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US
Edited Date/Time
7/10/2015 1:43am
This Adam Wheeler article is in the Two Stroke Taliban thread as well as the Do Organizers listen thread but given the lack of comments on the displacement changes ahead I am guessing the word isn't completely out yet. Hope you'll take the time to check out the article. After reading it my questions are:
1) Should 300cc two strokes race with the MXGP 250Fs in 2018?
2) What bikes will/should the MX2 guys be on?
3) Will Feld and MX Sports agree with this effort?
Initially I was more of Shaun Simpson's opinion the issue is more track related but after thinking about this overnight I can see the upside particularly in the US if these changes come to pass. IMO the biggest upside next to reducing injuries is if we wind up with a professional class/support class in the US with a lower cost of entry and participation that today's 250F class powered by timed grenades known as motors.
This is one complex issue obviously but I am pumped that the first shot has been fired in the fight to reduce the carnage in MX/SX around the world.
1) Should 300cc two strokes race with the MXGP 250Fs in 2018?
2) What bikes will/should the MX2 guys be on?
3) Will Feld and MX Sports agree with this effort?
Initially I was more of Shaun Simpson's opinion the issue is more track related but after thinking about this overnight I can see the upside particularly in the US if these changes come to pass. IMO the biggest upside next to reducing injuries is if we wind up with a professional class/support class in the US with a lower cost of entry and participation that today's 250F class powered by timed grenades known as motors.
This is one complex issue obviously but I am pumped that the first shot has been fired in the fight to reduce the carnage in MX/SX around the world.
250
Open
250 is the premier class, the big money class, runs full season.
Split the 125's and open class half season each.
And of course that is my dream for the U.S.
Leave it alone . Japanese have too much invested in 450's and half the guys are too big for them.
The Shop
Tone down the tracks and limit the mods to 450 motors problem solved. If that doesn't make you happy go back to 2 strokes. 500 2 strokes were fine and the engineers were the problem. They always wanted more and more power. When in reality most racers wanted to tame down the big bikes.
MX2 might as well be a 2 stroke class. If they are going to make 250f the premier class. Small cc 4 strokes are way too high strung 2 strokes are much more superior at small cc's.
250cc two strokes racing with 250Fs in your dream?
Do you think Suzuki might dust off their 125cc dies. molds. and jigs? Honda won't but Kawi is going to (if the rumor is accurate) so that just leaves Suzuki left to produce a 125.
2015 sure is a year with a lot of twists and turns for MX.
MXGP = Up to 300cc 2 stroke, up to 400cc 4 stroke.
The U.S. will stay the same no matter what the decision is (assuming "nothing happens" is also a decision). Some riders may migrate hear because of it, or vice versa.
I did say 250, not 250F.
125 to 200 2stroke or 4stroke modified
MxOpen
250 to 500 2stroke or 4 stroke modified
There is nothing light about today's motorcycles.
Pit Row
Simple, restrict rpms.
I'd love a 125 lites, and 250f premier class.
I met Tony Skillington at the Las Vegas SX final this year (thank you Kevin Crowther) and my impression was the guy's an enthusiast just like the rest of us. Today's four stroke focus I cannot put on him or on Jody Weisel or any one person so don't quite get the question who's fault is that?
The point about the 250Fs going faster (as I took it) is they are more controllable not they are more dangerous than a 450.
I like others here, used to feel the 125's needed a class but my current thinking is in this response I posted in the Taliban thread:
My take on this subject these days is they just need to have a four stroke class for any displacement engine and a two stroke class for any displacement. The Japanese manufacturers really don't want to see the two different engine types competing head to head and unless the sanctioning body quits letting them run the show, I don't see this changing anytime soon although it seems more likely that the FIM would do it ahead of the AMA.
As we're seeing and what some in the article are saying, is that the 250F's are quite capable and "can" outperform the 450's. At many US tracks we're seeing this. In the hands of the top riders these new 250f's with high end suspensions might dominate the 450's at most events. But running a well prepped 250F is expensive and might only be fielded by factory backed teams. Privateer and small sponsorship teams could run the 450's to keep their expenses down and basically be finishing behind the factory backed teams as they currently are.
With this format entry level riders would still be screwed just as they currently are. The 250 class is not an entry level class anymore. Its too expensive and the 250F's are such potent race machines. They maybe easier to ride than a 250 two stroke but at the rate they're progressing, in a couple of more design cycles they're liable to have the same high strung, sometimes un-managable power delivery of a 250 two stroke. The fact that some of the pros are practicing on the two strokes leads me to believe that the riding techniques they require must be comparable to the current 250f's. But entry level riders could participate on 125's, progress to the 250's and if they can show they've got the skills like a Stewart, Roczen, Musquin on them they'd likely be fine moving to the premier class on a 250F that require a similar riding style.
The beauty of bikes that are all too fast is that the skill is in making them easy to ride, which costs a shit load less than trying to get HP out of something that isnt there to be had.
We run a 320 TM 2 stroke against 450's on tarmac , its not far off , but its a lot harder to ride , and you have to be so much more precise, but if everyone was on them , the racing would be cool.
Riders don't get hurt riding 250F's?
I like cool. When you have a chance post up some pics of that 320 please. Flywheel weight or no need on asphalt?
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