gagne comment was downright stupid. He effectively claimed that riders don't grow, change, and improve. Sure crew change likely played its role but chalking Gagne's dominance up to that alone is downright insulting. I get he's frustrated with the current situation, hence why I'd be willing to chalk up much of what he said to a dude just spitting truth. But some of it was just outright bullshit which makes me question all of it.

 

He seems like a good guy, and people that know him told me he is.

But he pretty much blamed everything on the podcast but himself on the results.
I understand the sentiment of not wanting to ride for free, but wouldnt be easier to get a ride for 2023 by staying in the paddock as opposed to making a come back?

 

He seemed, understandably, a little miffed. But I also don't think he was saying anything that isn't common knowledge at this point. There isn't any money in just being fast anymore and the bills have to get paid somehow.

 

This is going to be overly simplified but, if you’re not making enough just racing for team X, market yourself to companies and get some paying sponsors. That goof Herrin is the perfect example with bringing fresh and lean into racing. That McKenzie kid in BSB is another (even if he’s now retired). Yeah, some or all that cash might go for paying for the ride but you then use that position to bring in more sponsors.

and for the love of dog don’t just try and chase the same old sponsors, chase new ones. Once again Herrin.

hey, there’s a forklift company in town and there’s motorcycles parked in the lot? Chase them for some cash. Local sports bar, a micro brewery, a titty bar, the local Toyota dealership (once again Herrin). . . But remember, everyone is chasing them for cash from youth sports, to that clown who does drift cars to eracing goobers to Instagram influencers . . . Stand out, over deliver on what you get them in return and keep them happy.

but everyone who has been around any form of racing knows this but few do well.

Sucks for Fong but life sucks.

 

As DaveyK posted, even simple money chasing can add up.
I know a MotoA rider that gets helps from a guy that owns several gas stations.
Gas station owner guy pays their fuel costs and any "snacks" bought at given fuel stops.
Rider has offered to list the company or owners name as sponsor and run stickers, but owner guy doesn't want it that way.

 

I got roped into going to the coaches / parents meeting last night. Did not want to go but put on my big boy pants, sucked it up and did my dance to make the parents happy and also, to get some cash out of them if they have a business or are high up enough to influence where money might go.

in the off season we lost two paying sponsors (things are tight, no problem and thank you your past involvement) but we picked up 5 or 6 new ones at anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand. Also got one restaurant to double their percentage of sales, opened the window from 5 days to 30 and include booze sales in sales percentage.

so, at the meeting we did the press, here’s what you get for your cash and all the usual shit and we got 1 sponsorship from an attendant and 3 more from people who weren’t in the room but got calls about it.

awesome shit and the girls (and dudes) will be getting some kick ass shit, debt incurred is paid in full and everyone walked away happy.

man’s I get some new free t shirts from sponsors and my beers paid for tomorrow night. Hooray for everyone!

 

This is also not a realization they should have had recently. It's been the same for at least 15 years and people are still surprised by it

 

Being that he performed well in SBK but is now without a ride...if a ride became available in STK 1000 or SS, would he be allowed to take it? Or is it SBK or nothing according to rider rules for him.