Posts
2231
Joined
6/23/2014
Location
Lake Havasu City, AZ, USA
Edited Date/Time
5/10/2016 10:42am
What we need in the U.S is a true feeder system.
Riders should come from the amature nationals/Loretta Lynns to the road to SX (AX) for 1 to 4 years max. NO GOING BACK! When they make it to the 250 SX show they will spend up to 4 years max or 2 championships which ever comes first. Now they are off to the 450 SX series. NO GOING BACK!
This process would allow riders to grow in the sport at a more controlled pace.
This process would allow the factory teams to groom riders in feeder system rather than pushing them in the linons den before they are ready. Hopefully with less injuries.
This peocess would stop the "career" AX and 250 SX riders.
This peocess would make the 250 SX series filled with the best 250 SX riders in the country "NO FILLER RIDERS"
One final thing....TIMED MAINS!
Riders should come from the amature nationals/Loretta Lynns to the road to SX (AX) for 1 to 4 years max. NO GOING BACK! When they make it to the 250 SX show they will spend up to 4 years max or 2 championships which ever comes first. Now they are off to the 450 SX series. NO GOING BACK!
This process would allow riders to grow in the sport at a more controlled pace.
This process would allow the factory teams to groom riders in feeder system rather than pushing them in the linons den before they are ready. Hopefully with less injuries.
This peocess would stop the "career" AX and 250 SX riders.
This peocess would make the 250 SX series filled with the best 250 SX riders in the country "NO FILLER RIDERS"
One final thing....TIMED MAINS!
That or bring back 125's and have 250's as premier class which also will never happen.
This and the ongoing mentality of looking for the "next big thing" in regards to riders. It seems to me everybody is only looking at riders coming up, but denying the talent that is proven. It's a pity that guys like Chisholm, Weimer and so on get left out with good rides.
*For my arguments I'll be referring to Supercross champions from 2000 onward.
*Foreign visits were ignored until the rider started a more committed US "rookie" season (Reed and Townley). (Jessemen counts because he rode 2 seasons outdoors season before his rookie SX.)
First, you want riders to come out of amateurs, go to AX, progress through SX 250s for a few years, then become 450 career riders.
[1] Isn't this already the structure in place most riders? Granted, the R2SX is relatively new, it is becoming more and more of a required prerequisite before competing in SX. Sure, there are some exceptions for extraordinary talent since the program started (Adam C. - though that maybe debatable).
[2] For a sport with such short and risky career opportunities, wouldn't you want the most capable amateur graduates to enter the pros asap? - for our entertainment, of course. Otherwise we wouldn't have had true Rookie SX champs like Travis Pastrana, James Stewart and Trey Canard.
*edit - I see now you never said R2SX should be mandatory to ride SX. Just 1-4 years max in AX. - I'll give my opinion on this point later.
Second, you want to prevent "career 250 riders" in sx.
[1] see rulebook
[2] So how many 250 champs have dropped down a class after moving up 'permanently'? Roncada, Tedesco, and Pourcel are all I can think of.
[3a] How about remaining in the class more than 2 championships or 4 years, whichever comes first, as you suggest? Well the "more than 2 championships" thing is covered in the rules I believe - can you name a 3 time SX regional champ?
[3b] So, how about riders remaining in SX regional c'ship more than 4 years? It has happened enough to take notice. There are [s]6[/s] 7 instances where c'ships were won by "veteran 250 riders" - Preston (2002), Tedesco (2005), Langston (2006), Tickle (2011), Hahn (2013), and Malcolm (4.5).
edit* and Weimer.(2006)
However, the average tenure of a regional rider in my data range is only 2.5 years.
Fun fact. Following the "4 years" rule, Tedesco's 2005 championship would have gone to 4th place Billy Laninovich because Ramsey (2nd) and Short (3rd) both had more than 4 years tenure by 2005. A similar situation would have happened in 2006 where's Langston's c'ship would skipped Short in 2nd and gone straight to RV who finished that season in 3rd.
[4] "Career AX riders" or veterans in AX. Eh. I disagree, but that's my opinion. I'll just drop some random names that I've enjoyed watching in AX.
Kyle Regal, Tyler Bowers, Matt Goerke, Chris Blose, Cody Gilmore, Bobby Kiniry, Ben Lamay, Damon Bradshaw, Buddy Antunez, Denny Stephenson,
As for your list of hopeful positive symptoms of these change (ie: grow sport, groom riders, best talent in 250's etc.)
I don't see it the way you do. The best talent in the 250's are those riders who have won championships. Ask any of these riders if their championship came easy or they were sandbagging - Roncada, Tedesco, Pourcel, Malcolm, Langston, Tickle, Hahn, Weimer, Reed, Townley, Jessemen.
Here's my data. Thanks to Racer X vault and the 4 Dr. Peppers I drank while posting this pointless argument.
* .5 years = start rookie year in MX season
edit* I agree on timed mains. That would be rad. Also mud races are rad. Also, old veterans who beat young kids at a the most physical sport on the planet are rad AF.
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Its not broken, I can't wait for Minneapolis next year, that place will be rocking.
However... If I was being paid to make it even better, I would only do one thing.... Reduce Injuries!!!! It hurts the show and the sport for so many of its top names to constantly be on the sidelines... And yes, while the sport is inherently dangerous, much more can be done to make it safer.... From track design to requiring more safety gear, a lot more can be done to help keep our stars out on the track instead on in a hospital...
I do like the idea of increasing the SX series by 2 more races.
Have 2 more East meets West rounds, 3 total.
Increase the rider gates to 30.
20 minute mains in both classes, this would more prepare 250 riders for jumping to the 450. If they need to rob time for the tv, cut out some qualifying laps or cut out heats.
SX acts like they do a lot for the riders to get personal sponsors but they really do very little.
A pop up with a riders sponsors would also help when a particular rider is on the tv
Pit Row
Treating Supercross like it is a bastard circus side show with the aforementioned problems and stunts will always keep supercross as a BCSS.
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