World champs plus 2012...
By TMX Archives on 23rd May 11
MXGP moved lock, stock and barrel to America - but they wouldnt play ball! Meanwhile KTM fast-forwards to 2012.
The World Motocross Championships rocked-up at one of the world's most famous tracks last weekend, Glen Helen in the US of A, which on the face of it is surely a good thing. Especially if the much vaunted Yanks, fresh from their all-action Supercross series, turn-out in order to prove that they are much faster than the World Champs mob, providing proof once again why they wouldn't dream of lowering themselves to ride MXGPs full time. Except that in recent years they can't be bothered to do even that.
Which makes more than the odd fan question why the whole MXGP circus is shipped from its central European heartlands all the way to the West Coast of America for a one-off race at vast ‘who knows what' expense? The obvious answer of course is that a World Championship should - in theory - be exactly that and it is where Youthstream are attempting to take it so good on ‘em.
There are plenty of problems and objections along the way though. While some teams are indeed backed by global brands, others are obviously very much European-based and they gain absolutely zilch by trekking to the other side of the world. And they would probably have to look a lot harder at their involvement should the series begin to take in more fly-away events, i.e Australia, South Africa, Japan, etc, etc.
Not that a World Series necessarily involves any global travel whatsoever. Back to America we have the Baseball World Series, which comprises teams from as far away as - America! So they are well in the frame when it comes to handing out World Series without anyone having to ever leave the country. So, if Mohammed won't go to the mountain then the mountain must go to Mohammed. But even after transporting the MXGP World Champs to America Messrs Villopoto, Stewart, Dungey, Canard, et al still decided that it wasn't worth the effort, leaving KTMs consistent underperformer Mike Alessi plus a couple of lads who, quite honestly I had never heard of, as token representatives, leaving Britain's resident American Zach Osborne as best ‘home' rider!
Time was when the Americans couldn't wait to greet the Euros, plus the assorted old Colonials and the odd Japanese that make up the World Champs line-up, on home soil in order to put them in their place. Now they can't even be bothered to do that. I know they come up with a raft of excuses as to why they can't ride in the series but ultimately that is exactly what they are. Pity really as the best in Europe v the best in America really is as tasty an event as it gets which would surely attract a massive crowd on the day and an even bigger - and genuinely global - TV audience. I can't blame Youthstream for trying but even by taking ‘our' ball into ‘their' field you still can't make them come out to play!
Meanwhile, back in Europe, Austrian giant KTM has not only unveiled its 2012 (yes that's right - two thousand and twelve) Enduro range, it has now had them out for test by Europe's finest off-road journos- which you can read about in our five page mega-test this week. And by the end of the month you can buy yours, take it away, ride it, wear it out and be ready for another, before we are half way through 2011. It's exciting stuff, granted, but at the same time absolutely crazy.
You don't need me to tell you why. The accepted practise used to be, models announced in July/August, you actually saw them in the metal at the Shows in the autumn and delivery then took place early in the New Year. We are now well used to the bikes being announced in early summer, on sale late summer and worn-out by Showtime! At KTMs new rate of progress they will be launched, tested, on sale and worn-out by the start of the season! Which, bearing in mind we have only just got 2011 properly underway, really is getting ahead of the game.
Gas Gas importer John Shirt came up with an idea when we were talking about this recently. Shirty reckons we (off-road) could take a leaf from the car manufacturers' book and forget the ‘annual' updates. Launch a new model whenever you want, preferably at the end of one season ready for the start of a new one - but don't label it with a year tag, it is simply a new model and will run until it gets a facelift or a replacement. The idea is to try and even-out the sales year so dealers don't have one big hit followed by a long and sometimes lean period. Gas Gas has of course just announced its Limited Edition Raga Replica trials models, always an eagerly awaited trials release. But it is still a 2011 model, they are not trying to get ahead of the ‘year' game.
The large road bike manufacturers at least try and keep their ‘new' models for launch at one or the other of the big World Shows towards the year end, regardless of when they are due to go on sale. The on-sale date is irrelevant, they are just attempting to get the absolute maximum amount of publicity from their launch.
Whatever, anything that injects some excitement is good in my books. 2012? Bring it on!
