Larocco's Leap

profeshenal125 7/7/2021 8:30pm
7/7/2021 8:30pm
I have a vhs vid of MC jumping it and giving the point the fans. Pic was used the front cover of some video in 96. The jump shot them a lot higher in 96.
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hubbardmx50
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hubbardmx50 7/7/2021 8:53pm
7/7/2021 8:53pm
I’d say, all of the above mate.
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theonlinelegend 7/7/2021 11:29pm
7/7/2021 11:29pm
Thrasher jumped it in practice and cased it. He never attempted it again, that I recall. The next lap Shimoda wadded him self up on the little jump after the leap. Which was a weird crash. The following lap I thought it was Shimoda again eating it on the leap, but was Forkner. The leap was reminiscent of earlier Red Bud's when only a few big bike guys could do it. Not a crowd pleaser like recently.
yak651
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yak651 7/8/2021 4:46am
7/8/2021 4:46am
MX Culture wrote:
IDK, I think you guys are taking it the wrong way (or maybe I am). I think him saying he tried something different and always changes...
IDK, I think you guys are taking it the wrong way (or maybe I am).
I think him saying he tried something different and always changes it, means it wasn't the greatest this year and he'll try again next year (but that it will never stay the same.)
I love the facility and track and love the improvements he makes to it each year.
He doesn't sit back and rest on what he has, he always tries new things.
That to me is not a "golden attitude", it's a ever changing pursuit of excellence.
But what do I know?
AH387 wrote:
I guess my question is, did this past race do what he set out to do with his changes? Did he say if there was a...
I guess my question is, did this past race do what he set out to do with his changes? Did he say if there was a goal or vision with the change for this year (like making it very hard to clear, as an attempt to separate the riders?) Surely you don't change something, just to change it, without direction. I would be curious if he is satisfied with how it went or if he thinks that it was a bad move. And if he would even admit that it didn't go as planned? Because that response given seems very vague, almost like a cop out. Not a big deal, as I enjoyed the race. But it seems that most people were unhappy about no one jumping it. So if that effects future changes.
@MX Culture or any other reporter - this is the info we are looking for!
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Frank Tuesday 7/8/2021 7:47am
7/8/2021 7:47am
Rupert X wrote:
From a guy that’s hung on that fence with the the other wacky spectators, from first practice on, for most of the last 30+ years, (did...
From a guy that’s hung on that fence with the the other wacky spectators, from first practice on, for most of the last 30+ years, (did miss this year) -The Leap and it’s very screwy run-up configuration, need attention. Fans don’t come from the world-over to NOT see riders clear Red Bud’s landmark launch. Most of the 450 riders and a handful of skinny, talented, 250 riders should be able to routinely and “safely” huck it. I’m guessing that 100 percent of the spectators and 90 percent of the racers want to make this happen. When one of the worlds greatest riders, on an HRC Honda, is casing it, fixing is needed. And so, it was written.
Why? A jump that almost anyone can clear is just a jump. To me, it takes away the epic, legendary nature of the jump if everyone is clearing it. It's named Larocco's Leap because everyone was thrilled that he managed to jump it when no one else had. If everyone can jump it, why not just rename it the amateur triple.
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Frank Tuesday 7/8/2021 7:50am
7/8/2021 7:50am
shuggs wrote:
So if the top pros can’t jump it does it need a name change???
It got the name because the pro's couldn't jump it. Then Larocco did. It's very name comes from the fact that the jump separated the rider between those who could and those who couldn't. When everyone can, it's just another jump.
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SCC
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SCC 7/8/2021 8:03am
7/8/2021 8:03am
I liked it more this year. They need to make not jumping it more of a time penalty. Put a wall in the middle or something.
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yak651
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yak651 7/8/2021 8:20am
7/8/2021 8:20am
SCC wrote:
I liked it more this year. They need to make not jumping it more of a time penalty. Put a wall in the middle or something.
Maybe a gator pit....anyhow think it felt like a wall when Kenny and Forkner came up short...
motomike137
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motomike137 7/8/2021 10:29am
7/8/2021 10:29am
Rupert X wrote:
From a guy that’s hung on that fence with the the other wacky spectators, from first practice on, for most of the last 30+ years, (did...
From a guy that’s hung on that fence with the the other wacky spectators, from first practice on, for most of the last 30+ years, (did miss this year) -The Leap and it’s very screwy run-up configuration, need attention. Fans don’t come from the world-over to NOT see riders clear Red Bud’s landmark launch. Most of the 450 riders and a handful of skinny, talented, 250 riders should be able to routinely and “safely” huck it. I’m guessing that 100 percent of the spectators and 90 percent of the racers want to make this happen. When one of the worlds greatest riders, on an HRC Honda, is casing it, fixing is needed. And so, it was written.
Not to mention it was dangerous having only a few jumping while others couldn't. The track has become to homogenized. It needs a shake up.
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Camp332
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Camp332 7/8/2021 6:20pm
7/8/2021 6:20pm
Ritchie better step his game up Bro!
Max Petro
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Max Petro 7/8/2021 7:50pm
7/8/2021 7:50pm
Right out the gate AP hit it out of the inside line what a beast! Not to be done again by anyone the rest of the Moto from the inside line
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Chris_Buehler
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Chris_Buehler 7/8/2021 9:37pm
7/8/2021 9:37pm
MX Culture wrote:
wrong... I sat down with Red Bud owner Tim Ritchie about 2 hours after the event in his barn/office. I brought it up that many people...
wrong...
I sat down with Red Bud owner Tim Ritchie about 2 hours after the event in his barn/office.
I brought it up that many people asked/mentioned the leap to me during the day and that nobody was jumping it.
His words were, "The leap is never the same. I change it all the time. You never know what you're going to get and it will be changed again."
The end.
Johnny Ringo wrote:
So he intentionally ruined it. Bold move, cotton.
yak651 wrote:
Yep when you're constantly being told you have the best track ever I'm sure you get an attitude that anything you do is golden...
Why does everyone seem to call Red Bud the best track? Maybe my expectations were too high. But I've been there a couple times and I didn't really see anything that made it any better than say Budds or the Ironman. I'm talking from from a pure spectators point of view. Even Unadilla is just as good
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bigk218
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bigk218 7/9/2021 4:59am
7/9/2021 4:59am
The larocco scrub
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Jeremy Macduff 7/9/2021 5:07am
7/9/2021 5:07am
Chris_Buehler wrote:
Why does everyone seem to call Red Bud the best track? Maybe my expectations were too high. But I've been there a couple times and I...
Why does everyone seem to call Red Bud the best track? Maybe my expectations were too high. But I've been there a couple times and I didn't really see anything that made it any better than say Budds or the Ironman. I'm talking from from a pure spectators point of view. Even Unadilla is just as good
The fans, boss
quadzrulebro 7/9/2021 5:37am
7/9/2021 5:37am Edited Date/Time 7/10/2021 6:37am
I thought the racing at Red Bud was as good or better this year than any year in recent memory. Having an obstacle that you had to be absolutely perfect on in order to clear it made the racing even better. Going inside and doubling was safe (and slowest), going outside and jumping was still fairly safe (but only a hair faster than doubling), sending it from the inside made up a bunch of time, but was a real roll of the dice. Mistakes on the leap didn’t send anyone to the hospital (not that I’m aware of), but helped decide the outcome of the race. I don’t know how many are old enough to remember, but it used to be common to have obstacles that the big bikes could jump and the small bikes couldn’t in the 125cc days. Hell, the fact that we’re still debating it a week later means it was a perfect obstacle.

Congratulations Tim. Great race once again!
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racerxx276
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racerxx276 7/9/2021 6:25am
7/9/2021 6:25am
Unless your one of the riders that has to deal with the jump. I thought racing was supposed to be MX not nitro circus
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stremme12
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stremme12 7/9/2021 7:47am
7/9/2021 7:47am
Johnny Ringo wrote:
So he intentionally ruined it. Bold move, cotton.
yak651 wrote:
Yep when you're constantly being told you have the best track ever I'm sure you get an attitude that anything you do is golden...
Chris_Buehler wrote:
Why does everyone seem to call Red Bud the best track? Maybe my expectations were too high. But I've been there a couple times and I...
Why does everyone seem to call Red Bud the best track? Maybe my expectations were too high. But I've been there a couple times and I didn't really see anything that made it any better than say Budds or the Ironman. I'm talking from from a pure spectators point of view. Even Unadilla is just as good
Spectating wise it's better than Ironman. You can see much more of the track from 2 locations. Ironman it's difficult to see a lot from one viewpoint.
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motomike137
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motomike137 7/10/2021 6:12am
7/10/2021 6:12am
Johnny Ringo wrote:
So he intentionally ruined it. Bold move, cotton.
yak651 wrote:
Yep when you're constantly being told you have the best track ever I'm sure you get an attitude that anything you do is golden...
Chris_Buehler wrote:
Why does everyone seem to call Red Bud the best track? Maybe my expectations were too high. But I've been there a couple times and I...
Why does everyone seem to call Red Bud the best track? Maybe my expectations were too high. But I've been there a couple times and I didn't really see anything that made it any better than say Budds or the Ironman. I'm talking from from a pure spectators point of view. Even Unadilla is just as good
It used to have more character and a less 4 stroke friendly "flowing" layout. This year's version had some good racing but the layout has become boring imho. There have been wholesale changes in the past and I think the track could use a refresh.
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sbarrington314 7/10/2021 6:18am
7/10/2021 6:18am
"The track sucked, not everyone could do the same line"
"The track sucked, it is too one-lined"
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Mit12
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Mit12 7/13/2021 1:20am
7/13/2021 1:20am
kellyraz wrote:
Question - noticed not many riders hitting the Leap this past weekend. Is it that hard to get over out of the corner they had...
Question - noticed not many riders hitting the Leap this past weekend.

Is it that hard to get over out of the corner they had ?
Actually faster going inside to double single ?
Leaves inside open too much ?
Risk vs reward ?

Cheers
More jumps should be that way. The cream rises to the top.
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Chris_Buehler
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Chris_Buehler 7/13/2021 7:09am
7/13/2021 7:09am
yak651 wrote:
Yep when you're constantly being told you have the best track ever I'm sure you get an attitude that anything you do is golden...
Chris_Buehler wrote:
Why does everyone seem to call Red Bud the best track? Maybe my expectations were too high. But I've been there a couple times and I...
Why does everyone seem to call Red Bud the best track? Maybe my expectations were too high. But I've been there a couple times and I didn't really see anything that made it any better than say Budds or the Ironman. I'm talking from from a pure spectators point of view. Even Unadilla is just as good
stremme12 wrote:
Spectating wise it's better than Ironman. You can see much more of the track from 2 locations. Ironman it's difficult to see a lot from one...
Spectating wise it's better than Ironman. You can see much more of the track from 2 locations. Ironman it's difficult to see a lot from one viewpoint.
I've been to the Ironman and liked it a lot. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying Red Bud isn't a great track! It's probably just me. I had it built up in my head to be this mythical track.
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motomike137
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motomike137 7/13/2021 11:50am
7/13/2021 11:50am
Chris_Buehler wrote:
Why does everyone seem to call Red Bud the best track? Maybe my expectations were too high. But I've been there a couple times and I...
Why does everyone seem to call Red Bud the best track? Maybe my expectations were too high. But I've been there a couple times and I didn't really see anything that made it any better than say Budds or the Ironman. I'm talking from from a pure spectators point of view. Even Unadilla is just as good
stremme12 wrote:
Spectating wise it's better than Ironman. You can see much more of the track from 2 locations. Ironman it's difficult to see a lot from one...
Spectating wise it's better than Ironman. You can see much more of the track from 2 locations. Ironman it's difficult to see a lot from one viewpoint.
Chris_Buehler wrote:
I've been to the Ironman and liked it a lot. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying Red Bud isn't a great track! It's probably just...
I've been to the Ironman and liked it a lot. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying Red Bud isn't a great track! It's probably just me. I had it built up in my head to be this mythical track.
I think it has become legendary almost to it's own detriment. What it does have going for it in spades is a special vibe being on the 4th weekend every year. I love the place and have been going since 1975 (Trans AM race). I've been to probably 90% of all the pro races ever run there. That being said I'm not afraid to say that I would like to see some changes. I don't mean scrap the whole layout but just rethink some things that have become stale imho.
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