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People bitch about the AMA, but when I was coming up in the '80s classes where I raced were built around the AMA structure and it seemed like days were shorter. Then we added D classes in the 90s. And more mini classes. Then 80 D class. Then A-C for all of the +30 and +40 classes. It all adds up. Promoters are making their own lives more difficult in terms of buying awards and scoring by having so many classes as well.
I believe race day class structures need to provide every big bike rider an opportunity to race at least two classes per day, and if that means an Unlimited AM class, or a 16-24 Open class to cover people who haven't hit +25 yet, call it good.
I'd also like to see an organization try a "split day" where half the classes race in the morning and half race in the afternoon, so that you'd essentially have two short programs. You'd have less crowded practices and people wouldn't have such a long day if they are driving a long way to the track.
I guess it's tough because promoters have to please different crowds who want to put in different levels of commitment. Not everyone wants to buy an RV, pack it up for the entire weekend and drive four hours to a race. Especially for those of us who have to get up and go to work the next day.
My recommendations:
1. Open Pro
2. 250 A
3. 250 B
4. 250 C
5. 450 A
6. 450 B
7. 450 C
8. Unlimited B/C
9. 30+
10. 40+
11. 51cc (4-6)
12. 51cc (7-8)
13. 65cc (7-11)
14. 85cc Jr. Mini (9-11)
15. Mini Sr (12-13) (Jr Mini also eligible to ride this class)
16. Super Mini (12-15) (Mini Sr also eligible to ride this class)
17. Schoolboy B/C (12-16) (Super Mini also eligible to ride this class)
18. Girls Jr (9-13), Women (14+) –stagger start same gate.
19. Non-Current (2002 [15 model years] or older)
I realize my last one is a bit of a stretch, but I'm just trying to think of ways to get new riders into actual racing without spending $8K on a new bike. And if some pro wants to bling out a 99 KX just to whip up on the class, by all means, go for it!
Example, if within a region or district there are 5 tracks, a series of events over a 6 month period that is sanctioned by a governing body such as an AMA district or comitee would increase racer turnouts on a weekly basis rather than dividing them amongst individual facilities.
Each facility has an equal # of events on the schedule and at the end of the season would see overall greater attendance.
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I use to race vintage mx in MO. Was a great time and didn't cost us an absolute fortune. Seat time wasn't that great but the fun factor was off the charts. That series is still doing well from what I hear. Formula Fun+Seat Time>Cost= Great Attendance. Dirt bike racing is far from dead. We just are not racing motocross.
Most of the series that follow the formula Fun+Seat Time>Cost= Great Attendance are thriving.
Locally to me are TORCS, ScrambleCross, and Texas Enduro Series. All have full classes and people are taking pride in winning the points series.
Nationally, GNCC has literarily 1000's of entries at the most popular events. And a crappy turnout is 700+.
Those series all follow the formula Fun+Seat Time>Cost= Great Attendance
Our local MX scene is dead. I mean dead. We use to have a national level track (Cycle Ranch) which is now open once a quarter if you are lucky. Austin has a nice MX track called Murphy's MX. They thrive on open practice days and TORCS off road races that combine there trails and MX track.
One other elephant in the room is no one wants to race an "obsolete" bike that they mentally think, man I have no chance on. You go attend an Off Road/Hare scrambles race and some of the fastest guys are riding the vintage class on 1992 RMZ 250's! People see that and instantly understand a decent YZ 250 that cost them $2000 to purchase and have it tricked out for another $800 is not going to hold them back. Or an 08 KTM 250xc for $3000 and you have a C/B class bike that can win no? Try that at an MX race!
450 A
450 B
450 C
250 A
250 B
250 C
50 cc
65 cc
85 cc
Open Pro
Open Big Bike (no pro)
Super mini
35 +
45 +
When riders signup ask their DOB and skill level. If a class gets full and you need to slit it up then you split based on skill level. Example 35+ Novice and 35+ Intermediate.
Also note some of the races above could be combined such as A classes because normally they just do not have a big turn out.
Pro/450A/250A
450B/250B
450C/250C
450 Beginner/250 Beginner
30+A/40+A
30+B/40+B
50+/60+
(I'm not familiar with mini bike racing to know how to split those classes up)
There would still be separate classes for points/trophies, but race them on the track at the same time to allow for full gates and longer motos (like 20+2 motos). 40 rider gates have a massive visual appeal, and with full gates the racing is just more fun.
In the event that any of those motos get more than 40 riders they can always split the classes up...
The only draw back to this, and this is maybe why promoters probably don't do it, is it would prevent people from signing up and racing more than one class (you couldn't race 450A and 250 A if they are on the track at the same time). But, I guess you could always charge more for a race fee because they are getting longer motos.
Full gates are much more fun than racing 5 or 8 other people.
I'm going to give you an example.
In the 80s-90's the local scene in Colorado was extremely healthy at the local level with an association called SRAC. It was structured very simple. There were normally enough riders that you didn't ever have to combine classes to get full gates. In many classes you would have to run qualifiers to widdle down to a 40 man gate. I remember coming up through the ranks from 50cc all the way to turning Pro over many years. Lots of great memories.
Classes:
50cc one class
65cc /Novice/Intermediate/Expert (Intermediate and Expert were usually staggered start)
80 /Novice/Intermediate/Pro
125 /Novice/Intermediate/Pro
250 /Novice/Intermediate/Pro
Open /Novice/Intermediate/Pro
Womens Novice/Intermediate (Usually staggered start)
+35, +45
I do not recall all the senior (+35,45 etc) classes as much but I know there were not too many and most did staggered start if light turnout.
SRAC had a great local system but was also extremely detrimental to riders who ever had aspirations of racing Amateur nationals. In SRAC you would get a "mark" for every top 3 finish you had in a class. I believe after 5 marks you had to move up to the next class.
This worked great at the local level. It helped to prevent sandbaggers, and it also gave you something to work towards. SRAC had a motocross series as well as a SX series. You would collect points and there was always a huge end of year banquet to hand out season end awards. It was really structured very nice. Turn outs were always big on race day. I'm talking 500-700 riders.
The problem was, for the few kids who were actually phenoms, they would mark up pretty quick. A very top 80cc rider could go basically from 80 pro and once he hoped on a big bike he could be 125/250 pro and be successful immediately at the local level. These are kids who pretty much just turned 15.
The problem is that if he did that, that means that he would have to ride pro at Vegas, Ponca City, Lorretta's etc. So you could have a 15 year old forced because of AMA rules to have to race pro at an amateur national.
This hurt a lot of young Colorado riders who could have had promising careers. The rocky mtn region was fairly isolated from the motorcycles scenes on the east and west coasts. The local scene was very strong. You had local dealerships providing free bikes, parts etc to local riders who just did local races. That would be almost unheard of now. It seems that everyone wants to go to the big time.
- Regular pros in Colorado would be mid pack B's anywhere else.
- B's in Colorado would be novices anywhere else.
- Novices in Colorado would be beginners anywhere else.
I believe this is why you did not see more riders come out of Colorado and make it big because of the way the local class was structured that forced riders up. It worked awesome on the local level but did not transfer well when forced to ride in the same class at an amateur national where the skill level was completely different.
I don't really know where I'm going with this...
Anyways, I feel that when the AMA moved in it really changed things. It fragmented classes more. It became less local and more all about the amateur nationals. For the bulk of people, they did not care about nationals, they just enjoyed the local racing, but it caused enough folks to stop racing locally every weekend. Which in turn caused less people to race because the numbers kept dwindling.
That's my take on it. For what it's worth.
Everyone is a tough guy, but "it's not fair they had a bigger engine" or "yeah but he's a crazy 17 year old and jumps everything but doesn't know how to corner". Nobody wants to race against "those guys".
Bracket racing would solve it with "qualifying" lap times and racing against people the same speed regardless of how old or what kind of engine.
1st 20 timed riders.
21-40 timed riders.
41-60 timed riders.
somewhere down here all the slow guys, beginners, vintage, women, and 50cc's are all in one class putting around.
Time the races and bump sandbaggers after Moto 1 with no transfer points.
The off-road races have no problem doing lap times, It can be done for MX just the same.
The most fun you ever have is being surrounded in a pack of people about the same speed as you. You don't learn to go faster running a half a lap ahead.
There will certainly be less trophies and more losers. Get over it.
If track owners want to do whatever they think is best, they have payed for the right.
Trying to make more money off of less customers is not a real good long term business model IMO.
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A local track here thinks everything is about social media. Not everyone is on social media so half of your customers are not within the communication loop. If you go voice your opinion to a track they just ignore you. Here we have a practice class called 35+ yet the tracks allow kids to ride in that class? Not one or two mind you..............20! Then when you explain to the track you don't want the kids riding in our class they say "we asked them to ride nice". Great business!
To minimize waiting, the track (and gates) need to be near capacity.
When riders not running near the same speed share the track, it is more dangerous. Grouping riders that are the same speed is perfectly fine and should be encouraged.
It doesn't matter what they ride, how old they are, what race or religion or political affiliation either.
Open practice is a different matter. It is going to be a little more Wild West. Come early or stay late if you want clear track.
My nearest track is now 2 and a half hours away. No more mx for me after work
We have to face it, local racing is dead and the domino effect has started.
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