Hey ping.
I love your column. I'm a 17 year old girl and motocross is everything to me! Braap. So my questions for you are: Why is women's motocross barely given any credit? They went from a six round series and some TV time, to a triple crown. They train and work hard like the guys. (I understand guys may train a bit crazier but that's because their body's can withstand that) But the WMX barely gets any recognition, even on Racer X. It's a motocross website, isn't it? And what about the girls who practice and train their whole lives in the amateurs and win titles and have sponsors? Where are they supposed to go after that? Is there really a professional women's program anymore? And lastly, do you think they could gain enough followers and supporters to really help the women improve in the sport? Motocross is motocross, no matter whose racing it.
Thanks for reading. I would really love to hear your response b/c that subject is really important to me. :)
- Danielle izzy
Danielle,
I’m going to help you learn a tough lesson right now, Danielle, so listen up. I know you love women’s motocross and you think it deserves all kinds of things. And I’m sure the gals you race with and your families believe the same thing. But just because you think it deserves to be respected and promoted doesn’t mean that it will be. The women deserve a good race, but maybe not the same race as the top 450 and 250 riders in the world. Women’s racing is NOT entitled to anything. The WMX series was given a good chance for several years to build a following and grow. For a number of reasons, including a tanking economy, that just didn’t happen. Also, there is simply not enough in the day. The series was trimmed down this year but the women still have something. And rather than appreciating the fact that the whole program wasn’t scrapped ladies have their claws out taking swipes at Lucas Oil Motocross for killing their series. Like any other business decision, supply and demand rules the day. Where are women supposed to go after amateur racing? I don’t think there is a great answer for that. If you love to race then just sign up for the Triple Crown and go race. If fans start to get it and the field deepens a little maybe WMX will make a return to six rounds, or more. Good luck.
PING
Ping Pong,
You’re a good guy and you know enough to know the answer to this question. Why wouldn't Racer X's recent list of the top 30 AMA motocrossers of all time include THE MAN Roger Decoster? I have heard plenty of times where people in the industry wonder whether the GOAT is Roger or Ricky. With it being debatable who the GOAT really is, I do not understand how Roger doesn't even make the list. (Side note: I agree that Ricky is the greatest, but Roger should be on the list.)
Dumbfounded
Dumbfounded,
Your question seems legit but I think you are overlooking the title of the web series on Racer X Online. It isn’t the Top 30 Motocross Racers of all time, though that would be cool. The list is the Top 30 AMA Motocross Racers of all time. Roger DeCoster was/is a legend in the sport of motocross but he never competed in the AMA motocross series. He raced some events over here but, much like Stefan Everts, he was never a part of the entire series. I’ll tell you this: If we ever do a list of the Top 30 AMA Team Managers your boy Roger D will be up at the top.
PING
Ping,
Of the champions of MX/SX, I've always wondered who the best was when it came to mechanical aptitude among the fastest professional riders. Granted, back when I began motocross in...Gulp...1972...it wasn't unusual to see these top riders assisting their mechanics with whatever task had to be done. Even considering the seemingly MEGA-support the top riders have at their disposal, would any of today’s riders even have the ability, or need, to show their mechanical prowess when Murphy's Law intervenes?
Sorry for the obscure query David but as you can see, even my email address is indicative of where my primary focus in life lies. I've always enjoyed finding out how EVERYTHING works and when it doesn't, being able to jump in and figure it out.
Albeit valve adjustment on my Ducati can sometimes be.... ah, ummm, DAH...never mind.
Thanks for your great work and support for our sport!
Greg
Greg,
This column is taking on a very DeCoster-heavy vibe but if I had to put my money on the most mechanically adept racer in the sport it would be him. Friends who work with him tell stories of Roger tinkering all day long in the machine shop fabricating and modifying parts to make the bikes better. It sounds like he is a bit of a ninja on a lathe. In my experiences, most motocross racers are phenomenally average when it comes to working on bikes. I’ve improved over the years but typically I end up with a few nuts and bolts left over once I’ve got the bike all back together. That’s not good. Watching most moto guys do anything other than change a filter on a bike is like watching a monkey work an organ grinder for the first time. Sure it can be taught, but it takes a lot of bananas.
Off-road guys, on the other hand, could pass for a factory wrench if they had better tools and a heat gun to put graphics on. These guys can throw on new tires, rebuild engines and fix broken parts with the best of them, especially the Six Days riders. Motocross guy? Their fix is to look down at the engine inquisitively and then lean it up against a tree and walk back to their semi. At least that’s what I did.
PING
Have a question for Ping? Email him at ping@racerxonline.com.