Was Mike LaRocco the last Man in pro racing?

rmpilot
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rmpilot
Edited Date/Time 3/19/2014 4:44pm
in all seriousness was the Rock the last man to have raced 500's that was in the pros? Do you guys think any of these guys out there right now could adapt to a 500? the only ones that strike as racing a 500 would be dungey and of all people brayton for reason.
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DownSouth 3/17/2014 5:23pm
3/17/2014 5:23pm Edited Date/Time 3/17/2014 5:29pm
John Dowd raced the 500 nationals and stuck around the pro's a bit longer than Larocco did. He was part time at the end but was still out there. Dowd raced the 500's in 1989 when the rock was still in the 125 class and strangely enough when Larocco won the last 500 chamiponship ever in 1993 Dowd raced a 125 in SX.
ATKpilot99
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ATKpilot99 3/17/2014 5:24pm
3/17/2014 5:24pm Edited Date/Time 3/17/2014 5:25pm
He was the last 500 National champion in 93. There were two more World Championships won on open 2 strokes. Marcus Hansson in 94 on a CR 500 and Shayne King in 96 on a KTM 360. But yeah I guess Dowd was the last of those guy to retire.
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DownSouth 3/17/2014 5:36pm
3/17/2014 5:36pm
DownSouth wrote:
John Dowd raced the 500 nationals and stuck around the pro's a bit longer than Larocco did. He was part time at the end but was...
John Dowd raced the 500 nationals and stuck around the pro's a bit longer than Larocco did. He was part time at the end but was still out there. Dowd raced the 500's in 1989 when the rock was still in the 125 class and strangely enough when Larocco won the last 500 chamiponship ever in 1993 Dowd raced a 125 in SX.
Not trying to turn this into a Dowd thread but looking through the vault Dowd double classed it in Daytona in 1993 finishng 13th in the 125 class and 19th in the 250 class back when Daytona was run during the day with the super long laptimes and with 30 rider gates. That must have been a brutal day.
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hvaughn88 3/17/2014 6:17pm
3/17/2014 6:17pm
I think the top guys would be the top guys...regardless of the bike

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reded
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reded 3/17/2014 6:18pm
3/17/2014 6:18pm
Emig, 1996 MXDN.
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Bultaco 3/17/2014 6:20pm
3/17/2014 6:20pm
No. There are 40 men on the starting line every weekend now. Riding high horsepower OPEN class dirt bikes. What the 4-stroke has brought to US motocross is the disappearance of the 125 class, replaced with the open class. Maybe that was not the plan in 1998, but with the development of the 4-stroke engines to what they are today….we have a 250 and open class.
rmpilot
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rmpilot 3/18/2014 3:39am
3/18/2014 3:39am
while the 450's now are almost like what the 500 class was they are not the same to me. The 450's have officially the same kind of horsepower numbers but development of the 500 motor basically stopped about 25 years ago. I cant remember the mans name right now but ill never forget at Dyracuse 5-6 years ago here in Wisconsin a rider in Vet A was on a KX 500 and probably the fastest guy there that day and for those that don't know Dyracuse is a huge sand track that could probably be put in the same league as southwick. Anyways, I was on the fence in between motos watching and he blows past going down the straight and you couldn't even hear the bike which makes me we wonder how much more potential it did have to ride it harder.
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TRON 3/18/2014 5:35am
3/18/2014 5:35am
Stephan Everts Silly
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Bultaco 3/18/2014 5:51am
3/18/2014 5:51am
Just found this while looking for a "who killed the 2-stroke" article.

http://twostrokemotocross.com/2009/11/who-killed-the-500-class-and-wher…

For sure, the 2 vs. 4 stroke open bikes are a horses of different colors. This article kind of implies today's 4stroke with milder power delivery is what the 2 stroke open guys were ultimately looking for as they tried to make the 2-stroke power more manageable.
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motogrady 3/18/2014 6:15am
3/18/2014 6:15am
Bultaco wrote:
No. There are 40 men on the starting line every weekend now. Riding high horsepower OPEN class dirt bikes. What the 4-stroke has brought to US...
No. There are 40 men on the starting line every weekend now. Riding high horsepower OPEN class dirt bikes. What the 4-stroke has brought to US motocross is the disappearance of the 125 class, replaced with the open class. Maybe that was not the plan in 1998, but with the development of the 4-stroke engines to what they are today….we have a 250 and open class.
Bingo.
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Old-Man 3/18/2014 8:16am
3/18/2014 8:16am
motogrady wrote:
Bingo.
Whats all this "Bingo" going on and what are the prizes?Cheerful
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motogrady 3/18/2014 8:26am
3/18/2014 8:26am
My bad Old Man, I should have just said, after spellcheck and a punctuation check,
to stay in line and appease the grammar police, it should have been........

"That's correct."
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Old-Man 3/18/2014 11:39am
3/18/2014 11:39am
motogrady wrote:
My bad Old Man, I should have just said, after spellcheck and a punctuation check, to stay in line and appease the grammar police, it should...
My bad Old Man, I should have just said, after spellcheck and a punctuation check,
to stay in line and appease the grammar police, it should have been........

"That's correct."
I don't know what your referring to but I was making the comment because I seen the "Bingo" phrase in a few other threads is all. know nothing about this grammar police?
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motogrady 3/18/2014 11:53am
3/18/2014 11:53am
No big deal guy, a phrase off the top of the head.

The grammar police?
I've been taken to task, and had somewhat questionable use of the English language thrown in my face
a time or 2, just covering my ass.
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cervy300 3/18/2014 12:12pm
3/18/2014 12:12pm
rmpilot wrote:
in all seriousness was the Rock the last man to have raced 500's that was in the pros? Do you guys think any of these guys...
in all seriousness was the Rock the last man to have raced 500's that was in the pros? Do you guys think any of these guys out there right now could adapt to a 500? the only ones that strike as racing a 500 would be dungey and of all people brayton for reason.
what about dungey or brayton makes you feel that way? lol
rmpilot
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rmpilot 3/18/2014 4:30pm
3/18/2014 4:30pm
rmpilot wrote:
in all seriousness was the Rock the last man to have raced 500's that was in the pros? Do you guys think any of these guys...
in all seriousness was the Rock the last man to have raced 500's that was in the pros? Do you guys think any of these guys out there right now could adapt to a 500? the only ones that strike as racing a 500 would be dungey and of all people brayton for reason.
cervy300 wrote:
what about dungey or brayton makes you feel that way? lol
dungey just seems smooth and adapt well. brayton I have no idea why except maybe because he is an older guy and seems like a workhorse that make it work like maybe a slower Jeff Stanton.
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Squid-Steer 3/18/2014 4:36pm
3/18/2014 4:36pm
Doug Henry is all that is man, Dude is still rippen.
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rmpilot 3/19/2014 3:26am
3/19/2014 3:26am
I know this is a no and has been went over before but do you think they would switch the series rules to allow 500's out there with 450's if they switched back to a proper class structure with three classes?

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rmpilot
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rmpilot 3/19/2014 3:32am
3/19/2014 3:32am
Bultaco wrote:
Just found this while looking for a "who killed the 2-stroke" article. http://twostrokemotocross.com/2009/11/who-killed-the-500-class-and-where-is-the-body-buried/ For sure, the 2 vs. 4 stroke open bikes are a horses of...
Just found this while looking for a "who killed the 2-stroke" article.

http://twostrokemotocross.com/2009/11/who-killed-the-500-class-and-wher…

For sure, the 2 vs. 4 stroke open bikes are a horses of different colors. This article kind of implies today's 4stroke with milder power delivery is what the 2 stroke open guys were ultimately looking for as they tried to make the 2-stroke power more manageable.
it was a similar version of this story because I think jody updated it after a few that got me hooked on racing and Mike Larocco. It was in the first issue of Motocross Action that I got with the open class shootout of the kx 500, cr500 and 380sx. From that moment all I wanted to ride a 500 and it took me a long time to actually get myself to that point but ironically did on my yz 490 against two other yz 490s.
Halfast816 3/19/2014 6:31am
3/19/2014 6:31am
Sadly with every new generation the girls become more like boys and the boys are turning into girls. Skinny jeans, selfies, earrings, piercings just a general lady like appearance (insert little b*tches)from the male youth. Few are the boys that can make fix or build, plentiful are the texters, piercers. fashionistas. Find a youth that is proud of his hard work and actually does work hard and you have found the exception not the norm. So to answer your question yes Larocco Henry and Dowd last of the MX men. Now we are blessed with the home schooled man child ill prepared for anything outside what is already taken care of for them......
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hvaughn88 3/19/2014 6:36am
3/19/2014 6:36am
Halfast816 wrote:
Sadly with every new generation the girls become more like boys and the boys are turning into girls. Skinny jeans, selfies, earrings, piercings just a general...
Sadly with every new generation the girls become more like boys and the boys are turning into girls. Skinny jeans, selfies, earrings, piercings just a general lady like appearance (insert little b*tches)from the male youth. Few are the boys that can make fix or build, plentiful are the texters, piercers. fashionistas. Find a youth that is proud of his hard work and actually does work hard and you have found the exception not the norm. So to answer your question yes Larocco Henry and Dowd last of the MX men. Now we are blessed with the home schooled man child ill prepared for anything outside what is already taken care of for them......
Sure seems like there were a ton of "earrings, piercings" and bleached hair back in the 90s
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MX558 3/19/2014 6:56am
3/19/2014 6:56am
rmpilot wrote:
while the 450's now are almost like what the 500 class was they are not the same to me. The 450's have officially the same kind...
while the 450's now are almost like what the 500 class was they are not the same to me. The 450's have officially the same kind of horsepower numbers but development of the 500 motor basically stopped about 25 years ago. I cant remember the mans name right now but ill never forget at Dyracuse 5-6 years ago here in Wisconsin a rider in Vet A was on a KX 500 and probably the fastest guy there that day and for those that don't know Dyracuse is a huge sand track that could probably be put in the same league as southwick. Anyways, I was on the fence in between motos watching and he blows past going down the straight and you couldn't even hear the bike which makes me we wonder how much more potential it did have to ride it harder.
Love Dyracuse. I stopped going when they cut the hill out it just wasn't the same. Did they ever bring it back in the track ?
Halfast816 3/19/2014 8:04am
3/19/2014 8:04am
90's were included in that comment. Being in and around high school aged students in a coaching position has lead me to the observation that every year the level of 'usefulness" in the student body is declining sharply. In the 70's~80's earlier kids by 12 knew how to operate tractors, farm machinery and perform basic maintenance. To change a tire in front of high school boys and field questions on why I just didn't call someone to do that floored me. I watched as a young 'man' called mommie's road side assistance to bring him gas when he ran out in the school parking lot. Had a another young gent tell me he left his lights on and battery was dead. Refused a jump because it might blow up his truck. He would wait for the tow truck his parents called and let a professional handle it. If you are bothered by what I say then you are part of the problem if you are young and laugh at what I say and kind of agree you are the exception. Those that take offense know it hits a little too close to home......
Halfast816 3/19/2014 8:07am
3/19/2014 8:07am
Wisconsin Rapids now that was a fun track. Haven't been there in 20years. By chance was the guy on the KX Wayne Welzien. Fast guy from the seventies. Another possibility would be Roy Nafzger (sp)
hvaughn88
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hvaughn88 3/19/2014 8:12am
3/19/2014 8:12am
Halfast816 wrote:
90's were included in that comment. Being in and around high school aged students in a coaching position has lead me to the observation that every...
90's were included in that comment. Being in and around high school aged students in a coaching position has lead me to the observation that every year the level of 'usefulness" in the student body is declining sharply. In the 70's~80's earlier kids by 12 knew how to operate tractors, farm machinery and perform basic maintenance. To change a tire in front of high school boys and field questions on why I just didn't call someone to do that floored me. I watched as a young 'man' called mommie's road side assistance to bring him gas when he ran out in the school parking lot. Had a another young gent tell me he left his lights on and battery was dead. Refused a jump because it might blow up his truck. He would wait for the tow truck his parents called and let a professional handle it. If you are bothered by what I say then you are part of the problem if you are young and laugh at what I say and kind of agree you are the exception. Those that take offense know it hits a little too close to home......
I don't take offense to it, I just think it's a broken record. The older we get, the rougher we had it growing up. I'm sure the guys (more like kids) that were working in the coal mines at age 10 probably think the generation after them were huge pussies, too. It's an endless cycle, regardless if it's accurate or not. With that being said, I do think there are some basic life skills that aren't being taught in schools these days. I mean, can you really blame a kid for not knowing how to do that stuff when shop class has been virtually non existent as core curriculum for how long now? I'm not sure if it's the same in other areas, but when I was in high school, if I wanted to take a shop-style class then I had to enroll in a vocational trade program where half my day was spent in vocational classes separate from the rest of the school. Don't get me wrong, I don't discredit vocational programs or professions (in fact sometimes I envy them when I'm stuck in my office all day), but for those of us who are wanting to go to college, it's not really feasible to take vocational classes. Unless you have a dad/father figure/etc. to teach you that stuff, where else are they going to learn it. And I'm sure there or more than of few of you guys who wish home ec was a required class upon eating the dinner your wife prepares, haha.
moto543
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moto543 3/19/2014 9:36am
3/19/2014 9:36am
Halfast816 wrote:
90's were included in that comment. Being in and around high school aged students in a coaching position has lead me to the observation that every...
90's were included in that comment. Being in and around high school aged students in a coaching position has lead me to the observation that every year the level of 'usefulness" in the student body is declining sharply. In the 70's~80's earlier kids by 12 knew how to operate tractors, farm machinery and perform basic maintenance. To change a tire in front of high school boys and field questions on why I just didn't call someone to do that floored me. I watched as a young 'man' called mommie's road side assistance to bring him gas when he ran out in the school parking lot. Had a another young gent tell me he left his lights on and battery was dead. Refused a jump because it might blow up his truck. He would wait for the tow truck his parents called and let a professional handle it. If you are bothered by what I say then you are part of the problem if you are young and laugh at what I say and kind of agree you are the exception. Those that take offense know it hits a little too close to home......
hvaughn88 wrote:
I don't take offense to it, I just think it's a broken record. The older we get, the rougher we had it growing up. I'm sure...
I don't take offense to it, I just think it's a broken record. The older we get, the rougher we had it growing up. I'm sure the guys (more like kids) that were working in the coal mines at age 10 probably think the generation after them were huge pussies, too. It's an endless cycle, regardless if it's accurate or not. With that being said, I do think there are some basic life skills that aren't being taught in schools these days. I mean, can you really blame a kid for not knowing how to do that stuff when shop class has been virtually non existent as core curriculum for how long now? I'm not sure if it's the same in other areas, but when I was in high school, if I wanted to take a shop-style class then I had to enroll in a vocational trade program where half my day was spent in vocational classes separate from the rest of the school. Don't get me wrong, I don't discredit vocational programs or professions (in fact sometimes I envy them when I'm stuck in my office all day), but for those of us who are wanting to go to college, it's not really feasible to take vocational classes. Unless you have a dad/father figure/etc. to teach you that stuff, where else are they going to learn it. And I'm sure there or more than of few of you guys who wish home ec was a required class upon eating the dinner your wife prepares, haha.
You guys are both right. I think that the kids who aren't resilient enough to take care of simple things like putting enough gas in your car or changing a tire learned it from their parents. It's just the way life is for them. If mom and dad don't know how to change a tire, why would junior? My wife for example was shocked that I know how to change brakes, fix the toilet, replace a thermocouple and other things along those lines. (She was also shocked that I took shop classes) It's gotten better over the years but she is usually pretty resistant to me fixing things because she assumes that only professionals are capable to do it. It falls onto the parents.
rmpilot
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rmpilot 3/19/2014 4:41pm
3/19/2014 4:41pm
Halfast816 wrote:
Wisconsin Rapids now that was a fun track. Haven't been there in 20years. By chance was the guy on the KX Wayne Welzien. Fast guy from...
Wisconsin Rapids now that was a fun track. Haven't been there in 20years. By chance was the guy on the KX Wayne Welzien. Fast guy from the seventies. Another possibility would be Roy Nafzger (sp)
that welzien name is ringing a bell but I am just not sure. ill never forget how fast yet not loud he was
rmpilot
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rmpilot 3/19/2014 4:44pm
3/19/2014 4:44pm
rmpilot wrote:
while the 450's now are almost like what the 500 class was they are not the same to me. The 450's have officially the same kind...
while the 450's now are almost like what the 500 class was they are not the same to me. The 450's have officially the same kind of horsepower numbers but development of the 500 motor basically stopped about 25 years ago. I cant remember the mans name right now but ill never forget at Dyracuse 5-6 years ago here in Wisconsin a rider in Vet A was on a KX 500 and probably the fastest guy there that day and for those that don't know Dyracuse is a huge sand track that could probably be put in the same league as southwick. Anyways, I was on the fence in between motos watching and he blows past going down the straight and you couldn't even hear the bike which makes me we wonder how much more potential it did have to ride it harder.
MX558 wrote:
Love Dyracuse. I stopped going when they cut the hill out it just wasn't the same. Did they ever bring it back in the track ?
they go up the hill and few years ago that made it where you were coming out of turn right at the bottom of it. I hated what they did because at least before I broke my leg I was flying there and they took out my fastest part of the track. I cant forget going up about hundred yards worth of that hill in fifth gear with the front wheel off the ground the whole time.

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