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MX Sports Introduces a Strong TV Package and Series Enhancements

elmo

October 11 2008
7 comments

Significant changes in store with 2009 Motocross schedule

LAS VEGAS (October 11, 2008) – MX Sports is pleased to announce the first round of significant improvements that are in store for the 2009 AMA Toyota Motocross Championship presented by FMF. MX Sports has been promoting and managing Motocross and off-road racing events since 1972 and is taking the necessary steps to ensure that American Motocross continues to generate fans and sponsors, while maintaining the position of the leading Motocross series in the world with the best riders and tracks.

In conjunction with the announcement of the 2009 schedule and the move to Saturday races and a single-day program, MX Sports is please to confirm the following additional changes:

2009 Television
The first major announcement is that a minimum of three rounds of the series will be broadcast live on Speed TV. The rounds that are not aired live will be same-day coverage, with the races being shown at 10 p.m. on Saturday nights (7 p.m. on the west coast), while the 250cc class will be shown on the following Tuesdays. In addition, the first set of motos will be broadcast live and free on the internet. The Women’s Motocross Association, which will expand to eight rounds, will also receive Speed TV and live internet coverage.

Class names
Each of the two professional classes will receive a new name, with the goal to better identify the classes to the fans. The classes will be renamed from Lites to simply 250, while the Motocross class will be renamed the 450 class. This name format, a return to the traditions of the sport, allows for easier recognition for the fans while clearly identifying the size of the motorcycle.

Race day format
The format on race day will also see a change as the premier class of 450cc bikes will be the first on track for both motos at each event, followed by the 250cc class. The 2009 AMA Toyota Motocross Championships will incorporate the traditional two-moto format; 30 minutes plus two laps.

#1 Plate required
Previous year champions for each class will be required to run the #1 plate if they are defending their championship.

Open rear number plates
The rear number plates on each side of the motorcycle will be no longer be required to display a colored background with the riders number. Riders and teams may use this space to showcase sponsor logos and their names, while maintaining the traditional numbering system on the front. With the advance of transponders and digital scoring, MX Sports is giving this space over to the riders and teams.

In the crucial areas of event operations, MX Sports is pleased to announce that former AMA Motocross Series Manager Jeff Canfield and AMA Motocross Timing and Scoring Director Conrad Young have joined the MX Sports staff in order to assure that the series runs seamlessly from an operational standpoint. Their professional knowledge and experience will assure that the races operate smoothly.

“Everyone at MX Sports has been working extremely hard in order to assure that the 2009 AMA Toyota Motocross Championship is positioned properly and has the deepest media reach it has ever had,” said Davey Coombs, Vice President of MX Sports. “We will continue our work on the tracks and the show, which remain what they are—the world’s premier motocross series.”

Leading up to the opening round of the 2009 AMA Toyota Motocross Championship, MX Sports will be working closely with the National Promoters Group (NPG) and our industry partners, sponsors, riders and enthusiasts on many other significant operational and event improvements, which will be announced in the near future.

7 Comments For This Post

HyperFX Says:
October 12th, 2008 at 10:35 am

- 250/450! It’s about time!

- 450 before 250. That wasn’t an issue before. So why change it now? What was wrong with 250 before 450?

- #1 Plate required. More loss of recognition by changing a number. The red plate with the original number was best. Not even the NASCAR rednecks are stupid enough to make their champs change their number to 1. What a waste.

- Open rear number plates. Let’s screw tradition and recognition, and rent it to the highest bidder! Another ignorant change. For what, money?

holdmydill Says:
October 12th, 2008 at 1:36 pm

Most of this is B.S. Having all these really picky B.S. makes our sport seem like its not doing good? Having to be detailed about MX/SX makes us fans seem like we dont know s**t? If fans dont know at all what were talking about, where the h**l have you been..? “HyperFX” says it all…

griffter Says:
October 12th, 2008 at 5:02 pm

Many things needed changing…we all know what they are…they didn’t change any of those. Instead they made a bunch of meaningless changes (although not all bad). But moving the Nationals to Saturday was a bonehead move. I, nor any one else who owns or works at a dealership will be able to attend a National ever again. Looks like that Parts Unlimited VIP tent will be pretty empty. You see, dealers are closed Sun., Mon. so they can go to the races…we can’t close Sat.! So minus all of us from the attendance #’s. Now subtract all the other people who work on Saturdays (there’s alot more than you think). Of the people who have Sat. off, subtract a large percentage of those who have children. Why?..well because they all have to take their kids to soccer, baseball, football, lacrosse, etc. etc. You see, thats what Saturdays are for when you have kids. Thats why Monster truck shows, Supercross, and many other events are Saturday night. Motocross isn’t Nascar. You’re not going to fill every seat no matter what day the event is held. While it might be nice for the riders and teams to race Saturdays, I think what’s in the best interest of the sport and its fans are more important. Besides,if we all had their jobs we’d be happy to race on Sunday just like it’s always been. It’s a shame nobody asked the fans or the dealers. It’s also a shame none of the other changes everyone has talked about were implemented.

griffter Says:
October 13th, 2008 at 5:43 pm

Davey Coombs states during the MX Sports press conference: “we need to work hand in hand with Supercross” “rather than compete with them” “follow them and work with them”. Wow Davey, you should be a polotician. You mean the Nationals were competing with Supercross by running on sundays??? During a different time of year??? “The NPG is excited about the changes”??? If thats true…well they might not be when the seasons over. Let me translate this for everyone: “we were being pressured by a bunch of selfish, unappreciative, whining, primadonna riders and their teams to move the races to Sat.” “I and the rest of the staff at MX Sports are a bunch of wussies who can’t stand up for what is best for the sport and the fans” “You see we are only pretending to be in charge and are really here to make friends with and go along with the factories who will really be running the show”. On behalf of everyone who works in the industry as an owner or employee of a motorcycle dealership (You know, the people who work selling the motorcycles that make the factories the profits so that the MX industry and the Nationals are able to exist, and of course, so that the riders, mechanics, and other team members can be paid a salary)all of whom will no longer be able to ever attend a national again.I would like to thank Davey Coombs and the rest of MX Sports for taking away whats left of our “Reason for Being”. A few years ago we were told by the AMA that we could no longer bring our sponsored team riders (local pros)to the nationals to try to qualify. Now, we can’t even go to watch. Why do we sell dirt bikes again??? As Kathy Bates said in The Waterboy:” Davey Coombs is the Devil”. Oh, by the way, when Kathy Bates accepts an acting role, she shows up to film on the day she’s told to, not on the day she feels like working.