MotoAmerica 2019-2020 off season discussion/rant thread

[Map8]

Rumors. Bashing. Praise. Tech. Teams and Riders. MA's future. Run wild with talk about all things MotoAmerica and more from now until March 10th next year.




2020 MotoAmerica Series (Provisional)

March 10-11 Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Alabama (Preseason Test)

April 3-5 Circuit of The Americas, Austin, Texas

April 17-19 Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Braselton, Georgia

May 1-3 Virginia International Raceway, Alton, Virginia

May 29-31 Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin

June 26-28 Ridge Motorsports Park, Shelton, Washington

July 10-12 WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, California (TBC)

August 7-9 Pittsburgh International Race Complex, Wampum, Pennsylvania

August 21-23 Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis, Indiana

Sept. 11-13 New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, New Jersey

Sept. 17-20 Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Alabama




Space saved for 2020 MotoAmerica team/riders

 

[scootergmc]

You'd think if things were good all of us would've received our 2020 MotoAmericaLive subscription renewal email discount offers. Is it a marketing faux pas, or they know something they're not disclosing?

 

[Map8]

They have until January or February to offer discounts on streaming. There is nothing to see in the off-season. No one is going to watch MA testing. They don't need to start hyping subscriptions until just before the next season starts. MA has bigger issues to address right now.

 

[stangmx13]

its nearly confirmed that Attack is going to be taking over the "factory" Yamaha effort. how "factory" that team is going to be is still unknown. we probably won't have an idea until the middle of next season since no one will just come out and say it.

at a minimum, this means we've lost 1 SBK since the Attack/Estenson ride is gone.

 

[scootergmc]

They have until January or February to offer discounts on streaming. There is nothing to see in the off-season. No one is going to watch MA testing. They don't need to start hyping subscriptions until just before the next season starts. MA has bigger issues to address right now.

Sure they do, but why wouldn't anyone with two cents worth of marketing experience not start getting your numbers now while the product is fresh? "Looky here xyzbastardsphinctershrinking energy drink, here's our numbers from last season and here's our current renewals/new subscriptions. Look how well we're doing with our online streamers, we're getting that audience. Give us your money!" :laughing

Why wait until 2020? Soliciting sponsors is a year round activity. And if viewership is up as claimed, pimp the hell out of it always.

 

[Map8]

So when a sponsor asks for those numbers, which is the better answer:
a) "We are rolling out streaming video promotions after the first of the year," or
b) "Well no one is signing up now because there is so much unknown about teams and riders for next year."

I'm thinking those are MA's only options because any answer "c" about strong signups doesn't and won't exist in the next few months. They don't have much to offer viewers right now.

 

[stangmx13]

You'd think if things were good all of us would've received our 2020 MotoAmericaLive subscription renewal email discount offers. Is it a marketing faux pas, or they know something they're not disclosing?

I think u are expecting too much. Krave is probably 1/100th the size and revenue of Dorna. Krave and MA just aren't big and successful enough to take care of everything at the perfect time to do it.

 

[scootergmc]

Why are there only two options? You give sponsors what you know- a loaded schedule, a 2020 NBCSN renewal, 2019 numbers in relation to xxxx year's numbers/viewship lows and let them know you've received renewals new subscriptions with an active marketing plan. Let them know you're putting in the work. The renewal numbers will be negligible but the promise is on the horizon.

There is only disadvantage to waiting, unless as has been speculated, something else is afoot.

 

[scootergmc]

I think u are expecting too much. Krave is probably 1/100th the size and revenue of Dorna. Krave and MA just aren't big and successful enough to take care of everything at the perfect time to do it.

Really? Really?

How hard is it to set up an email blast with an advance subscription offer?

If that's true, then they deserve to fold.

 

[stangmx13]

Really? Really?

How hard is it to set up an email blast with an advance subscription offer?

If that's true, then they deserve to fold.

id guess uve never worked for a start-up.

no one said it was hard. but it still takes time, and its not 10 minutes like you might be thinking. there are only so many hours in a day and only so much $$ to pay people to do things for those hours.

 

[scootergmc]

I don't consider MA a startup. If they're at that level, then they're dying.

 

[Map8]

Sending an email is easy. Collecting the money, charging the right amount and keeping the accounts straight with different payment tiers is difficult. One look at the MA website is enough to know they aren't spending much time or money on tech.

Anyway, they aren't going to live or die in the next few years on the live streaming package. As mentioned earlier, they have bigger problems that need attention.

 

[stangmx13]

I don't consider MA a startup. If they're at that level, then they're dying.

they are only 5yrs old, they havent found any stability in their market, they are still adjusting their product, and they probably havent been profitable yet. they might even still be taking investments. all that screams startup to me.

 

[scootergmc]

As mentioned earlier, they have bigger problems that need attention.

Nobody's mentioned anything except one less team. What are these bigger problems? No revenue?

 

[scootergmc]

they are only 5yrs old, they havent found any stability in their market, they are still adjusting their product, and they probably havent been profitable yet. they might even still be taking investments. all that screams startup to me.

I'd say they're the latest ownership group of a declining product. I'd say it's not good if it projects the appearance of a startup.

 

[stangmx13]

I'd say they're the latest ownership group of a declining product. I'd say it's not good if it projects the appearance of a startup.

its not "good", but thats how it is. this goes back to my original point. there are 2 possible solutions here. u can adjust your expectations or u can wait for MA to improve more. the first can happen now and maybe ull be happier. the 2nd will take time and ull be grumpy for a while. I know which one I would do :laughing

 

[scootergmc]

We've had 5 years of wait and see and what I see is now is one factory team in what has essentially become a Midwest/Eastern US club series. I'm not grumpy, but the last thing I am is Pollyanna.

 

[Map8]

Nobody's mentioned anything except one less team. What are these bigger problems? No revenue?

MA's Superbike is not attracting more manufacturers or sponsors. Honda, Kawasaki, BMW and Ducati (beyond some very limited tech assistance to Wyman) remain on the sidelines. Their showcase class is contracting rather than expanding after five years. That class needs to be healthier to attract casual fans.

12 bikes on the grid doesn't bother me as long as the racing is good. I bought the streaming package, watched the races, followed the racers on social media and talked about the racing with friends. They have me as a fan. 12 bikes on the grid won't attract the fans who see the series as struggling and constantly compare now to the '90s and early '00s. A few more manufacturers, some big name racers and larger grids may bring back those fans. Those glory days aren't coming back so I guess MA needs to let those fans know they have something worth their time and money.

I want MA to succeed but I don't have all the answers. I'm just some clown on the internet with access to a keyboard. :laughing

 

[dtrides]

There is great racing in MA to watch.
Yes, the superbike class is a bit small but who has the cash to run a team? Why would the Japanese manufactures put money there when side by sides are their sales (at least locally)?
The other classes are worth watching and seem competitive , especially the twins and Liqua molly cup.

It just seems folks here in the states (Nor Cal?) aren't that interested in watching motorcycle racing.
I went to the Sonoma round and except for the older folks ( like me! Ha!) it was pretty empty. Rv's ringed the hills outside of the track but stands were empty.
MA did there best to provide entertainment for the whole family but pretty much zero venders (no money to be made for them due to internet pricing and slow sales).

I enjoyed the streaming package this year and will re-up when offered next year.
DT

 

[FXCLM5]

Face it our country doesn't roadrace enough anymore to have a national series, hence all the mfg don't even participate and now yammy won't even come back to defend the ship :x after winning the ship last 8/9 years.

That's super bizzare, and who the hell is going to be jumping in when the biggest name just jumped out??