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RC is a God, but it sucks for all the real amateurs in the 25+ class. The Pro Sport is a pro class, so it's fair game.
Dowd can't race Loretta's, and McGrath never did it, yet he races several Pro/Am races since he retired.
The Vet classes at Loretta's should be off limits to anyone who was top 100 Pro.
Loretta's is a place for actual Amateurs to shine, not Pro riders getting paid big bucks.
You cannot tell me RC is doing it all on his debit card! And, DC I'm sure you are stoked to have him race, it just gives you an extra attraction for spectators. Even though I personally know of more than 10 racers that will not even try now, myself included.
After all, if you can compete with RC, retired or not, you could easily qualify for a National.
Now, you say you feel honored getting smoked by the Goat? Yes, if it is a Pro/Am race, sure. Over the years, I've been rooster by a lot of top 10 national riders. But, it wasn't in a class that they shouldn't have been in. I was racing in classes above my abilities, not below my abilities.
Do not call Loretta's a National Amateur Championship because, once you have made a living racing, you will never be an Amateur again!
He is 32 years old, right? Why not race the 30+ and Pro Sport?
Emig is 41 now, is he going to race the old guys like Dubach did too?
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For the 99.9% of us that go to LL's for some great competition, and a neat family moto vacation, this can only make the week way more cool.
Yeah it's cool, but sucks for all the Amateur guys that will be a position further back.
Like I have said for years, there needs to be a class for them, that way all of the retired racers would have a retired goal to be proud of. Many of the Pros that still ride every day feel the same way, that's why they aren't racing Loretta's, because they don't feel it's right. Just talked to one about it last month, we were talking about RC is training for something, we though the 2012 Nationals, he said that there is no way RC would race Loretta's. I agreed, what do we know. Lol
Anyway, make a Pro Sport Vet class, or Classes, like 30+ Pro Sport and 40+ Pro Sport. There would be no shame in those classes, you might get guys like McGrath, Emig and Carmichael racing each other again, who knows?
i've raced in the same class with MC a few times because he just so happened to be in the same age group and class that i was. think i was disappointed because i knew he was gonna walk it and take the money? fuck no. to some of us, there is more to racing than making money or getting trophies.
to line up next to the best racers ever is surreal. i had butterflies lining up next to MC, just to see my name on the finish order sheet with Jeremy McGrath two spots under my name was bad ass for me. hell, i still get happy to think that i was ever to a point in racing that i would have the honor to race in the same class as The King.
it's too bad everyone doesn't see it that way. not everyone is out for money or trophies. i think it's awesome to see RC there with his dad, enjoying some amateur racing. i bet you would find more guys that were stoked to race him than were pissed he showed up.
my .02
As for one big "ex-pro" class, where do you put guys like Barry Higgins, who is more than 60? Or Matt Tedder? They have no chance against a 25-year-old B rider. As you get older you get slower and more out of shape. Ricky yesterday was not exactly Ricky 2002. But he's still Carmichael, and he still likes to race dirt bikes, only now for fun.
RC has come every year since his pro career ended in 2007, and this time he thinks it will be fun to race. Whether he does or not won't matter to the spectator count because we don't actually charge spectator admission.
Coincidentally, this debate has gone on for 31 years now. The winner of the first-ever AMA Pro Motocross outdoor race, Barry Higgins back in 1972, was also the first-ever Vet class winner at Loretta Lynn's back in '82. They just didn't have an internet forum back then to debate the idea.
Future pros and ex-pros have been coming to Loretta Lynn's for a long time, and I imagine it will stay that way for a long time. It seems to work well for the sport and most riders appreciate the opportunities and the competition there.
DC
MX Sports
Only having one class to race in is terrible.
I think it's just to give a 25+ C/B/A racer, an extra class to race in. If you only have one bike to race, without the 16-24, 25+ and other age classes, you would only have one class to race.
All the Vet classes and Pro Sport is just an extra Bonus, I don't care who races and If I was to get second behind RC how big of a local legend would I become ? it's a Win-Win. Unless some guy thinks Factories are looking for 30+ guys to race and they are not.
First off....I raced 250 Int , +25A and +30A for years.......and I think exactly the opposite of you do on this matter. You're crying because RC may take you down one place in the overall.......so your trophy may be slightly smaller? I don't get that at all.
I would gladly get knocked down one position to just have a chance to race / ride with him. But you come in here and bitch because "it's not fair".......Holy crap....I have seen some whining in my days.....but dude , you just took the cake.
So....let me get this strait........you think no former pro's should be allowed to race Loretta's......in the "A" classes? What classes would you prefer them to ride? Or don't you think they should ever be allowed to race at all?
Better yet....lets penalize RC and other past champions by not ever letting them race again....unless it's at a national or SX!
It's either all or nothing!
Sure glad you don't run a track man........I know I wouldn't ride there.
Personally, I am a vet rider and if faced with the same thing, I would be jumping for joy at the chance to have my name on the same score card as the best there ever was!
Pit Row
For the guys that started out late in life, or who did not have the support to achieve their best. Loretta's should be a place for a vet rider to compete against like vet riders, like you and I and have a Amateur Championship to shoot for. You and I are older than 25, as I am now 41 years old, and I have raced even you DC before. You damn near tore your finger off in front of me, I helped you take your glove off and helmet, assisted might be a better word choice. I was watching the race, injured myself at a Regional that year, and I paid to get in like everyone else, regardless if it was for one person or a car load.
If the guy that gets second in the 25+ class this year is not a retired Pro, is he going to get his name in the past champions book, no. He got second, behind the fastest outdoor rider of all time!
Anyone racing at 50 or 60 is a deticated MX'er, and that is a good point.
It's not the case when we are talking 40yrs and under, I'm the same as I was at 25, actually faster now.
RC is a MX God!
You DC, are a Promoting God! (couldn't think of a better description)
Much respect to you both. Call me crazy, I just don't think it's right.
I don't race the +25 Class, "anymore"..
That being said, I do feel somewhat educated since I've ridden +25, +30, +40 twice, and +45 twice at LL's.
It's always been a great family racing vacation. Even when I was 25, there were no grand illusions of factory support from winning one of the age classes. If there were, and I got beat by RC, what better to have on your racing resume..
If you, or anyone else isn't going because of another competitor, the decision to stay home is probably the right one.
Just imagine of Jeremy Martin would have that same attitude? He would never have been able to say he beat Ricky Carmichael on the track...
Most 25 year olds have a job, and or family, and aren't able to hang it out like the younger A riders have to in order to win.
The choice is either quit riding all together, which happens quite often or find somewhere to ride. When I turned 25, a hell of a long time ago, the +25 class was just getting ti's start.
It's very likely the +25 class saved a lot of the vet riders today from finding something else to do, outside of hitting the races.
Every year, we get the same complaints, but about different classes. We change one thing, another problem emerges. It's hard to make it all fit and make everyone happy, but we do try....
I am all up for suggestions, whether it's another class just for Pros-of-a-certain-age, or maybe another Two-Strokes-only class, or drop a couple for longer motos.....
Add it all up and it's an ongoing, ever-evolving conversation that helps the race.
DC@mxsports.com
I'm not bitching, I just don't agree it's nice for all the 25+ guys. Kinda stealing their limelight.
I would not be going in the 25+ class at Loretta's anyway, I just have some good friends that looked forward to this year, but not now.
I think the kids will love hanging out with RC, as he is really down to earth and some will like racing him too.
As I posted in my first post, there is nothing wrong with him in the Pro Sport classe.
You beat MC by two positions? Nice! jk
I agree 100%.
I know how hard it is to please the public, and no, you can't please everyone one!
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