Motogp recognition

[Jeff N]

It's a simple question I have.

Casey Stoner is the 2007 MotoGP champion. Well done and well deserved.  

But over here, in the States, people who race bikes get no acknowledgment for their accomplishments. When Kenny Roberts won his first World Crown way back in the late '70s he got a paragraph in the then glorious "Sports Illustrated". Since then, Eddie Lawson, Freddie Spencer, Wayne Rainey, et al. only get mentioned if it's a slow news day.

The Franco Uncini incident made the Sunday night news all over the world and when I saw it I felt saddened because the only way we get noticed is for tragedy.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9107823466947748962&q=franco+uncini&total=1&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0

Move on to the viddy on this...

http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,17452.0.html

In Australia do people such as Mick Doohan, Wayne Gardner, and Casey Stoner get recognition in the general public? Does the local press acknowledge their greatness?

[Jules]

Wayne Gardner started interest, and then the MotoGP came to Aust the year after he became World Champion. Barry Sheene moving to Australia to live and getting a gig as a motorsport commentator with one of the big networks did a lot to raise the profile of motorcycle racing as well. Barry is loved in Aust & every year there is a memorial run to PI in his honor. Mick was nominated for "Sportsman of the Year" at one stage which created interest in the mainstream media - but I think its fair to say, he was not a great media person at the best of times, though loved by motorcyclists.

This year with Casey's win we saw unprecedented media coverage. Front page in the major Melbourne newspapers and lots of TV coverage. In addition to his achievements, his youth, parents struggles to support him OS in the early days and marriage to a young bride all add to media interest. Plus he seems very "normal" an unpretentious. Casey was on Australian 60 Minutes recently - see thread in Pit Row on this board.

FWIW, the PI MotoGP had live coverage on free to air TV for 2 hrs on Saturday and 1.00pm to 6.00pm on race day. I didn't go to PI this year, the first I've missed in the last 5!