ck1racerx
PR Addict
Pit, lets here your theories... I am sure they will have more to do with the talent pool rather then the money issue...
Guys, this sport has ALWAYS been expensive. Of course I have data to back this up... In 1990 a new YZ80 had an MSRP of $1699, in 2012 a YZ85 MSRP was $3990 that is up 57.42%...sounds like a big jump...but... The cost of living is up 59.7% over the same time frame. And don't forget that in 1990 the interest rate on the average home was 15.4% and today its what 3%???
Its simply not money. Yes money holds a few people back, but in the grand scheme of things, its all in proportion.
The real issue is talent. Now I have heard the "this is Ohio and its cold in the winter...we cant ride all year... the training camps are in the south..." but guess what? that has not changed from 1990 either. The riders in Ohio today just lack "it" If you want to know what "it" looks like, dig out a video of Greg Rand or Broc Sellars or Josh Steel or Mike Bias (WV does count for Ohio) or Randy Bryant or Ryan and Bryan Smith and on and on and on... That is "it". Some of them went on to nice careers in racing while most, like myself, where competitive on a national level then got real jobs.
For me, anytime I was on a motorcycle I was happy, BUT, just riding around or practicing just did not do it for me. Gone was the thrill of competition and all was left was just sweat and mud. Nothing beats the feeling of the drop of the gate. WFO to the first turn with 30 to 40 other guys that want it just as bad as you. Passing that guy on the last lap to win... damn, my palms are sweating just thinking about it. And you just want to go play ride? What? are we reaping the results from the "lets not keep score so the kids don't lose" generation? or is it the "Make that jump smaller so my little Johnny can make it" whinny Moms and Dads?
I had been racing for 10 years before I even heard the first person complain about an obstacle on a track, it was so odd that I remember it still today. The complainer was Doug Singer (Mr. Fass Gass) and one of the best Ohio motocrossers ever (Check his LL vault record). He complained about a blind double at the original Action sports tack in Nelsonville. And what was the result? Drew told him to go home... and the race with on (btw, no one got hurt). Today the tracks are full of tabletops with landing like an 80 year old woman's tits. and stories of breaking bumps... they have been knocked down but they use to be there...
Wow, what a rant... I digress... Weak tracks, too many classes, whinny parents and "Johnny" are the findings from my theories. What do you think? and again, its not money... your looking are the proof, your tapping on an $800 computer attached to a $50 a month internet connection...other expenses that no one had in 1990
Guys, this sport has ALWAYS been expensive. Of course I have data to back this up... In 1990 a new YZ80 had an MSRP of $1699, in 2012 a YZ85 MSRP was $3990 that is up 57.42%...sounds like a big jump...but... The cost of living is up 59.7% over the same time frame. And don't forget that in 1990 the interest rate on the average home was 15.4% and today its what 3%???
Its simply not money. Yes money holds a few people back, but in the grand scheme of things, its all in proportion.
The real issue is talent. Now I have heard the "this is Ohio and its cold in the winter...we cant ride all year... the training camps are in the south..." but guess what? that has not changed from 1990 either. The riders in Ohio today just lack "it" If you want to know what "it" looks like, dig out a video of Greg Rand or Broc Sellars or Josh Steel or Mike Bias (WV does count for Ohio) or Randy Bryant or Ryan and Bryan Smith and on and on and on... That is "it". Some of them went on to nice careers in racing while most, like myself, where competitive on a national level then got real jobs.
For me, anytime I was on a motorcycle I was happy, BUT, just riding around or practicing just did not do it for me. Gone was the thrill of competition and all was left was just sweat and mud. Nothing beats the feeling of the drop of the gate. WFO to the first turn with 30 to 40 other guys that want it just as bad as you. Passing that guy on the last lap to win... damn, my palms are sweating just thinking about it. And you just want to go play ride? What? are we reaping the results from the "lets not keep score so the kids don't lose" generation? or is it the "Make that jump smaller so my little Johnny can make it" whinny Moms and Dads?
I had been racing for 10 years before I even heard the first person complain about an obstacle on a track, it was so odd that I remember it still today. The complainer was Doug Singer (Mr. Fass Gass) and one of the best Ohio motocrossers ever (Check his LL vault record). He complained about a blind double at the original Action sports tack in Nelsonville. And what was the result? Drew told him to go home... and the race with on (btw, no one got hurt). Today the tracks are full of tabletops with landing like an 80 year old woman's tits. and stories of breaking bumps... they have been knocked down but they use to be there...
Wow, what a rant... I digress... Weak tracks, too many classes, whinny parents and "Johnny" are the findings from my theories. What do you think? and again, its not money... your looking are the proof, your tapping on an $800 computer attached to a $50 a month internet connection...other expenses that no one had in 1990
