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DC
Racer X
It's not as easy as just adding a day and a couple classes, like some think. There's lots going on, and the appetite and budgets for longer weekends just isn't there right now.
DC
Racer X
But I have to ask, is this designed more for the unheralded amateurs vs. the ones already signed to teams?
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Getting hurt happens no matter the age. My FB feed is full of LL hopeful's that will have to heal up and wait another year.
450's should not be limited by age, they are the easiest of all to go fast on, and are the most affordable to race. And it should be an open class again. When will e-bikes be addressed? and 2t's.
With the FIM allowing pro's at 15 for over 10 years, this is not some hair brained conspiracy, rather a proven track record of Euro's passing up the U.S.. SX is no excuse, that existed the entire time that the MXon streak of U.S. wins so nothing new there.
Thanks for the improved track surfaces this year, it has made for better racing.
https://racerxonline.com/2021/07/31/amateur-scouting-combine-debuts-at-…
And while it won't all be on TV they will highlight it, and we will do some videos on it as well.
DC
Racer X
I appreciate that the age is younger in Europe, but so is the drinking age. And while you can race MXGP at 15, you have to be 18 to have a driver's license in France, Italy, Germany, etc. For whatever reason, different countries do different things.
For what it's worth, NASCAR has similar restrictions. To compete full-time in any of NASCAR’s top three series – Cup, Xfinity or Trucks – a driver must be 18 years old. (Trucks can have drivers compete as young as 16, but that is only on tracks 1.25 miles or less in length and on road courses.)
DC
Racer X
https://motocrossactionmag.com/flashback-friday-there-will-never-be-ano… dob 10/5/59
"For the first few years of his AMA career, the Sacramento-born Magoo was an oddity. The first time he showed up at Hangtown to race a 125 National, he had to stand on a milk crate to get on his bike. At the 1976 Super Bowl of Motocross, Magoo finished 16th in the 500 support class. He ran much higher than that but flew off the track several times at full speed, often reentering the track without shutting off."
https://dirtbikemagazine.com/blast-from-the-past-danny-chandler-circa-1…
It's great that the combine is in the works, it's a step in the right direction of getting racer's racing as a pro instead of practicing to be a pro.
Considering how much time an effort goes into the amateur scene, with guys living at 'facilities' with more bikes than you can shake a shitty stick at , the USA hasnt produced what you would call a 'generational' talent in ages.
Who was the last one who actually delivered.
Against a backdrop of RJ and Bradshaw who won races in the premier classes at a rediculously young age, who was the last one , really ?
I would say RV.. him and Alessi coming through the ranks was awesome, as was Stewart , but who else?
When you think of the rest , AC promised loads, and has 1 title, and a litany of injuries, Forkner is looking like a repeat of that, but with nothing to show, and there have been loads of guys who have ended up stopping in the feeder classes and never made the leap.
Dungey didnt do a lot as an amateur, but proves that it doesnt really matter, Justin Cooper was the same, wasn't a stand out , and was a late bloomer,
The biggest problem the US has is the fact that amateurs dont race enough and when they do they try not to race each other at all costs.
Here in Europe, with EMX125, EMX250, we all know who is fast because there is no hiding and loads of racing , and the proper talent gets spotted straight away .
There have been plenty of guys that have been touted as ; the next big thing; here who have blown out , like Brian Hsu, Davy Pootjes, Conrad Mewse, Josia Natzke, to name a few (add Hertbretreau and Moreau to that as well) who just never lived up to billing, but it is nowhere near as bad here.
Gajser, Prado, Jonass, Herlings, have all hit the 450 class after coming through the lower classes at speed ( and Roczen) and won championships, the only one that really didnt was Romain Febvre, who was a late bloomer.
IMO guys spend too much time on supermini's and not enough on 125's on the bigger stage, which is a shame.
I hope Evan Ferry and Max Vohland, who seem to get the concept of ' to be a racer, you need to race' make it to where they need to, because i dont see anyone else who can deliver that coming through.
From an Aussie perspective that has happened on nearly every occasion. Jeff Leisk was a multi time 500cc champ in Oz but had to spend two years on 125s when he went over. Then in his third year, when he finally got a shot in the premier classes where he belonged, lo and behold he was instantly competitive and consistently ran with RJ, Wardy and Lechien on the 500. Could he have done that sooner if allowed? Very likely.
Then with Reedy, who went straight into the premier 250 2t class in Oz when he turned pro at 16yo with instant success, had to ride the 125/250f class in the States after finishing second in the 250 World Title the previous year. In that first year during the other coast in SX, he got a couple of rides in the premier class and showed that’s where he belonged. Had he not had to ‘waste’ a year in 2002, he likely would have won the 03 SX title.
Byrner, Metty, Anderson, Mormont, Reardon etc all had to ‘down class’ when in the US, when they’d already been riding the premier class for years.
I know every rider is different and ready at different times, but I don’t agree with the ‘you must ride the smaller class first to prove yourself’ mentality, especially when riders are already past that stage. It doesn’t achieve anything but hold the rider back. Yes rides are limited but if you hire a rider on their results in a premier class, let them ride that class.
It seems nearly every country outside of the USA has a development type class on the same day as the 250 and 450 title series. I understand that logistics make adding a class difficult, but if it’s truly for the best long term vision of the sport, maybe it’s time for a serious rejig? A 125 development class fits that need perfectly. And if a rider is better on a certain size bike, let them ride it regardless of age.
First of all, there was no age rule that forced Reed to ride in the ‘lesser’ class in 2002. So nothing about him applies to that, really.
Secondly, while Reed had a fantastic first year in the ‘premier’ SX class, it was also a year of massive injuries and Carmichael ‘managing’ the championship.
So while Reed had a great finish that year, let’s not rewrite history and put an asterisk on that SX title….!
You take the rides you can get - you're not offered / able to get a good package in your preferred class, or, conversely, you Are offered / able to get a ride in a class that enables you to race at a decent level, you take it. Or, you forgo an opportunity.
It's as simple as that.
Pit Row
On the euro side - what's the status of Liam Everts? Used to hear his name a lot of 65s but haven't seen much since (admit I don't follow the EMX classes so maybe he is in there).
Racing in EMX250, and doing quite well.
Doubtless some Wankers will think he's not doing well, but, they are, after all, Wankers.
His Dad, , and his Grandad, know MX just a little bit, and, his family seem to be doing well at keeping the massive, Massive expectations from him - generally, expectations from said Wankers.
I'm repeating Wankers so much, as that's what I think of people that go on about what They expect / want to see of a riders progression and pathway in this sport of ours. Look to your own (directed to the Wankers), not others youngsters, for f**ks sake. It's none of your business.
He's going into MX2 next year, apparently. He's contracted to KTM, from what I can gather, so they've got to sort out which KTM Group Team (so, three colours available) he'll be in.
He's been announced as being in Belgium's MXDN Team, just recently, with other riders concentrating on the World Championships, (and injuries) which is fair enough.
That is pretty much the whole series in a distance less than driving from Northern to Southern California.
And this stuff with Stew. Yes he won a title quickly, but there were a lot of pointless crashes and concussions in those early years. Maybe a little maturity and growing up off the bike would’ve helped that a bit and we would have had a better back half of James’ career to be blessed with.
This is the stupidest argument yet Depp just keeps going.
Injuries don't only happen to young rider's. I say go race and quit practicing while you still have the body to get the job done, and the family to support you. You won't get any healthier as it goes on.
Because of the fact they spend a lot of time and money just riding round facilities and not actually racing, and when they do , they try to ride classes that keep them away from each other, its almost impossible to know who is really fast and who isnt.
Am i right in thinking that McAdoo was on the fringes for a while before breaking out, he was never a prospect but usually finished 3rd to 2 guys that were, yet here he is, (or was) doing great.
I have followed LL for fair few years , and remember the early days . and back then there were guys who killed it on minis and superminis who never broke through, and now it seems like there are less top guys, and even less of them make it.
I want to see the top guys race each other, not spread over 6 classes.
That's DEFINITELY arbitrary enough.
👌
Post a reply to: Pro age rule, youth wasted? Kitchen and Kilroy aren’t the only fast guys in the amateurs.