http://www.amasuperbike.com/2004/Feb/040216b.htm
that is fricken awesome..imagine the fan base Jordan could bring to our sport
It is awesome for our sport. However, it sounds like he would rather keep it under wraps? Yea or nay Nate? Under wraps or wide open?
I can't really talk about it now.
As it was said in the article, no comment. Can't say more than that, really. Just wait until the season starts, and the rumors will fly for a while, (as they already have) but reality will show soon enough. ;) :D ;D
Nate,
Do you work at Gemini? Or do you have some connection there? I used to work alot with Pete and the rest of the guys during the VR 1000 era. Not sure who still works there...
Nate,
check your e-mail.
PJ, I do work at Gemini. Drop me an email or PM. I'd love to talk about the place :D
Did you work with Chris G?
Let me take a min to offer my OPinion... Cuz I know everyone really wants to hear it :P
I think its great that he Maybe/May not be Racing.
I for one will treat him no differantly out on that track, then I treat everyone else.
Now the sticky part of my opinion...
If he wants to be Low Key... I understand this, and respect this. I would hate to be in the public Eye and then try and go racing.
However! From all accounts that I have heard about, he is trying to use his good name to make a Racing effort (be it a team or racing himself).
If the AMA artical is true... he is using popularity to get motorcycles, furthermore I heard another rumor today, in his reguards about another sponser.
Getting backing from major companies to support a racing effort based of of who he is...
Well in my opinion...
He through away the low key effort already.
Lets face it... Yamaha could care less if Xian was on their bike.. thus Xian has to buy his own bikes...
Put MJ on a bike, and you will be sure people know he is on that bike!
For the business that may or maynot be backing this effort you can believe it is a business decision. MJ is a good businessman. Most of his money didn't come from shooting hoops but other associated interests. Good luck to him in any regard!
it's a shame but your right ,what you ride or i ride might help sell maybe a dozen bikes a year...but what MJ rides would probably turn into hundreds of sales
No comment! ;D Those guys sure can dig, though...
Ok, so MJ will be part of the road racing community. Some don't know if he'll ride or if he'll have a team.
Regardless, how will he be treated? How will the MC industry treat him and his fan base?
When Crystal Benard showed up with Eddie Lawson for the Daytona 200, she just about blended in. We saw Heather Lockleer at Daytona too.
If you want to live in anonimity, go to a motorcycle road race in the US.
Do you remember when you didn't ride motorcycles? Do you remember the dealerships being somewhat adversarial? Personally, I do. It was like I wasn't part of the "club" and what did I know anyway.
So, will MJ's appearance be welcomed and cultivated, as he is a very famous person in addition to being a sport bike enthusiaist? Or will it be met with the lack of emotion that kind of permeates American Motorcycling?
Certainly, if MJ's presence is recognized by the public, it will be through his business decisions...not AMA Pro Racing...although they could do a lot for motorcycle road racing and the teams and riders by helping cultivate this program.
"Yeah, I race motorcycles...just like the one's that 'Mike' rides."
That's a lot different than trying to explain what "motorcycle road racing" is and how they are like "ninja" motorcycles.
QuoteIf you want to live in anonimity, go to a motorcycle road race in the US.
No Sh1t there Dave! If MJ does show up at the club level, it might draw some attraction! That would be pretty good IMHO...
But, WILL anyone make a big deal?
Honestly, at this stage of the game, I'm leaving for Daytona on Monday. I'm sure that the potential rider for the team (whoever you think it might be) might be doing FUSA next week. And wouldn't you expect a press release from the team or a sponsor that is working with the team?
Certainly, it should be a big deal.
Hey, remember that MJ was supposed to be buying the Milwaukee Bucks many months back...You think that the track day and some good times with friends tempered him from buying the Bucks and he though that doing something with motorcycles was now more important to him?
Do you think the rest of the American Sports Media will take notice of his interest?
Do you think that motorcycle road racing in America is ready for proper scrutiny by the "non-motorcyle media"? That one's easy...No...motorcycle road racing will be like a bad joke to them.
Well, I was looking on the AMA's US Superbike web site where they list competition numbers and found the following information.
#123 MONTEZ STEWART MATTESON, IL Jordan Brand / Alpinestars / Parts Unlimited / Gatorade / Gemini Technology Systems
The funny thing is, this was posted back in October (that's what the date on the link says). Man are we some observant people. Anyway, just another log to add to the fire. Tez has a Supersport and a Superstock license.
------------------------------------
Back to the article:
Personally, I think that article is in poor taste. It is obviously a ploy to draw people out that know information. I say this because in both articles Dean Adams (DA) insults both MJ and Tez by calling Tez an amateur. There's nothing wrong with being an amateur, but it's almost like DA is trying to make it seem like MJ and Tez can't put a top professional privateer effort together if that's what they chose to do. As racers in the MW regions we all know Tez has talent, he's one of the best we have. Now he has an opportunity to run with the big boys with an obviously incredible sponsor and I think we should support them however we can. Tez is not a CMRA, WERA or WSMC racer. He's a CCS racer, one of our own. When the AMA race hits your area, go out and support him and his team. Wear some CCS paraphenalia too.
Another Article:
http://www.gazettextra.com/jordan021904.asp
QuoteI say this because in both articles Dean Adams (DA) insults both MJ and Tez by calling Tez an amateur. There's nothing wrong with being an amateur, but it almost like DA is trying to make it seem like MJ and Tez can't put a top professional privateer effort together if that's what they chose to do.
Thank you for stating exactly what I was thinking. Just because MJ is willing to bring a new face into the lineup makes Tez an amateur? Please.
All I can figure is this is the new term for true privateer versus Jason Pridmore the Privateer/Valvoline Emgo Privateers. Who knows.
We'll be there cheering for Tez with bells on. You can count on it.
Heather
I've teamed and traveled with Tez, Reese, Arvin, Ike, Sean and of course my awesome best friend Dave Vaughn. I've seen how sometimes things are just suddenly different when they show up at a place, and let's face it, it's because they're black. Truth be told, things were a bit edgy at first when Reese and Tez started with CCS, but I knew my way around and introduced them to the right people. In no time they were part of the track family.
I expect that Tez and MJ will find similar problems in AMA at first, but Tez is such an incredible guy to talk to and MJ is MJ. Eventually it will be all right.
Predjudice sucks, but these guys break it down just by being too awesome to not count among your friends. This can be nothing but good for our sport, and by bringing down barriers, good for the world in general.
Can you imagine Tez's first podium intervue? ;D
QuoteCan you imagine Tez's first podium intervue? ;D
LOL!!!
;D
I just want to be there and get sprayed with champagne. I know the following sounds bad, but please keep the sexual replies to a minimum (K3). Last year, at Mid-Ohio, I tried to purposefully get in the way to get sprayed and all I got was an erand drop of it from somewhere in the vicinity of the podium. I didn't even notice it at first. I just happened to look down at my shirt. Ahh well.
I should really remove this note, because it is full of barbs all pointed right at me. Let me quit will I am going.
Nate,
That's cool. It just caught me off guard that their list was four months old and the media is just now getting a hold of things.
Just a few more days, and we'll see what happening. ;D
Predjudice?
Stevie Patterson was black. He was with Team Valvoline for years. Before most of you guys ever were road racing, I suspect.
Predjudice?
The only predjudice at an AMA National...being too slow.
I don't think Tez will be "too slow", but he has a huge learning curve. Let me state that again....HUGE!
Podium? No. I don't see it happening. I know he's motivated, I know he's been working hard...even talked to him. If he could get a bike into the top ten...that would be outstandng. The bike being the best it can won't cut it. Still has to be ridden to it's fullest. Practically all the tracks are new. Again, it's a huge learning curve. Unless you've experienced it first hand, it's hard to explain.
Been thinking about what Super Dave has been saying and I think I am beginning to understand it. With MJ's involvement the sport will get some attention, which is good. However, MJ himself is not racing in the AMA, nor is he qualified to be, no matter how much money he has, although we know if he wanted to he could apply himself and make something happen. What I am trying to say is that Tez will make the team what it is, not MJ. I see MJ's role as a provider of resources, it up to Tez to go out there and perform to make their program shine.
Tez, if you see this, I know many of us are rooting for you man.
I certainly think that it's an opportunity that the rider never had, and could never provide himself.
MJ's involvement may server to legitimize the sport in the eyes of some...bring it into some kind of main stream. But that would, again, require that the teams themselves be professional, which we know some aren't.
It would require that the organization conduct itself in a manner that is condusive to an equal playing field that is fair to all under the rules structure.
Certainly, MJ has the opportunity, given his experience with real sports organizations that make money, to build a program that is more professional than other programs. Almost have to as general, industry, and motorcycling public scrutiny will be "available".
I hope for the best, and I can see where it will be something cool for motorcycle road racing.
Hey, I know Stevie Patterson. He goes by Steve now. When he raced for Team Valvoline Suzuki, he was teammates with Chuck Graves and Mark Martin (M4 Exhausts). We see where their careers have gone, but what about Steve. All I know is he had a falling out with JU. Tez will tell you about a race he remembers where Steve beat Aaron Yates. Where is Aaron now? Steve's not doing poorly. He has a successful career he has and is working hard for, but in 2001, his last official season of racing, he raced only four AMA rounds, placed well top 10-20 in Superstock and Supersport on a mostly stock GSXR-600, but couldn't find the backing to continue in the sport after that. Which I think is disappointing after racing for so long, being a past National 600cc Champion in WERA, a regular top privateer racer, and being a solid individual.
Usually when I get back from a race, I go talk to Steve. I can see it in his eyes that he wants to be out there, but he wants to be on excellent equipment, which he has shown he can handle, yet no ones a knock'n.
Is this prejudice? Possibly, don't know Steve before 2001, but real opportunities in the AMA come when you yourself have money, lots of it. Not just for marketing, but also to invest in developing a strong team, which takes years, not months. I say developing, because it takes more than getting financial backers, look at Larry Pegram in 2003. DTR had started the season with $1million investment (marketing hype), from two folks that thought they wanted to go racing. They made all of these announcements in the preseason, but lacked some early podium success. Eventually, Larry got on the podium at Road America, but it wasn't enough to keep the team going, which in large part may have been due to a loss of marketing appeal. Given more time (and money), where would they have been.
James "Bubba" Stewart will tell you there's prejudice in motorcycle racing, but his record is too powerful for anyone to ignore, and in the 21st century, business in general is further ahead than is was even just 10 years ago when Steve was a champion racer with TVS. Bubba tries to get people to get people to not make an issue of his color, but there are several articles in Racer X that talk about it and how he deals with it.
It does no one any good if we ignore the fact that racism still exists in America and many minorities are fighting to make inroads in the motorsports industry. In the AMA paddock last season, Jeff Carter with the factory Yamaha effort was one of a small handful of obvious minorities (the only black guy) I saw on a regular basis. Why is that? I think that since sportbikes are becoming more main stream, we'll eventually see more minorities in the paddock, which will be great for the sport because both the fan base and participation level will grow. Recently, during the Daytona 500 "parade", I heard many reports that the demographics of Nascar aren't clustered around South Carolina good 'ol boys anymore. I personally know a wide variety of folks that enjoy watching the races and even put down cash to go to the races. For the AMA Pro Racing series to grow, more doors have to opened, and the rules have to set so privateer X has a chance of winning. That used to be what Superstock was. Now it's just another factory rider/equipment supportted class. Will the privateer have a chance? Who knows?
Said enough, time to go back to bed.
Peace,
Good to hear that "Steve" is still around.
I started in 1987, and I remember him and his dad. He was riding RZ350's. They were taking the conservative route on the smaller bikes. Seemed like it took a while before he got onto bigger bikes. Maybe too long. You'll have to ask him as maybe he has a feel for what they should have done.
He was smooth and consistent without the flash and rough edges that guys like Russell had. I mean, you had to just go watch Scott Russell race when he was chasing Suzuki Cup money. Something was going to happen. I mean really, Jesse-J is nice to watch, but Scott was unbelieveable.
Anyone knocking? Doesn't happen that way. You've got to go knockin'. Seldom does anyone come to you and say, "Would you race for me?" Maybe Mladin, and me for vintage bikes.... ;D, but really, you've got to go door to door to find something agreeable.
Money...well, yeah, we are talking about a higher level, right? I guess that's the beauty and the curse of motorcycle road racing. First, it is relatively accessable. Superbikes ARE street bikes. CART, IRL, NASCAR, World of Outlaws, etc...those are serious machines that are specificially designed for racing. Meanwhile, you can go buy a GSXR1000, throw on a new shock get some fork work and some bodywork...you could go race in the premier motorcycle racing event in the United States...the Daytona 200.
Certainly, that bit of accessability does taint things.
But, then again, with the poor support of the racing series from the motorcycle industry, why would you expect anything less?
The rules in AMA certainly don't appear level. Does anyone disagree? Should there be more teams? Yes. Would that only lead to people buying rides? Would that be bad?
At what point to we make riders responsible for marketing themselves?
Predjudice. You speak of things that I don't know much about. I have to defer to your knowledge.
Falling out with JU? I think that Chris started getting out of 250's and going into four strokes more so then. So, everyone got shuffled around a bit.
What are you accusing me of Sean? Do you thing I'm the poster boy for sexual innuendo? Do you think that I just lurk on this board, ready to turn every questionable remark I see into a reference about sex? I'm highly insulted.
You can say squirted, spurted, sprayed spumed, hosed, doused or splattered, and I won't take it sexually at all. I would never attempt to be so Freudian as to analize your desire to be sprayed with foaming liquid by your masculine role models. No, I just wouldn't go there.
In the future, please keep your accusations to yourself. I have only the purest morals and standards, and don't appreciate having my noble reputation tainted by the likes of you.
Hey! That kinda sounded like a John Cleese routine!
Analize... hehehehehehe... sounds like something you'd violate during a sexual innuendo... heheheheheeh
Oh lord. I just can't help myself... ;D
And the Emmy for Best Comedic Performance on the CCS Forum goes to.
Drum roll. :o
Envelope. ???
CCCCCuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrris 'K3' Onwiler. ;D
It's not even Daytona time yet, and already I've won something! How cool is that! ;)
Why is anyone discussing if Tez will be "too slow", if Mike is going to get involved, isn't this a plus for the sport? Look, if he can bring gatoraid and other sponsors that we've all tried to get before, don't you think that others will follow? For other racers? maybe for faster ones, and maybe for slower ones, but I'm sick of looking at Home Depot on the side of stock cars and this is a chace for all of us (racers) to bennefit. I've seen the list of people ready to throw down "nascar" sized $ for this project, and there was enough to go around, so don't you think this is helping the entire community? Besides, Mike is not out to make money on this, and he and Tez are very tight, and they are starting this to have fun, and and hopefully put on a good show. We would all like to see a local racer on the podium, but Mike didn't pick Tez by his resume, he picked him because they ride together, would we talk about you if your friends want to help you with your racing season? Also, I've raced AMA superbike and the curve IS huge, but so what, you have to start somewhere, don't you think?
I don't think anyone on this board thinks that Tez is too slow. We know that that Tez will give his all and do his best.
Since we all agree that the AMA is a huge learning curve, I hope that he is patient and will allow the race to come to him. We've had too many of our own get injured recently, I don't want him among them.
My $0.02
Dawn :)
QuoteWe would all like to see a local racer on the podium, but Mike didn't pick Tez by his resume, he picked him because they ride together, would we talk about you if your friends want to help you with your racing season?
I'll agree that we'd all like to see someone we know on the box.
Can Tez do it? Is he too slow? Not for club racing, for sure. But to get into the top ten in either class is very, very, very hard. Hard for guys that win every club race they enter. Hard for guys that make money racing for Yamaha or Suzuki money.
Yes, it's good that MJ is working with a rider he knows. Business works well when it's between friends. But if we want to compare to NASCAR...the drivers get paid a lot of money to execute. They generally have long histories from different places. K3...would you like to elaborate on Gordon of NASCAR fame?
AMA Pro road racing is screwed up because it's too easy for any first year expert to show up at the big show and try to race. "I just want to try it once to see how good I am..." What ever happened to being ready for the show, knowing that you were ready to race at the top of your game?
I think it's all great what MJ and his rider are doing. I hope the program goes well. Probably a beginning at least. Hopefully, some of the people involved don't mess it up.
Really, the flip side to the whole story is that because MJ brings in something, if the whole program put on by the promoters, the AMA, and the other racing teams is so goofy....no one will ever want to support anyone in motorcycle road racing.
So, my question is: Are the teams, the motorcycle industry, and the AMA ready? I doubt it.
And Racer34...who are you? Inquiring minds want to know.
;D
QuoteAnd Racer34...who are you? Inquiring minds want to know.
;D
I'll give you some clues...
1. He used to race AMA Superbike on a Yamaha YZF750 Superbike.
2. He at one time qualified on the front row right next to Ben Bostrom
3. He quit SBK to race 125s
4. He'll be racing a TZ250 this year.
5. He played tuner for me when I took race school on my 98 TZ250.
Guess who and I'll buy you a no. 2 extra value meal
:)
Boyd Brunner , and he was scared to death that he was on the front row.
OK guys, save the drama for you mama, I don't want to start any trouble here, and looking at Bostrom next to you can be a daunting thing if you are thinking about who is next to you instead of getting the holeshot...now I know better, but anyway, I just think this is a good thing no matter what happens, and we should just watch and see what happens, instead of acting like someone or something in going to make this into a fiasco or a half ass effort, the building blocks are there, and this isn't a one time thing, so if everyone involved needs more than 1 year to get it right, then there will be another year, Mike loves bikes, and his rider is his guy, and his feelings for either are not going to change in the next few years. He has been waiting years to ride a bike, and now he is hooked like the rest of us, and you all know your relationship with motorcycles unlike your ex's is one that dosen't fade.
The majority of us on this page can't keep up with Tez (some can, so don't even reply to that) my point is, when Mike gets to ride around the track with Tez, he can't catch him and feels just like we would trying to play one on one with him, so in short, they are friends having fun, both with something to offer the other and trying to grow something here that could turn into something good. The people ready to sign on the bottom line, would never ever look at motorcycle stuff before so thats better for all of us already, everyone involved is really excited and it may not come together all at once, but it will, the bikes wouldn't be where they are now if they didn't want to make sure things would be reliable, and I'm sure that they want to have the entire operation run as smoothly, and professionally. So can't we just wait, because it wouldn't matter if Rossi was availabe, Tez is going to be on the bike, and there isn't a better canidate for the position, because this is two friends having fun trying to go AMA racing, not MJ trying to win the championship, he could just go hire Maladin or Bostrom (or your favorite fast guy here)to do that...every one will learn what they need to sooner or later, so lets hope its sooner and hope that MJ can at least let the people who won't put the money into motorcycle racing know that there is a legit sport here that deserves more sponsors than its getting now, this can only help all of us in the longrun. Right?
Well said. Very well said.
QuoteTez is going to be on the bike, and there isn't a better canidate for the position, because this is two friends having fun trying to go AMA racing, not MJ trying to win the championship, he could just go hire Maladin or Bostrom (or your favorite fast guy here)to do that...every one will learn what they need to sooner or later, so lets hope its sooner and hope that MJ can at least let the people who won't put the money into motorcycle racing know that there is a legit sport here that deserves more sponsors than its getting now, this can only help all of us in the longrun. Right?
Ok, I though we weren't officially talking about who's riding the bike...
;D
But this all still begs my original question...
QuoteSo, my question is: Are the teams, the motorcycle industry, and the AMA ready?
FBF was sponsored by DKNY.
Roberts had Nordica in the late 80's.
I saw a cruise ship line once.
Dale Quarterley made the comment to me once about outside sponsorship in motorcycling was hard because the whole system was so "family oriented".
Some of you may not like NASCAR 'cause it's got four wheels, but look at the fact that it is a whole industry built upon itself that actually employs drivers, crew chiefs, crew members....and PR people, team owners, adminstrative assistants, truck drivers, machinists, etc... I'd like to be able to go to someplace like 4&6 and say, "Ok, let's do this, and I'll use your PR people." That's how this should be, but it isn't.
I like what MJ is doing in motorcycling.
The sponsors he's getting...those are coming in because of him not because AMA Pro Motorcycle Road Racing is so cool and marketable. If he should decide to leave, do you think those sponsors would stay and try to work with another team? Do you think that MJ will be impressed with AMA Pro Racing after being involved with the NBA and MLB?
Hey Mike, what is your screen name on this board?
The dealer I bought my Aprilia from, sold a 996 to Jordan a couple years ago. Had other people pick up the bike for him. Dealer only talked to him by phone. Said Jordan haggled over price just like anyone else.
My opinion? Welcome aboard. Wish he was actually racing. Where else can you compete with a MEGA-STAR and win? Bring that MotoGP to us Mike!
In my opinion, Tez doesn't have to go out there an win races, not a single one. I am hoping Tez goes out there, runs as fast as he can, and let everyone he races with and everyone watching from the pits, TV, or reading about him in the media somewhere, that he deserves to be there and to be respected amongst his peers in racing. I also hope that there is a year two, three and beyond. It's probably what is needed to grow the sport internally and externally.
Wish everyone well, I'm off to Daytona to take it all in first hand.