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Edited Date/Time
2/20/2019 10:13am
12 riders finished on the lead lap Saturday. And that's about how it usually is.
I think having only a 12 rider gate would have multiple benefits.
1. Track design. The starting gate for 22 riders eats up a lot of potential floor space for other obstacles.
2. Track conditions. Less riders hitting the track in qualifying, heats, lcq's, mains is a track that doesn't get as beat up.
3. Makes racing better. Riders that get a bad start but can run up front have a better chance at getting up front. Take this last weekend with Barcia for example. Dude passed like 15 riders but still only salvaged a 7th place finish.
4. Makes spectating better. IDK about everyone else but when attending a supercross in person, it can get overwhelming by half way through a race. Lots can go unseen.
5. less lappers wouldn't be terrible either.
I think having only a 12 rider gate would have multiple benefits.
1. Track design. The starting gate for 22 riders eats up a lot of potential floor space for other obstacles.
2. Track conditions. Less riders hitting the track in qualifying, heats, lcq's, mains is a track that doesn't get as beat up.
3. Makes racing better. Riders that get a bad start but can run up front have a better chance at getting up front. Take this last weekend with Barcia for example. Dude passed like 15 riders but still only salvaged a 7th place finish.
4. Makes spectating better. IDK about everyone else but when attending a supercross in person, it can get overwhelming by half way through a race. Lots can go unseen.
5. less lappers wouldn't be terrible either.
Ive said it before a rule like formula 1 has is a 107% rule. If you cant run within 107% of the fastest qualifier you arent allowed in the program.
That number could/should be tweaked for supercross vs f1 but the idea is solid.
The difference in ability and speed is too great to be out on the same track.
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The lapped riders rolling around halfway through the main add nothing to the event other than potentially getting in the way of the leaders.
People will argue that it will hurt the privateers, but let's get real. No one is paying attention to them in the main event anyway.
Interesting thought, though! I remember watching the MC Invitational and just seeing two guys go head-to-head on a SX track was really cool.
Have Rv, mcgrath, dungey etc rotate different people to ride the pace bike, do a lap slow and Lay down a chalk stripe across the middle of the start straight, the pace bike pulls off and when there front tire hits the chalk line they go green!
I think that should be tried because than all the fastest guys would start together, assuming you line them up in order of Qualifying.
Point during the season. Throw these guys a bone.
Shit I don’t know the answer. But I like the premise all around. Good thoughts
I mean, essentially it's the main event for the best Supercross riders in the world. It quite jarring to see guys rolling things and just generally looking tired.
Why would I as a privateer even show up to qualify Saturday when I know only twelve are going to make it to the Main? Why would I as a sponsor take a chance on an alsoran kid when I know I’m not going to get Main event type exposure? All because we want a clean track?
This sport is already way too exclusive. Let’s not make it even more so.
15 rider pro main event.
15 rider privateer main event.
I'd rather watch a privateer main event than a lapper rolling the track after the 5th lap.
Pit Row
My ideal would be a full field of paid 450 riders on the best equipment in the world, and young riders and privateers riding near stock 250's in a 17 week season. Forget this East-West crap, it just costs jobs in the 450 class. When I plunk down my money and time to watch SX, I want to see the best in the world racing each other from gate drop till checkers. Seeing someone roll around does nobody any good. Black flagging them would be cool, it doesnt help the sport. We need a healthier 450 class, bottom line.
Sure, I dont mind them going and trying to qualify, and right now its the series fault they need these guys to fill the field, but in a perfect world, maybe 10 would make the night show and none would make the main.
Its stupid that it costs so much to compete on a 250, promote it for what it is, stepping stone to 450's. Make them race near stock and you will see how good a stock 250 will get.
For the outdoors, let it be, that series is more homegrown and the tracks can support the locals and privateers.
How many guys that you love watching race wouldn’t have made the cut if they’d had to come through a system that had only 12 starting spots?
Post a reply to: Unpopular Opinion: Less riders on the track.