| Author | Message | ||
     Aeholton |
http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2006/Aug/060808j.htm Wonder if the ratings for Formula Xtreme being higher than Superbike race have anything to do with Buell running in them? (Message edited by aeholton on August 10, 2006) (Message edited by aeholton on August 10, 2006) | ||
| Macbuell |
Superbike isn't a very interesting class this year if you ask me. I think Suzuki has won all the races except one. AMA needs to tweak their classes if you ask me. How come Yamaha doesn't run in SuperBike and Suzuki and Honda don't run in SuperStock? They should combine those two classes and make all the big manufacturers compete head to head. | ||
| Anonymous |
Yeah baby. FX is the best racing out there! Really different bikes in the class instead of cookie cutter I4s. And next year will be even better! | ||
| Rocketman |
Things would be different in AMA SB if Ducati could campaign WSB spec machines. Rocket | ||
| Blake |
Suzuki has all but one race this year in AMA SBK. Zemke took his CBR1000RR to a win at the 2nd Miller Motorsports Park race. Rocket is right, V-Twins are hamstrung in AMA Superbike. Interesting information on that line... http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=26678 Ducati is going to walk away from AMA Superbike if they don't get some new rules considerations to create parity with the IL4's. | ||
| Sandblast |
It would be a huge shame if Ducati walks from AMA superbike. It would be like watching a black and white TV. I had better start sending e mails... | ||
| Socalbueller |
WOW those ratings are horrible for a special event like the Moto GP. I work at a cable network and regular shows with those ratings usually don't last long and they are cheaper to produce than a live race. Did Speed promote it at all? | ||
| Imonabuss |
Welcome to the real world of American motorcycle racing. And you wonder why Buell can't get any sponsorship money? Would Ford, etc. be excited about these numbers? No. But give us a real race with bikes and riders of all types really competing tooth and nail, and I'll bet we'd increase spectators. I think Buell with it being America's only sportbike, could draw some serious interest in US racing if it were promoted right. The problem is they have to get over the hump of being competitive, and that's hard to do without money. Otherwise who cares? And, did everyone here watch the MotoGP? I didn't because I think MotoGP is boring currently, other that the rare incredible race, not much happens. And Laguna tends to be extra boring because the GP riders who don't like it won't push hard there. The best racing I've ever seen at Laguna was with 2 strokes, GP 250s and 500s. Much wilder and tighter than MotoGP. | ||
| Diablobrian |
There was very little promotion of MotoGP outside of a few motorcycle mag ads. Speed NEVER promotes motorcycle road racing, NASCAR yes, Motocross sometimes, but never road racing motorcycles. At least not that I've ever noticed. They've been steadily squeezing motorcycle programming out of the line up. The demise of Greg's Garage, replaced by poser-bikes...I mean super-bikes is just a symptom of this trend. That show won't last long. It has no substance to it. and when it goes it will be replaced with more nascar re-hashes. Wait and see. | ||
| Eboos |
I thought it was a great race. Roberts lead for about 3 or 4 laps. Vermulean carried the race almost halfway, then Hayden took a huge lead. Rossi's bike overheated at the last lap and did not finish. He had a tenth place start, and climbed up to about fifth. Dani Pedrosa came in second, Colin Edwards third, Caparossi forth, and Vermulean fifth. I didn't watch much of AMA Superbike before the race, Ben Spies won, that's all I know. I didn't stay to watch the FX race either, I already knew the outcome, and I had to get out of Boston. Nascar, unfortunatly, appeals to a much larger crowd. Motorcycle racing needs more coverage to attract more of a crowd. I don't think that a lot of people understand the difference in the classes, and why racing is so important to the development of the bikes that they are seeing in the showrooms. I do not have speed channel. I do not understand why ESPN will have 24 hours of poker, but motorcycle racing wouldn't be interesting. | ||
| Blake |
ABC rebroadcast the race a week later and garnered some 1.1 million viewers. Not too bad. Speed TV executives are silly. How much Nascar can one person stand to watch? Don't get me wrong, I'm a nascar fan too, but good grief, I only really care to see the start and the final 20 laps or so. Nascar would do well to cut the long races up into a couple two or three shorter races. You know, like Superbike in AMA. ![: ]](http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/clipart/proud.gif) Edwards finished 3rd at Laguna? White trash dig poker, not motorcycle roadracing.  | ||
| Eboos |
I may be mistaken. I am going off of memory, and I haven't referenced any sites to get the results. Edit: The FX race may have gotten the higher ratings because it followed the GP broadcast. (Message edited by eboos on August 10, 2006) | ||
| Gearhead |
What's amazing about the ABC rebroadcast was the horrible commentary!! I couldn't believe what a lousy job they did. If that was the first exposure to top level motorcycle racing the majority of the veiwers had, bike racing on the major networks is doomed. I still believe SPEED would be better served to use the regular MotoGP feed with their regular announcers for the Laguna race. Those guys get fired up, know all the racers and can correctly pronounce their names, too. IMO | ||
| Blake |
I cannot disagree more strongly concerning the commentators at Speed. I intensely abhore that MotoGP announcer with the high pitched raspy voice; drives me up the wall; gotta mute the TV in order to enjoy the race. Speed TV's Sheehan and Spencer are soooo much better, no contest. IMNSHO.  I guess I don't need any urging to get fired up about a motorcycle race. The expert commentary by Freddy is wonderful. Plus being from Texas these days, I can understand Freddy just fine, thank you very much.  | ||
| Rocketman |
Busman, you say Moto GP is currently boring, but how do you know if you're not watching? I agree, it's not the fairing bashing weekend after weekend of WSB and BSB, but sometimes they do swap paint in Moto GP. What you need to do near christmas is get like the season review on DVD from Duke and throw yourself at the telly. Maybe you need to invite Randy around for mince pies and mulled wine too. He'd pucker up your Moto GP enthusiasm. Rocket |
