Hey DC, what should we expect from this year's tracks?

Edited Date/Time 5/18/2015 7:55pm
There's been a lot of talk about track prep, grooming, watering, etc. We all understand the appeal of a perfectly groomed track and lack of dust, especially for TV coverage, but most racers and fans probably want to see it get as rough and nasty as possible.

So what should we expect? Will all tracks continue to look more and more alike with sand and mulch dumped on them, or will they allow some to get hard and develop differently? Will they be groomed during the day or left alone? What kind of guidance, if any, will you be giving the track crew and owners?
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h&m_cycle
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5/7/2015 9:50am
I believe they will set up for "live television" which is 2 minute lap times. 17 laps 35 minute motos.



dsmith
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5/7/2015 10:02am
go to redbud..there will be ruts...
5/7/2015 10:14am
dsmith wrote:
go to redbud..there will be ruts...
There are always ruts. With all the sand and loose soil dumped on, plus tons of water, that's about all they do is rut up. I'm not saying they don't get rough, they just all seem to get rough in the same way with long ruts and deep rollers. It seems that hardpack, square-edge type of rough has gone the way of the deep sand tracks.

Anyway, I'm not trying to start another thread to bash the tracks. I have my strong opinions but at this point I just want to know what to expect so I'll know if what I'm seeing was done on purpose or what direction they are trying to take with the tracks, whether it turns out that way or not.
mach6972
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5/7/2015 10:48am
haven't they been the same for around 40 years?...... then expect the same

The Shop

Darryl916
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5/7/2015 10:51am
mach6972 wrote:
haven't they been the same for around 40 years?...... then expect the same
lol. right!
DC
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5/7/2015 10:58am
A lot depends on the weather, both leading up to the race and during the race. The tracks get plenty rough -- go walk around one after the national and you'll see that they aren't "just ruts" -- but we also like to keep them safe and exciting for the riders. We like to keep the dust down, but also let them get as rough as they can, without compromising the jump faces or making it "nasty" in a dangerous way. We will listen to the riders and see what they think as we go.

By the way, the 450s go second in all 12 rounds, rather than first, at the request of Mr. DeCoster.

DC
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Teej317
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5/7/2015 11:05am
What was the reason the 450s went first in previous years? I never understood that.
Phillip_Lamb
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5/7/2015 11:14am
Hangtown is building A 150FT triple where the two ski jumps used to be next to the tower.
willie838
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5/7/2015 11:17am
DC wrote:
A lot depends on the weather, both leading up to the race and during the race. The tracks get plenty rough -- go walk around one...
A lot depends on the weather, both leading up to the race and during the race. The tracks get plenty rough -- go walk around one after the national and you'll see that they aren't "just ruts" -- but we also like to keep them safe and exciting for the riders. We like to keep the dust down, but also let them get as rough as they can, without compromising the jump faces or making it "nasty" in a dangerous way. We will listen to the riders and see what they think as we go.

By the way, the 450s go second in all 12 rounds, rather than first, at the request of Mr. DeCoster.

DC
MX Sports
sucks for traffic but everyone will get to see the 250 class instead of streaming out as the race is going on.

i'd rather walk out during what i expect to be one of many dungey routes as opposed to what is going to be a super competitive 250 class yet again.
5/7/2015 11:19am
DC wrote:
A lot depends on the weather, both leading up to the race and during the race. The tracks get plenty rough -- go walk around one...
A lot depends on the weather, both leading up to the race and during the race. The tracks get plenty rough -- go walk around one after the national and you'll see that they aren't "just ruts" -- but we also like to keep them safe and exciting for the riders. We like to keep the dust down, but also let them get as rough as they can, without compromising the jump faces or making it "nasty" in a dangerous way. We will listen to the riders and see what they think as we go.

By the way, the 450s go second in all 12 rounds, rather than first, at the request of Mr. DeCoster.

DC
MX Sports
Thanks for the reply Davey.

First of all, thank you thank you thank you for making 450s go 2nd again. That gives me a warm fuzzy feeling inside again.

Second, I completely understand grooming jump faces (and even landings) in the name of safety. I've walked the tracks and I know they are way rougher than anything I would want to race on, but at the same time I come out to watch the best riders in the world do things I know I can't do. That's the appeal of it. There will always be riders that complain (because there will always be riders who aren't winning). When some riders are struggling with the track, that's when the great riders really shine and as a fan that's what creates memorable moments even in a runaway win.

Anyway, good luck. Can't wait for the season to get started.
disbanded
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5/7/2015 11:20am
Forward falling starting gates
5/7/2015 11:21am
Hangtown is building A 150FT triple where the two ski jumps used to be next to the tower.[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2015/05/07/90268/s1200_11174817_10153290925559371_458494114648361089_n.jpg[/img]
Hangtown is building A 150FT triple where the two ski jumps used to be next to the tower.
See that's what I'm talking about though. I don't like that. Give me a long whooped out uphill with singles on it all day over that any day. This isn't SX. Why does every track suddenly feel like they need their own version of Laracco's Leap?
5/7/2015 11:22am
Teej317 wrote:
What was the reason the 450s went first in previous years? I never understood that.
I think it had to do with TV times.
DC
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5/7/2015 11:23am
Here's why we put the 450s first, in the words of Willie838:

sucks for traffic but everyone will get to see the 250 class instead of streaming out as the race is going on.

i'd rather walk out during what i expect to be one of many dungey routes as opposed to what is going to be a super competitive 250 class yet again.

It's hard to show motos on live NBC when half the crowd is leaving because they've been there all day. The idea was that having the 450s first would help make sure that second moto still had a sizable audience.

DC
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downard254
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5/7/2015 11:35am
disbanded wrote:
Forward falling starting gates
Rubberband start.Laughing
Old-Man
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5/7/2015 11:51am
DC wrote:
A lot depends on the weather, both leading up to the race and during the race. The tracks get plenty rough -- go walk around one...
A lot depends on the weather, both leading up to the race and during the race. The tracks get plenty rough -- go walk around one after the national and you'll see that they aren't "just ruts" -- but we also like to keep them safe and exciting for the riders. We like to keep the dust down, but also let them get as rough as they can, without compromising the jump faces or making it "nasty" in a dangerous way. We will listen to the riders and see what they think as we go.

By the way, the 450s go second in all 12 rounds, rather than first, at the request of Mr. DeCoster.

DC
MX Sports
willie838 wrote:
sucks for traffic but everyone will get to see the 250 class instead of streaming out as the race is going on. i'd rather walk out...
sucks for traffic but everyone will get to see the 250 class instead of streaming out as the race is going on.

i'd rather walk out during what i expect to be one of many dungey routes as opposed to what is going to be a super competitive 250 class yet again.
Expect you won't be walking out early much.
5/7/2015 11:54am Edited Date/Time 5/7/2015 11:55am
Hangtown is building A 150FT triple where the two ski jumps used to be next to the tower.[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2015/05/07/90268/s1200_11174817_10153290925559371_458494114648361089_n.jpg[/img]
Hangtown is building A 150FT triple where the two ski jumps used to be next to the tower.
TriRacer27 wrote:
See that's what I'm talking about though. I don't like that. Give me a long whooped out uphill with singles on it all day over that...
See that's what I'm talking about though. I don't like that. Give me a long whooped out uphill with singles on it all day over that any day. This isn't SX. Why does every track suddenly feel like they need their own version of Laracco's Leap?
You and me both, brotha. When you're jumping over a majority of the ground it doesn't matter how rough it is.

Look at ALL that dirt they moved and barely any of it will actually be ridden on.

Welcome to American Motocross. Leave your motocross skills at home and bring your best SX set up to conquer our world class tracks.
hillbilly
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5/7/2015 1:03pm
What I'd like to see change is using wood stakes to hold banners at track edge.

Muddy creek is where they were all over. The worst were on the downhill from the 1st turn. Someone had driven up 2x4 sawmill stakes with banner on the track. There is a 2 foot bank there that has always made the track edge and these were a foot inside it making it very narrow over that crest.

There is plenty of room on top of that bank and I could not understand why anyone would think it was a good idea to put them on the track.

Here is what could happen,,

On the start you have everyone jammed together,someone clips the stake or banner with the front brake and gets caught falling and yanking the banner breaking off a stake or 2 into spears sticking up. Now more crash as riders stack up and someone gets impaled on a jagged stake.

Be a horrid scene with a rider stuck thru with a wood spear on live tv no less.

I guess someone could find a picture of that area,it was as bad a example of dangerous track furniture I've seen.,or good example.
bigborefan
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5/7/2015 1:24pm
The tracks are a little jumpy. Last year at Millville, the big uphill, they had jumps all the way up it. Let the guys carry a little speed. I'd rather see the guys in the power climbing a big ol hill rather than doubling up one. i can see doubles anywhere. Seems every section more than 10 yards long has to have a double.

I hope to make it back to Millville.
5/7/2015 1:52pm
Whatever happens....just hope that there will an effort during each round to maximize spectator visibility of the racing action. Lest banners in the middle of the track would go a long way to returning spectator visibility back to the 02-04 days.
Madc32
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5/7/2015 2:01pm
Good to know DC considers not just rider input listens also to the Man.
motomike137
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5/7/2015 2:05pm Edited Date/Time 5/7/2015 2:12pm
I am stoked for the nationals to start! As for the tracks I am fortunate to live a couple hours from Redddddddddddddd Budddddddddddd! I was disappointed last year though when I saw how oversimplified the south end of the track was in what I assume is in the name of optimizing lap times for TV. I love Red Bud to death and have been going there since the mid seventies but it almost seems like certain parts of it could use a refresh of some sort. As for grooming and the soil I don't care if our tracks don't necessarily prepare our guys for battle at the Des Nations, I like that they touch things up in the name of safety and I want to see these guys carry some speed as another poster mentioned.
JayCarpent
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5/7/2015 2:08pm
DC wrote:
A lot depends on the weather, both leading up to the race and during the race. The tracks get plenty rough -- go walk around one...
A lot depends on the weather, both leading up to the race and during the race. The tracks get plenty rough -- go walk around one after the national and you'll see that they aren't "just ruts" -- but we also like to keep them safe and exciting for the riders. We like to keep the dust down, but also let them get as rough as they can, without compromising the jump faces or making it "nasty" in a dangerous way. We will listen to the riders and see what they think as we go.

By the way, the 450s go second in all 12 rounds, rather than first, at the request of Mr. DeCoster.

DC
MX Sports
About time the (450)s go back to racing on the more difficult track. This has hurt us at the MXON over the years, hopefully the racing will be a lot better now with this year looking to be very hot/humid and the rougher track conditions.
seth505
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5/7/2015 2:12pm
Outdoor jumps like that don't have much to do with supercross. They usually get rougher, are much faster and no supercross has 100+ foot jumps. Stop whining and comparing it to sx because there is big air.
DH
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5/7/2015 2:34pm Edited Date/Time 5/7/2015 2:41pm
Regarding the new jump at Hangtown, this is actually a modification of a jump that has been there for over 20 years, The middle has been filled in to allow an 80-foot jump, or the riders have an option to jump the entire thing. Trust me, Hangtown will be one of the roughest tracks of the year. We have about 500 tons of sand and rice hulls being trucked in right now. This will be the true outdoors. Definitely the farthest thing from SX. It also follows the natural slope of the hill, so it's merely natural terrain on steroids.

Half the riders like big jumps and half like natural terrain. Half like smooth and fast, half like rough and slow. In the end, if half the people hate your track and half love it, you've done your job perfectly.

David
Zracer
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5/7/2015 2:36pm
Hangtown is building A 150FT triple where the two ski jumps used to be next to the tower.[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2015/05/07/90268/s1200_11174817_10153290925559371_458494114648361089_n.jpg[/img]
Hangtown is building A 150FT triple where the two ski jumps used to be next to the tower.
Safe, exciting. Not nasty in a dangerous way. Ok got it.
Titan1
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5/7/2015 2:36pm
I think the AMA nationals will continue to become more and more suited to TV, and mirror supercross in every way possible while still holding the races on outdoor tracks with 2 minute lap times. We'll continue to see more man made tracks on flat land (better viewing and TV camera coverage), with "perfect" dirt, built at sites with great facilities for media and VIP's. This is all done to grow the sport, so its not a bad thing...we're all just going to have to get used to it.

I'd rather the sport shrink and go back to natural tracks with natural elevation changes, that are never groomed and the dirt is whatever God put there (hard pack, sand, loam, rocky, etc.) and is left alone besides some water to keep the dust down...but that's easy for me to say because I have nothing to gain or lose by the size of the sport. But it sure was cool wearing a Fox T-shirt and knowing that anyone else wearing one also rode...rather than seeing them for sale in the mall (but the people making bank off of the Fox brand would disagree with me).
Hut
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5/7/2015 2:45pm
I am not a fan of the big jump but I feel obligated to trust the dirt diggers on this. They seem to be the most hard core in mx
DH
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5/7/2015 2:46pm
Don't forget Hangtown is having a pre-party at the Palladio Mall in Folsom on Thursday the 14th from 6-8 pm. We have proriders who will be there....still TBA. Some ticket-giveaways and other cool stuff. Come check it out.
DH
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5/7/2015 2:48pm
Hut wrote:
I am not a fan of the big jump but I feel obligated to trust the dirt diggers on this. They seem to be the most...
I am not a fan of the big jump but I feel obligated to trust the dirt diggers on this. They seem to be the most hard core in mx


The jump is way cooler than the first pic you've all seen.

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