In 2006, ESPN released the results of a poll that measured motorsports popularity amongst their “race fan” viewers. The results were predictable in some ways and surprising in others. For the motorcycle racing community, though, they were very promising.

    2005 ESPN Sports Poll – Race fans favorite style of racing

1. NASCAR – 59.5
2. NHRA – 13.4
3. Motorcycle events – 9.7
4. F1 – 6.3
5. IRL – 6.1
6. Champ Car – 1.4
7. Other – .04

Motorcycle racing, once the stepchild of motorsports was gaining popularity, not just as a result of the growth of motorcycling in general, but also because of added mainstream acceptance and viewership. It had ascended above all forms of open wheel motorsport.

NASCAR predictably lead the rankings but with an astounding share of the race fan universe. NHRA also had strong numbers, but motorcycle racing gained ground on the quarter-mile crowd from a similar poll conducted in 2004.

Ironically, during the 2006 season, no motorcycle competition aired on the ESPN properties outside of the X-Games. ESPN2 is the exclusive home of the NHRA.

Presumably we will see this survey post results from the 2006 season, as NHRA was a force behind ESPN’s motorsports research. It’s likely that the two-wheel world of sport will have strengthened even more.