My Ideas on Making Supercross Even Better
A Wheeled Lyfe Op-Ed
If you are anything like me, you are glued to your chair every Saturday for Supercross Live! In addition, to Supercross Live, I also enjoy having Race Day Live on in the background as I am working in the garage or at work. The live insights and qualifying commentary is enjoyable and adds to my day. I look forward to the Supercross season each year, and definitely miss it on the bye weeks. I also don’t mind paying the monthly cost for the Peacock App to have unlimited access to the shows. My kids also find shows and movies on the Peacock platform and so the benefit of keeping it each year is, in my opinion, worth what I am paying for it. Similarly, much larger sports are introducing this streaming app option and I think it’s one of the best ways to watch sports. No “channels” in the historic sense of Television, no “Networks” so you don’t have to fill a channel 24/7/365 with content you paid to create, or even stuff it on a channel that wouldn’t necessarily have the reach an app would have. I give accolades to whoever is paying to produce the live entertainment we watch each week. Whether is it Feld Entertainment, or NBC, or both, it is overall really well produced! (Even if the online arm chair quarterbacks are relentless on the commentators.)
If you are reading this, and you are unaware of what Supercross or Motocross is. It is an AMA (American Motorcycle Association) sanctioned racing series featuring performance dirt bikes, highly modified, to race in stadiums (Supercross / SX) or outdoor terrain tracks (Motocross / MX) and a set of playoff rounds newly introduced with a huge payout to the winner (SuperMotocross / SMX). And Speaking of the AMA, Supercross got it start in Daytona and then in the LA Coliseum way back in 1971/1972. AMA
When Supercross comes into a town…. with it a furry of commotion. The team rigs arrive, there’s a media day, practice day, then qualifying and the main event. The whole week is setup nicely and gives the enthusiast a lot of weekly content to consume. Along with the Pro riders, several times a season there is an additional race held that allows the national up-and-comers to race and show the world they are getting ready for the Pro ranks.
MORE IS MORE
What if there were more riders and more races? Here are a few ideas:
What if there were two days of racing? Friday AND Saturday!
IDEA 1
If there were additional classes of racers, then the fan could opt to purchase a two day all access ticket. And enjoy the weekend of activities and races. More races, more action, more commentary, and more rider profiles. More could be MORE and more exciting!
IDEA 2
A Stock Class: What if there was a stock class?! A class of riders that could still be factory team racing affiliated, but only “off the showroom floor bikes” allowed, with additional rules on types of fuel they could use and a few allowable modifications. Mostly limited to tires, handlebar/shock height, etc.
IDEA 3
Include the Supercross Futures every weekend. SMX Next is the current iteration of the Futures program and allows future stars the chance to show off on the big stage. With a two day format, it would allow the next racers an opportunity every weekend. SMX NEXT
IDEA 4
What if…. now hear me out on this one. There was an Open Class?! There would still need to be qualifying or timing requirements to enter the main event, but an additional open class! Hmmm, this makes me think that I suddenly need to get a race bike.
Well, there you have it, my thoughts on amplifying fan and rider engagement in the supercross season.
To see the full schedule and all the details on watching through the Peacock App or LIVE in person find more here:
https://www.supercrosslive.com/tickets/
Joel
Grew up in Southern California exploring the Ocotillo Wells and Anza Borrego deserts. Has owned several Jeeps and pickups over the years, as well as, several ATVs, ATCs, and dirt bikes. Has a passion to inspire readers to safe and responsible OHV recreation.
Photo used in title owned by SMX / Feld Entertainment. No ownership is implied.
