The Monster Energy MX Nationals MX1 class had just 17 riders at the gates at Swan Hill. Image: Jeff Crow/Sport the Library.

Williams Event Management is working hard to understand the current trend of diminishing rider numbers across the championship classes in the Monster Energy MX Nationals, according to managing director Kevin Williams.

The issue was illustrated at the series’ eighth round at Swan Hill last weekend, when just 19 MX2 and 17 MX1 class riders lined up at the 40-gate start.

Williams, who maintains a clear line of communication with participants, understands the concerns and says it reflects an overall global downturn currently being experience in motorsports.

“I think it’s a global situation, you look around the world and the numbers are down,” said Williams. “It’s pretty tough out there in the marketplace.

“Look at the MX1 world championship. They went from a 40-grid start down to a 30-grid start, and they’re only getting 26, 28 at world championship level.

“When we started this back in ’97, all the tracks had 30-gate starts. The sport went through a real boom, and across that period we grew the starts out to 40. Times have gotten tough, we’re getting back to more of a compressed market that we saw eight to 10 years ago.”

Williams said officials were considering the options to improve the situation, including reducing the the start gates from 40 to 30, and would work in concert with manufacturers to create a realistic solution.

“If you reduce the gates back down to 30 it doesn’t look that empty,” he continued. “It is something we’re looking at. We’re working with the manufacturers and we’re looking at different things.

“But the reality is that people don’t have as much time to get off work, they can’t travel as much. We’ve reduced down to one-day events so we’re constantly looking at it.

“At the end of the day, some people can’t afford to, and they’re choosing to do their local stuff – that’s not a bad thing either.”

Despite the noticeable decrease in participants, Williams believes that the spectacle of Australia’s best riders doing battle is still being delivered.

“It’s something that we’re well and truly aware of, but having said that, from a racing point of view for the spectator, you’re seeing the best of the best, and you’re seeing some really good racing,” he added.

“It’s happening around the world, whether it’s V8 Supercars, Formula 1 or MX Nationals, grid numbers are down. It’s a sign of the times.”