Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

I have posted several complaints to SPEED offices and their motorcycle message board about what they are doing to motorcycle road racing coverage, but the majority of posters seem to be more concerned that their complaints will somehow reduce road race coverage, if they care at all. Face it, SPEED is looking for lapdog viewers anyway.

I wrote a letter to VIR management encouraging them to take any action they could to create an economic impact on the AMA and SPEED for their loss of revenue, since they seemed to be the only group interested in seeing the event promoted, but who knows where the money falls out in this deal.

” . . . And Nothing” [Now the AMA has joined SPEED in imitating Reuben Xaus to provide explanations for ruining motorcycle road race promotion in the U.S.] I guess pretty soon we’ll be reduced to watching leftovers produced with European advertising dollars.

John Cone
Marion, North Carolina


FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

I can remember a time in the not so distant past when motorcycle racing was on Speed for the main event, usually live, and re-aired on Fox Sports Channels and Speed throughout the rest of the week. Motorcycle racing galore!

Alas, those times have gone the way of the dodo.

Now we are relegated to appetizers of motorcycle racing when the NASCAR programming “gods” feel the need to throw us a crumb.

Perhaps the reason why there is no outcry about the loss of motorcycle road race programming is that we all know this patient is a terminal case. We are just waiting for it to die.

I have never understood the fascination that America has with the mindless circling of good ol’ boys being passed off as exciting racing. Maybe marketing has not been that good for motorcycles, or maybe the view of motorcycles being ridden by lawless rebels is too much to overcome. In any case, I believe that motorcycle racing has never gotten a fair shake or enough exposure to bring it to the forefront.

And obviously SPEED has no intention to try to invest any time to it. This is understandable, as they can make more money showing a boring racing series, commented upon with mindless drivel from the announcers.

Well SPEED, at the very least then, relinquish your rights to the series and let someone else have a go at it. If I remember, the Outdoor Life Network expressed a serious interest in showing motorcycle road racing on their channel. Perhaps next year, you can have your precious NASCAR channel, and we motorcyle road racing fans can see what we want on another channel, and boycott yours altogether. I might call that a perfect world.

Or maybe I can just move to Europe, where they
actually show motorcycle racing on TV, not the morsels you haphazardly throw at us.

But at the very least, let someone interested in showing these races to the public have a stab at it.

Give it up, SPEED!

Steve Sturm
Glendora, California


FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

Why is it that Fox TV does not show motorcycle racing anymore? Like it was said earlier you could turn on the TV and run up and down the Fox TV channels and find the latest AMA race shown for the entire week after the event. Now there is nothing and their programming seems to be in need of help. Is the viewer attendance to these reruns really that poor?

And, yes Speed TV’s recent change has left most of us road racing devotees holding the empty bag. Two Wheel Tuesday, what a farce!

Damn it, I want my motorcycle road racing coverage!

Jeff Short
Sacramento, California



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

I have written to SPEED many times over these last few months asking them why the are slowly putting our sport to death on their channel. I never get a reply. Go figure.

Ever since the NASCAR kings took this network over we knew this was coming. They are slowly and systematically erasing motorcycles from their network so they can show rerun after rerun of “old” NASCAR races.

Let’s face it, unless WE do something, within 2 years, Motorcycle racing will be gone completely from SPEED’s lineup. 2 wheel Tuesday was just the start ladies and gentlemen, maybe it’s time to start boycotting the network and getting some Congressional help for our cause. I know we have at least one Congressman that rides bikes.

Lloyd Magruder
Birmingham, Alabama


FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

As an addendum to my earlier comments and after finding out more about the situation, I get even sicker.

Let’s start with the AMA not having a requirement in their contract that the TV crew cannot leave until racing is finished. Then the AMA had to negotiate with the VIR just to run the races because the contract with VIR guaranteed TV coverage, which was now driving down the road. You would think that weather has never caused a problem with a racing event before. The only organizations that are run with so many publicly displayed blunders than AMA Pro Racing where upper management keeps their jobs are all run by the government.

Then we have Chet Burks coming out and saying that the network did their job and were willing to stay until nightfall Sunday if that’s what it took. What a crock. I cannot think of a
race I was watching that was delayed to the next day because of rain or a problem with the track where there was TV coverage that the TV crew was not there the next day. Races of all kinds happen on holidays and some races get postponed due to rain. That is part of racing and it happens in NASCAR and they stay. The only reason that the Speed Channel crew left was because they didn’t care enough and because of the mismanagement of the AMA, there was no legally binding need for them to stay.

I have been watching all kinds of races for almost 40 years on TV and I have never seen such a debacle. Not too mention Kurtis Roberts’ first Superbike win and no TV.

All 2Wheel Tuesday did was to put up the top ten finishers and the point standings of the 3 races on Monday with some stupid music playing in the background. Granted they interviewed Kurtis, but there was more to talk about what happened Monday than that.

There, I almost feel better now.

Paul Trautman
San Jose, California



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

I was at VIR this weekend and I can partially understand SpeedTV packing up. SpeedTV no longer NEEDS motorcycle racing to survive. They get bag loads of money from NASCAR.

There is a new channel in the works called WheelsTV that wants to be about the enthusist market, although specifically cars they have some motorcycle programming in the works.

Could you lobby WheelsTV to pick up motorcycle racing? I’m sure you have more influence than a few random e-mails from enthusiasts.

Kirk Robinson
Scranton, Pennsylvania



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

Who sez there was no outcry about the lack of VIR Monday racing coverage? As soon as you guys posted the fact SpeedTV had folded tents and stole off into the night, I sent them a scathing e-mail, and I bet I’m not the only one!

I generally post to Greg White. Occasionally he will answer.

Bill Hiller
Prescott, Arizona



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

After reading some of the viewer mail on your site, I just had to write. Am I the only one who appreciates the fact that Speed shows any motorcycle racing at all? Motorcycle programming has consistently been one of the most poorly-viewed genres on Speed, but they still bring us Moto GP, WSB, and AMA on a regular basis.

One of the highlights on my weekend is to wake up Sunday morning, make a good breakfast, and watch 3 or 4 hours of the greatest sport on earth without having to wake up at 2 in the morning in order to do so. I, for one, am very glad that Speed spends the money to continue to bring us this programming.

Showing the race on Monday live obviously did not make fiscal sense for Speed, which is in the business to make money, not to cater to the wants of a very small segment of its viewership. Stop whining, guys, and just be glad we have what we have. If viewership continue to be as low as it it, we may not have it for long. This would really ruin my weekends.

Carl Jensen
Sacramento, California