60 replies to this topic

[Rob]

Started off with F1, now primarily into bike racing. Started watching bikes in Rossi's first year at Yamaha and haven't looked back. I've been spoiled by bikes and F1 just doesn't feel the same to me any more. I still watch it though.

[chunder27]

I have been watching bikes since the early 90's and sadly have fallen out of love with top level bike racing in the past few years. There are high spots such as Moto3, Supersport and some Superstock races, but the top levels now are all about tech, electronics, data and tyres.

 

This I suppose was always the way, but it has dumbed it down a lot for me. I just think guys like Pedrosa, Marquez, Lorenzo woud have been in hospital more on a 500 or early GP bike, but they are riding to what they are given same as  Doohan or Rainey would have.

 

And going to Silverstone and listening to a Superbike qually, all I could hear all day on corner exits is misfires from traction control, wheelie control, bores me to tears and also must annoy the riders, but they have no choice.

 

hence a huge move into off road bikes, no electronics worth the salt as they inhibit performance, total maniac level is about the same, but their fitness is a step above any GP rider. Bikes sound great, it's dirt cheap to watch really, there is always something going on and once you get into it the bitching, infighting is just the same, but the racing is more aggressive.

 

I wouldn't say the racing is good as it is often not, but I can cope with that rather than listening to a bike misfiring its way out a corner and a bored looking engineer looking at a monitor all day thanks. But wathing a Herlings or Dungey totally owning a track ois mesmerising. I cant get into Marquez, the kid just had everythign handed to him on a plate and had rules bent to let him win. He is a God no doubt, but I find watching him about as interesting as Pedrosa, one trick pony. Watching him on a dirt bike though, that is control and skill.

[sjakie]

It started with F1 way back in 1982, followed soon after by Indycar, Group C, WRC and 500cc motorcycling.

 

After Group C fell apart GT racing couldn't get me hooked. It's only since Peugeot took up the challenge to fight Audi that my interest in sportscar racing is getting back to Group C levels.

 

Since every rally in the WRC is roughly the same (three days, start with an SS) my interest has faded. I loved the Monte Carlo Rally, lasting for 5 days, the Safari, which was more or less a non-stop drive through Kenia for 4 days and the 1000 Lakes which was fast!

 

After 500 cc was taken down the MotoGP fourstroke couldn't get me interested again. But maybe it was about the riders: I liked those Americans and Australians. No Valentino Rossi for me..

 

And F1 is not what it used to be. DRS was the final stroke...

 

So that's WEC and Indy for me nowadays. Indycar is also bruised since the split but at least the racing is interesting. And, like the WEC with the 24 hours,  it still has a race which stands head and shoulders above the rest: Indy 500

[AlexLangheck]

I never mentioned bikes in my earlier reply.
Have gone off MotoGP, I'm not sure who have ruined it; Honda, Dorna, but it's not what it was. It makes Loeb-era WRC look competitive.
I understand why they binned 2 strokes, but still disagree: the 500cc bikes were beasts. I also have a problem with Dorna's running of it: it's almost a Spanish national series. Where's all their money come from?

I've tried watching Speedway, but just doesn't do it for me. MX I can watch, but depending on the track, how long do I watch for. I like Enduro though - and have been to watch a few events in Wales, plus a round of the Enduro Sprint series; and a sport in which the Brits do well. And were 2 strokes are still running.

[chunder27]

Alex, I know what you mean, the various forms of Enduro are getting bigger and bigger. Am hoping to get to Romaniacs in the next few years, that is mental!  Brits do good yes, but the great thing i the accessibility, you can literally get right in te middle of the stages, routes etc. Been getting into it a lot in recent years and have tentatively had a go myself.

 

As for GP, I do still watch it, mainly for Moto3 and 2 but even 2 has become a one make formula recently, seems to have got to a point where the bikes are at a certain level.

 

Speedway is great live, but not o good for telly, a great race in a speedwayis amazing, but often ts poor, but they get round by having lots of quick races. The skill of those guys in insanse, and not just the no brakes thing, it i pure throttle control, and again no rubbish electronics.

 

I think the broad stroke is those of os that experience things lie Group b, Group C, turbo F1, V10/8/12 F1 500cc  bikes, Motogp with no TC Pirellis that smoked all race are struggling to find the excitement in a lot of those series.

 

Some can just ignore it and say great arce still, but once you have seen those things, you just ask questions of modern riders and drivers that you never did of Doohan, McCoy, McRae, Makinen, Prost, Mansell. You could see them at work, undertood their skills.

[OvDrone]

When I was a kid, I started out with F1. First thing I remember was Ayrton's death, sadly. The first full race I saw was Silverstone 1995, where Michael and Damon collided.

 

But when I got really hooked line & sinker, was the 1998 season. That year I became hooked on everything motorsport. MotoGP, then WRC, then Indy, then Nascar, then GTs, then Tourers, then Superbikes ... 'till I was even watching tractor pulling, Euro Truck racing, drag racing, speedboats. You name it. Favorite was still F1, though.

 

That was untill 2005, when I lost near ****-all interest in Motorsports. Everything other than girls, first experiences in bars, politics and music was kind of irrelevant.

 

But then when I entered college, I for some damn reason started, really slowly but surely, to get back into the 'racing community'. This was right after Hamilton's shock championship at Interlagos in '08. Then seeing Button winning and Webber starting to win some races, Stoner's antics with the whole lactose intolerance thing, Peugeot vs. Audi at Le Mans, I started saying 'hey, I used to ****ing love this. and I still think I do.' By 2010 I was watching all sorts of motorsport on campus, drinking, streaming, having a blast.

 

And here I am now, a racing fanatic. Everyone knows it. It is a part of my twisted charm, so people tell me. And I must say, that I enjoy most if not all of what there is to offer.

 

Recently I started following the NHRA and Supercross, and SX in particular is completely awesome. Wow.

 

That being said, the form I enjoy the most of 'em all is: Endurance racing.

 

I like tedious, complex, long-running, seemingly catatonic things. I am overly head-strong and patient. Putting myself through at least six hours of seemingly torture (from the POV of others) is my delight. I revel in it. Just like Audi did the last couple of Le Mans races, I in my life, I find a way to win at the end of the day. Always. Endurance is my bread and butter.

Edited by OvDrone, 19 February 2015 - 18:51.

[FullThrottleF1]

Like many here started out iwith F1. But now I watch all forms of motorsport. My two favourites at the moment are Formula E and the WEC.

[kurski]

Started following heavily in F1 season 1995 and I also started following the WRC them. I started follow first time CART season 1998 here Nelonen channel, later same series finnish Eurosport. I started follow MotoGP 2001, some years Eurosport or Urheilukanava. I also watched some DTM when they showed it in Finland (MTV3) as JJ Lehto was there. 

 

Today FIA WEC my favorite series and I really like it. Me watch also WTCC/DTM/Blancpain GT/Asia GT/STCC/Super TC 2000/Stock Car Brasil etc races.  My second favorite series is Japanese Super GT. My best open wheel is IndyCar, not F1.

 

Formula E seemed very promising, even though the cars are slow, fiery I watching stream almost every races. SMP F4 seems promising, I have following at each of their races the stream.

 

NASCAR has never been interested in, but they I will follow when the road course 

Edited by kurski, 22 July 2015 - 18:38.

[paulrobs]

Currently watching F1, WRC, BTCC, Moto GP, Indycars (less so) and the odd foray into DTM, GP2 and other series. I also watch all of the races on the BTCC coverage.

 

I do like Moto GP and find the idea of cornering a bike at such extreme angles with such extreme body movements on the bike and such a small tyre contact patch to be just about one of the most amazing things you can see on a racing circuit. I guess I'd love to see Rossi win another championship too.

 

My wife says "not motorsport again" quite a few times in our house...

[paulrobs]

Currently watching F1, WRC, BTCC, Moto GP, Indycars (less so) and the odd foray into DTM, GP2 and other series. I also watch all of the races on the BTCC coverage.

 

I do like Moto GP and find the idea of cornering a bike at such extreme angles with such extreme body movements on the bike and such a small tyre contact patch to be just about one of the most amazing things you can see on a racing circuit. I guess I'd love to see Rossi win another championship too.

 

My wife says "not motorsport again" quite a few times in our house...

 

Missed the obvious one! I watch every WEC race too. I also recorded the whole Le Mans race this year and didn't miss a lap. Watched plenty of them on x6 or x12 mind. I really should get a life..

[BlinkyMcSquinty]

I was always interested in motorsport since I was able to read. But it wasn't until I went to a track and experienced it in person was I addicted for life. If it burned hydrocarbons, went fast and was loud, that is what turned my crank. But these guys were my first heroes

 

 

 

Then cars gained ground, as well as motocross. I like watching on TV, like it even more being there in person, but the best is participating. Nothing, absolutely nothing beats being involved. Above it all I prefer racing where the spirit of motor racing and true wheel-to-wheel competition lives. I'm a romantic. If I had to choose between surrendering the entire Formula one season against the Bathurst 12 hours, I wouldn't hesitate a second for Mount Panorama.

 

I'm also a tech weenie, and would rather spend 5, 12 hour days working on a racing machine than one hour watching Formula One qualifying.