Does "The Pace" really get faster every year?

rcm406
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rcm406
Edited Date/Time 3/15/2012 7:46pm
I just watched a marathon of MX & SX races. Mainly 2001 to present and I have to say the pace RC and James was going in 2006 & 2007 was insane. I just don't see that kind of raw speed and aggession in todays racing. I wonder if we will ever see that kind of speed again? Just my meaningless observation!Dry
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hoppsan
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hoppsan 3/15/2012 11:32am
3/15/2012 11:32am
Rider A hits the peak of his ability during his career while rider B is a youngster/newcomer, unable to keep such a pace. Rider A starts to decline from peak and rider B starts to rise. Rider A and B meet for a while and then rider B hits his peak while rider A hits his has-been plateau, no longer able to maintain the pace of his glory days which now rider B inherits. Meanwhile rider C, the youngster...
GuyB
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GuyB 3/15/2012 12:03pm
3/15/2012 12:03pm
You also have to factor in the depth of the talent pool.
DMG
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DMG 3/15/2012 12:25pm
3/15/2012 12:25pm
Riders after a certain amount of time dont get Amy faster. But as they get older they get stronger and learn to clean up their style and ride more efficiently while learning more about their bikes.

Reed isnt suddenly faster at age 30, what he is, is dialed in with his body and his bike and riding with more confidence then he has ever had, giving the illusion he is pushing harder, when im reality he is just comfortable on his bike.


Vilipotto isnt necessarily faster then he was, he is just riding more efficient and mistake free on a bike he has dialed in. Add the fact that he is in the best shape of his life and you have a confident rider that seems so much faster but is really just that much more confertable.
Torco1
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Torco1 3/15/2012 12:30pm
3/15/2012 12:30pm
I don't know.......Amy is pretty fast.

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GrapeApe
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GrapeApe 3/15/2012 12:45pm
3/15/2012 12:45pm
Torco1 wrote:
I don't know.......Amy is pretty fast.
I could make her faster, if I were to get stronger, clean up my style and ride her more efficiently.
UpTiTe 3/15/2012 12:51pm
3/15/2012 12:51pm
Torco1 wrote:
I don't know.......Amy is pretty fast.
GrapeApe wrote:
I could make her faster, if I were to get stronger, clean up my style and ride her more efficiently.
And you guys wonder why people who know what they are talking about don't post here.
GrapeApe
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GrapeApe 3/15/2012 12:55pm
3/15/2012 12:55pm
Torco1 wrote:
I don't know.......Amy is pretty fast.
GrapeApe wrote:
I could make her faster, if I were to get stronger, clean up my style and ride her more efficiently.
UpTiTe wrote:
And you guys wonder why people who know what they are talking about don't post here.
You should learn to laugh a little, it really makes this place more bearable.
BobbyM
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BobbyM 3/15/2012 12:56pm
3/15/2012 12:56pm
GrapeApe wrote:
I could make her faster, if I were to get stronger, clean up my style and ride her more efficiently.
UpTiTe wrote:
And you guys wonder why people who know what they are talking about don't post here.
GrapeApe wrote:
You should learn to laugh a little, it really makes this place more bearable.
well he is uptite

buwhahahahahah
UpTiTe 3/15/2012 12:58pm
3/15/2012 12:58pm
UpTiTe wrote:
And you guys wonder why people who know what they are talking about don't post here.
GrapeApe wrote:
You should learn to laugh a little, it really makes this place more bearable.
BobbyM wrote:
well he is uptite

buwhahahahahah
damn everyone says that, maybe I should learn to lighten up.
Mr. G
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Mr. G 3/15/2012 1:04pm
3/15/2012 1:04pm
rcm406 wrote:
I just watched a marathon of MX & SX races. Mainly 2001 to present and I have to say the pace RC and James was going...
I just watched a marathon of MX & SX races. Mainly 2001 to present and I have to say the pace RC and James was going in 2006 & 2007 was insane. I just don't see that kind of raw speed and aggession in todays racing. I wonder if we will ever see that kind of speed again? Just my meaningless observation!Dry
Using just two guys RC and JS as an example in my opinion doesn't give a reliable picture as those two were at that time ridiculous to the extreme. What you can do is find a guy that retired for a few years, get him up to the point where he is faster than when he left and stack him up against the competition. That would give a better picture. And guess what? That happened. According to MC he was faster when he made him comeback than he was when he retired. Straight from the horses mouth.
aggiemoto99
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aggiemoto99 3/15/2012 1:06pm
3/15/2012 1:06pm
I DO believe the pace gets faster each year...

Case in point: Take the freestone motocross track: Sure there are day to day changes - but it's really been the same layout past couple years - and faster qualifier at outdoors last year was like a 2:04. The amateurs this year broke under the 2:00 mark a few times - and a 2:04 was B class times with a rough track....

The year before - the ams were not even close to that - with a track much the same.

I think the bikes get a hair better (just set up and time testing) the riders adjust to the bike's improvement and find other areas to go faster etc...

My example is not cut and dry by any means...the track is always different day to day - but my opinion is the same - if a top guy had the exact same sx track at his place each year with NO changes - he would get faster and faster every year.
SL91
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SL91 3/15/2012 1:11pm
3/15/2012 1:11pm
No. I don't think it does. I think Joel Robert would kick everyone's ass if he was racing at his peak in the current era. And smoking Camels at the same timeSmile
aggiemoto99
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aggiemoto99 3/15/2012 1:19pm
3/15/2012 1:19pm
I should qualify my statement by saying I DONT think riders are more talented...

I think take any best rider from now and put him against any former best rider - and on equal equipment the modern riders would NOT be any better...

BUT - I DO feel the pace gets faster every year...aka the exact same rider (say chad reed) on the exact same track is faster and faster each year.
Torco1
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Torco1 3/15/2012 2:11pm
3/15/2012 2:11pm
Torco1 wrote:
I don't know.......Amy is pretty fast.
GrapeApe wrote:
I could make her faster, if I were to get stronger, clean up my style and ride her more efficiently.
UpTiTe wrote:
And you guys wonder why people who know what they are talking about don't post here.
Thems jokes
motomike137
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motomike137 3/15/2012 2:21pm
3/15/2012 2:21pm
rcm406 wrote:
I just watched a marathon of MX & SX races. Mainly 2001 to present and I have to say the pace RC and James was going...
I just watched a marathon of MX & SX races. Mainly 2001 to present and I have to say the pace RC and James was going in 2006 & 2007 was insane. I just don't see that kind of raw speed and aggession in todays racing. I wonder if we will ever see that kind of speed again? Just my meaningless observation!Dry
I agree about MX in 2006 and 2007. RC and James were were unfrickinbelievable. I don't think the current guys are faster outdoors.
englishman
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englishman 3/15/2012 2:24pm
3/15/2012 2:24pm
Seems like cornering speed has dropped - at least in SX, but the speed over the obstacles, triples, rythem sections , on/offs has risen.
normanmx
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normanmx 3/15/2012 2:26pm
3/15/2012 2:26pm
aggiemoto99 wrote:
I DO believe the pace gets faster each year... Case in point: Take the freestone motocross track: Sure there are day to day changes - but...
I DO believe the pace gets faster each year...

Case in point: Take the freestone motocross track: Sure there are day to day changes - but it's really been the same layout past couple years - and faster qualifier at outdoors last year was like a 2:04. The amateurs this year broke under the 2:00 mark a few times - and a 2:04 was B class times with a rough track....

The year before - the ams were not even close to that - with a track much the same.

I think the bikes get a hair better (just set up and time testing) the riders adjust to the bike's improvement and find other areas to go faster etc...

My example is not cut and dry by any means...the track is always different day to day - but my opinion is the same - if a top guy had the exact same sx track at his place each year with NO changes - he would get faster and faster every year.
Your right...or why would the injury lists get bigger and bigger?With nastier injuries.
Its getting insane fast.
Ghost of Jabroni 3/15/2012 2:27pm
3/15/2012 2:27pm
hoppsan wrote:
Rider A hits the peak of his ability during his career while rider B is a youngster/newcomer, unable to keep such a pace. Rider A starts...
Rider A hits the peak of his ability during his career while rider B is a youngster/newcomer, unable to keep such a pace. Rider A starts to decline from peak and rider B starts to rise. Rider A and B meet for a while and then rider B hits his peak while rider A hits his has-been plateau, no longer able to maintain the pace of his glory days which now rider B inherits. Meanwhile rider C, the youngster...
I think its this ^


But when it comes to RC and Bubba's glory years, I do believe things peaked then and its not as fast.




(all of this is said with disregard to how much bikes improve every year correct?)

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WhKnuckle
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WhKnuckle 3/15/2012 2:29pm
3/15/2012 2:29pm
I don't think any two people ever went faster than RC and Stewart did in '06 and '07. Ever.
Mr. G
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Mr. G 3/15/2012 3:30pm
3/15/2012 3:30pm
There is one aspect where the riders have gotten much slower. It is when they crash they don't seem to move very fast to get moving again. Although one exception RV last race but over all much slower.
MX Sports Medicine 3/15/2012 4:29pm
3/15/2012 4:29pm
.4 strokes will NEVER go as fast as 2T through turns, ever.
Hank_Thrill
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Hank_Thrill 3/15/2012 7:12pm
3/15/2012 7:12pm Edited Date/Time 3/15/2012 7:14pm
hoppsan wrote:
Rider A hits the peak of his ability during his career while rider B is a youngster/newcomer, unable to keep such a pace. Rider A starts...
Rider A hits the peak of his ability during his career while rider B is a youngster/newcomer, unable to keep such a pace. Rider A starts to decline from peak and rider B starts to rise. Rider A and B meet for a while and then rider B hits his peak while rider A hits his has-been plateau, no longer able to maintain the pace of his glory days which now rider B inherits. Meanwhile rider C, the youngster...
I've thought the exact same thing. I also think bike setup is more crucial than ever for the sport's current level of progression - which is another aspect you can throw into the equation. Whoever the rabbit is for the year, the other guys have to search for the right set up to match that pace (obviously they have to have the right rider too). That's a great explanation of looking at things that way.
GHR
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GHR 3/15/2012 7:46pm
3/15/2012 7:46pm
JT$ knows this sport inside and out, and he along with a few other top pros will tell you they have never seen the pace like this before from so many riders.

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