Team DBR are back from the International Dirt Bike Show at Stoneleigh and the good news is we’re all in one piece – although there are some plump livers in the office this morning. Here’s the official press release – accompanied by a gallery of Sutty’s schuper schnaps – but for the full story you’re going to have to wait for the January issue of DBR, on sale December 9…
The 2011 International Dirt Bike Show was voted a success by exhibitors, visiting personalities and the thousands of enthusiastic visitors who packed the Stoneleigh Park halls throughout the four-day period of the show.
More sporting stars than ever before made their way to the West Midlands-based exhibition centre, giving the visitors and stage audience plenty to cheer about. Among the big names from modern MX who called into the show were Jeffrey Herlings, Clement Desalle, two-time world champ Steve Ramon, Jake Nicholls, Elliott Banks-Browne, Marc de Reuver, Kevin Strijbos and Nicolas Aubin.
Desalle and Ramon were at the show with their Rockstar Energy Suzuki Team Manager Eric Geboers. This is the first time that Geboers and his crew have visited the International Dirt Bike Show and the five-time world motocross champion said he hoped it wouldn’t be the last.
“This has been a great event for us to attend and present the Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1 team along with the GP truck which the fans cannot always get to see at the races. We have really enjoyed meeting so many fans in such a great family show atmosphere to talk about racing and the new production RM-Z machines.”
The new features incorporated into this year’s annual off-road festival certainly did the trick in terms of keeping the crowds entertained with youngsters queuing to have a go on the many free-of-charge activities and visitors crowding the periphery of the stage for the non-stop round of competitions, presentations and interviews.
Out in the new hall five EvoShock Moto Jumble business was brisk with traders hailing the new venture as a great starting point from which to build on for the future. “As a first-time event it’s been really encouraging,” said John Strudwick. “There is a definite need for an off-road dedicated jumble at this time of year and it’s been really worthwhile attending. We’ll be back next year.”
Back in the main exhibition halls Dave Plummer of Husqvarna UK was equally pleased with the response from the public.
“Our new stand has worked really well for us and the show as a whole is better for us than last year. We’ve had plenty of serious customers really interested in our new products as well as browsers. Our big trail bikes have been hugely popular showing that the exhibition appeals to people who are interested in riding for leisure as well as the racers.”
FOX Head Europe was on the verge of running out of promotional materials as the final day drew to a close.
“It’s heartening that all four days have been really useful in one way or another. The level of customers and general public visiting the stand has been constant and from Fox’s point of view, it’s been another valuable Dirt Bike Show,” comments sales manager Adrian Phillips.
The retail hall has again seen plenty of traffic. Jason Harding of Off Road World enthused about all elements of the show and in particular the organisation and security. “We’ve been coming to Stoneleigh for a number of years now and this one has been excellent. We’ll certainly be back next year.”
Early indications are that visitor attendance is well up on last year and planning for next year’s event has already started.
“We certainly aren’t sitting back after this year’s success,” says show organiser Joanne Watson. “We already have some new ideas and areas that we want to improve further so we will be sitting down with our show team in the next few weeks to plan for an even bigger and better International Dirt Bike Show in 2012.”
