watson wrote: I think Stanton was wrong.
Moving up to the 450 full time is tough. Baggett needs a good year in Supercross '13 to convince me he has anything for Dungey on a Supercross track. Not to mention, Barcia AND Baggett still have a ways to go to be as consistent as the Dunge in either discipline. Ryan's rookie 450 year going as smoothly and injury free as it did was an exception, very rarely is it that uneventful for star 250 riders.
Speedwise on an outdoor track (and Supercross for Barcia as well) they may be able to match some laptimes but then again the only times Ryan had to push this year was Hangtown and Freestone; if my memory is correct the top 250 times were noticeably yet not considerably slower than Stew and Dungey's (and they more or less matched each other lap for lap in those races).
What happens on an unconventional sand race is not a gauge as to who is a better or worse overall rider, just in the way a mud race isn't. It proves just that, who is a good sand rider, and who is a good mud rider.
Yeah, I don't buy that who is a good sand rider and who is a good mud rider. If you are that good you ride them all. Reed fast on sx, hard pack mx, sand mx, mud mx.. Same for RV, RC and others.
The advantage that comes with youth, is they come into the sport where it has eveloved so much before they even start. So they are the next pprogression. Juts like all sports the Barcia, Tomac, AC, and so on are thenext level.
That is why RC or Reed or KW are legends they can step it up to the next level it has become.
I mean holly shit look at what some 10 years olds are doing on a mx bike today m it wouldn't be thought of back 10 years ago and the speed etc.