I returned to work today and personally, it felt pretty good to return to a moderate sense of normalcy after what have been pretty uncertain weeks on end. I will say, there were more people out on the roads today than there has been the few times I ventured out over the last month and from what I saw, the majority of those out and about were not part of the newly christened “essential workforce”. They were the people who still don’t take the threat of Covid-19 seriously and have been waiting for the slightest ebb in the governor-restrictions to take that thread and run with it, completely unraveling the strict distancing measures which were loosened today.
On yesterday’s Industry Seating Pod, JT noted information he had read which lead him to believe the government essentially realizes but isn’t outright claiming that we’re all gonna get the virus and by mandating these staggered returns to “normalcy” that essentially, our best defense is to sort of “control” it’s spread by relying on common sense, common decency, caution and responsibility. ALL things which humans have proved time and time again they can not be trusted to exercise on a grand scale. It’s no surprise that when the weather sucks, it’s kind of a moot point requiring people to stay inside on lockdown but when that sun breaks through and the temperature shoots up, EVERYONE is looking for an excuse to get out and LIVE.
We’re about to find out whether we’re really as smart as we think we are in 2020. Can we be trusted to trust our fellow man? As far as racing is concerned I REALLY can’t wait to get back to watching some Supercross again. I’m jonesin’ for it in a big way. Am I confident we’ll be seeing this May schedule play out like we’ve been hearing? Not especially. But to be totally honest, WE as an industry are probably more prepared than most any other would-be returning sport.
We’ve heard the claim tens of thousands of times, “this sport is small”. It’s true and now in these times, it’s a strength. Social distancing is all the rage and it will be the saving grace of any sport that hopes to resume until this Covid-19 bastard is figured out and able to be dealt with in as swift a manner as possible. Feld has run the numbers and deemed it possible for them to run these races in an accelerated manner, with a thinned though adequate staff on hand, the racers and all personnel involved following measures required by the Arizona government, to give this plan the best possible chance at success. Not just success in terms of running the races and wrapping up our 2020 Supercross series but success in terms of those involved in this plan coming out the other end with maximum health, zero casualties (confirmed Covid-19 diagnosis) and the sport as a whole looking responsible, diligent and professional.
There have been a few hurdles in the last couple days regarding the enthusiasm of the Arizona government’s interest in moving forward with plans such as Feld’s. With increased Covid-19 screenings being available, the numbers are inevitably going to jump and that’s exactly what they have done. The leaders are no doubt aware of this so perhaps they had been planning to move forward with the plans and they had settled on a number that they needed to remain below in order to consider these “could-be return-to-racing” plans still feasible? I sure hope so because a step toward LIVE sport is perhaps, at this point, the BIGGEST single step toward optimism and hope for the country and truthfully, the globe at large.
Imagine that… Supercross as the touchstone of hope for the EARTH. Lets do this Arizona.
