Strange, scary things are at hand.
Strange, scary things are at hand.
Lead Photo by: James Lissimore
Lately much of the talk in the sport has been surrounding these newly added races to the schedules for many racers and certainly all racer’s sponsored by the promoting title sponsors of said events.
Off-season races are nothing new. Bercy has been around for ages and a great opportunity for a big payday for the top racers to go on exhibition for the overseas fans who wouldn’t get to witness their prowess otherwise. We had the US Open here before it underwent a facelift (honestly a full reconstruction) and became what has been for 5yrs now, The Monster Energy Cup. The Aus-X Open is another off-season race that has obtained intention, though no follow through, from the incredible James Stewart and for 2016 has even managed to bring RV2 back to the gate for a one-off race! There are plenty of other races available to those who may be looking for some off-season intensity, some Yamabucks or to work themselves back into race form after injury. Whatever the case, finding a race that is not part of the Supercross or National Motocross series, is not difficult.
What is difficult is determining what and off-season is and when it occurs.
Last year it was announced that the GP schedule would be adding a date in the United States beyond the previously run Glen Helen round. Charlotte Motorspeedway would see a track constructed in it’s infield, much like the Daytona Supercross (how one is called a Supercross and the other a Motocross track in the exact same type venue is a mystery in itself) and this man made track would be considered adequate and worthy of a MXGP round of competition. Just like Glen Helen, the Charlotte round would take place after the National Motocross series had concluded, when American riders would prefer to be taking a breath, maybe a vacation, winding down from an intense season and probably letting a nagging injury fully recover.
Recently announced was the SMX Cup in Germany. Title sponsor is of course Monster Energy. Just like the MXGP’s, Monster Energy Cup and Motocross Des Nations. This SMX Cup takes place the week after the Motocross Des Nations. For all the riders obligated to race these dates which fall after the National Motocross series has concluded, it adds up to a full month robbed from their off-season recovery and preparation for the following year’s Supercross series.
Monster. Monster. Monster.
There was also an idea floated by GuyB on Vital MX in regards to thoughts on a 22-race Supercross series. As it stands, we are at a 17 race series and needless to say, adding 5 rounds to the series would force the National Motocross series calendar back as well. Imagine if you will, a 22-round Supercross series, 12 round National Motocross series with pretty serious changes due to date changes (Redbud NOT on July 4th weekend!?), all these other Monster Energy races on the calendar (MEC, 2 USGP’s, MXdN and the SMX Rider’s Cup). That adds up to one week shy of 40 weeks of competition for the elite guys who find themselves either selected or obligated to line up for these events.
Somethings gotta give and you know what it would likely be? The series not run by a Monster. The Nationals aren’t sexy. They are dirty, full of blood and sweat and zero glamour. They are consistently ridiculed for track preparation and the riders don’t necessarily feel considered by the governing body in regards to safety.
The deeper the Monsters claws are sunk into this sport, the more the National’s have to fear. Perhaps it’s MX Sport’s that needs to front the riders union…
