Axell Hodges Novice?

sec114
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sec114 1/1/2012 4:37pm
1/1/2012 4:37pm
TerryK wrote:
Funny thing is, his style is all novice, but his speed and ability to jump is far from it. His corner speed seems slow as well...
Funny thing is, his style is all novice, but his speed and ability to jump is far from it. His corner speed seems slow as well. I guess it's a tough call. If he's beating everyone in his class by large margins, then he needs to move up.
i liked his wide lines in the corners. i dont think i could beat the lil guy! haha!!
CRF505
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CRF505 1/1/2012 4:38pm
1/1/2012 4:38pm
Hardly surprising unfortunately.

I started racing a few years ago as an adult. I ride the Vet Sport/Novice class but I ride 250C and Open C as well. I was at the Fall Classic at Red Bud this past September and some kid in the C practice jumped LaRocco's Leap in front of me. He wasn't allowed to do it during the motos but still - why the F**K do people like this stay in the novice/C classes? I don't get it. I train hard and ride quite a bit in hopes to call myself a B rider, only to consistently finish midpack race after race. Why don't these D-bags move up? Again, I really don't get it...
sec114
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sec114 1/1/2012 4:49pm
1/1/2012 4:49pm
CRF505 wrote:
Hardly surprising unfortunately. I started racing a few years ago as an adult. I ride the Vet Sport/Novice class but I ride 250C and Open C...
Hardly surprising unfortunately.

I started racing a few years ago as an adult. I ride the Vet Sport/Novice class but I ride 250C and Open C as well. I was at the Fall Classic at Red Bud this past September and some kid in the C practice jumped LaRocco's Leap in front of me. He wasn't allowed to do it during the motos but still - why the F**K do people like this stay in the novice/C classes? I don't get it. I train hard and ride quite a bit in hopes to call myself a B rider, only to consistently finish midpack race after race. Why don't these D-bags move up? Again, I really don't get it...
exactly right; and 1 day you will be flustered and say the heck with racing and start fishing or something. this is happening way to much, and will probably never change. im sorry for your frustration.
BM255
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BM255 1/1/2012 6:46pm
1/1/2012 6:46pm
BM255 wrote:
Guys, here is a typical club day for me in NZ, 8:00 - 9:00 Sign in 9:00 Riders Briefing 9:15 Practice (usually combine some classes to...
Guys, here is a typical club day for me in NZ,

8:00 - 9:00 Sign in
9:00 Riders Briefing
9:15 Practice (usually combine some classes to speed things up. e.g. vets with MX1)
10:30 Racing starts
16:00 Pack up and go home

Usually no more than 7-8 classes total (including juniors and women etc)
Each class gets 3 races and then usually there is a feature race open to allcomers.

Most guys (including me) ride 2 classes, in my case vets and MX1, this way you get a minimum of 6 races, but sometimes I'll leave after the second round of racing and still have 4 races done and dusted, and the best part is it's usually only about 2pm in the afternoon.
JustMX wrote:
Actually, the entire problem with the sport in our country is that we don't have "briefing". Just kidding because that does have a cool sound to...
Actually, the entire problem with the sport in our country is that we don't have "briefing".

Just kidding because that does have a cool sound to it.

So now I have some questions about your racing:

1. How many entries are there at an average event?
2. How much are gate and entry fees (in usd please)?
3. How much is insurance for an event?
4. How much is an ambulance and crew?
5. Do the factories pay any contengincies in NZ?
6. What percentage of big bike partiicpants are on two stroke machines?
1. Usually 200-300 at a club day
2. $25 for one class $45 for 2 classes (USD)
3. Insurance is covered by MNZ (AMA equivalent)
4. Not sure sorry
5. No
6. Perhaps 20% or so, however we do have a dedicated 125 class which is also an official national class. Also you can ride a 250 2 stroke in the MX2 class (bikes up to 250cc) and this applies to the nationals as well. Actually the current national champ (Darryl King) races a YZ250 and won the nationals on it in this class.

The Shop

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loftyair
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loftyair 1/1/2012 8:10pm
1/1/2012 8:10pm
The way I see it he is a good novice, definitely not ready for the intermediate class. So he can whip it a little, I know 8yr. olds on 65's that can whip that good. Oh yeah, and 8yr. old Stiles Robertson hits every one of those jumps on an 85 that's too big for him.
yz763
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yz763 1/1/2012 8:33pm
1/1/2012 8:33pm
Sherwood wrote:
He just didn't look that fast/good to me.
I agree. Judging the caliber of the rider based off of their whips is not an accurate assessment of their skill. It just means they can whip it. He would get smoked at some local or regional races around here in the novice class.
jmar
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jmar 1/1/2012 8:36pm
1/1/2012 8:36pm
The kid looks like a c rider to me.

It doesn't matter if he can do a few doubles, his form is terrible.
mx_563
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mx_563 1/2/2012 3:24am
1/2/2012 3:24am
I don't think it's about form. There are National level pros with bad form (locked hips - ha ha). Some fast riders have poor technique. You can't say this dude is a novice because he has poor technique.
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jmar 1/2/2012 5:59am
1/2/2012 5:59am
mx_563 wrote:
I don't think it's about form. There are National level pros with bad form (locked hips - ha ha). Some fast riders have poor technique. You...
I don't think it's about form. There are National level pros with bad form (locked hips - ha ha). Some fast riders have poor technique. You can't say this dude is a novice because he has poor technique.
What defines someone that doesn't belong in the c class?

Because he can just some little shitty doubles, or because he scrubs or whips a bike?

BTW: His corner speed was terrible, and he would get slaughtered in a group national level B riders.
enginedr
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enginedr 1/2/2012 6:35am
1/2/2012 6:35am
axle rips.. did engines for him in 11' ... when he gets taller its all going to connect for him. mc is bringing him up to the mcbrooks team ? 2014 ?. no lorretas probably straight to sx like little brooks will do also. good vid work guys.. happy 12'
machine
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machine 1/2/2012 6:36am
1/2/2012 6:36am
mx_563 wrote:
I don't think it's about form. There are National level pros with bad form (locked hips - ha ha). Some fast riders have poor technique. You...
I don't think it's about form. There are National level pros with bad form (locked hips - ha ha). Some fast riders have poor technique. You can't say this dude is a novice because he has poor technique.
jmar wrote:
What defines someone that doesn't belong in the c class? Because he can just some little shitty doubles, or because he scrubs or whips a bike...
What defines someone that doesn't belong in the c class?

Because he can just some little shitty doubles, or because he scrubs or whips a bike?

BTW: His corner speed was terrible, and he would get slaughtered in a group national level B riders.
I think it sorta shows how the sport has evolved, in that lower level riders are doing stuff that only pros used to do, ie: big doubles and whips/scrubs.

One thing that hasn't changed over the years, is that corner speed wins the day.......Wink
jmar
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jmar 1/2/2012 6:49am
1/2/2012 6:49am
mx_563 wrote:
I don't think it's about form. There are National level pros with bad form (locked hips - ha ha). Some fast riders have poor technique. You...
I don't think it's about form. There are National level pros with bad form (locked hips - ha ha). Some fast riders have poor technique. You can't say this dude is a novice because he has poor technique.
jmar wrote:
What defines someone that doesn't belong in the c class? Because he can just some little shitty doubles, or because he scrubs or whips a bike...
What defines someone that doesn't belong in the c class?

Because he can just some little shitty doubles, or because he scrubs or whips a bike?

BTW: His corner speed was terrible, and he would get slaughtered in a group national level B riders.
machine wrote:
I think it sorta shows how the sport has evolved, in that lower level riders are doing stuff that only pros used to do, ie: big...
I think it sorta shows how the sport has evolved, in that lower level riders are doing stuff that only pros used to do, ie: big doubles and whips/scrubs.

One thing that hasn't changed over the years, is that corner speed wins the day.......Wink
One thing that hasn't changed over the years, is that corner speed wins the day..

For the most part, this is correct.

BTW: I doubt that this kid could get around a supercorss track with out wadding himself up, because balls only go so far, and technique and form does matter.
ToolMaker 1/2/2012 7:28am
1/2/2012 7:28am
I'm not sure how you catagorize the riders. For us it wasn't an issue as my son isn't making a career out of it. I just wanted something fun for him to do over the summer. But some of the parents got real upset and complained. I do think you have riders that ride the same track and are blazing fast at their own track and nowhere else. So what do you do with that kid? I wonder if the solution is that you look at the lap times. If your lap times are the same as within the top 3-4 riders of the next best group you get DQed? Because really what does form have to do with who wins? Is first place for best form or first to finish? And if your not going to group riders properly, why group at all? At some point you need to figure it out and enforce it. There's probably some vets out there that have better form than some of the kids but would get crushed by some of the kids. having said all that, some of those same parents are crazy stupid. they were coming over acting like they were my best friend asking all kinds of questions to get some sort of information about what we were doing. I'm thinking "get a life, it's just a local novice race".
TM
VM
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VM 1/2/2012 7:36am
1/2/2012 7:36am
Is that Dirt Sharks brother? Ash Hodges?
jmar
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jmar 1/2/2012 8:20am
1/2/2012 8:20am
ToolMaker wrote:
I'm not sure how you catagorize the riders. For us it wasn't an issue as my son isn't making a career out of it. I just...
I'm not sure how you catagorize the riders. For us it wasn't an issue as my son isn't making a career out of it. I just wanted something fun for him to do over the summer. But some of the parents got real upset and complained. I do think you have riders that ride the same track and are blazing fast at their own track and nowhere else. So what do you do with that kid? I wonder if the solution is that you look at the lap times. If your lap times are the same as within the top 3-4 riders of the next best group you get DQed? Because really what does form have to do with who wins? Is first place for best form or first to finish? And if your not going to group riders properly, why group at all? At some point you need to figure it out and enforce it. There's probably some vets out there that have better form than some of the kids but would get crushed by some of the kids. having said all that, some of those same parents are crazy stupid. they were coming over acting like they were my best friend asking all kinds of questions to get some sort of information about what we were doing. I'm thinking "get a life, it's just a local novice race".
TM
Form, and technique is just a way to judge if a rider is ready for the upper level of the sport, rather than just a, fast c rider on a simple track that they are very familial with.

And you are 100% correct, at this level it's all suppose to be fun.
mx_563
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mx_563 1/2/2012 8:30am
1/2/2012 8:30am
mx_563 wrote:
I don't think it's about form. There are National level pros with bad form (locked hips - ha ha). Some fast riders have poor technique. You...
I don't think it's about form. There are National level pros with bad form (locked hips - ha ha). Some fast riders have poor technique. You can't say this dude is a novice because he has poor technique.
jmar wrote:
What defines someone that doesn't belong in the c class? Because he can just some little shitty doubles, or because he scrubs or whips a bike...
What defines someone that doesn't belong in the c class?

Because he can just some little shitty doubles, or because he scrubs or whips a bike?

BTW: His corner speed was terrible, and he would get slaughtered in a group national level B riders.
I think he would be at the back of a Nationl level B race, no doubt. But slaughtered? I don't know he got 4th overall at Oak Hill (250 Nov Mod). Top 5 in the C class at an Amateur National? Not bad. Yeah, he's not going to step in and get a National Title in the B class, but for him to be lining up at the local track to "battle" in the local level novice class....well, that doesn't seem right to me (this is subjective statement). Maybe that's just an indication that there are some major flaws in the class structure scheme. I'm not calling him a sandbagger, but the word Novice means "NEW" from Latin novicious/novus. Clearly this guy is not new to MX.

I raced plus 30 junior at Mammoth this year. Got a 16th on the weekend. I am not national level C class by any means. But locally, I am racing....not just riding around in last place. I'm not saying I'm in the hunt for wins at the local level but I am too fast to race Beginner. To me though, this kid seems to be in another league! I don't care about the trophy, I care about getting landed on when he's lapping me or working through after a bad start.

I think the thing to do is go by laptimes. Now that we have transponders at most races, you can just check his laptimes against people in the next class. If his laptimes are good enough to be midpack in the next class, he needs to move up.

Just my two cents.
Barrett57
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Barrett57 1/2/2012 9:25am
1/2/2012 9:25am
JustMX wrote:
Actually, the entire problem with the sport in our country is that we don't have "briefing". Just kidding because that does have a cool sound to...
Actually, the entire problem with the sport in our country is that we don't have "briefing".

Just kidding because that does have a cool sound to it.

So now I have some questions about your racing:

1. How many entries are there at an average event?
2. How much are gate and entry fees (in usd please)?
3. How much is insurance for an event?
4. How much is an ambulance and crew?
5. Do the factories pay any contengincies in NZ?
6. What percentage of big bike partiicpants are on two stroke machines?
I raced in holland a while ago,

Pay 20 euros and go in 250 novice, 250 expert or 85. There were some seriously good riders on all manner of machinery, 450s, 250 smokers, 125s, 144s, 250fs riding both 250 novice and 250 expert. (expert riders were riding both classes and no one cared)

There weren't enough 85 riders so they threw them the in 250 novice.

The day started with open practice,everyone goes out together and rides as much as you want until the racing started.

Then 2 motos for each class then it went back to practice until the end of the day, was the most chilled out, relaxed day of racing ive ever had, they just didnt give a flying fuck about classes or skill level and everyone got loads of riding time.

I know this isnt practical in most places but It amazed me at how little anybody cared about bike size, rider age or skill level. Everyone went away happy and had a good days racing.
Suns_PSD
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Suns_PSD 1/2/2012 10:46am
1/2/2012 10:46am
I didn't watch the video but some here seem to equate hucking the big jumps w/ being a fast rider.

Let me assure you that when I began riding MX at the age of 35 (5 years ago) on my 450F that I tiptoed/ wobbled/ cross rutted around every freakin' turn and then just held that 450F full throttle in 3rd gear and cleared absolutely every huge jump I encountered. And I still sucked! One of my best friends would jump absolutely nothing but he would just stalk me and pass me at will. Some (of us) just have more balls than brains I guess.

Ditching that stupid 450 was my smartest MX move as I learned to actually ride, but that's another topic.

Pit Row

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ToolMaker 1/2/2012 11:20am
1/2/2012 11:20am
I really don't see anything changing as my short experience with this is that the parents or so invested that their kid is going to win, they will keep them in the lower class to build up their resume to get sponsors. Lets face it, you wont get any help from the local shop, product manufacturers, suspension tuners... if you are a mid pack rider (any class). If you ask for sponsorship help the first thing a shop asks for is "bring in some results". With the cost of racing I can't say that I blame them. The fallout is that you will always have kids on the line that don't belong.
TM
Big Tex27
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Big Tex27 1/2/2012 12:20pm
1/2/2012 12:20pm
in texas atleast there isnt a B class really till we have a big race or am. national.. All the b riders ride c.. ex van martin was riding C class last year and now riding the A class i know he might have rode a couple b races at am. nationals but not locally just straight from C to A.. Hell at local races ive been on the line in the C class and pros were riding in it.. you tell the race officals WTF you know who they are there here all the time you know they ride A class but when its just a small local race they can ride C class its like wtf track promoters our officals cant step in and be like common now thats not right... just my 2 cents of what i seen in mx down here...
SlowOldGuy 1/2/2012 12:59pm
1/2/2012 12:59pm Edited Date/Time 1/2/2012 12:59pm
Big Tex27 wrote:
in texas atleast there isnt a B class really till we have a big race or am. national.. All the b riders ride c.. ex van...
in texas atleast there isnt a B class really till we have a big race or am. national.. All the b riders ride c.. ex van martin was riding C class last year and now riding the A class i know he might have rode a couple b races at am. nationals but not locally just straight from C to A.. Hell at local races ive been on the line in the C class and pros were riding in it.. you tell the race officals WTF you know who they are there here all the time you know they ride A class but when its just a small local race they can ride C class its like wtf track promoters our officals cant step in and be like common now thats not right... just my 2 cents of what i seen in mx down here...
Vann did nearly 100 AMA races since 2008 and the only time he raced C class was once in 2008. I think you are confused.
mmcmx
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mmcmx 1/2/2012 1:27pm
1/2/2012 1:27pm
Novices around here aren't that fast :O
Big Tex27
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Big Tex27 1/2/2012 1:41pm
1/2/2012 1:41pm
good catch i misread the years on the results..
BM255
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BM255 1/2/2012 2:31pm
1/2/2012 2:31pm
Big Tex27 wrote:
in texas atleast there isnt a B class really till we have a big race or am. national.. All the b riders ride c.. ex van...
in texas atleast there isnt a B class really till we have a big race or am. national.. All the b riders ride c.. ex van martin was riding C class last year and now riding the A class i know he might have rode a couple b races at am. nationals but not locally just straight from C to A.. Hell at local races ive been on the line in the C class and pros were riding in it.. you tell the race officals WTF you know who they are there here all the time you know they ride A class but when its just a small local race they can ride C class its like wtf track promoters our officals cant step in and be like common now thats not right... just my 2 cents of what i seen in mx down here...
I guess that is the big difference between the racing scene in the States compared to NZ, in NZ you will only get sponsorship or support (of any real value) by running at or near the front of the National classes (MX1 and MX2, 125cc) and also the national junior classes (mini classes for you Americans)

This means you need to be lining up with the Townley's, Coopers, Coppins, Kings etc. If you have any real ability you will be riding these classes even if you do get totally smoked by these guys. To run mid pack in these classes is way more prestigous than winning the the support classes.

There is no benefit in winning the support classes such as Intermediate and Novice as they are not recognised as National classes, and the most important point is that the guys riding these classes are not fast, therefore no interest from sponsors.
Charles Bronson 1/2/2012 2:40pm
1/2/2012 2:40pm
Did someone say "little brooks"??

Larry Brooks has a kid, and MC plans on doing an Axle Hodges & Brooks's kid combo in 2014


Ohhhh Ive got to see this... and isnt that Ciancarullos first pro year? maybe cooper webb too?
Blackopsrider7 1/2/2012 2:52pm
1/2/2012 2:52pm
Suns_PSD wrote:
I didn't watch the video but some here seem to equate hucking the big jumps w/ being a fast rider. Let me assure you that when...
I didn't watch the video but some here seem to equate hucking the big jumps w/ being a fast rider.

Let me assure you that when I began riding MX at the age of 35 (5 years ago) on my 450F that I tiptoed/ wobbled/ cross rutted around every freakin' turn and then just held that 450F full throttle in 3rd gear and cleared absolutely every huge jump I encountered. And I still sucked! One of my best friends would jump absolutely nothing but he would just stalk me and pass me at will. Some (of us) just have more balls than brains I guess.

Ditching that stupid 450 was my smartest MX move as I learned to actually ride, but that's another topic.
Agreed there, need balls to huck the jumps. As was mentioned before he needs to practise his corner speed. Jumping he is alright, but that is not where races are won!!
mxinsanity
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mxinsanity 1/2/2012 6:04pm
1/2/2012 6:04pm
ToolMaker wrote:
My son raced against him last year in the novice class. He is totally untouchable by any novice around here. My son almost won the series...
My son raced against him last year in the novice class. He is totally untouchable by any novice around here. My son almost won the series but was taken out in the first turn of the last moto of the series (not whining just a reference that my sons not a back marker). The only reason anyone could win the series where Axel raced, is that Axel didn't race all the races. Having said that, I have no idea how fast other "novice" riders are at Loretta's. But at Pala or Perris, his speed is such that he could race expert and fit in. Story from other parents is that he is neighbors with Jeremy and trains with the King. At the DITD I saw him pitting under the TLD tent. Hmmm, apparently others are impressed by his talent also.
TM
I was at the race your son lost to Axell Hodges and he did exactly that, lost to Axell Hodges. Loved every second of it.
Nice job Axell and Congrats on the race/moto and series win.

Friendly suggestion: Keep your not so veiled innuendoes to yourself.
ToolMaker 1/2/2012 6:44pm
1/2/2012 6:44pm
ToolMaker wrote:
My son raced against him last year in the novice class. He is totally untouchable by any novice around here. My son almost won the series...
My son raced against him last year in the novice class. He is totally untouchable by any novice around here. My son almost won the series but was taken out in the first turn of the last moto of the series (not whining just a reference that my sons not a back marker). The only reason anyone could win the series where Axel raced, is that Axel didn't race all the races. Having said that, I have no idea how fast other "novice" riders are at Loretta's. But at Pala or Perris, his speed is such that he could race expert and fit in. Story from other parents is that he is neighbors with Jeremy and trains with the King. At the DITD I saw him pitting under the TLD tent. Hmmm, apparently others are impressed by his talent also.
TM
mxinsanity wrote:
I was at the race your son lost to Axell Hodges and he did exactly that, lost to Axell Hodges. Loved every second of it. Nice...
I was at the race your son lost to Axell Hodges and he did exactly that, lost to Axell Hodges. Loved every second of it.
Nice job Axell and Congrats on the race/moto and series win.

Friendly suggestion: Keep your not so veiled innuendoes to yourself.
Hey I didn't start this thread and I really don't care what class he runs. He's a very talented kid. You can read my previous posts. There was no chance for my son to beat Axell. Apparently you don't read too well. Who cares?? Wait, I already posted that too. It's a freaken novice class race. That's the whole point. Wow, you wasted your first post on that? If there's anybody I slammed it's the over zelous parents who make such a big deal about this shit.
ToolMaker
EvanR127
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EvanR127 1/2/2012 6:51pm
1/2/2012 6:51pm
mxinsanity wrote:
I was at the race your son lost to Axell Hodges and he did exactly that, lost to Axell Hodges. Loved every second of it. Nice...
I was at the race your son lost to Axell Hodges and he did exactly that, lost to Axell Hodges. Loved every second of it.
Nice job Axell and Congrats on the race/moto and series win.

Friendly suggestion: Keep your not so veiled innuendoes to yourself.
I guess his mommy decided to join in? lol

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