News 3 Dec 2010

Oz SX: Industry leaders call for return of traditional formats

Leading industry identities are calling for Australian Supercross to return to traditional formats, as MotoOnline speaks to Marmont, Carroll, Morrison, Anderson, Dack and Chambers about the future of Super X.

More starts mean more excitement, but is Super X lacking without any traditional formats? Image: Sport The Library.

More starts mean more excitement, but is Super X lacking without any traditional formats? Image: Sport The Library.

A number of leading industry identities are calling for Australian Supercross to return to traditional main event formats next season at selected events.

In the latest ‘The Point’ feature story on MotoOnline.com.au, CDR Rockstar Energy Yamaha team rider Jay Marmont, Kawasaki Racing Team manager Troy Carroll and Suzuki Australia general manager, motorcycles, Perry Morrison all stated that they’d like to see traditional main events at some rounds at least.

Current Supercross promoter Global Action Sports has created a series of short and sharp concept formats in a bid to add excitement to the racing, however the trio mentioned above believe having a 15-lap final in the Lites and a 20-lap Open class main event would add to the series.

“I don’t mind the one-on-one races and the heat races, but I would like to see it go back to a more traditional one race main event next year,” current Open class runner-up Marmont commented.

“They used the excuse that they didn’t want Chad Reed to demolish the rest of the field, so now that he’s not here then why can’t we go back to the grass roots of more traditional 20-lappers? Throw a few of those formats in during the year.”

Former 13-time national champion Carroll would also like to see traditional events return to the series, even if it is for selected rounds only.

“I still think that there should be a couple of 20-lap main events throughout the season as well,” the Queenslander said. “I think it shows a stronger, fitter, rider with more skills than what it does in the short and sharp events.”

Morrison, who attends the majority of Australian motorcycle racing events during the season, is another who would like to see traditional main event action reinstated.

“You could argue that they have gone away from the tradition final formats with the range of concepts, which don’t always work,” Morrison added. “However, you cannot criticise them for trying different things and the live TV is unbelievable.

“The formats that they have generally tried make great spectating, but in some cases we would like to see a 15 or 20-lap final and I think the top U.S. riders coming out would probably prefer that as well.”

Australia’s greatest ever dirt bike export Chad Reed, himself a dual Super X Champion, has also been critical of the short race formats in the past.

For a full insight into the thoughts of Marmont, Carroll and Morrison, as well as top privateer and former national champion Craig Anderson, CDR Rockstar Energy Yamaha team owner Craig Dack, plus KTM Australia marketing coordinator Greg Chambers, check out The Point: The Future of Super X.

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