Got Gas?

Got Gas?

Maybe I don’t watch the news enough, but when I do expect to see some sort of riots or something related to the price of gas. The oil companies are raping us and it looks like there is no end in sight. If you know me, you know that I am usually very optimistic and laid back in general. I have faith in others and probably trust people too much, but every time I pull in to get some fuel recently, this feeling of wanting to strangle somebody overcomes me!

I wonder how much of an effect this will have on our sport in the next few years. Imagine you are the president of Yamaha for example, and you have your factory semi crisscrossing the country for one rider, as they are now. Won’t it eventually become difficult to justify the need to support factory riders when the costs begin to completely outweigh the benefits? Seriously, how many people are going to run out and buy a new YZF450 because Josh Hill is out running mid-pack on one?

I know these ridiculous prices have created major changes in my house. I don’t have to answer to the president of Yamaha, but I am finding in it increasingly difficult to explain to my wife that I am going to go riding for a few hours, and it is going to cost about $80.00 in gas alone to make the trip. Don’t get me wrong, she is totally supportive of letting me ride whenever I want, but it has gotten to the point where I might have to take up surfing as my new form of exercise (I can ride my bike to the beach) and let moto be the special little treat I give myself once in a while. Fortunately I have a good friend that doesn’t mind the cost of gas that much yet and takes two of us out to StarWest once a week. I have been known to sneak out to the SX tracks on occasion to catch a glimpse of things to come, but that will probably become less frequent as well. I have noticed three bikes in the back of trucks a lot more than I used to. Maybe all of the boards should develop a separate forum to discuss carpooling, or in our case, truckpooling.

I think StarWest might have the right idea for marketing right now that may make the cost of gas not hurt so much. They have hired a beautiful young lady who goes by the name of Chelsea to take our money at the gate. I had a small chat with her, and you can expect to see more of her in the near future. I want to hear what you all think! What can we do to try and curb this problem?? What do you think the factories are going to do?? Lastly, how can we get the tracks to hire girls like Chelsea to work the gates and make agony of handing our money over a little less painful!

-BDW