Opinion on Local Tracks

Saw this on RacerX Ask Ping and found it interesting. My opinion on the subject? I agree with what was said. I hate going to the local tracks now because the faces of the jumps are really steep, the jumps keep getting big and if you aren't doing all of the jumps its pretty much a waste of time riding there. I've got work on Monday and a family to support. Trails and desert look better and better each time I go to the track.

Here's the question and Ping's answer

"Dear Ping,

It seems that a lot of local motocross tracks these days aren't any "good" unless they have jumps that will permanently disable, or kill you if you make a mistake. My question is: Why are local tracks moving towards becoming so gnarly that if you're not an intermediate or pro you have to roll more than half of the jumps, and realize how bad you suck? To me that is a great recipe for serious injuries, shrinking the racer turnout, and lawsuits from greedy scumbags that will shut tracks down. I know tracks need to be challenging for everyone, but I am seriously considering buying a skid plate and hand guards for my bike. I never thought I'd say that. What say ye grand master Ping? "

Cody aka "Not doin the big double"

"Cody,

This has become a major problem for our sport. Local tracks in 2017 look more like a supercross practice track from the early 1990s. I understand that the sport should progress, but at what cost? European tracks still have big, fun jumps but they are tabletops and step-ups instead of doubles with huge gaps that will kill or maim you when you mis-time them. Thanks to the unreal power and torque of modern four-stroke bikes, riders who don’t have the talent or technique to jump large obstacles are fumbling their way through the turns, lining up to the jump, and pinning it. They may pull it off for a while but at some point those riders end up going down in a big way and the injuries are ugly. The vast majority of injuries occur when you leave the ground. The bigger and more technical the jumps, the more frequent and severe the injuries will be. There are ways to make big, fun jumps that are safe [relatively speaking], but track builders are too lazy.

This week was our annual Race X Ride Day and we held it at the famed Castillo Ranch. I spent several hours the day before marking out a grass track in the unimaginably massive hills surrounding the main track. The recent rains provided perfect prep and the result was something that was challenging for pro riders and safe enough for mini bikes to ride. And the only jump was a rolling tabletop that was maybe 20 feet across the top. Despite the lack of jumps, most of the folks that came up said it was the best time they have had on a bike in a long time. I’m not saying we should build tracks with no jumps. But if you have good dirt, utilize the elevation change, and make the jumps safe, everybody has fun and goes home safe."

PING

What do you guys think?