First of all, the original article is called "Supercross is a Joke" not "BMX Racing is a Joke."
They are two different disciplines, with SX being exclusively made up of the most elite of all racers. There are 300 or 400 Supercross racers in the whole world.
BMX Supercross is, as previously noted, an Olympic Medal Sport. It's interesting to watch, but not the kind of thing someone in the stands or at home watching TV would say "Wow, BMX Supercross, I think I'll give that a try." They'd end up in ICU, if they were even allowed on the track in the first place. This is why I don't see it as connected to what I like to call "Classic" BMX Racing as onlookers might think.
Classic BMX racing is what's happening at your local track. Take the pegs off your ride, and you could go do it--and live to tell about it--and have a great time.
I don't quite understand the motivation of the guy who wrote the "Supercross is a Joke" article. The number of eyeballs on those races, even in Europe where they get a few thousand paid spectators is far below anything that would move the needle for a major-brand sponsor. It's fun to watch live, but not great for TV (full disclosure: I don't think AMA SX is all that fun to watch on TV either). No eyeballs, no sponsorship cash = no money for the riders. That's reality, but it doesn't make the sport a "joke."
There's no question that it is incredibly dangerous. When someone wrecks in a race, their list of injuries more resembles someone who laid down their motorcycle on the highway at 60MPH, than someone who fell off their bike. It is not uncommon for someone to have more than a dozen separate injuries, including collapsed lung, broken ribs, lacerated liver, lacerated spleen, concussion, broken collarbone. That's one injury on one (female) rider. The male list is generally about the same, and involves months of recovery.
Classic BMX Racing is struggling with an identity crisis which has it asking "who are we?" Are we the all-hopped-up Olympic Sport, or the sport you do if you want to ride your bike, in competition, with some other kids, and have fun doing it?
The bottom line is that if Elite BMX racers riders want to get to the Olympics, they have to race Supercross. There is no other way to be there. And the "Olympic Dream" is so strong in these guys that they would likely do it for even less money than they are getting now. SHOULD it be more? Absolutely. Will it be more at any point in the near future? Unlikely.
Again, I don't think that makes Supercross a joke, it makes it a conduit to the Olympics, and little more. People should stop trying to make it something it isn't, and placing expectations on it that it has no chance of living up to.
Best,
Mike Carruth
Editor, bmxnews.com
