Are there less factory teams now vs 1997

observeroffacts
Profile picture for user observeroffacts
Posts
1024
Joined
9/16/2017
Location
Lake Owens, MO US
Fantasy
3717th
observeroffacts
Edited Date/Time 11/14/2017 9:06am
There are so many great riders ending up without a ride, seemingly unable to find room to fit onto a team. Teams such as RCH closing their doors without new ones consistently coming to be makes me wonder if right now there are the same, about equal, or less spots on a factory/satellite team than 20 years ago?

Is it the same as many other things in modern history where the hype exceeds reality due to hyper focus on sensationilizing the "story"? We are able to see firsthand who is without a ride and read articles/see Instagram posts constantly reminding us of the what's what.
|
newmann
Profile picture for user newmann
Posts
24444
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
US
newmann 11/14/2017 6:26am
11/14/2017 6:26am
What are these "teams" you speak of?




zehn
Profile picture for user zehn
Posts
7258
Joined
1/15/2013
Location
Anchorage, AK US
zehn 11/14/2017 7:24am
11/14/2017 7:24am
I'd say there are a lot more factory-level bikes today than there were 20 years ago.

The Shop

See All »
early
Profile picture for user early
Posts
8260
Joined
2/13/2013
Location
University Heights, OH US
Fantasy
2212th
early 11/14/2017 7:36am
11/14/2017 7:36am
In the premier class there used to be more teams with more than 2 riders. But there were only 4 factory teams vs 6 today. Todays nonfactory teams (rmatv ktm, motoconcepts) are better than they were back then (except MCs Yamaha team). All in all its about the same id guess.
bayodome
Profile picture for user bayodome
Posts
1123
Joined
12/18/2006
Location
Brooklyn, NY US
Fantasy
4282nd
bayodome 11/14/2017 7:45am
11/14/2017 7:45am
How could there be fewer factory teams in 2017 when there are more factories with teams than there were in 1997?
Dirty Points 11/14/2017 7:49am
11/14/2017 7:49am Edited Date/Time 11/14/2017 7:51am
early wrote:
In the premier class there used to be more teams with more than 2 riders. But there were only 4 factory teams vs 6 today. Todays...
In the premier class there used to be more teams with more than 2 riders. But there were only 4 factory teams vs 6 today. Todays nonfactory teams (rmatv ktm, motoconcepts) are better than they were back then (except MCs Yamaha team). All in all its about the same id guess.
Yeah, but there were no Husky or KTM factory sx teams in 1997. KTM did show up to a couple races with Smail on the 4 stroke.
early
Profile picture for user early
Posts
8260
Joined
2/13/2013
Location
University Heights, OH US
Fantasy
2212th
early 11/14/2017 7:53am
11/14/2017 7:53am Edited Date/Time 11/14/2017 7:53am
Dirty Points wrote:
Yeah, but there were no Husky or KTM factory sx teams in 1997. KTM did show up to a couple races with Smail on the 4...
Yeah, but there were no Husky or KTM factory sx teams in 1997. KTM did show up to a couple races with Smail on the 4 stroke.
I was pointing out good rides not just factory teams because empirically the OPs question makes no sense.
UpTiTe
Profile picture for user UpTiTe
Posts
7758
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
CA US
Fantasy
4091st
UpTiTe 11/14/2017 7:59am
11/14/2017 7:59am
There are 8 factory level teams now with 2 or more bikes available, roughly 17-18 rides.

In 97 I can count about 12-15 bikes.
newmann
Profile picture for user newmann
Posts
24444
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
US
newmann 11/14/2017 8:14am
11/14/2017 8:14am
m.hardesty16 wrote:
Some of the people on here really make me want to put a fist through my pc screen. https://instagram.com/p/BbcLA7AHCFa/
Funny you post that, mechanic lower left in pic above was good at throwing stuff himself. Especially after his rider threw a championship!Shocked
Ted722
Profile picture for user Ted722
Posts
4486
Joined
9/21/2011
Location
Sacramento, CA US
Ted722 11/14/2017 8:16am
11/14/2017 8:16am Edited Date/Time 11/14/2017 9:05am
No answers, just observations. Back in the day the 250(125) class was treated like a regional class with the tv package, but it’s different today (and for 2018).

250’s are getting more and more exposure as live TV and format changes for 2018 have (percentage wise) more gate drops for the 250 class than anytime in history vs. the 450 class.
- Triple crown races - 3 gates drops each class (450/250)
- Standard format - 4 gates drops for 450, 4 for 250

Post a reply to: Are there less factory teams now vs 1997