"It Can Be Fixed"

Overdrive
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11/24/2012 9:48am
mmcmx wrote:
I think flarider has a point, but i think the route should be track design. For example this video: Don't get me wrong, I think it's...
I think flarider has a point, but i think the route should be track design.

For example this video: Don't get me wrong, I think it's sick to watch these guys hit it but, why in the world is that on a AMATEUR track?

That particular jump isn't necessarily meant to be a quad. Those are really skilled dudes hucking that entire thing. Dean Wilson and some of the DC...
That particular jump isn't necessarily meant to be a quad. Those are really skilled dudes hucking that entire thing. Dean Wilson and some of the DC guys were hucking a 165' "quad" on the Pala Vet track that was really just three table tops in a row.

If there's a mound of dirt, a motocrosser will want to jump it. I've been staring at highway overpasses and on-ramps for 30 years thinking how rad it would be to jump one of those things... like a big, giant table.

This thread is stupid and so are all of these bleak, asinine outlooks on the state of motocross. It's dangerous. It's always been dangerous. People die and have always died riding dirt bikes. If you're a parent and your kid dies racing motocross, it's on you and no one else. Accept the consequences (and the current state of motocross) or take your kid to the fucking soccer field.

I'd rather die hucking a 165' jump than of old age, any way. Braaaap!
Temor and jumps like this are just small examples of why we have the problems in this sport we do. Hard headed and unwilling to make any change even if people are being injured at record rates.

Good luck changing people like this, its beyond my patience.
11/24/2012 9:49am
flarider wrote:
The government is coming. I have been saying this for years, being accused of being a "chicken little," but I am warning all of you, the...
The government is coming.
I have been saying this for years, being accused of being a "chicken little," but I am warning all of you, the government is coming.
They did it with 3-wheelers, don't think they can't in MX

These are minors we're dealing with, racing high powered, well suspended motorcycles, leaping everything but tall buildings in a single bound at speeds that would be illegal in some towns.

They've regulated ATV's and the ages allowed on what size
They mandate helmets on bicycles
3-wheelers are illegal
Now they're going after cheerleading because girls are getting hurt.

and before you say it, this is not an R or D thing, it'll be a "children" thing, and politicians on all sides will always, always, go with "protecting the children"

The government is coming, unless this industry learns to regulate itself.
Dave, there is nothing I love more than motocross but when I see what the kids are doing today it makes me feel sick to my...
Dave, there is nothing I love more than motocross but when I see what the kids are doing today it makes me feel sick to my stomach. I don't let my kids race anymore. I stopped it when it began escalating into the higher speeds and bigger jumps (and four strokes for kids). I as a parent was not willing to put my children into these risky situations and believe me my older son was not happy about backing out of racing. These parents that are pushing their kids to go faster ,bigger, higher are insane! I joke that the sport has become a form of legalized child abuse. But unfortunately it really has.

To every parent out there who does encourage their kid to go faster,bigger,higher, that kid is your responsibility to keep safe and anything that happens to them while competing or practicing at this level is Your Fault ! If that kid ends up in a wheel chair for the rest of their life It's Your Fault ! Dead, Your Fault! Brain Dead, You Fault ! Not the kids fault YOUR FAULT! Get it?

I don't want to hear the bullshit of But they love it ! It's their passion! blah blah blah, minors are not capable of making their own decisions that carry such high level consequences. It is your job as a parent to protect your kid until they are old enough to do so on their own, so be ready to accept the reality of your choices as a parent.

But as Dave has said above if the industry and it's parents can't get this shit under control the GOVERNMENT CAN and WILL take care of it for them.

Ask Roger DeCoster what sport his kids were encouraged into? Probably one of the smartest most talented men the sport/industry has ever seen.
95% of it is people living vicarelessly, thru their kids!
garunteed, more than 75% of parents yelling at their kids
to do these jumps or Go Faster, wouldnt/didnt have the balls
to do it on their own, but little johnny is gonna b a damn pro!
Take away the stupidity of the american people, and our sport
is safe. Till then, golf is where its at for me and my little one.
And as far aS people accepting responsibility for their actions,
forget it, that time is long gone, its every one else's fault anymore
not the parents or the kids these jackholes are producing!
sc961
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11/24/2012 9:51am
What it boils down to is "we" can try to fix this, or "they" will.

Technology at the lowest age level of the sport has significantly cut our numbers of kids starting out. They can no longer go spend $850 on a PW, gear, gas can, and tools then go to a track and be competitive.

The older kids going after the elite 5 top spots for a dream...

Inside the outdoors is showing a much different side of the sport than we've seen before. It's very interesting getting an inside look at that detail so far..
11/24/2012 9:56am
Overdrive wrote:
Temor and jumps like this are just small examples of why we have the problems in this sport we do. Hard headed and unwilling to make...
Temor and jumps like this are just small examples of why we have the problems in this sport we do. Hard headed and unwilling to make any change even if people are being injured at record rates.

Good luck changing people like this, its beyond my patience.
Here's what happened to my humerus in March of 2011 on that very same jump at Pala. Some dude landed on me.



"Motocross is dangerous."

You can quote me on that Smile

The Shop

englishman
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11/24/2012 10:01am Edited Date/Time 11/24/2012 10:03am
flarider wrote:
Lose-Lose

Build "mellow" tracks and riders complain then go to the track with the most "gnarly" jumps and design.
You are right Dave, for most guys under 40 that's exactly what happens. I guess then that we should stop feigning surprise when guys are maimed for life or worse.
Dirtysmile56
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11/24/2012 10:10am
Here's what happened to my humerus in March of 2011 on that very same jump at Pala. Some dude landed on me. [img]https://farm7.staticflickr.com/6005/5961602749_24ed8eb53c.jpg[/img] "Motocross is dangerous."...
Here's what happened to my humerus in March of 2011 on that very same jump at Pala. Some dude landed on me.



"Motocross is dangerous."

You can quote me on that Smile
Question for ya Temor.
Do you have kids?
mjskier
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11/24/2012 10:14am
The technology is an enabler, not a cause. People used to get hurt riding crappy bikes before. But without the internet nobody knew about it.
Going back to the latest "inside the outdoor" with the little kid pushed to make the jump at the MTF. This is what it takes now to be competitive. As much as I love riding and watching races, when I see parents pushing young kids like this I'm thinking WTF???
Hando
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11/24/2012 10:30am
flarider wrote:
The government is coming. I have been saying this for years, being accused of being a "chicken little," but I am warning all of you, the...
The government is coming.
I have been saying this for years, being accused of being a "chicken little," but I am warning all of you, the government is coming.
They did it with 3-wheelers, don't think they can't in MX

These are minors we're dealing with, racing high powered, well suspended motorcycles, leaping everything but tall buildings in a single bound at speeds that would be illegal in some towns.

They've regulated ATV's and the ages allowed on what size
They mandate helmets on bicycles
3-wheelers are illegal
Now they're going after cheerleading because girls are getting hurt.

and before you say it, this is not an R or D thing, it'll be a "children" thing, and politicians on all sides will always, always, go with "protecting the children"

The government is coming, unless this industry learns to regulate itself.
Dave, there is nothing I love more than motocross but when I see what the kids are doing today it makes me feel sick to my...
Dave, there is nothing I love more than motocross but when I see what the kids are doing today it makes me feel sick to my stomach. I don't let my kids race anymore. I stopped it when it began escalating into the higher speeds and bigger jumps (and four strokes for kids). I as a parent was not willing to put my children into these risky situations and believe me my older son was not happy about backing out of racing. These parents that are pushing their kids to go faster ,bigger, higher are insane! I joke that the sport has become a form of legalized child abuse. But unfortunately it really has.

To every parent out there who does encourage their kid to go faster,bigger,higher, that kid is your responsibility to keep safe and anything that happens to them while competing or practicing at this level is Your Fault ! If that kid ends up in a wheel chair for the rest of their life It's Your Fault ! Dead, Your Fault! Brain Dead, You Fault ! Not the kids fault YOUR FAULT! Get it?

I don't want to hear the bullshit of But they love it ! It's their passion! blah blah blah, minors are not capable of making their own decisions that carry such high level consequences. It is your job as a parent to protect your kid until they are old enough to do so on their own, so be ready to accept the reality of your choices as a parent.

But as Dave has said above if the industry and it's parents can't get this shit under control the GOVERNMENT CAN and WILL take care of it for them.

Ask Roger DeCoster what sport his kids were encouraged into? Probably one of the smartest most talented men the sport/industry has ever seen.
I believe his youngest son is a nationally ranked tennis player.

That does say alot !!
11/24/2012 10:31am
Or the track builders/track owners could make safer tracks... But that would require them to not simple blame the OEM's.
Dirtysmile56
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11/24/2012 10:34am
Hando wrote:
I believe his youngest son is a nationally ranked tennis player.

That does say alot !!
Yes Smile
11/24/2012 10:42am Edited Date/Time 11/24/2012 10:43am
Stanton876 wrote:
Or the track builders/track owners could make safer tracks... But that would require them to not simple blame the OEM's.
Most of the tracks where I ride in So Cal have multiple tracks - from pee wee to vet to amateur to pro card only Supercross tracks.

I simply don't understand "the problem."

@Dirtysmile56 - no, I don't have kids, but when I do, my son and I will be out riding on the trails, in Baja or out in the desert. I'm not going to take my kid to a motocross track until I know he's confident and skilled on a bike. I have friends with kids and we ride at the track with them all the time. They are sensible enough to stay away from the big stuff. The important thing is - they have the choice and use discretion, even with their big fancy modern suspension and four stroke motors.
MX558
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11/24/2012 10:51am
It's the tracks plain and simple. If they build it someone will jump it guaranteed, I'm all for challenging tracks but some of the stuff is just stupid imho. We have a popular track in Wisc. near Madison that has one single jump put more people in the hospital than any other section of track I've seen it took them forever to fix it. I laughed when they kept blaming the riders for riding over their heads. I know mx is dangerous but lets not make it worse because the Gov't will end it one way or another if somethings not done. Anyone remember the 99 Hyabusa when that hit 201 mph stock the Gov't said you regulate the top speed or we will. Now all the bikes come with speed limiters in the ecu.
bvm111
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11/24/2012 10:55am
so what do we do when people continue to get injured on 10" travel bikes.... go 8.... i guess i just dont really understand the theory. this sport is too complex to band aid cure the injuries with one "fix"

i do however agree with the personal responsibility part to your OP

my brother is a pilot and he always says the worst things you can hear when flying with someone is, "let me try something" or " check this out" I guess the same applies to our sport!
bvm111
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11/24/2012 10:57am
so what do we do when people continue to get injured on 10" travel bikes.... go 8.... i guess i just dont really understand the theory. this sport is too complex to band aid cure the injuries with one "fix"

i do however agree with the personal responsibility part to your OP

my brother is a pilot and he always says the worst things you can hear when flying with someone is, "let me try something" or " check this out" I guess the same applies to our sport!
11/24/2012 11:01am
Dave makes some valid points only drawback I see is that extra 3 inches travel sure comes in handy when you come up short and slam a jump face, even on a small double. Supercross reminds me of the Coliseum in Roman times, they just throw the riders to the lions and don't pay them all enough on top of that. The jumps are stupid.
Flatliner
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11/24/2012 11:07am
englishman wrote:
IMO that's the problem ,track builders either don't care or are too stupid to think about the consequences of what they build. The guy that built...
IMO that's the problem ,track builders either don't care or are too stupid to think about the consequences of what they build.

The guy that built that track expressed surprise that kids were doing that , although it didn't stop him putting the video on Youtube, good for the trackbuilders ego no doubt...

Well no fucking shit, you build a jump that big with a clear run at it and are surprised when kids try it ??
flarider wrote:
Lose-Lose

Build "mellow" tracks and riders complain then go to the track with the most "gnarly" jumps and design.
I still say its tracks. Everyone needs to cut out these massive leaps. Whoops were cut out here in Manitoba yet we still have 100 foot step downs.
11/24/2012 11:07am
mmcmx wrote:
I think flarider has a point, but i think the route should be track design. For example this video: Don't get me wrong, I think it's...
I think flarider has a point, but i think the route should be track design.

For example this video: Don't get me wrong, I think it's sick to watch these guys hit it but, why in the world is that on a AMATEUR track?

This jump needs a two flagger's... one standing before take off and one where he is. They both have to be able to see the other for warning.
tunedlength
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11/24/2012 11:09am Edited Date/Time 11/24/2012 11:11am
TBI study

We know what the limits are, now we need to minimize the likelihood of reaching those limits.
Protective equipment hasn't kept up with the bike development and it's reasonable to think they wont be able to anytime soon.
Limiting suspension travel seems logical but I would be concerned about a rider hucking the big one (the part of the track nobody thought was possible) anyway.
Power would have to be limited dramatically and may in some instances make things more dangerous.
Track layout guidelines seems IMO to be the most logical solution. Take the extreme example of Endurocross. plenty of action but relatively low speeds.
You can design an MX track to be challenging and safe.
You can still have fast sections (sweepers straights without jumps etc...) but reduce speeds in probable impact zones.
RM127
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11/24/2012 11:16am
Wait was that Axell Hodges in the video? The professional C class racer........
SIMX
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11/24/2012 11:21am
RM127 wrote:
Wait was that Axell Hodges in the video? The professional C class racer........
Wait was that Axell Hodges in the video? The professional C class racer........
DING, Ding, ding...
11/24/2012 11:24am
motogrady wrote:
Then why take away the one thing that helps a rider, especially when he's in a jam?
flarider wrote:
I think you're missing the point or looking at it backwards. That one thing is what creates the ability for the machines and riders to go...
I think you're missing the point or looking at it backwards.

That one thing is what creates the ability for the machines and riders to go as fast and jump as high and as far as they do.

Every motorsport over the years has taken action to regulate the capabilities of the equipment and/or competitors. F1 has regulated tires, aerodynamics, wheel sizes, ride height and more. MotoGP and even amateur road racing has regulated classes or speed through tires, and even HP. Nascar has regulated through aerodynamic drag, design and even fuel intake restriction.

Motocross has NEVER undertaken any form of mechanical restriction to reduce speeds or jumping capabilities of the equipment, so the racing, even at an amateur level, has gotten faster and faster with riders jumping higher and farther, year after year....and at younger ages!

I am not implying that suspension technology should be reduced or eliminated, because a properly set up suspension can save you, as you say, what I am saying is that we need to reduce the length of the suspension, the wheel travel, because that will reduce the capabilities of the equipment.

If you cut today's suspension by say half (just as an example), even with proper valving and set up, you're not going to be able to build tracks with 90'+ triples, because the equipment won't be capable. Riders won't even try it with half the suspension.

If you have a better idea, I'd be happy to hear it, but to think things can go on as has been with the unfettered technical advancements in this sport, we're going to wind up like the ATV market, where bike displacement will determine the age classification, where a rider may not even be able to compete on a 250 until over age 16.
I beg to differ with you Dave.
Suspension will effect some but not all. The fast guys are always going to push the limits.
If the tracks were designed different, it wouldn't matter how much suspension or how fast the bike was, your only going to go as fast or high or far as the track will allow. Fine line between fun exciting and safe at the same time.
Back in '07' ..racing at Speedworld in Az, Dave Coupe was airing out his 1974 Elsinore 250 over a 90ft table successfully lap after lap. Once a racer always a racer.

I wonder if Dave would of done that with a gap in between? he,he



flarider
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11/24/2012 11:28am
Like I said, if people have other ideas, I'd like to hear it.
Keep in mind, suspension was not my only suggestion in my initial post
BobbyM
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11/24/2012 11:58am
flarider wrote:
Reduce suspension wheel travel. HP can always be increased and the power is not the problem. The problem lies in the fact that today's suspension has...
Reduce suspension wheel travel.

HP can always be increased and the power is not the problem. The problem lies in the fact that today's suspension has become so good that the speeds capable and ability to jump once unimaginable distances is now possible for even the most inexperienced.

If suspension wheel travel was mandated to be no greater than say 9-10", or even less, we would immediately see reduced speeds and less sketchy jumps, rhythm sections or jumps that made Evel Knievel a millionaire, which are now commonplace on amateur MX tracks.

There should also be written regulations on how tracks can be built. I do not care what anyone says, there is no reason for there to be a 90'+ triple on an amateur track, or even the temptation of such a jump. Tracks should be X wide. Trees should be set back X feet from a track. Jumps or combination of jumps in a capable single leap should be no greater than X.

and there is more.

There is more than can be done to reduce these terrible instances, but they won't happen.
Ever.

It is always going to be your fault.
It's your fault the OEM's built you high HP, easy to go fast motorcycles (a lot easier to go faster on a 4-stroke than it was "back in the day" on a 2-stroke)
It's your fault your suspension is so good
It's your fault you go fast
It's your fault you try to blitz the whoops to pass that guy
It's your fault you try to go fast on a track that is thrashed after a full day of racing.
It's your fault you jump that 110' blind triple.
It's your fault you want to win.
It's your fault that you're willing to do any or all of that in order to win.

It's all your fault
It can be fixed, but it won't be
and that too, is your fault
if there ever were a sport that needed its participants to actually be encouraged to ingest, use and consume "steroid" like drugs it is motocross and supercross. The equipment has far surpassed the ability of a mere mortal human being to effectively control, operate and commandeer the modern machinery currently built today...simple as that.
BobbyM
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11/24/2012 12:02pm
motogrady wrote:
Then why take away the one thing that helps a rider, especially when he's in a jam?
flarider wrote:
I think you're missing the point or looking at it backwards. That one thing is what creates the ability for the machines and riders to go...
I think you're missing the point or looking at it backwards.

That one thing is what creates the ability for the machines and riders to go as fast and jump as high and as far as they do.

Every motorsport over the years has taken action to regulate the capabilities of the equipment and/or competitors. F1 has regulated tires, aerodynamics, wheel sizes, ride height and more. MotoGP and even amateur road racing has regulated classes or speed through tires, and even HP. Nascar has regulated through aerodynamic drag, design and even fuel intake restriction.

Motocross has NEVER undertaken any form of mechanical restriction to reduce speeds or jumping capabilities of the equipment, so the racing, even at an amateur level, has gotten faster and faster with riders jumping higher and farther, year after year....and at younger ages!

I am not implying that suspension technology should be reduced or eliminated, because a properly set up suspension can save you, as you say, what I am saying is that we need to reduce the length of the suspension, the wheel travel, because that will reduce the capabilities of the equipment.

If you cut today's suspension by say half (just as an example), even with proper valving and set up, you're not going to be able to build tracks with 90'+ triples, because the equipment won't be capable. Riders won't even try it with half the suspension.

If you have a better idea, I'd be happy to hear it, but to think things can go on as has been with the unfettered technical advancements in this sport, we're going to wind up like the ATV market, where bike displacement will determine the age classification, where a rider may not even be able to compete on a 250 until over age 16.
I beg to differ with you Dave. Suspension will effect some but not all. The fast guys are always going to push the limits. If the...
I beg to differ with you Dave.
Suspension will effect some but not all. The fast guys are always going to push the limits.
If the tracks were designed different, it wouldn't matter how much suspension or how fast the bike was, your only going to go as fast or high or far as the track will allow. Fine line between fun exciting and safe at the same time.
Back in '07' ..racing at Speedworld in Az, Dave Coupe was airing out his 1974 Elsinore 250 over a 90ft table successfully lap after lap. Once a racer always a racer.

I wonder if Dave would of done that with a gap in between? he,he



cracks me up...coupe could wax most if not all the regular posters here on vital riding that 74/75 elsinore, on any track at anytime. i posted a pic like that from speedworld and had people swear it was PS'd...too funny.
Overdrive
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11/24/2012 12:05pm
Doing a 100ft tripple on a 125 is just as exciting as doing 165ft on a 250f. The difference is only the most experienced riders are going to try it on a 125, where as a C rider with the power of the 250f is going to give it a shot.

Jumps that were exciting and difficult to do on a 2 stroke are now easy to do on the 4 strokes so the tracks build bigger jumps to exite those riding the 4 strokes.

My suggestion is slow the 4 strokes down (suspension or motor) so it takes some skill to complete these harder obsticles. If your wringing out a 125 to try and get over a tripple your going to think twice about doing it, but if you have tons of power with a 250f your not going to think twice your just going to huck it.

With 125s back we would atleast have a good step again between 80's and 250's.

Give a C rider a 250f and tell him to hit a tripple out of a corner and he will give it a shot, give the same C rider a 125 and tell him to do it and he will have to learn how to really ride before he gives it a shot.
BobbyM
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11/24/2012 12:05pm
does anybody know where the majority of injuries occur during a local and or even a professional race?

and daves idea is magnified 100 times after watching this vid
Dirtysmile56
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11/24/2012 12:08pm
BobbyM wrote:
if there ever were a sport that needed its participants to actually be encouraged to ingest, use and consume "steroid" like drugs it is motocross and...
if there ever were a sport that needed its participants to actually be encouraged to ingest, use and consume "steroid" like drugs it is motocross and supercross. The equipment has far surpassed the ability of a mere mortal human being to effectively control, operate and commandeer the modern machinery currently built today...simple as that.
I fully agree Bobby I even think the same for elite cyclist's like Armstrong. These guys are high performance racing specimens and they must run on Race Fuel.

We don't run 87 octane in racing engines so why should the elite athletes be any different.
Overdrive
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11/24/2012 12:10pm
motogrady wrote:
Then why take away the one thing that helps a rider, especially when he's in a jam?
flarider wrote:
I think you're missing the point or looking at it backwards. That one thing is what creates the ability for the machines and riders to go...
I think you're missing the point or looking at it backwards.

That one thing is what creates the ability for the machines and riders to go as fast and jump as high and as far as they do.

Every motorsport over the years has taken action to regulate the capabilities of the equipment and/or competitors. F1 has regulated tires, aerodynamics, wheel sizes, ride height and more. MotoGP and even amateur road racing has regulated classes or speed through tires, and even HP. Nascar has regulated through aerodynamic drag, design and even fuel intake restriction.

Motocross has NEVER undertaken any form of mechanical restriction to reduce speeds or jumping capabilities of the equipment, so the racing, even at an amateur level, has gotten faster and faster with riders jumping higher and farther, year after year....and at younger ages!

I am not implying that suspension technology should be reduced or eliminated, because a properly set up suspension can save you, as you say, what I am saying is that we need to reduce the length of the suspension, the wheel travel, because that will reduce the capabilities of the equipment.

If you cut today's suspension by say half (just as an example), even with proper valving and set up, you're not going to be able to build tracks with 90'+ triples, because the equipment won't be capable. Riders won't even try it with half the suspension.

If you have a better idea, I'd be happy to hear it, but to think things can go on as has been with the unfettered technical advancements in this sport, we're going to wind up like the ATV market, where bike displacement will determine the age classification, where a rider may not even be able to compete on a 250 until over age 16.
I beg to differ with you Dave. Suspension will effect some but not all. The fast guys are always going to push the limits. If the...
I beg to differ with you Dave.
Suspension will effect some but not all. The fast guys are always going to push the limits.
If the tracks were designed different, it wouldn't matter how much suspension or how fast the bike was, your only going to go as fast or high or far as the track will allow. Fine line between fun exciting and safe at the same time.
Back in '07' ..racing at Speedworld in Az, Dave Coupe was airing out his 1974 Elsinore 250 over a 90ft table successfully lap after lap. Once a racer always a racer.

I wonder if Dave would of done that with a gap in between? he,he



Works pilot you are correct, suspension will effect some not all, some is all we need. I think everyone understands there is no golden bullet, we understand there is always danger. If you lower the number of people trying this stuff then less will get hurt, less is going in the correct direction.
Hank_Thrill
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11/24/2012 12:12pm Edited Date/Time 11/24/2012 1:29pm
I think there is some truth to the argument that suspension plays a part in allowing the pace we see today. The suspension on bikes today straight off the show room floor seem to handle terrain better than the factory bikes of yesteryear, as evidenced by the videos in tblazier's youtube vault. I do not think limiting travel will slow the pace down much. It may make riders more cautious in approaching some sections, but professionals and top amateurs are going to go as fast as possible on whatever you let them throw a leg over. With the progression of the sport as high as it is today, and riders being equipped with the fastest engines the sport has seen, taking a step backwards with the handling of the bikes by limiting suspension travel seems like a dangerous combination.

When these discussions come up there are usually three variables that are mentioned: tracks, progression level of the sport, and technology. For the sake of this discussion, we can break technology down into two categories; engine performance (regardless of stroke), and suspension. First, lets talk about how "tracks are to blame." If the tracks are the blame for the speeds reached, the extremely fast lap times, pace, etc. and the jump combinations that would not be possible twelve years ago for pros, or amateurs jumping 100-foot jumps straight out of corners, then you would expect following that logic that the current progression of the sport and technology do not play an important role. If you believe tracks are to blame then you are going to search for evidence that supports that belief, and in all honesty, there is a lot of evidence. Some of the jumps on tracks designed for amateurs are massive. However, if the tracks are responsible for the capabilities of dirt bikes today, A-riders would be able to jump those 100-foot jumps straight out of corners on Honda XR100s, and run the same lap times as they do on their 250/450 race bikes. Such is not the case and it seems completely ridiculous trying to imagine so, but those scenarios are what you would expect following that logic.

Now, lets talk about the progression of the sport. Throughout human history, humans have built upon the knowledge and skills of those that came before them. Someone once said, "We are standing on the shoulders of giants." Computers we type on today would not be possible had someone not invented electricity first. The same goes for progression in motocross (and it is easier to see in freestyle motocross). For example, regardless of whether or not he was the first to do it, when James Stewart unleashed the "Bubba Scrub" at Budd's Creek in 2003 it opened doors of progression. What only one of the best riders in the world could perform nearly ten years ago has been adopted and used by probably thousands of riders since. The point I'm trying to make is that motocross riding technique and progression is a continually evolving process, and will continue to evolve as long as people are racing motorcycles. Now, getting the best riders in the world from top amateurs to the professionals of the sport to regress the current level of riding progression we see today, which would make things probably a bit safer, is never going to happen.

So, the next step is to limit the pace, speeds, and jumping possibilities via the technology (coincidentally, the exact same thing they have done in many other forms of motor racing). The engines in today's bikes are arguably the best engines the sport has seen, with the raw power and smooth delivery. Suspension has also evolved tremendously and will continue to evolve. So, we pretty much have the fastest machines with the available technology the sport has ever seen, the highest level of progression the sport has seen, and some tracks with bigger jumps as a result, and everyone is in a state of bewilderment wondering why so many riders are getting injured. It seems like a more effective and safer way to reduce the injury rate would be to reduce the power and maintain the handling characteristics of the bikes, rather than sacrifice the handling by reducing suspension travel while maintaining the current power-plants. If you took the 450 A-class at Loretta's, or a Supercross Main Event lineup and put all the riders on Honda XR100 and Kawasaki KXL100 the pace would reduce. I'm not suggesting this happen, I'm just using it as an example to point out slower engines reduce the pace and the jumping possibilities. Slowing the bikes down a tad in whatever way would also allow riders to process information mentally a little easier, which would add to the safety aspect (it seems like anyways, especially in supercross). There's definitely not an easy way out of this mess, but I hope we do not have to wait until electric bikes come along for an effective change to occur. The downside to limiting power seems like it would be a disadvantage to heavier riders. If some sort of restrictor plate were used, maybe they could use different ones based on the weight of the rider to even out the power-weight ratio. Injuries will always be a part of the sport, just like crime in a society, but just like crime, the rates can probably be lowered.

Prayers sent to the Grodzicki family.

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