Yamaha Racing supremo Lin Jarvis says that Motogp should abandon Europe to stay in touch with modern motorcycling trends - Visordown. He has a point, y'know. The fact is motorcycling as a lifestyle is decreasing in Europe, and most manufacturers are ploughing their money into India, Asia, etc. And if motogp is an advertisement for the manufacturers, then surely that is where the circus must go..?
I certainly think that there needs to be less rounds in mainland Europe (albeit an inconvenience for us in Europe I guess), if WSB and MotoGP is to survive and attract more money and sponsors then it makes clear financial sense to me to capitalise on the markets where the manufacturers are seeing the most growth.
You'd have thought. But there are 4 rounds in Spain, and they ain't exactly swimming in cash just now...
biking is a sport and activity that many can afford in some form or other. therefore, markets need a sustained and well off working and middleclass. countries like india and china are decades away from having social systems that will allow workers to afford 600-litres bikes. as long as this remains, the money for racing will be where it is now.. racing with stuff with engines is not a non european/us endeavour as yet
Repsol are title sponsors so that might have summat to do with why there are so many rounds in Spain. Not that I'm pleased about it mind. Be nice to have something in Sweden what with Ohlins and all, amongst others, guess the draw of the crowd isn't there or probably even the facilities.
The problem is that doesn't bring money into the sport, and the one thing it desperately needs is money. Us Europeans ain't spending the wonga like we used to in bike racing, the ban on fag advertising hit all motorsports hard. So it would make sense to go where the money is going. And hey, I've been to all but one of the European tracks anyway...
Fig does have a point, Jerez was nearly canned due to no money, Portimao is on its arse also... Goes with the times but Repsol, San Carlo etc all European.
The trouble with the current sponsors is...well, they're all we've got, and they know it, so while they're title sponsors they're not spending a fraction of what the fag brands were years ago. Emerging markets could bring forth new sponsors, and with it a bargaining stick to beat the prices upwards.
