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I participated in both of the 2002 Midwest Supermotard "fun days." Fun is a huge understatement.

Nothing compares to the thrill of gridding up with two dozen other riders and launching down a tarmac straight towards the first corner. No track day will give you that.

Nothing compares to the relief of seeing that nothing's busted on your bike after your third low-side crash of the afternoon.

If you have any kind of dirtbike, some protective gear, and are less than a day's drive from St. Louis, you owe it to yourself to come try out supermotard racing. But beware, it's completely addictive, and every other aspect of your life will seem slow and dull afterwards. Streetbikes? Feh. Watching racing on TV? Pffff.

If you don't compete, it's worth the trip just to come down and watch. The spectators at the first event oohed and ahhed, inhaled through their teeth, and cheered for guys they never met. At the end of the day, they spontaneously passed a hat to supply prize money for the winner. And just like last year, spectators are free!

 

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Re: Lets Hear it for Supermoto

I personally think it is one of the most exciting spectator sports around.


You aren't just whistling Dixie. Supermotard racing is the shiznit. Our first St. Louis Supermotard event drew an impromptu crowd of spectators, most of whom were originally bound for the demolition derby taking place at the larger dirt oval track. They saw a bunch of nutters sliding around the go-kart track on dirt bikes and stayed to watch. With all the passing, crashing, sliding and close racing, we drew quite a crowd. Little kids whooped with delight whenever a racer pulled a wheelie, and the whole crowd gasped whenever there was a crash or near miss.

That first event was held on the same day that Speed Channel televised the last round of World Superbike (maybe the two greatest motorcycle races ever). I can honestly say that I was completely blissed out on motorcycle racing for at least a week afterwards.