TORQ MOTO - Matt Bates - "They did a lot of damage to the motocross industry!"
Arenacross UK head honcho Matt Bates joins us on the sofa talking candidly about all things Motocross. We caught up with Matt at round seven of the current Arenacross UK tour before for the tour reaches its climax at Wembley on February 24th.
With the Birmingham AX track still being built in the background we discuss how Matt got into motocross even though he lived in the urban sprawl of central London and how a successful first few years saw him land a ride on Team Green before moving up to the pro ranks. A transition he now admits to being harder than he gave it credit for and how ultimately one crash too many found him facing inner demons that cut his pro racing career short and steered him into MX race team management. After a several years of fronting up Team Green UK and then Suzuki GB’s off-road program Matt explains how one day at Foxhill made him realise he wanted to go in the different direction of event management, and the rest as they say, is history. Since then, Matt and his team have laid on a host of different events within the motorcycle industry and plenty more outside of it working with big name brands such as Red Bull and recognised national events like the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Naturally also on the agenda of discussion is the ten years of running and promoting Arenacross. How it started and his contempt for a former Supercross promoter, where it’s currently at and how it sits with riders, fans, and the industry. Matt also discusses where he sees it going, especially with the growing interest in electric dirt bikes and how it will affect the sport and his vision on future off road motorcycling events. All interesting stuff with no holds barred from a man who tries to stay off social media for that very reason!
All roads led to Wembley on February 24th for the final round of the Arenacross UK tour, there will be great racing, double points and titles crowned, grab your tickets now - bolesworth.com/arenacross/
Пікірлер: 23
Another great insight and always good to hear to back story to some of the MX sports top UK guys and key influencers...keep up the good work guys..
@TorqMoto
5 ай бұрын
Thanks! Will do!
Great Interview again. Thank God we have people like Matt it the sport. Wobs is another one who runs a great event, The ACU lost its way for a time. Jefro is a great asset as well. Keep it up boys
great show lads , thanks Matt .
Great interview, Matt has great vision for the future!
🎉🎉 fantastic guys many memories seing matt jeffro racing great interview just need wob on bike 😊😊😊 to plse id love to see it 😮
@TorqMoto
3 ай бұрын
Great suggestion!
That matt is a clever boy,, the red bull pro nationals was a great series,
@TorqMoto
5 ай бұрын
It was a good one for sure!!
Great podcast guys, very interesting with the different types of people telling there story’s 👍🏻
@TorqMoto
5 ай бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it!
That was ya best one yet.
@TorqMoto
5 ай бұрын
We liked it!!
Team Green coaching at Olympia motopark middle Bickehill.
That was very entertaining. Looking at statistics, there are numerous studies by manufacturers that show off road bike sales in decline with a trend to continue well into the next decade. Some of the driving forces are cost due to less disposable income and younger people having to save a greater proportion of earnings towards housing. Injury and recovery due to poor health services and extended wait times. Generational differences toward sport and competition related to online games etc. This likely explains the massive interest in vintage racing and the lack of manufacturer interest in these type of events. Personally, I think more people are following this kind of thing from a purely "fan" perspective with little intention of buying a bike. As soon as electric takes over, that will be the end of Gen X for example, having any interest in such events.
@TorqMoto
5 ай бұрын
Good point, so we need to inspire as many as we can?
Matt Bates, I take my hat off to you. That is so sad about the ACU. But from what is portrayed by several top mx riders and key influencers, it is very predictable.
bates pumping the ceeunt outa brocs mechanics sponge watta laff
@TorqMoto
5 ай бұрын
😅
MINT lad's 👍 😂
@TorqMoto
5 ай бұрын
Thank you man!!!
4 strokes have damaged the sport way to expensive abd to much.... EV bikes will be the death of MX
@TorqMoto
5 ай бұрын
Yeah, there was a serious turning point when the 450's came along...