We should have the Moto2 / Moto3 series in the USA!

[Go2Trackdays]

Watching the races at Indianapolis -
The 250cc single cylinder Moto3 bikes were lapping the SAME times as our 4cyl 600cc Supersports.
The Moto2 4cyl 600cc bikes were lapping the same as our 1000cc Superbikes, so obviously it's not all about horsepower....

If you look at who's at the top in MotoGP, they've all been through the Moto3, Moto2 progression.

What do you think?

 

[Blunder]

What, you mean MotoAmerica should have equivalant series? I agree, but there's hardly enough money to field even a decent proddy bike series right now. They're working on it, but it might take a few years or it might never happen and we get WSBK equivalants.

 

[RightCoastBias]

Problem is, other countries subsidize racing for kids. Moto3 is a bunch of young bucks. Most track riding and racing in the U.S. is done by much older people.

Motorcycling is simply not a sport/hobby/activity we encourage children to do, because it's seen as reckless/unsafe. This is also the reason riding motorcycles in most of the rest of the world is better, they don't see it as a reckless/unsafe thing, but a legitimate form of transportation.

Basically, America doesn't respect motorcycles and it'll be a long time before we're competitive in MotoGP.

 

[afm199]

Moto America is working on it. Money is the issue.

We don't have the talent currently. Josh Herrin, one of our better riders, raced Moto2 two years ago. His comment: "It's just like AMA except everyone is faster than me">

 

[Honey Badger]

We don't have the talent currently.

We have the talent, there's just no good way to develop that talent. It takes a ton of money, and most families can't afford that, there are a few who can, but the best talent is probably lost due to a lack of funds.

I have no idea the cost differences in Europe vs the US for the average road racer, but I'm guessing there's a lot less support on this side of the water, even for top talent who are amazing riders.

 

[ZCrow]

If only there was a way to convince Bubba that motorcycle racing is much more exciting to watch than NASCAR. I still don't understand how watching people turn to the left in a circle is more exhilarating than motorcycle racing?!?!:wow.

I am willing to bet if someone out there is raising a Serna Williams or Tiger Woods of motorcycle racing, that would be all it would take to get eyes glued. After all Merica loves winners!arty

 

[afm199]

We have the talent, there's just no good way to develop that talent. It takes a ton of money, and most families can't afford that, there are a few who can, but the best talent is probably lost due to a lack of funds.

I have no idea the cost differences in Europe vs the US for the average road racer, but I'm guessing there's a lot less support on this side of the water, even for top talent who are amazing riders.

I agree, and that also supports my statement. I should have said we have not developed the talent, so we don't have it.

Europe, particularly Spain and Italy, but many other countries are places where moto sport is extremely popular and there is much more money available. Shit, we can't get 65 k people to a MotoGP in the US. That number in Europe would be 130k.

And Europe has farm systems where kids start racing at young ages.

Check this out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4M_Vk8CyKs&feature=player_embedded

 

[redtail]

Idealistically, it's the best way to foster young talent. The Europeans have great success and have the wins/championships to prove it. Unfortunately, America doesn't have the same level of interest as they do in Europe.

 

[stangmx13]

MotoAmerica couldnt ask teams to drop their current machines and spend >$100k on a brand new bike in the first year. the KTM RC390 is under 10k and u can put a Superstock bike on the grid for less than 20k. a good Supersport bike is prob double that and look how tiny the grid is. theres no way we'd have a healthy grid with >100k bikes. itd be amazing to have Moto3 and/or Moto2 over here, but the racers, the series, and the paddock dont have enough $$ to support those classes.... yet

im still waiting on used Moto2 bikes to get cheaper. i want one real bad. cheapest they seem to be going for is still around 40k though.

 

[afm199]

MotoAmerica couldnt ask teams to drop their current machines and spend >$100k on a brand new bike in the first year. the KTM RC390 is under 10k and u can put a Superstock bike on the grid for less than 20k. a good Supersport bike is prob double that and look how tiny the grid is. theres no way we'd have a healthy grid with >100k bikes. itd be amazing to have Moto3 and/or Moto2 over here, but the racers, the series, and the paddock dont have enough $$ to support those classes.... yet

im still waiting on used Moto2 bikes to get cheaper. i want one real bad. cheapest they seem to be going for is still around 40k though.

Yup. Shit I'd love a Moto3 bike. I'm almost small enough for one.

 

[stangmx13]

looks like u can get a used NSF250R for ~10k or a CEV-spec KTM for ~30k
http://www.gpmotorbikes.com/component/vehiclemanager/173/alone_category/52/Moto 3?Itemid=173

GP CRT bikes are going for ~100k. cheaper if u dont want the wheels or the suspension :laughing

 

[GAJ]

Attendance at Indy for the main event was a paltry by international standards 65,000. The average is 115,000.

And TV numbers are appalling in the US; here's for this year's Austin race.

"Nielsen TV rating numbers released by Fox Sports 1 were: Moto3 (178k viewers, +45% from ’14; Moto2 (159k; +11%); MotoGP (231k; +37%)."

I enjoy the Moto3 and Moto2 races almost as much as the MotoGP races.

Often the Moto3 race is by far the most exciting race of the weekend.

I'm actually shocked we get to see the races on TV considering the tiny viewership numbers.

http://www.roadracetalk.com/motogp-austin-2015-tv-and-attendance-numbers/

 

[stangmx13]

i wonder how many Americans pay for the feed and dont bother w/ the shitty broadcast...

 

[GAJ]

i wonder how many Americans pay for the feed and dont bother w/ the shitty broadcast...

What do you find shitty about the broadcast?

Certainly not picture quality or camera angles.

I'm damned glad we have the coverage...for now.

 

[stangmx13]

way back when i gave up on the broadcast, i couldnt stand the announcers, commercials and their timing, lack of pre and post race coverage, lack of FP and QP coverage, and a whole bunch of other little things. i dont care what we have now, itll never be as good as the feed.

since this thread is about MotoAmerica too, i will gladly pay for a feed from them when their coverage and video content management gets even close to what Dorna was doing 6yrs ago.

 

[RightCoastBias]

I gave up on US MotoGP coverage 2/3 years ago. I'll never go back, it's well worth the $120-ish dollars.

 

[clutchslip]

The Moto2 4cyl 600cc bikes were lapping the same as our 1000cc Superbikes, so obviously it's not all about horsepower....

Those Honda engines ain't the same. 150hp+ at the wheel. Throw on some super duper bouncy bits and you're hauling the mail.

The U.S. series use to be very popular and good racing, in my opinion. A couple of nice "cheap" feeder classes would be tits, but I am not convinced U.S. fans would watch them anymore than a true stock 600 race. I just don't think we have the interest in small bikes, anymore. 2 cents.

 

[stangmx13]

^ which Honda engines are u talking about?

Moto2 engines likely make somewhere between 120-125HP. ive heard they are just stock engines w/ some HRC kit parts. i bet a bunch of the MA Supersport bikes make more HP even w/ the Sunoco spec fuel. even TenKate going to town in WSS w/ custom cams, amazing cylinder head work, and the best electronics cant get the engine close to 150HP.

 

[GAJ]

^ which Honda engines are u talking about?

Moto2 engines likely make somewhere between 120-125HP. ive heard they are just stock engines w/ some HRC kit parts. i bet a bunch of the MA Supersport bikes make more HP even w/ the Sunoco spec fuel. even TenKate going to town in WSS w/ custom cams, amazing cylinder head work, and the best electronics cant get the engine close to 150HP.

Yeah, I don't think they rung every last hp out of them on purpose.

Not sure I've ever seen one blow up during a race.

 

[Donelop]

We have the talent, there's just no good way to develop that talent. It takes a ton of money, and most families can't afford that, there are a few who can, but the best talent is probably lost due to a lack of funds.

I have no idea the cost differences in Europe vs the US for the average road racer, but I'm guessing there's a lot less support on this side of the water, even for top talent who are amazing riders.

moto 3 to moto gp is i think 300k euros to 900k euros a year that racers have to come up with.

the ktm rc cup is about $30 grand here in the us, about twice the cost of the same program in the uk because of travel expenses. the rc390 is just too much of a street bike compared tp the moriwaki 250's some of the rc cup kids rode when that series was going on. even then the moriwaki was a 30k machine, tje cost of the whole season for the rc c up kids.

i think thegrassroots racing has more potential than a moto 2/3 series here. dirtquake, road racing, zwarte cross, grande fete de nationale, gymkhana, etc. even moto gp is hurtingfor money as some of thebackers for thebiggest teams are caught up intheeuropean financial crisis, getting hit with corruption charges, and accused of laundering money through moto gp.

plus americas lost tobacco and alcohol sponsorships, marijuana companies might fund the shit out of a colorado dirtquake.