Moving Up a Class After 30+? Thoughts

Ingjr1
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Ingjr1 2/19/2020 10:50am
2/19/2020 10:50am
In the "old days" the goal was always to move up. I use to race the A classes when I got older and slowed down some. Better riders and safer.
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TSCHAM101
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TSCHAM101 2/19/2020 10:56am
2/19/2020 10:56am
its a personal decision my friend, but sounds like you are really into racing.. which makes me think you should do A, but if you race every now and then it would be better to be in B.. less chance of injury IMO..

when i ride with faster guys, i always find myself pushing hard which could lead to taking bigger risks, so i try to tell myself in my helmet when on the track that speed doesnt matter and my family does...

When i push hard, i can hang with A riders and win in B, but i can cruise at my comfortable pace in B and be happy getting whatever result i get... BUT i am a sole provider for my family, and own a company so my priorities are to my family and my business.

what are your priorities? speed or comfort and safety?
Dudley
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Dudley 2/19/2020 11:02am
2/19/2020 11:02am
30A is an interesting class. There’s the A riders that have been pro for years that happen to turn 30 and are still competing at a high level in even in the regular pro class and then there’s everyone else 🙂
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mmain62
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mmain62 2/19/2020 11:04am
2/19/2020 11:04am
TSCHAM101 wrote:
its a personal decision my friend, but sounds like you are really into racing.. which makes me think you should do A, but if you race...
its a personal decision my friend, but sounds like you are really into racing.. which makes me think you should do A, but if you race every now and then it would be better to be in B.. less chance of injury IMO..

when i ride with faster guys, i always find myself pushing hard which could lead to taking bigger risks, so i try to tell myself in my helmet when on the track that speed doesnt matter and my family does...

When i push hard, i can hang with A riders and win in B, but i can cruise at my comfortable pace in B and be happy getting whatever result i get... BUT i am a sole provider for my family, and own a company so my priorities are to my family and my business.

what are your priorities? speed or comfort and safety?
Priorities are to stay safe and keep it fun. I don't want to be called a sandbagger either. I know the +40 and 50 guys in my class don't typically like it but that's not my fault. I would like to get faster and be able to say i had the guts to do it. But 2 years ago when I got back into racing after 5 years off. I suffered a broken tib fib and was off work for a bit. I don't want to do that again. My other thought was as I get older and the NEW 30 yr olds come in the competition will get better I am sure.

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Jeff_Crutcher 2/19/2020 11:12am
2/19/2020 11:12am
KW62 wrote:
Tried listening to your podcast and it appears that it keeps replaying the same couple minute loop over and over?
It’s probably a stitcher problem.
You can google “over the bars podcast” and find us on every platform. “You’ve been knighted” is the episode name.

We’re on iTunes, Spotify, and everything else. I just used the stitcher link. Thanks for giving it a shot I think you’ll dig it.
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Jbulz
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Jbulz 2/19/2020 12:08pm
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chump6784
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chump6784 2/19/2020 12:25pm
2/19/2020 12:25pm
The tracks i race at, if you finish top 3 in overall points one year, the next year you are automatically moved up. None of this should I, shouldn't I crap. If you can go into cruise or safety net mode in B class then you should be in A class.

As said above, things have changed
cwtoyota
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cwtoyota 2/19/2020 12:36pm
2/19/2020 12:36pm
mmain62 wrote:
Alright guys my buddies and I have been going back and forth a bit about moving up to 30A for the new season. I'm at a...
Alright guys my buddies and I have been going back and forth a bit about moving up to 30A for the new season. I'm at a fork in the road where in one direction , yes it would be cool to have a chance at making my entry back, 'but on the other hand at 31 yrs old is it worth it to move up ride harder and inevitably take more risks? Or stay down take it easy and keep it just for fun. Don't turn this into a " There should only be one +30 CLASS etc etc argument." I am sure some of you have been at the same point in your racing life and want to here opinions.
What you have to do is remind yourself not to ride over your head, but push to improve.
If you race with the faster group you'll rise to their level over time if you're smart.

You're too old to become a pro and you're never going to make money at this as a career.
Keep it in perspective and keep moving forward without overstepping your ability and getting hurt.


I had a break from riding between age 23 and age 27... I never got past the C class (Novice or Junior) as a young guy. At age 30 I moved up to race 30+B as well as 250B or Open B depending on which bike I had.

I spent two years overseas working, but raced consistently from age 32 on.
By age 35 I was winning 30+B on a 125 despite the bad starts, so I moved up to 30+A and bought a YZ450F.
I hated the Yamaha, but enjoyed the 30+A on my old 250 two strokes.

These days I race in 30+A and if there are entries in 25+A I ride that class too, or race something else if the 25+A entries are low.


p3fab
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p3fab 2/19/2020 12:47pm
2/19/2020 12:47pm
As the guys who got many 2nds to your wins. Stick around for a couple months. I don’t think your a sandbagger. +30 has changed every year I’ve rode it. Most of us in the plus classes just want to have fun and have the same not going to work fear as you. From a guy who personally gets smoked by you I say stay first if you get bored and feel like it move up later in the year.
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c0ncEpT
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c0ncEpT 2/19/2020 12:52pm
2/19/2020 12:52pm Edited Date/Time 2/19/2020 12:53pm
If you're consistently top 5 in at least a 20 man gate than move up. If you're mid pack with the occasional top 5 than stay down.

If you only have 10 man gates in B and 2-3 man in A stay down no matter what Smile
p3fab
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p3fab 2/19/2020 12:55pm
2/19/2020 12:55pm
c0ncEpT wrote:
If you're consistently top 5 in at least a 20 man gate than move up. If you're mid pack with the occasional top 5 than stay...
If you're consistently top 5 in at least a 20 man gate than move up. If you're mid pack with the occasional top 5 than stay down.

If you only have 10 man gates in B and 2-3 man in A stay down no matter what Smile
We aren’t seeing 20 man gates Atleast the track I rode with him on 7 maybe 8 in +30 b 2 maaaaaybe 3 in +30 a.
Bramlett321
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Bramlett321 2/19/2020 1:38pm
2/19/2020 1:38pm
Move up !!! I don't think the risks from B to A will be that much different. You'll get used to it...it's all relative right ??
mmain62
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mmain62 2/19/2020 1:59pm
2/19/2020 1:59pm
p3fab wrote:
As the guys who got many 2nds to your wins. Stick around for a couple months. I don’t think your a sandbagger. +30 has changed every...
As the guys who got many 2nds to your wins. Stick around for a couple months. I don’t think your a sandbagger. +30 has changed every year I’ve rode it. Most of us in the plus classes just want to have fun and have the same not going to work fear as you. From a guy who personally gets smoked by you I say stay first if you get bored and feel like it move up later in the year.
That's kind of the plan for now. I appreciate the support Zach. I have just been asked by a handful of people over this off season if I was moving up and have been debating back and forth. I dont feel like I'm that super cocky sand baggin Ahole that every track has. 2019 I was coming back from breaking my leg in 5 spots and had to race myself into shape. I didn't go to the gate one time thinking I was better than anybody. I like the fact the B class in staging people are talking back and forth. I feel like the A dudes are always so focused they come off as buttheads.
mmain62
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mmain62 2/19/2020 2:10pm
2/19/2020 2:10pm
Jbulz wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2020/02/19/405345/s1200_PeterPan.jpg[/img]

What made you decide to move up to A when you did? If you don't mind me asking .
p3fab
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p3fab 2/19/2020 2:24pm
2/19/2020 2:24pm
p3fab wrote:
As the guys who got many 2nds to your wins. Stick around for a couple months. I don’t think your a sandbagger. +30 has changed every...
As the guys who got many 2nds to your wins. Stick around for a couple months. I don’t think your a sandbagger. +30 has changed every year I’ve rode it. Most of us in the plus classes just want to have fun and have the same not going to work fear as you. From a guy who personally gets smoked by you I say stay first if you get bored and feel like it move up later in the year.
mmain62 wrote:
That's kind of the plan for now. I appreciate the support Zach. I have just been asked by a handful of people over this off season...
That's kind of the plan for now. I appreciate the support Zach. I have just been asked by a handful of people over this off season if I was moving up and have been debating back and forth. I dont feel like I'm that super cocky sand baggin Ahole that every track has. 2019 I was coming back from breaking my leg in 5 spots and had to race myself into shape. I didn't go to the gate one time thinking I was better than anybody. I like the fact the B class in staging people are talking back and forth. I feel like the A dudes are always so focused they come off as buttheads.
Yeah it was fun we had a few good conversations. Kids and such. My thought it the numbers are nice I don’t care if I win. I’d like the whole class to be more competitive. Hope to see you on the gate in a couple months.
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mmain62
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mmain62 2/19/2020 2:26pm
2/19/2020 2:26pm
p3fab wrote:
Yeah it was fun we had a few good conversations. Kids and such. My thought it the numbers are nice I don’t care if I win...
Yeah it was fun we had a few good conversations. Kids and such. My thought it the numbers are nice I don’t care if I win. I’d like the whole class to be more competitive. Hope to see you on the gate in a couple months.
Ill be there man .
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Jbulz
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Jbulz 2/19/2020 2:27pm
2/19/2020 2:27pm
Jbulz wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2020/02/19/405345/s1200_PeterPan.jpg[/img]

mmain62 wrote:
What made you decide to move up to A when you did? If you don't mind me asking .
Oh I still race B. Gotta get those trophies bro.
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Moto520
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Moto520 2/19/2020 2:34pm
2/19/2020 2:34pm
+30A is a tougher one. In Illinois....once "A"....always "A." If you race two classes what are your options? if you bump to "A," are you stuck having to race open A as a second class? Do you feel safe doing that or does it not matter to you. I don't think you are a sandbagger by any stretch. Just keep racing one way or the other!
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ajk423
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ajk423 2/19/2020 2:40pm
2/19/2020 2:40pm
As someone who also races 30+, but sucks, i can say it really isnt much fun when the top few dudes in the class can clearly hang with the A class but decide it's "more fun for them" to be way upfront in the b/c class. I've never understood that in any sport. Why would you want to dominate jv when you are competitive on varsity?
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p3fab
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p3fab 2/19/2020 2:49pm
2/19/2020 2:49pm
ajk423 wrote:
As someone who also races 30+, but sucks, i can say it really isnt much fun when the top few dudes in the class can clearly...
As someone who also races 30+, but sucks, i can say it really isnt much fun when the top few dudes in the class can clearly hang with the A class but decide it's "more fun for them" to be way upfront in the b/c class. I've never understood that in any sport. Why would you want to dominate jv when you are competitive on varsity?
While I agree with most of that the other problem is if you move the +30 a it’s a for all other classes. So if you want to ride multiple classes it’s a whole other story. I often ride +30 and 250b top 2 or 3 in +30. Around the back of the pack for 250b.
dedi684
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dedi684 2/19/2020 3:05pm
2/19/2020 3:05pm
ajk423 wrote:
As someone who also races 30+, but sucks, i can say it really isnt much fun when the top few dudes in the class can clearly...
As someone who also races 30+, but sucks, i can say it really isnt much fun when the top few dudes in the class can clearly hang with the A class but decide it's "more fun for them" to be way upfront in the b/c class. I've never understood that in any sport. Why would you want to dominate jv when you are competitive on varsity?
p3fab wrote:
While I agree with most of that the other problem is if you move the +30 a it’s a for all other classes. So if you...
While I agree with most of that the other problem is if you move the +30 a it’s a for all other classes. So if you want to ride multiple classes it’s a whole other story. I often ride +30 and 250b top 2 or 3 in +30. Around the back of the pack for 250b.
up here in the northeast vet a still has to ride open b etc until they accumulate the proper points to be a real a rider. So basically becoming an a rider in the vet classes doest make you a real expert.
Titan1
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Titan1 2/19/2020 3:08pm
2/19/2020 3:08pm Edited Date/Time 2/19/2020 4:48pm
I say it depends on what you are trying to get out of your racing...if you are trying to get faster...move up. If you are just trying to have fun, then it doesn't really matter (unless you are always winning/podium the B class, then move up).

Some say its way more fun battling for the lead, than battling for 10th....and I can see where they are coming from, for some reason it is.

But some will say finishing 10th in A is better than 1st in B....And I can see where they are coming from, as well.
GoggleFiend904 2/19/2020 3:15pm
2/19/2020 3:15pm
Move down to novice and get smoked. I’m pretty sure I’m slower now winning 30+ b than I was in WCGP novice and losing. Lol
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mmain62
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mmain62 2/19/2020 4:11pm
2/19/2020 4:11pm
Jbulz wrote:
Oh I still race B. Gotta get those trophies bro.
Ha you're killing me ha good luck this season man stay healthy
mmain62
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mmain62 2/19/2020 4:12pm
2/19/2020 4:12pm
Moto520 wrote:
+30A is a tougher one. In Illinois....once "A"....always "A." If you race two classes what are your options? if you bump to "A," are you stuck...
+30A is a tougher one. In Illinois....once "A"....always "A." If you race two classes what are your options? if you bump to "A," are you stuck having to race open A as a second class? Do you feel safe doing that or does it not matter to you. I don't think you are a sandbagger by any stretch. Just keep racing one way or the other!
I'll keep racing either way for sure. Will I see any Young 120 machines at a D17 race this year ?
kkawboy14
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kkawboy14 2/19/2020 5:27pm
2/19/2020 5:27pm
Well I guess you guys told me!


Shoot just go ahead and turn Pro! I have raced a LONG time. You might get better but you aren’t getting much faster after 30! If you go 30A in Florida, Texas and California, you will be racing a Pro class.
Forty
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Forty 2/19/2020 5:47pm
2/19/2020 5:47pm
kkawboy14 wrote:
Well I guess you guys told me! Shoot just go ahead and turn Pro! I have raced a LONG time. You might get better but you...
Well I guess you guys told me!


Shoot just go ahead and turn Pro! I have raced a LONG time. You might get better but you aren’t getting much faster after 30! If you go 30A in Florida, Texas and California, you will be racing a Pro class.
Lol. No offense old timer. I use myself as an example. I was faster at 45 than I was at 25. Part of it was my approach to racing at those times. I couldn’t point out of B class as I didn’t race often enough so I just moved myself up. Within a year I was running with the fast A racers and winning often enough.

Now I’m 60 and plan to make another run. Currently putting fitness together and waiting for my new bike to arrive.

I’ll still run the A class as here they split the 50+ into A B C as there are many former Pro riders in their 50s now.

Where’d the time go? I don’t know.





cody41
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cody41 2/20/2020 4:21am
2/20/2020 4:21am
Move up - no one likes a sandbagger. Moving up will also make you a better rider. There isn’t anything cool about racing B class.
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c0ncEpT
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c0ncEpT 2/20/2020 5:24am
2/20/2020 5:24am
c0ncEpT wrote:
If you're consistently top 5 in at least a 20 man gate than move up. If you're mid pack with the occasional top 5 than stay...
If you're consistently top 5 in at least a 20 man gate than move up. If you're mid pack with the occasional top 5 than stay down.

If you only have 10 man gates in B and 2-3 man in A stay down no matter what Smile
p3fab wrote:
We aren’t seeing 20 man gates Atleast the track I rode with him on 7 maybe 8 in +30 b 2 maaaaaybe 3 in +30 a.
IMO unless he's just blowing everyone in B away I would stay down.

If it ever got to the point that my class only has 3-4 guys racing in it I would find a new class or hang it up. It's not any fun racing the same 2-3 guys every week.
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kkawboy14
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kkawboy14 2/20/2020 7:45am
2/20/2020 7:45am
kkawboy14 wrote:
Well I guess you guys told me! Shoot just go ahead and turn Pro! I have raced a LONG time. You might get better but you...
Well I guess you guys told me!


Shoot just go ahead and turn Pro! I have raced a LONG time. You might get better but you aren’t getting much faster after 30! If you go 30A in Florida, Texas and California, you will be racing a Pro class.
Forty wrote:
Lol. No offense old timer. I use myself as an example. I was faster at 45 than I was at 25. Part of it was my...
Lol. No offense old timer. I use myself as an example. I was faster at 45 than I was at 25. Part of it was my approach to racing at those times. I couldn’t point out of B class as I didn’t race often enough so I just moved myself up. Within a year I was running with the fast A racers and winning often enough.

Now I’m 60 and plan to make another run. Currently putting fitness together and waiting for my new bike to arrive.

I’ll still run the A class as here they split the 50+ into A B C as there are many former Pro riders in their 50s now.

Where’d the time go? I don’t know.





I’m 57 so I’m right behind you! 😀

As I have gotten older I really didn’t lose any speed but man there are some BIG things that I won’t jump that other guys will. I would say that’s the area that made me slower.

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