Director of Operations Dave Prater Talks About The World SuperMotocross and The Growth In The Sport.
Supercross and Motocross is one of the best live racing events you can attend. If you take your eyes off the action, even for a minute, the chances of you missing something on the track are high.
For the past 50 years, Supercross and Pro Motocross have been the biggest and best racing series for their respective style of racing. While there are racing series in Europe (MXGP), most of the international races are feature races that occur once a year with no extended series. Beyond that, Supercross and Pro Motocross currently feature the top international talent with many of them winning the season championships in recent years.
However, a new series has been created through the efforts of Feld Motor Sports, Inc. and MX Sports Pro Racing, titled World SuperMotocross. The announcement was made months ago which created strong reactions pro and against the series partially due to the timing of the series announcement which was perceived as a reactionary response to another World Supercross series (WSX) that was making their team announcements for this upcoming inaugural season.
As the eyes of the moto racing world are once again on the sport as nations converge to the United States for the Motocross of Nations this weekend, Action Sports Today sat down with Feld Motor Sports, Inc. Director of Operations Dave Prater to talk about Supercross and the addition of the World SuperMotocross.
AST: Given what all is being announced in the racing community globally, why make this announcement now and not next year when the series is scheduled to begin?
DP: The why is simple, we released this because we had all the final details worked out and we felt that we needed to get this information out as soon as we could due to rider contracts coming up and teams are signing new contracts, plus the timing for our media rights deal is coming up. Feld Motorsports and MX Sports have always had different media rights partners and we have never been able to line them up and the timing now allows up to line up a media rights partner together. This was the closest in terms of timing for negotiating new deals for media rights we have ever had so we took advantage of that and that is just when the timing worked out.
AST: Why not give those details in the initial release? While understanding that there are contract details that are confidential details, giving some of the behind the scenes understanding to the process, the timing and even acknowledging that there is another series (WSX) and that this was not a reactionary response.
DP: I can understand that perception but it was never the intent of the announcement and really was not part of our process and thinking. We started this process in Daytona in 2020. At that time, there was no other series on the table. (*For information: World Supercross was announced in 2022) We continued this journey from there and the pandemic created a situation where we as Feld and MX Sports began to work more closely with each other which led to both entities realizing that we were aligned in more ways that we realized. Creating an additional series like this is a big undertaking, even more than I imagined, so having two entities working on it together is for the best for the sport and growth.
AST: You speak about coming together and some of the nuances that took, but from an outside perspective, that while you have similarities, it has always looked and felt like Supercross and Pro Motocross were two separate entities. What were some of the discoveries that were made throughout this process that led to this joint venture that will continue to help grow the sport?
DP: First and foremost we are both family run businesses. Both companies look long term at the projects they involve themselves in. We discovered that in many ways, our line of growth thinking aligned with each other and we did not necessarily know how close we were in the ways both companies were looking at current and future growth. Beyond that, and most glaringly, we share the same teams of riders and team partners. Outside of the industry there might have been some confusion that the same teams and riders did not cross over to each racing environment but they do. Through fan surveys that we conducted, we discovered that the fans overwhelmingly saw that Supercross and Pro Motocross were two separate disciplines of the same sport and in the past both companies promoted the sport that way, that we were always two different sports. When we started listening to people who mattered the most, we realized that was an error in thinking and that we are just two different disciplines but still the same sport.
AST: Do you perceive that this collaboration between Feld Motor Sports, Inc. and MX Sports can lead to more than the three race format that was announced? Would you consider bringing in more race partners that already have a race series or feature race like Supercross Paris to find ways to grow this series more?
DP: I think any and all possibilities are open for the future. Right now, we are focused on the upcoming season of Supercross and these three domestic SuperMotocross races at the end of the 2023 season. While we race domestically, we reach fans across the globe through our broadcast and international subscribers to the broadcast. But at the end of the day, the OEMs that have race teams much of the budgets to create successful race teams comes from money here domestically. So to push international, finding money is always a challenge.
AST: Money is always the root of creating a successful series like Supercross and that was always going to be the issue with a new series like World Supercross (WSX). So when they get funded from the private sector that allows them to share the money with the teams they select like a scholarship to help the teams have the ability to compete weekly, does that give you pause or encourage you to try and find a way to increase the funding for teams on the Supercross circuit?
DP: Currently, we are not considering a new model of funding or how the support for the teams comes from Feld Motor Sports and MX Sports aside from the one we laid out in the press release. That being said, again, everything is on the table and open for discussion. We are looking at this as a long term play. Not a 5-10 year play but a 30 year plus play. We have never said anything is off the table but to start to create a new series, there has to be a concrete starting point to work from and that is the one laid out in the release and the one to work and grow from.
AST: With the understanding that the inaugural race will be at the Colosseum in Los Angeles, do you see World SuperMotocross as needing to be held in a bigger stadium with more track space similar to races run at the Dayton and Atlanta Motor Speedway’s to be able to accomplish the track design you would like to have?
DP: In order to create the unique tracks that we want to create we will need to look outside of the box to a stadium with a bigger footprint of space for us to use. The LA Colosseum works because it is a no brainer to go there for the first time. While it works, it is still on the edge of being too small for the creation of the race environment that we want to create. So yes, we have to go into unique places to race.
Now that the race season for both Supercross and Pro Motocross has concluded, the off season for both entities begins until the gates drop on the Supercross season in January of 2023.
For those interested in reading the entire press release on the creation of the World SuperMotocross it can be found below.
As a note to our readership, Action Sports Today is committed to covering all news from the industry and allowing all voices to be heard.
PALMETTO, Fla./MORGANTOWN, W.Va., (August 2, 2022) – Feld Motor Sports, Inc. and MX Sports Pro Racing today jointly announced a partnership that will see the formation of the SuperMotocross World Championship. Under this new alliance, the two companies will work together to grow both, Supercross and Motocross, creating a new championship platform that will reward the sport’s best athletes with a $10 million purse – the richest offering in either sports’ history.
Starting in 2023, the professional racing season will expand and culminate with the SuperMotocross World Championship on Saturday, October 14 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California.
“With the creation of the SuperMotocross World Championship, we are taking a significant step towards growing the sport into a series that will be better suited for the expanding global marketplace and its impact on our fans and sponsors,” said Kenneth Feld, Chair and CEO of Feld Entertainment, Inc. “As media and technology continue to evolve, SuperMotocross will be able to capitalize on these innovations to reach new audiences and grow exponentially in the coming years.”
The Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship will both continue to crown their own champions at the conclusion of their respective series’. Afterwards, the top 22 250cc athletes and the top 22 450cc athletes in combined Supercross and Pro Motocross points will qualify to compete in the two SuperMotocross Playoff Rounds and World Championship round for the SuperMotocross #1 plate and sport’s richest payout.
“We are celebrating 50 years of American Motocross this season and the creation of the SuperMotocross World Championship and working in unison with Supercross may be one of the most significant changes the sport has ever undertaken,” said Carrie Coombs-Russell, Chief Executive Officer, MX Sports Pro Racing. “This collaboration will create the only off-road racing series on the planet that provides a fully supported infrastructure, from amateur development to the professional ranks for global competitors to race on the world’s most challenging and demanding tracks.”
All seven of the primary original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) – KTM, Husqvarna, GASGAS, Kawasaki, Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki, are excited about this new partnership and are fully committed to competing with their race teams. Factory-supported racing efforts have been the backbone of professional racing in the United States for more than five decades. Their commitment ensures that the highest level of racing competition will continue in Supercross, Pro Motocross and throughout the SuperMotocross Playoffs and World Championship.
“The creation of the SuperMotocross World Championship is the biggest and most positive step to ever happen in our sport,” said Roger De Coster – Director of Motorsports, KTM Group North America. “Supercross and Motocross racing in the U.S. is very strong right now and this investment from Feld Motor Sports and MX Sports Pro Racing will bring the next generation of fans to motorcycling.”
“The SuperMotocross World Championship is an important and necessary step forward for our sport,” stated Chris Brull, Kawasaki Vice President of Marketing and Racing. “The collaboration between Feld Motor Sports and MX Sports Pro Racing further strengthens Kawasaki’s commitment to this new world championship and to the already well-established and successful Supercross and Motocross championships.”
The SuperMotocross World Championship will combine both disciplines of Supercross and Pro Motocross introducing a unique and distinct form of racing called SuperMotocross, hence becoming a new discipline for the sport. Custom-designed tracks will be built to showcase this new style of racing. World-class venues will allow room to integrate the best track designs from Supercross, Pro Motocross and now SuperMotocross, finally providing a stage where the sport’s ultimate debate can be decided – who is the best in the world and ultimately crowning a new overall champion.
“As a manufacturer, it’s great to see two of our valued partners collaborating to bring something new to our sport,” said Brandon Wilson, Manager of Racing and Experiential Marketing, Honda Power Sports & Products. “Considering that this has been in the works for more than two years, we are excited to now finally be able to share this significant news. The SuperMotocross World Championship is going to add a lot of intrigue for everyone. Fans will have more opportunities to see their favorite riders and the most competitive racing, plus we’ll now see who the best overall rider is.”
“As the current and reigning champion in both Supercross and Motocross, we’re extremely proud to have earned those titles battling the best competition on the planet,” said Derek Brooks, Yamaha Motorcycle Product Line Manager. “The SuperMotocross World Championship is a unique, yet also natural next step for the sport as we work together to highlight the immense talent of the athletes who compete on our class-leading product.”
Feld Motor Sports and MX Sports Pro Racing have worked together previously on industry related initiatives, none more significant than joining forces in the early days of the pandemic to save motorcycle racing in the United States. Both companies will continue to work together in a collaborative effort to continue growing the sport both domestically and abroad. Bringing together the leadership experience of both organizations and creating a unified rule book will ensure consistency across the series for both athletes and teams. Their combined marketing and operational expertise will strengthen and grow fan engagement through integrated media, promotional, sponsorship and activation programming across the racing season.
“We are inspired to see this new partnership and the creating of the SuperMotocross World Championship,” said Chris Wheeler, Motorsports Manager for Suzuki Motor USA, LLC. “Suzuki is looking forward to racing in this new championship and competing at the highest level in Supercross, Motocross, and now the SuperMotocross World Championship.”
The 2023 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship schedule will be announced in the coming weeks, followed by the 2023 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing schedule. Dates and venues for the upcoming SuperMotocross World Championship and additional details will be announced later in the year. For updates and all the latest news please make sure to visit SupercrossLIVE and Pro Motocross.
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