April 1st, 2020.


JPI Media has announced the temporary suspension of its weekly and monthly off-road titles Trials & Motocross News and Dirt Bike Rider.

A statement from Anthony Sutton, the editor of both titles, reads;

“The team that brings you DBR each month – and 24/7 online at dirtbikerider.com – would very much like to carry on as we’ve done for decades.

But as much as we’d like to ignore that we’re part of a bigger organisation, sometimes we can’t and just this morning the management have told us that we’re to suspend publishing from the start of next week.

As much as it pains me, they’re probably right to make that call – certainly from a business point of view – as passion will only ever get you so far and that particular p-word has driven many an otherwise sane bloke bankrupt in our cosy little off-road universe.

So with the sport now on hold for now and the government restricting the free movement of people it certainly makes it difficult to deliver you, our valuable readers, the quality and engaging content we pride ourselves on.

We’ve also seen a significant downturn in revenue with many of our normally very supportive advertisers suspending trading or finding the current conditions downright difficult – or extremely challenging as my boss would call me, erm, I mean, the situation.

He’d also say something like ‘as a result, we have taken the difficult decision to suspend both Dirt Bike Rider magazine and TMX, online and in print. The suspension takes effect next week (w/c 6th April) and will be reviewed in line with any changes to government advice’.

He, I, the DBR team and also JPI are all united in wanting to thank every one of our readers and advertisers for your support. We will be back and we can’t wait until we are. Hopefully, it’s not too long before we can all snap back into action.

And that’s about it for now… So, from myself and the entire DBR Team, that’s us over and out – just for now – but as Arnie Schwarzenegger said in Terminator ‘I need your boots, clothes and motorcycle’. Bet you thought I was gonna say ‘I’ll be back’, didn’t you?”


Notes;

The latest issue (May 2020) of Dirt Bike Rider goes on sale next Friday, the 10th of April.

Subscriber direct debit payments will be suspended. Calls regarding subscriptions can be made to 0330 403 0066 – Option 2.

VMX magazine will be sent by the publisher directly from its base in Australia. Contact sales@vmxmag.com.au.