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Edited Date/Time
4/27/2017 9:43am
Hey nerds. Valkenswaard was the opening round of the EMX125 series, which has been around for years and is the closest thing to a 125 pro series that currently exists. Although they're all kids racing (ages 13 - 17), most of the top guys will turn pro in the next year or two.
Was surprised I didn't see a thread on this before, unless I missed it. Anyways, it's always great racing and there are some very cool bikes on the track.
Anyone have pics? Jeffro?
Race 1 Highlights
Race 2 Highlights
Was surprised I didn't see a thread on this before, unless I missed it. Anyways, it's always great racing and there are some very cool bikes on the track.
Anyone have pics? Jeffro?
Race 1 Highlights
Race 2 Highlights
i think that in america there is a way larger pool to find talent from, but the path to show and prove that talent is a lot harder for the young kids, just a few really important races each year where its do or die, and they even have to race different bikes and classes.....
each year i think there is less and less rookies that get to the pros and get good results in ama racing, last year it was Falkner, but this year the best sx rookie was a french !!!!!! we can even see a few good youngster jumping the pound and going to race those emx series, which was unthinkable just a few years ago.......
i guess its time for american mx to take a good look at these youth series and start thinking about their own youth racing
It would be awesome to have a "regional" 125 class at nationals 16 and under age, 6 rounds east 6 west
Then have a 250f claim rule class 20k can buy any bike on the line. 20 age out
We would need a 2 day schedule to make it work... but it could work.
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plenty of kids forgo it and have more success in pro racing than kids who chase it are always around 5th and never make mains.
Plenty of kids deserve support and earn it with results... and dont get it. Wentland is my favorite go to example, wins an a title, his rookie outdoors were alongside the year adam c went pro, and he finished in similar positions as adam on a privateer bike... never got a ride. I dont know him or know if there is a reason behind the scenes to that... but on paper had he been given the dream ride going pro... he may be a guy we talk about now.
The us amatuer racing is mostly 5 laps or less, or 10-12 min motos. lorettas being the single exception... and to get to lorettas its still a sprint type format at the regionals.
When kids go pro, they are years prepared at sprint speed... its hard to learn how to ride fast AND efficient.
m
This class gives the kids a taste of the pro life and allows the fastest kids to race against the other fastest kids for a series. They're setting them up for their future rather than having them race bull shit local/state races against other riders who couldn't even sniff qualifying for a pro national at their home town track let alone run top ten.
It's unbelievable to me that we can run a women's pro class at certain rounds but can't have a 125 pro feeder class. No offense to the ladies or that series but come on, it brings no excitement to anyone other than the riders of that series and their families.
Certainly this could be done. Will It? I doubt it, the AMA ain't known for doing things that make sense.
I feel like this is the interesting part. I have very little insight in how local/amateur racing works in US but i understand that the races are very, very short for these kids, am i right?
Huge amount of different classes but short sprint races? No wonder that the kids going pro in US are so good at one lap speed and high intensity from the gate drop but ticking timebombs in 30 min + 2 laps or 15 minutes + 1 lap when they are molded that way?
The EMX125 and EMX250 classes are brilliant. These kids race on the actual GP tracks on the same days as the MXGP&MX2 class(very rough tracks with pro level lines). And they are doing 25 minutes + 2 laps. What is the better way of preparing for life as an actual professional? I would say the EMX series.
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Even the local races for weekend warriors here are 20 minute motos
I didnt bother to confirm as im on my iphone, but wentland went from lorettas that year into nationals if I recall.
If you look at his moto finishes rather than overalls, as well as moto lap charts there were plenty of instances he and ac were very close during the motos.
If you believe wentland had remotely similar equipment dont bother replying... or the aldon baker program before going pro, as ac was afforded this being the golden child (well earned am career)
If you think the bike doesnt matter, as alex martin after his jump to star from cycle trader (a good team compared to his previous years)
i will go on a dangling limb and say give wentland what ac was given going pro, give wentland the continued support through injury ac got, and you would see him as a podium threat right now.
I dont know wentland at all personally, so if he is a hard worker... etc etc. But if ac was dropped from pc after his first year and had to work his way up through a lessor team like alex martin did, would he still be relevant? He may have floated off into oblivion... bad equipment, lack of good practice equipment, lack of training tracks and funds to do it... etc
being a part of the good programs is worth more than talent in the 250 class. Add a hard working rider and you get savatgy...
I'll just say this, if any top team thought Wentland could have been a championship contender they would have given him a shot. AC has the shot because he's already proven he can win races and battle for championships.
Post a reply to: EMX125: The Closest Thing to a 125 Pro Series