What In the World Supercross? Change and Growth in Dirt Bike Racing.

[@Mysterion157]

Watching this after the first round of WSX, I thought it was really good. It felt like a legit supercross and the racing was fun to watch. No reason for everyone to get defensive over more racing

[@EarthSurferUSA]

It is put together by the FIM, an organization that believes in redistribution and inclusiveness by having races in places like Turkey,---who buy no bikes and probably has more security than fans, tracks to nowhere. That is a waste of the industries money. Don't expect this series to be a success. It will be the FIM's 3rd or 4th failure at a world SX series. Glad to see Honda wants no part of it.

[@Mysterion157]

@@EarthSurferUSA FIM is only a sanctioning body. They don’t actually put the races together

[@richardupyurass2379]

Supercross and motocross are better for fans today due to your hard work creating all this excellent content.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

I think you are part of a 20% bot ratio.

[@CaddyJim]

Did they get along back in the *90's* when Motocross would start before Supercross even finished so their schedules were intertwined?

[@ygantmedia]

Neither series was even organized well enough back then to care. It was just individual races run by individual promoters. Supercross finally fell under one ownership group by 1996, and then finally supercross had the consistent organization it had been lacking all along, and, combined with Jeremy McGrath's starpower, it started to grow massively and quickly. Soon, the over lapping schedules went away.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

@@ygantmedia You did not know what the sport was in the 90's. The AMA was the sanctioning body for MX and SX in the 90's and much earlier, (Sans Daytona SX, the best one), 50 years ago you say. Now for promotion---we get the state, not individuals. It is good to organize the sport, (and our lives), under one dictator,---is what you are saying in reality.

[@CaddyJim]

@@ygantmedia Thanx for the reply But even during McGrath era they would start the Motocross season during Supercross. They would have to switch off & go do a motocross race to start the season & then come back & do a Supercross race is what I was pointing out. In 96 & 97 the two series were still intertwined

[@ygantmedia]

@@CaddyJim yes we’re actually kinda agreeing here. Those late 90’s years are when that transition started taking place but it took three seasons to get it ironed out. 97 was intertwined, then 98 still had the “orphan” motocross opener at Gainesville but the rest of the nationals started after supercross. Then by ‘99 all the nationals started after supercross. Fun fact, the Gatorback National went away for ‘99 by getting Gatorback promoter Bill West to sell his date to become the ‘99 Tampa Supercross. You probably remember that as a mudder won by Larry Ward.

[@ygantmedia]

@@EarthSurferUSA I know you won’t rest until you prove I don’t know anything about the sport, which is rich coming from someone who said they tuned out for 20 years. Nice attempt to sound smart by saying all the races back in the 90s were AMA. Did anyone say they weren’t? Name me the professional sporting series not run by one entity. MLB, NBA, NHL or NFL? UFC? NASCAR? F1? Indy? MotoGP? WorldSBK? AFT? MotoAmerica? That’s how all sports works.

[@iangrumpypirate568donovan3]

There’s gonna be plenty of ticket revenue for WSX. The rest of the world is hungry for it. Cardiff was pretty much sold out. Lots of new fans made that day. And the Aussies are nuts for it too. Please USA, try and work with it not against it. It’s for the good of the sport as a whole.

[@745moto_fan]

The WSX was a success to me on how interesting it was cause it was unique in its own way... so I'm sure the SMX will become a success as well with this playoff format !! I'm with who they been growing this sport and I just started following everyday since January 1st 2022 !! BRAAAPPPP

[@EarthSurferUSA]

I have been into the sport since 1976 starting at the age of 12 when a kid could afford to buy a new bike,---and i will bet you everything I own against your almost nothing, (your new normal.),---that you are dreaming.

[@Jimmy-pg1kg]

I'm having a tough time seeing that anything would have changed without wsx announcing. we will never know for sure

[@invisiblespeedrc]

100% sure, nothing would have changed.

[@electrolytesplants6057]

They diffently wouldn't have gave the riders more money without wsx. I wonder if the riders will still have to pay an entry fee.

[@bmotomo421]

@@electrolytesplants6057 Why do you care about wether they have to pay to enter? And, what business is it of yours, how much the rides get paid? All of them choose to enter the races. And they all signed contracts, agreeing to accept that amount of money being offered. And for those who don't like the pay, they're free to choose another profession. Just like the rest of us. No one is forcing these guy's to race.

[@blakebolton4852]

@@bmotomo421 chill out people are allowed to be curious and wanna see the riders make more money for putting their lives on the line for our entertainment. Every other sport is open about pay.

[@bmotomo421]

@@blakebolton4852 He needs to chill out and stop talking shit about things he knows nothing about. No team owes you or him an accounting statement for their athletes, just because he's curious. In this sport or any other sport. Again, no one is forcing them to take any type of risk. They choose to.

[@declaredjeans7555]

Yes!! I sent him a DM saying we would love some videos during the off season, only a couple of days ago, and here it is! Thanks, Weege!!!

[@neumeisteranimalhospital2627]

I live in Iowa. Any series that gives #10 an opportunity to race is fine with me!

[@EarthSurferUSA]

We need to start our own series, and I bet the factories are sick enough of the FIM to help. We race 2-stroke with 4-strokes of equal displacement, racers choice. No other format has as much potential for growth today. The EPA attack on 2-strokes actually gave a outside race organization (outside of the FIM/AMA, like the old CMC series in Cal.), a big advantage that they never had before,---an option of a less expensive bike. That is a huge factor for anybody wanting to try it. Where the people can go is where the sport can grow, and I see 15 guys on a 2022 MXGP starting gate. The time has never been better for a competing series, and like I said, the probability the factories will be interested is pretty big.

[@Les437]

I’m in love with the battle of the best. That’s why I hate cutting away for replays of the start and crashes and riders walking off the track. If they want playoffs they should have the top 6 on the racetrack or top 5 or whatever, not 22 and have the camera bounce back and forth. Also, blue flags should have the lappers call it a day before the leaders come by and hinder the real race. Just my 2 cents.

[@RobertJones-ix2hu]

I agree with the lapper thing. Once someone is lapped they are just in the way from then on

[@daffyduck9901]

2:10 after what seemed like a lifetime of buying dirt bikes and gear for my son racing NESC since 5 years old, at 12 years old I gave him a globe. And I said son I give you the world. LOL we still laugh about it today almost 20 years later. 👍

[@EarthSurferUSA]

That was a good gift. I want one in my living room myself. I see they get pretty expensive, like they are made under EPA regulations too. lol

[@MX-CO]

I didn't used to like Shaheen but heard him today and I Kinda missed him as the announcer

[@roosthrower]

I really liked the WSX, afew things could be changed but my opinion wouldn't be heard. I think your new series.should have less races, mix it up with SX arenacross with some speedway loop and MX through out the year make it not so boring. Thanks weige

[@chriszbodula1894]

Jason, can’t thank you enough for explaining this in a simple to understand coherent manner. Been so confused with influencers talking like everybody knows the sport inside and out. All these series and acronyms make this very confusing, which is a terrible business model if you want to get the “average” enthusiast engaged. Would love to talk with you about a college series racing program I’m looking into starting.

[@warrendean1007]

“We are in a niche”….that attitude is a problem. Everyone has adrenal glands. Everyone’s adrenaline starts pumping when Eli Tomac goes beast mode and starts banging bars with Chase Sexton, Ken Roczen et al. Our sport is more exciting than stick and ball sports, we just need more exposure, more money spent on marketing, more Wheaties boxes, ESPN awards, etc etc etc.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

History and facts do not support your claim. This sport was 10 time bigger in the USA before the 1986 production rule, the 4-stroke forced on the industry,---and basically no TV coverage or outside sponsorship. The difference was 2 things. Affordable bikes that a kid could buy making $1.00/her part time, (I bought 3 new bikes in 5 years that way, or I would not be here today), and places to ride. I am back in my rural Michigan area,----with a pretty new YZ250 2-stroke, (I could still afford), and literally no place to ride. I am riding 1 acre in my back yard for some exercise. Bottom line is, you don't get into this sport unless you ride or know somebody who does and help them. I have never gotten a new "fan" to go to a race with me more than once, and if you don't ride, you don't spend any money in the industry.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

Because of outside interference in the MX market, (the 1986 production rule and the 4-sroke forced on the industry by the EPA), bike have become too expensive for the sport to grow, even with a pretty good economy. That is crashing right now too. It is all about bike sales, not TV coverage. Those band aids will not stick on the open and gushing wounds of the industry. 15 racers on a MXGP gate in 2022. With the policies of the FIM, why would that direction change for us?

[@andrewtorgerson6143]

i watch motocross like a mad man, practice and everything even all the reporting. but supercross is actually hard for me to watch it is too scary i feel like someone is gonna die :(

[@robertrishel3685]

I think the true measure of the sports health is how many people are showing up to race local events every weekend…. I grew up racing moto I’m the 70’s and 80’s. I am in the process of raising three boys of my own and cannot even contemplate affording the costs to take them racing in todays world.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

Fans do not become fans in this sport unless they ride/race or have close family who does. The health of the sport is 100% dependent on bike sales and places to ride, and every bit of the sports decline is due to FIM policy and EPA force today. There is no way this sport can grow under such policy. Bikes got too expensive, and now the economy is being tanked. YT is full of propaganda artists, and that is why this guy got hired. There is no other reason.

[@jefftopper7787]

Just my opinion. I think WSC will be good for the sport. I'm sure their will be growing pains

[@CaddyJim]

The MXGP is a world MX championship they should team up with WSX & their GP riders could also race WSX like our Riders race AMA SX & MX. But if the manufacturer's support the MXGP why wouldn't they support WSX

[@EarthSurferUSA]

I think it is pretty obvious the FIM had a goal of taking over the racing in the USA as theirs was failing, so that is why they did not combine with the MXGP that has as little as 15 riders on the gate in 2022. Basically, they can only go where the blood is still flowing, and we tilted our heads to the left, and let them in. But the manufactures are the hero's in this case. Now, if you noticed, Turkey did not have a team at the MXofN for 2022, as if they buy no bikes, (have no fans either to speak of), so I am pretty sure the manufactures are sick of wasting the industries money in god forsaken places for the FIM ideals of redistribution and inclusiveness. I actually hope it is the factories who start a competing series, with the track owners,---and just dump the FIM/AMA all together. Those people will not waste the industries money.

[@craigf7188]

Weege not sure about other teams but the Australian teams are Australian Factory Teams, Just because a Team isn’t from US doesn’t mean it’s not Factory. Can you for one second think the WSX is partially for the rest of the World and doesn’t revolve at least entirely around the US. US has its regional championship for that, and I think your bosses are embarrassing themselves by constantly bleating “World Championship” with their regional Championships

[@ygantmedia]

Okay, CDR Yamaha and Genuine Honda Racing Honda raced WSX, but does that not make the fact that the American factory teams did not want their riders to race WSX any less of a massive point?

[@iangrumpypirate568donovan3]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 nailed it.

[@jamesaldridge5211]

Weege! Been following you since the magazine intern days, glad you're here to provide a competent news outlet. Need to get you more money for being one of like three liaisons that isn't simply schilling themselves with doom headlines, and filling in their own obvious gaps in knowledge. Thanks for doing the job right!

[@ygantmedia]

You nailed it

[@EarthSurferUSA]

What is the matter with you? The guy is FIM puppet, and they can't even fill a starting gate half way for a MXGP!

[@mikegesicki3168]

sup weege

[@gregwilliamsono9360]

For the love of motocross man... Do some of these again!

[@ygantmedia]

We're back!!!!

[@745moto_fan]

I got a question.... WHAT IF the WSX starts having these few stars that only want supercross seasons PLUS other international riders that can come from all over the world ... and since they will travel the world doing supercross they will bring out so many other supercross riders international that can has this title called WSX champion ...

[@enacku]

Dave’s Combs must of started crying for weeks having to give more money to the riders.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

Coombs is part of the globalist problem,--or Racer-X would not have hired a failed actor of 1012 with no MX knowledge to spread propaganda,---what ever the FIM wants. He talks about nothing else in a good light. Notice, he is not interviewing anybody big in the industry who is against this series. That is what a propaganda artist does,--and he has the biggest microphone in the industry supplied by Dave Coombs and his FIM masters.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

2012

[@aaronmachado13]

I love how Super Motocross isn’t there to take away from either series but it’s a bonus almost like an All stars format in NASCAR. It unifies the American Motocross industry and this years Pro Motocross championship coverage was atrocious and harmed the sport when it was arguably the best season we’ve had in years. That said I do hope WSX grows cause it gives those overseas a introduction to the sport. AMA Supercross and Motocross isn’t leaving but the fans overseas deserve some credit, hell Australian Supercross series is great fun to watch especially the Aus X open and could bring more money globally.

[@chadmiller8725]

Just the usual greed cluster of screwing stuff up. The saying has always been “don’t try and fix/change what isn’t broken”. This will simply be another bunch of flock ups trying to break away from the safety of the normal and stable flock. The tv package(s) will be even more of a scam and SUCK. I’ll just continue to enjoy my local MX racing community here in N. Texas.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

The sinking MXGP's with 15 riders on a gate have the FIM clutching for the savior of USA shores. We should let them sink, and the let the factories run the racing with the track owners with a sports station on basic cable, (like the old profitable days), that knows what side of the handle bars the clutch is on. This is not the industry free people built anymore. The FIM is the #1 factor of the sports decline of 90% market share lost, and we are dumb enough to let them run our racing? I will just go riding, and I am setting my bike up as I did in the 80's!!!!! Because that was better too.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

Have you ever noticed that people with a microphone chanting "change and growth", never measure the results and compare to the past? Since 1986, FIM change has meant less growth, and you have less change in your pockets. Those are the results.

[@mjumbotron]

Great reporting as always, Weege. As for the riders' pay/purse money, I think most of us are in agreement that the top riders are paid pretty well. Not great by ball sports standards, but let's be honest: that's crazy money. Championship-level dirt bike racers make plenty to live on comfortably, and insanely well by world standards. The real question is the privateers and the middle-tier riders, who aren't just underpaid, but have basically no long-term support (and in a country like the USA, where healthcare is basically a debt trap, that is a huge extra risk factor). So, more money to spread around is good: I'd like to see it spread a lot more evenly. And for that, I will keep beating this drum until the cows come home: they need a riders union.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

Nope---a great recording, not reporting.

[@kurtheidelbach]

A 17th place Supercross rider is making like 2800 and motocross 900 a race and you call that good money 😂😂. For the top in the country. Come on they are ridiculously underpaid.

[@mjumbotron]

@@kurtheidelbach I'm talking about the range of results across an average SX or MX season, not relative to everybody in the USA who races a dirt bike. I wouldn't call a 17th place rider top-level. I'd call them bottom or middle-tier, and yes, I agree that they deserve much better pay than the numbers you're citing.

[@kurtheidelbach]

@@mjumbotron You wouldn’t call a 17th place rider out of every rider possible a top rider in their profession? Really? There are only a few that make sizable money.

[@mjumbotron]

@@kurtheidelbach I think we basically agree: by "top" I was referring to guys like Tomac, Roczen, Anderson, Webb, etc: roughly the top 10, maybe even less. It's a very thin slice! I was just saying: THOSE guys make good money. Everybody else doesn't, it seems like. And the injection of more purse money will help the rest somewhat (how much is hard to say), but probably not enough, IMO.

[@kurtheidelbach]

It’s chump change compared to other sports and what they make as a company overall as OEMs. Hope they learn from LIV golf and don’t repeat the same issues or they can lose financially and for the good of the sport. It’s awesome for the united TV coverage but find it hard to believe that the stars would have aligned without WSX. There needs to be a lot more let’s be friends happening.

[@ygantmedia]

Of course it's chump change compared to other sports. Other sports ARE WAY MORE POPULAR and bring in WAY MORE REVENUE. NFL games are literally the most watched thing on television in America. That's why the athletes get paid stupid money.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

A stick and a ball do not cost 13 grand. The factories are not in because they are sick of the FIM wasting their money with their new redistributive and inclusive ideas like MXGP races in Turkey. WeeGee will always tow the line for the FIM, who only has 15 riders on a 40 rider MXGP gate for great experience.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

@@ygantmedia They are also used for political propaganda,---for big money.

[@kurtheidelbach]

@@ygantmedia Agree but there are lots of solutions. Just $5 more per ticket at every Supercross going directly to the riders is a start. There is absolutely no reason a rider should ever have to pay an entry fee at the professional level. We have a lot to explore. We traditionally lag behind other sports by many many years with change.

[@ygantmedia]

@@kurtheidelbach Pretty much every type of race around the world charges an entry fee. From your local 5K to F1 NASCAR motoGP or essentially any motorsports

[@rossmorgan9974]

It's a pity that this new money that's coming into the sport isn't filtered down to the grass roots , the sport is so expensive these days , bikes , fuel ,race and practice fees are astromical these days , so much talent goes to waste because the parents don't have the funds to compete with the rich guys of the sport

[@Card_Threapy]

THE MAN THE MYTH JASON WEIGANDT !!!!

[@MX-CO]

Got it I'm now a playoff fan!

[@shooei5990]

Motocross is just way 2 expensive as a sport.. always wanted to race growing up. Just wanted to even try it. Was just such an un realistic opportunity for my family growing up.. would’ve been so cool I bet.

[@bmotomo421]

Thanks for the info. Seems like a lot of the Moto KZbinrs have resorted to "jumping the shark" on this topic. I've heard so many off the wall theories on why and when. And how much or how little. Or why the fans should be pissed off, by this group or that group. It was getting pretty silly. I'm a long time fan of MX and SX. I was sitting in the LA Colosseum when Mart Tripes won back in the 70s. And I have not stopped being a fan since. And I've been riding since then, as well. How anyone from the US could say some of they things they've been saying, boggles my mind. I wish the best for the new MX Sports/Feld new programs. And cant wait to see it happen.

[@dannelson3432]

This one time in band camp........... 🙄

[@bmotomo421]

@@dannelson3432 Too much?

[@HillBilly1905]

Let’s just be excited we have more racing with a great field of riders. Does it matter what came first chicken or the egg

[@dannyv2335]

Ultimately the fans win with more racing

[@lw3918]

When do the athletes get a break?

[@dannyv2335]

@@lw3918 they don’t all have to race the same series.

[@lw3918]

@@dannyv2335 I just don't see why anything needs to be changed.

[@dannyv2335]

@@lw3918 I do. I want the sport to become larger. I want the athletes (not just the top guys) to actually make some money. I want more prospects at Loretta’s so we have more than one rider to talk about.

[@lw3918]

@@dannyv2335 It's never going to happen. We're a niche sport, always have been always will be. There are things that hurt our sport, like the wheelie boys and others who can't follow ruled and regulations.

[@smbonna]

Yo Weege. Nice to see you still at it bro. Looking good and it is awesome you created a nice career for yourself. Maybe someday we will have another beer together somewhere.

[@glentight]

Weege being a shill here, Happy for the riders though.

[@ygantmedia]

It's true. Next time we get two series announcing millions in payouts for riders in the same year and a new manufacturer ready to jump in I'll say it's a bad thing.

[@glentight]

@@ygantmedia I'm all for a better return on investment for the riders. I had hoped for something other than the "RacerX" Weege out of this spot, but you toed the company line. It remains that the only reason for the addition of "SupEr MoTocRosS" is to dissuade riders from participation in an *actual* (FIM Sanctioned) World Chapionship. SMX isn't a new spectacle "for the fans" (daytona track ×3), it does little to nothing for the Sport as a whole, it's singular function is to tie riders to the US domestic Series.

[@MX-CO]

Is Racer X Hiring??

[@TnD_Adventures]

I love the new series (both actaully) But I would like to see Weege do some of the supercross. Ditch Lee and throw in Weege!

[@Fehr270]

Will be interesting to see the numbers doubling up. For example Roxen could keep running 94 after he looses it in AMA and someone else takes it there.

[@13Skribbles]

Roczen won’t loose his number. He’s racing SX. He has said he will run his own team if he has to

[@EarthSurferUSA]

I am from the old and better rule of the numbering system, where a rider earned a 2 and 1 digit number form the year before. Nobody wanted to be #94 unless you were a 3 digit guy the year before,and only for one season would they want that low of a number. It was a better numbering system and when they changed it to this mixed bag of garbage, (sometime in the mid 90's), they actually took away something that racers were proud to "earn". Maybe the FIM changed it because they no longer had 99 guys trying to qualify by the mid 90's,---my experienced theory.

[@13Skribbles]

@@EarthSurferUSA Its for the athletes to be able to market themselvees as a brand

[@lw3918]

Personally I think Supercross and the National series is enough. I remember having to read about races a month or so later. I guess it's the ADD in the younger generation. They want these athletes to race year round.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

THANK YOU FACTORIES, for not supporting this "New great FIM idea". I agree with you. The FIM has wasted enough of the industries money through ventures of no return on investment, and increasing the cost of doing business. It is about time you stuck up for your selves. Let them run the subsidized electric bikes, which will fail as soon as the subsidies run out. We have a profit to make! Now tell the EPA to go to hell,---and we will again. :)

[@kurtheidelbach]

Electric bikes will actually grow the sport. Think outside the box.

[@ericdanby8584]

Sorry but all you have to do is go to the track and see how many riders have gone because riders cannot afford to buy the new bikes and everything else that goes with it and this is why motocross is sadly dying.

[@AI4Ever2219]

YO DISNEY CREW…DON’T FONDLE THE CHILDREN

[@MarkFox]

I only watch and care about Motocross and don't give a rats ass about supercross, I know if in the minority. Jason where is the second video of your first motorcycles? Been waiting on that one.

[@CrossRutted]

Mmm... potato chips.

[@ygantmedia]

Closely followed by “mmmmm…..64 slices of American cheese.”

[@CrossRutted]

@@ygantmedia I love it when you talk dirty.

[@flcowboydc]

If the WSX, SX, and MX don’t get ALL the events on the SAME channel people WILL stop watching! It SUCKS trying to keep ALL the channels straight! I am starting to wonder if Joe Biden is running the Motorcycle races now! FJB

[@RubbishFPS]

Oh boy some two race thing i dont care about with 95% washed up riders and privateers. Its a glorified LCQ LOL