I just think it's sad that certain people know what is going on, yet the loyal members of TSM, who many of which are clearly Maico fains are being kept in the dark.
Let's go through the events of the last 12 months.
After we were told that Maico had changed ownership (which apparently happened some time before) the U.K owners gave us some nice teaers of what would be happening and from all reports it seemed as if new releases and what not weren't too far away.
With some organised and media savvy people at the helm, it appeared that Maico had a real shot at reinventing itself, especially in a time when people were getting fed up with the 4 stroke monotony.
From June 2010 Maico International started talking about next years model (check their press releases if you doubt this) and given bikes generally get key updates each year, it was fair to assume this bike would be released within a few months.
From the website displaying "a new era dawns" I am sure many Maico fans became very excited. I, and no doubt many like myself checked the site every day waiting with great anticipation as to when the new 4 stroke killer, which would not only revive the proud Maico name, but 2 strokes themselves would be released.
The end of the year got closer but again no pics of the actual bikes, just more talk of things to come.
I remember the day the website changed once more. At first I figured the actual bike had been released, then became very disappointed as it just seemed like a change for the sake of it.
Then we waited some more.... No doubt many of us felt a bit comforted (but a little surprised) when Maico released a statement saying that they would buck the trend by actually releasing their bikes at the start of the year (rather than 4 months early), and if nothing else it gave a small company (who were no doubt facing many issues) some more time.
Fair enough, I mean, why release a 2011 model before the new years ticks over, their explanation although convenient did seem logical.
Ok, no problem, lets wait for the new year. Drumroll please.......
One of the first things I did on January the 1st was check the Maico site, again quite surprised nothing had changed. Only days away, surely! Yes, I am happy to admit now I am a massive fan, which is why these delays and lack of pictures and clarification make things very frustrating.
The days rolled on, days turned into weeks, which of course turned into months.
Press releases got less and less frequent and from early January (when the bike was supposed to be release) we had to wait 2.5 months until we heard anything at all.
It is now Mid March, we are into the second season of the year and it is 6 months after the major manufacturers released their new years bikes. Maico are giving us nothing, in fact all we have is people like John making smiley faces about what he knows and what we don't.
Well Maico International, if your aim was to annoy people and have loyal fans lose respect for what you attempting to do, you have succeeded. Proper release dates would have been nice, if that was too difficult then at least an honest explanation as to what was happening (and why there have been so many delays) would have been appreciated.
Instead we had a period when we expected the bike to be released (Dec 2010 to Feb 2011) where absolutely no information was given at all.
We are the fans, we are the nice yet at the moment it seems we are being taken for fools.
