Another Factory Team Departs MotoAmerica

[frozenuts]

https://www.moreonmotorcycles.com/post/team-hammer-time-for-suzuki-as-yoshimura-departs-motoamerica

I was going to post this in Couch Racers, but this could tap a few non-racers on the shoulder as well.

No Honda's besides Jayson Uribe, the Graves team did AFM last year instead of MotoAmerica, Yamaha is kinda hanging on, and Suzuki parts ways with the most successful AMA Superbike team of all time.


The Ulrich Family will handle the task without raising their blood pressure. John is in his 40th season of team ownership, so while a big deal for Team Hammer, it is just another year of racing for him. I talked with Chris Ulrich for a bit last year about rider selection, and if I ever doubted his methods (spoiler, I had not) I was a believer.

The bigger issue is how will MA handle even fewer bikes on the already laughably small Superbike grid? What does this mean for new bikes?

 

[Climber]

Can we finally conclude that DMG killed American Roadracing with their crappy management?

To me, the only question is if they did it on purpose to add to NASCAR or if they were that inept.

 

[afm199]

Can we finally conclude that DMG killed American Roadracing with their crappy management?

To me, the only question is if they did it on purpose to add to NASCAR or if they were that inept.

Ehh, they sucked, but what killed American roadracing was the Great Recession. Moto sales dropped precipitously and never came back for the racer replicas. Now the manufacturers are puking out endless small bikes to attract new riders, and dropping the sport bikes.

Fewer sport bikes=fewer riders=fewer racers=less fan support.

 

[squidworth]

This is a Suzuki decision, not a Yoshimura decision. It sucks regardless.

 

[Map8]

Ehh, they sucked, but what killed American roadracing was the Great Recession. Moto sales dropped precipitously and never came back for the racer replicas. Now the manufacturers are puking out endless small bikes to attract new riders, and dropping the sport bikes.

Fewer sport bikes=fewer riders=fewer racers=less fan support.

^^^ This. Doesn't matter who was running things, the recession's impact was inescapable.

 

[stangmx13]

MA is working hard to get STK1000 racers on the SBK grid. I expect to see a handful of them there this year.

 

[frozenuts]

MA is working hard to get STK1000 racers on the SBK grid. I expect to see a handful of them there this year.

I hope they are working on Superbikes as well. 14 bike main events are not going to pack the stands, and that was with Yosh in the mix.

 

[OldMadBrit]

Sadly, I fear big boy moto racing is over in the US. Its primary audience is too old and the sport just isn't attracting the important demographics.

There is no viable entry point for young riders like there is in Asia and Europe - where many (most?) kids have a moped or 125cc bike as their first motorized transport.

 

[budman]

Team Hammer will represent well. They intend to support all main classes and that includes super stock.

I see this more of a we can save $$ by using Hammer than factory bikes leaving the grid.

 

[gixxerjeff]

I remember watching Nicky (on a Suzuki,iirc) dueling with Miguel Duhamel at Sears Point when he was 15.
In fact, he binned it at T-7 on the last lap and Miguel scooped him up and gave him a lift back to the pits on his cool down lap after his win. Very cool stuff.
It breaks my heart to know those days are over.

 

[frozenuts]

Team Hammer will represent well. They intend to support all main classes and that includes super stock.

I see this more of a we can save $$ by using Hammer than factory bikes leaving the grid.

I have no doubt that Team Hammer will deliver more than is asked of them, as that is how they run their team. I am honestly stoked for the whole team and look forward to finding out who is riding what, not only for Team Hammer Suzuki but the rest of the paddock as well.

That said, I am still a bit nervous about the series as a whole. I have been putting off a feature-length write-up on the topic for the last couple of years, choosing to just skim the surface. This might be what makes me finally drop a big net for me.

 

[duck_rider]

Ehh, they sucked, but what killed American roadracing was the Great Recession. Moto sales dropped precipitously and never came back for the racer replicas. Now the manufacturers are puking out endless small bikes to attract new riders, and dropping the sport bikes.

Fewer sport bikes=fewer riders=fewer racers=less fan support.

Yup. Doesn't help that motorcycles are primarily a hobby/toy to most in America. Younger people, who you could consider successful in making $100k+/year still have no money to buy a house in most metros in America, let alone a toy that could cost $10-15k.

Even if a younger adult someone has the money to get into this expensive sport (or use it as a primary method of transportation/commuting), they likely won't do it. Seems less people currently in their 20s are interested in motorcycling.

Feel like motorcycle racing will continue to dwindle.

 

[Whammy]

Youngsters don't ride because dad or mom didn't let them ride.
Or they mom and dad weren't interested in riding in the first place.
Two ways you get into riding. Someone introduced you, or you just had the itch cause it was cool.
It is sad how Racing of any kind is crapping out in Merica.
The weekends spent at the motocross tracks and such. It isnt done anymore.
The lack of interest and dwindling numbers in professional motorsport reflects that.

 

[Climber]

I wonder how many potential riders went into snowboarding instead?

 

[East Bay Mike]

Youngsters don't ride because dad or mom didn't let them ride.
Or they mom and dad weren't interested in riding in the first place.
Two ways you get into riding. Someone introduced you, or you just had the itch cause it was cool.
It is sad how Racing of any kind is crapping out in Merica.
The weekends spent at the motocross tracks and such. It isnt done anymore.
The lack of interest and dwindling numbers in professional motorsport reflects that.

This is true for many including me. Parents hated motorcycles which is probably a big reason I stayed away from bikes.

Then last year I got a huge surge of energy and decided I wanted to try motorcycling.

I think the Great Recession has some to die with the decline but it’s only 1 of many variables in this country. High cost of living, overprotective parents, unsafe roads, younger people don’t drive as much.....

 

[thedub]

It is sad how Racing of any kind is crapping out in Merica.
The weekends spent at the motocross tracks and such. It isnt done anymore.

That's not true.

Roadracing is crapping out in America. Because there isn't enough money in it for the high profile sponsors and factory teams. And it's too expensive and inaccessible for amateurs.

Off-road racing, in all it's forms, doesn't have that problem. It's thriving. When was the last time you heard about a factory team pulling out of SX?

People aren't buying sportbikes anymore. You can't race on Sunday and sell on Monday if no one's buying. Meanwhile dirt bikes roll off the showroom floor in a steady stream.

Go to a D36 race, you'll see at least 3x as many racers as any AFM weekend.

Sorry for going a little off topic. I guess Whammy's ridiculous statement of "Racing of any kind is crapping out in Merica" triggered me.

 

[Jalopyshoppe]

That's not true.

Roadracing is crapping out in America. Because there isn't enough money in it for the high profile sponsors and factory teams. And it's too expensive and inaccessible for amateurs.

Off-road racing, in all it's forms, doesn't have that problem. It's thriving. When was the last time you heard about a factory team pulling out of SX?

People aren't buying sportbikes anymore. You can't race on Sunday and sell on Monday if no one's buying. Meanwhile dirt bikes roll off the showroom floor in a steady stream.

Go to a D36 race, you'll see at least 3x as many racers as any AFM weekend.

Sorry for going a little off topic. I guess Whammy's ridiculous statement of "Racing of any kind is crapping out in Merica" triggered me.

That conversation carries over to cars, too. Even the budget minded 24 Hours of Lemons doesn't have wait lists for every race like they used to. Meanwhile Ultra 4 fields are growing yearly. Let's not forget the Side by Side UTV's. Racing and selling like hotcakes.

It makes sense to me. It's hard to see the appeal of a single occupant weekend only (I know there are 3 people who commute on sportbikes, this is just a generalization. Please don't chime in here with your argument for the practicality of an R1) fun machine. You can buy a fun machine that you can drag the family along for a weekend away from where you live.

 

[berth]

You can buy a fun machine that you can drag the family along for a weekend away from where you live.

So, where's the Camry Cup or the Mini-Van 200?

If the racing is exciting, it's exciting and draws a crowd.

I have left WSBK because it's not exciting. The championship has been a disaster. At least Mladin had Spies to keep him humble. (And, boy, did he.)

I haven't watched MA mostly due to access, but also that it's been one dedicated factory, another tag along, and a bunch of club racers. So it's not really even a level playing field.

Now, all of my road racing momentum and history have been consumed to where I haven't the energy to reinvest and start over. Learn the new teams and faces. I just don't see the fields as actually competitive at the top end.

My most favorite race I've see was the 2005 FX Final Round at Atlanta with Duhamel and Zemke. Duhamel was behind Zemke in points and needed to not only win the race for the championship, but get the most laps led point. Holy Bananas was that a barn burner. Never seen anything like that.

Second, was Spies win over Mladin at Fontana by a microsecond in 2007 or 2008 (I forget). A humdinger of watching Mladin dominate the race and Spies gaining lap after lap at the end. "Pay for the whole seat and only need the edge" indeed. No seat necessary for that last lap, for sure.

DiSalvo's 200 win in '11 was just spectacular given everything that happened that race.

I'm sure there's some moments still happening out there, some fine events deeper in the pack. Trying to watch 600SS nowadays is just insanity. Just a mob of chaos. Seems more balls and throttle than race craft.

Anyway.

Need more folks on the podiums. Need the races to "matter" to more than one guy. Need folks to be fighting for wins, fighting hard, fighting close.

 

[Jalopyshoppe]

Something something "Spanish midgets on liter bikes"...

Motorcycle road racing is not very relatable to a LOT of people. It's only exciting if you understand racecraft and technique. Knowledge of these things is not readily accessable. You get excitement surrounding races when you have a fan base that can relate.
NASCAR survives with a combination a WWE style entertainment and roots in racing that can be seen on a grassroots level nationally. Grassroots off road racing is also much more prevalent nationally.
There's certainly a chicken vs. egg argument when it comes to media attention, but I think the bulk of the decline comes from the cultural shift away from road racing in all its formats.

 

[edzx6]

https://images.app.goo.gl/KLKNhMvTNMhDaguf9