By: Jason Giacchino
Email: offthepegs@atvsource.com

ATV Racing in the Lime Light

When directly compared to more established forms of motorized racing such as automobile or motorcycle, it becomes alarmingly clear that ATV racing is yet a young and developing sport. While some may view this reality as a disadvantage due to the apparent lack of sanctioning or unification of a single series that defines the sport (like NASCAR or World GP) there are some often overlooked advantages as well.

The first advantage is our ability to learn from the mistakes of other similar sports. While in their own infancy, many of today’s most popular forms of racing had nobody to “look up to” so to speak. There was little documentation in terms of prior success stories or failures; meaning the only way to proceed was by trial and error. Conversely, ATV racing has the advantage of being molded after some of the other forms of power-sport racing it often shares dealership floor models with.

ATV’s continue to post astonishing sales figures year after year due in part to the versatility of the machines. As such, elements such as bar to bar battling, catching huge air, blitzing across whoops, and mastering rhythm sections can be combined with a plethora of naturally occurring conditions; mud, logs, sand, and stone. The potential for ATV specific track designs is truly limitless and would certainly attract spectators in groves.

The runaway success of events such as the Gravity Games and X-Games further proves that freestyle appeal alone is definitely powerful enough to fill the stands. Promoters should capitalize on the trend by integrating half time shows with big air competitions, best trick, and step-up events to break the monotony between qualifying and racing the main event. Go as far as to have the spectators vote on their favorite trick by applause. Showmanship through a tightly packaged event would go a long way in terms of legitimacy of the sport.

We also have the benefit of being in the here and now as participants in an evolving industry. So often in professional sports (especially of the stick & ball variety) traditions have been in place for so long that they are practically written in stone. Many of these rule books were drafted in a time frame where men wore suits to pick up the newspaper and a woman’s place was in the home. Attempting to change such antiquated guidelines would be all but impossible for anyone (much less a participant). Yet in the ever-changing world of ATV racing, we witness near constant refinements coming in from the likes of organizations such as the ATVA and even the manufacturers themselves.

It is hard to place too fine a point on this constant evolution until one looks back at where the sport was merely half a decade ago then to compare that to what it is today. We are literally witnessing the foundation and strengthening of a sport all around us.

Finally there is no question that it is merely a matter of time before the ATV racing industry earns its share of glory through a recognizable figure, a champion who will smash the boundaries that keep ATV racing separated from the rest of the sporting world. Sure fans, spectators, and participants alike have their favorite riders and faces are finally starting to become more recognizable but the sport will truly arrive once our champion is a staple of mainstream America; interviewed on ESPN or gracing the box of Wheaties cereal.

The ATV Press itself is going to have to adapt as well. While there are more and more Quad magazines lining store shelves each year, even the most sport devoted are yet a potpourri of coverage. Part of developing the legitimacy of ATV racing will require race-specific journalism. You can be certain a NASCAR fan seeking race coverage and driver lifestyle reports doesn’t grab an issue of Car & Driver. Racing is a focused segment within an already focused market. Separation is a necessity as it contributes to the mind set that it is a sport worthy of its own press.

The possibilities for the future of our sport are not only exciting but limitless as well. Taking a step back to truly consider all that quad racing has to offer only further reinforces this fact. I have been discussing the influence of the manufacturers resurgence into the competition segment of the ATV market in columns past with the hope that it represents only the tip of the ice-burg for what’s in store. There is much truth in the adage “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single footstep”. In the case of quad racing, the initial footstep is behind us, now we’re on our journey.