Watch Blake Baggett Sell Supercross
Jason Weigandt

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Watch Blake Baggett Sell Supercross

For decades, supercross riders have visited local media outlets in advance of races to sell some tickets and create new fans. Hardcore fans only see this unless they live local to the race, but the internet lets us see the full menu now. Check out Blake Baggett's superb sales pitch on why people should come to Tampa.

From pumping the pit party to explaining the track—while downplaying noise and danger—Blake is pretty darned polished and professional for a 26-year-old. Also, shoutout to the hosts here for asking some good questions. They really seem like they're into it!

This stuff goes on every week. It's easy to take shots at riders for boring podium interviews, but this kind of stuff goes a long way.

In addition, the Tampa Bay Times covered the race hard, with a cool story on local product RJ Hampshire. 

"Whenever I heard it [Tampa Supercross] was coming back, I was so stoked that I pretty much begged my team owners to keep me on the East Coast," Hampshires aid in the story. "It’ll be cool just waking up in my own bed Saturday morning and going to the track."

The paper also posted a story titled "Supercross brings athletes—not just motorcycle riders—to Tampa."

The story explained how hard riders must train to succeed. Justin Brayton explained his diet, as an example.

"I need to eat well," Brayton said in a story that included quotes from him, Ricky Carmichael, Joey Savatgy, and Kyle Chisholm. "I’m probably 90 percent gluten-free. That makes me feel so much better and I’m not bloated. I stay away from red meat and limit my sugars. It’s tough because I have a sweet tooth, but if I stay disciplined with my diet, I definitely feel the advantage during the races. And you’re looking for any edge you can get.’’

Of course, the Times also spoke with Chad Reed about breaking Mike LaRocco's  all-time starts record.

"Reed remembers watching LaRocco—'on DVD, or actually on VCR tapes,' he said with a laugh—and later competed against him."

Fans like us take supercross for granted, but you don't get 42,000 people to show up in Tampa just by turning on the lights and dropping the gate. Kudos for the riders for giving the local press some time in hopes of pumping up their chosen sport.