Happy New Year!
To start off 2010 with a bang, I wanted to say a big thank you to each and every reader of this site. Your support over the past year has been an inspiration. I am truly grateful.
It’s exciting discovering and meeting so many people from all over the world, all with a love of two strokes.
Two-stroke supporters have been in the minority for quite a few years now, fortunately the tide seems to be shifting. Any of us could guess the reasons for this change, but the good news is that more are joining our ranks everyday.
With this introductory editorial for 2010, I wanted to outline what we’re focusing on for the year ahead.
EDUCATION IS KEY
Education is the key.
On the top of the list is patience and understanding. Mostly for those who can not or do not see things the way that we do. They have had years of “brainwashing” from magazines, listening to marketing hype and conversations with friends that believe the four-stroke revolution ballyhoo. These guys need an education more than our criticism.
They have been conditioned to believe that a displacement advantage for four-strokes is not only fair, but a revolution. While most of us see it for what it truly is, an aberration of what used to be fair rules. The new rules have been created to profit a certain segment of the motocross industry, plain and simple.
Many of the four-stroke believers are rabidly opposed to equal displacement, claiming it’s not fair. Unfortunately, they fail to question the reasons that the rule was passed in the first place. Nor do they take into consideration that in the early 1970’s, when the rules were equal displacement, the two-strokes beat the four-strokes fair and square.
As I said before, they need some education and a chance to make up their own mind about it. Forcing them or telling them they are wrong only serves to entrench them more deeply into their opinions and makes it that much more challenging for them to see the light.
One of the issues that two-stroke supporters need to realize is that there will be four-stroke folks that will never switch. They love four-strokes for
Try to do better than this! LOL
many of their own deeply held reasons and will fight to keep them. Think about it, there is really no convincing a believer that they are wrong. Imagine the experience in reverse. Would someone be able to convince you to give up your two-stroke to race a four-stroke? My guess is no.
When dealing with these folks, have some compassion and understanding. If you want to make a change, just do it! Go out and buy a two-stroke motocross bike.
Then take it out to race and compete. Many parts of the world have returned the rules to equal displacement in amateur competition. Please take advantage of these rules whenever possible. When you win races or do well, send a race report and/or photos to be published on this site. Your news is important to all two-stroke fans.
THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE
The biggest obstacle facing two-stroke supporters, is a lack of an outlet for good news about two-strokes. This site attempts to fill that need. We could use your help. When you find two-stroke news or stories, whether in your travels in the real world or on the Internet, please take a moment to send a note to us about it. It would be greatly appreciated.
It's so easy to be a critic, much more difficult to come up with new ideas and solutions.
THE YEAR AHEAD
For 2010 this site will become even more vocal in our criticism of the unfair rules. The truth is it’s easy to be a critic, but a more difficult to come up with ideas and solutions that can and will make a difference.
Here is an area where you will see some serious changes. Obviously, we will begin in small ways and grow as we gather steam and support.
WE NEED YOU!
The support we seek is you! You as excited fans at the race tracks, shouting your support of two-stroke racers that attempt to compete in the Pro Classes on two-strokes. Banners, signs, air horns (if they allow them) and any other form of support for these brave self-supported racers would go a long way towards making a shift in fan and industry recognition and sponsorship dollars.
If you know of such a brave racer attempting to compete against the big boys on “inferior” equipment, please ask that racer to contact me at this site. Let’s build support for them by posting their schedules so that two-stroke fans can attend those races to cheer for and encourage them on race day.
TSM TO SUPPORT PRO RACER
Moving forward in 2010, we will be supporting a racer to compete in the Pro class. With many details to be ironed out, more news will be released sometime in January. This is an area where fan support will be crucial to the success of the project. Whether it’s by supporting this project via donations, participating in contests held on this site, contacting our sponsors to say that you are a new customer of theirs because they supported this project and, of course, attending the events to cheer for our two-stroke hero.
Become a true fan of two-strokes. Photo by Rich Van Every
THE BIG 4 AND TWO STROKES
Many two-stroke supporters want to see the Big 4 get back to manufacturing two-strokes. There are many reasons for this, but mainly it’s because they’re the bikes we know and grew up with. Unfortunately the chances are slim that the Big 4 will shift away from the path they’ve chosen. In their collective mind it’s easier to attempt to convince the “hold outs” that they are wrong, then to make a favorable decision for two-stroke fans.
What that means is to be a two-stroke racer in the future, you may have to look to other manufacturers for current two strokes. Many smaller manufacturers exist that build current two-strokes and there will be more of them in the future. When the Big 4 finally see they’re losing market share by not providing two-stroke motocross bikes in their line-up, the possibility of building them in the future increases.
Some of us will have to try new machines and possibly move away from the Big 4 for the first time in our lives. This is a tough decision to make. The only suggestion I can give is to have an open mind and to try some of the other machines before making a decision.
PRO RACING SERIES FOR TWO STROKES
Next up, a new race series must be created. One to compete against the existing Pro Series. A series where fair rules are set. One in which the fans are treated to the best racing possible and the racers get paid properly for their efforts. These are the guys that are out there putting it all on the line for the fans. They deserve to be treated right.
An undertaking this huge will take some time and a great deal of effort to get off the ground. There are people who are working very hard to make this happen. They too will need our support. Mostly by being fans that attend these events and as racers competing in the series. As this project moves forward, updates will be posted on the site as they become available.
2010 is poised to be a great year for the two stroke. We are gaining ground and setting up for the pass. Stay on the gas!
Happy New Year to you and your family.
Sincerely,
John Nicholas
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Comments
By motoman465 on December 31st, 2009 at 10:58 am
It never fails, John. Everytime I visit your site(which is my homepage, by the way)I read something that gets me FIRED UP!!! I am really looking forward to 2010! Now with the little teaser you have offered up here it only leaves me drooling for more.
I wholeheartedly agree with the fact that if we want new two strokes we will have to move away from the big 4. I still plan on racing my Yamaha post-vintage open class 2 strokes, but I would love to pick up a new Maico 320…perhaps one day!
You can count on me to let you know of anything positive that happens involving two strokes in my neck of the woods! I don’t have much to offer up as I am not a great rider, but in my last moto of last season in the gooey mud of Broome’s grass track I did beat a 250F to the first turn! I was proud of that since I am not a great starter and next year I hope to beat up on some 4 jokes…LOL! I also agree with you that patience, understanding, and education is key.
Well, I am getting kinda long-winded here so I am going to leave with one final thought. Keep roosting into the new year!!!! Thanks to John and everybody that supports this site and the two-strokes!!!!
By 125mx.com on December 31st, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Another year gone and this site gets better and better, there’s been some cracking stuff on here throughout 09 mate, WELL DONE. I’ll raise a glass with you John and all 2st fans worldwide. Here’s to a super 2010.
Keep it premix…….
By metal_miracle on December 31st, 2009 at 3:32 pm
I got your website on speeddail and check for news everyday.
hoping to enter a few local races in 2010
By baud on January 2nd, 2010 at 4:03 am
On the French site motoverte.com there is a very popular 2 strokes video of Florent Richier
He won many times the German sx championship and for the holidays he had some fun on a 125 kx. . Enjoy it : http://www.motoverte.com/site/video-florent-richier-45782.html
a frenchman
By baud on January 2nd, 2010 at 4:13 am
I forgot this one. Barcia was impressive on a 125! http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9g5va_justin-barcia-en-125-cr-super-pilot_sport
By RM500 on January 3rd, 2010 at 3:00 am
Thank you for a wonderful site and the contribution to the world of twostroke motocross.
The Florent Richier clip was super!!
By baud on January 3rd, 2010 at 9:32 am
Thank you RM 500, I will post some other clips if I found some other good clip like that
By irace2tmotos on January 4th, 2010 at 5:52 pm
John:
Thanks for this webspace we have to allow our voices to be heard. As certain as change is people are speaking out more and more against 4 strokes.
They will never, ever take a 2 stroke out of my throttle hand until it’s cold and dead!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brrraaapppp…
By Motoduc84 on January 25th, 2010 at 2:12 pm
I just discovered your site. I am a longtime mx enthusiast, still racing a ‘78 Husqvarna CR250.
Perhaps, like some of you, I initially welcomed the return of the big four-stroke. What an exciting day it was back in 1997, when Doug Henry won the Las Vegas SX on the Yamaha YZ426. It made me think about the glorious days of the sport…the REALLY early days, when men like Jeff Smith, John Banks and Rolf Tibblin wrestled the four-cycle BSA’s, Husqvarnas, Litos, etc. around mx tracks throughout Europe. Real men on manly machines; that was REAL motocross!
It didn’t take long, however, for my enthusiasm to wane, ultimately morphing into fear. One four-stroke was a novelty at our local track, two were still attention-getters…and one hundred of them were loud and extremely threatening. Suddenly, neighbors who had peacefully co-existed with our local track were now taking their case to the county board, petitioning for re-zoning.
You won’t find a bigger mx enthusiast than me…and I found myself (quietly) agreeing with them. Motocross has become too loud…for its own good.
This could turn into a rant…but I would certainly be preaching to the choir on this forum. Thank you for putting the energy into this site…I wish you well with the endeavor to educate folks about our beloved, simple two-stroke engine. Let’s strive to keep it alive; it may just be the only thing that helps keep local mx alive as well.
Kent Taylor
http://www.backtrackvideo.com