Can a team change bikes mid season?

Black Diesel Bomber
I know it would likely never happen, but do the rules allow it or do you have to ride the same model year bike you started the season with?

Just wondering if Webb could ask Roger to pull his old bike out of the shed, regardless if KTM would actually do it or not. I know MC rode the '93 frame for several years, but not sure if a rider can switch mid season. I believe the rule is they have to race whatever bike they qualified on?

Webb didn't forget how to turn and Malcolm didn't forget how to blitz whoops. I hope they get it sorted.
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RyanD797
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RyanD797 2/1/2022 2:20pm
2/1/2022 2:20pm
You qualify for a race, not a season. The bike would just have to pass tech inspection for that race.
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GrapeApe
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GrapeApe 2/1/2022 2:21pm
2/1/2022 2:21pm Edited Date/Time 2/1/2022 2:23pm
Yes, as long as the bike they are switching to is homologated.
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Black Diesel Bomber 2/1/2022 2:22pm
2/1/2022 2:22pm
RyanD797 wrote:
You qualify for a race, not a season. The bike would just have to pass tech inspection for that race.
Nice, I didn't know if there was some sort of registration process for the year identifying what model bike you'll be racing.
TropicPilot 2/1/2022 2:33pm
2/1/2022 2:33pm
I think Villopoto switched to the 2012 Kawi midway through the 2011 outdoor season and saw his results and consistency improve right away. That's the last example I can think of, but its probably been done since then.
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Black Diesel Bomber 2/1/2022 2:37pm
2/1/2022 2:37pm
TropicPilot wrote:
I think Villopoto switched to the 2012 Kawi midway through the 2011 outdoor season and saw his results and consistency improve right away. That's the last...
I think Villopoto switched to the 2012 Kawi midway through the 2011 outdoor season and saw his results and consistency improve right away. That's the last example I can think of, but its probably been done since then.
Nice, I've never known about any top rider doing it so I was curious why it hasn't happened more when a new bike is released. People think it would be a bad look for the new bike if a rider switched but I don't see it as a bad bike but rather a new bike with limited testing
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JoJmoto
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JoJmoto 2/1/2022 2:40pm
2/1/2022 2:40pm
You can only use a homologated bike for up to 5 years in AMA Pro racing.
moto162
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moto162 2/1/2022 3:07pm
2/1/2022 3:07pm
Same with Langston back in the 07 season he won the title on the 08. They switched mid season to the 08 which was much improved over the 05-07 chassis set up.
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Black Diesel Bomber 2/1/2022 3:30pm
2/1/2022 3:30pm
Nice, so it sounds like Villopoto and Langston made switches many years ago. Anyone else?
ACBailey89
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ACBailey89 2/1/2022 3:39pm
2/1/2022 3:39pm
Yeah, but they switched to newer models not older ones
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smrscott
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smrscott 2/1/2022 3:41pm
2/1/2022 3:41pm
Marty Smith switched from a works bike to a production based bike back and forth to avoid it getting "Claimed" I think that was 1975 or 1976?
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Black Diesel Bomber 2/1/2022 3:48pm
2/1/2022 3:48pm
ACBailey89 wrote:
Yeah, but they switched to newer models not older ones
Okay, sounds like it's never been done then unless someone chimes in.

It sounds like McGrath is the only one who rode an older frame for several years.
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mattyhamz2 2/1/2022 4:12pm
2/1/2022 4:12pm
moto162 wrote:
Same with Langston back in the 07 season he won the title on the 08. They switched mid season to the 08 which was much improved...
Same with Langston back in the 07 season he won the title on the 08. They switched mid season to the 08 which was much improved over the 05-07 chassis set up.
If you’re talking about the Kawi 250F, 06-08 was the same chassis. 04-05 was the first gen, 06-08 second gen.
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motoxrocks
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motoxrocks 2/1/2022 4:22pm
2/1/2022 4:22pm
moto162 wrote:
Same with Langston back in the 07 season he won the title on the 08. They switched mid season to the 08 which was much improved...
Same with Langston back in the 07 season he won the title on the 08. They switched mid season to the 08 which was much improved over the 05-07 chassis set up.
mattyhamz2 wrote:
If you’re talking about the Kawi 250F, 06-08 was the same chassis. 04-05 was the first gen, 06-08 second gen.
Langston was riding Yam 450.
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TropicPilot 2/1/2022 4:24pm
2/1/2022 4:24pm
Didn't the MCR team put Brayton on the current model one year and keep Alessi and Friese on last year's model or something like that?
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Black Diesel Bomber 2/1/2022 4:26pm
2/1/2022 4:26pm
TropicPilot wrote:
Didn't the MCR team put Brayton on the current model one year and keep Alessi and Friese on last year's model or something like that?
I think you are correct but I don't believe they changed mid season.
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davis224
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davis224 2/1/2022 4:30pm
2/1/2022 4:30pm
It would be short sighted to change back to the old bike, gotta race the new one eventually, you'll get to the right set up faster by racing it.
Black Diesel Bomber 2/1/2022 4:40pm
2/1/2022 4:40pm
davis224 wrote:
It would be short sighted to change back to the old bike, gotta race the new one eventually, you'll get to the right set up faster...
It would be short sighted to change back to the old bike, gotta race the new one eventually, you'll get to the right set up faster by racing it.
Or, you stay in championship contention on your old bike and let your teammates do the testing as MCR did and hop on the new bike next year.
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Anonymous (not verified)
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Anonymous (not verified) 2/1/2022 4:48pm
2/1/2022 4:48pm Edited Date/Time 8/31/2026 9:15pm
Reed switched from Honda to KTM during the Covid shutdown and finished up the season on the new bike.
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yak651
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yak651 2/1/2022 4:50pm
2/1/2022 4:50pm
Last year Eli wasn’t Eli, riding very uninspired. Anderson was injured and didn’t care for Husky after they got rid of “his guy”. Sexton was a rookie going through learning season. Webb wasn’t dominating but riding well. Now those riders are on it and Webb has been pushed back in the pecking order. Has he come out blaming the bike? Maybe it’s not all about the bike…
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yota
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yota 2/1/2022 4:55pm
2/1/2022 4:55pm
like they are going to admit it if the new chassis sucks. if it is the chassis, they will fix it.
ccullins
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ccullins 2/1/2022 4:58pm
2/1/2022 4:58pm
moto162 wrote:
Same with Langston back in the 07 season he won the title on the 08. They switched mid season to the 08 which was much improved...
Same with Langston back in the 07 season he won the title on the 08. They switched mid season to the 08 which was much improved over the 05-07 chassis set up.
mattyhamz2 wrote:
If you’re talking about the Kawi 250F, 06-08 was the same chassis. 04-05 was the first gen, 06-08 second gen.
motoxrocks wrote:
Langston was riding Yam 450.
Also have to keep in mind that they basically built his race bike using the newer frame that had slightly different geometry than the older frame. It’s not like it was a completely different bike that had huge changes for 08. Nobody looking at the bike could see the difference.
Jack_Wagon
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Jack_Wagon 2/1/2022 5:01pm
2/1/2022 5:01pm
Reed swapped from Honda to KTM mid season SX 2020
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decano51
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decano51 2/1/2022 5:01pm
2/1/2022 5:01pm
Ken Roczen raced a KTM125 in the final round when he wrapped up the championship.
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mattyhamz2 2/1/2022 5:22pm
2/1/2022 5:22pm
moto162 wrote:
Same with Langston back in the 07 season he won the title on the 08. They switched mid season to the 08 which was much improved...
Same with Langston back in the 07 season he won the title on the 08. They switched mid season to the 08 which was much improved over the 05-07 chassis set up.
mattyhamz2 wrote:
If you’re talking about the Kawi 250F, 06-08 was the same chassis. 04-05 was the first gen, 06-08 second gen.
motoxrocks wrote:
Langston was riding Yam 450.
Man, I forgot all about him winning the title that year. I was still thinking PC 250 at that time.

Weren’t they minor changes from 07-08?
Mavetism
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Mavetism 2/1/2022 6:23pm
2/1/2022 6:23pm
yak651 wrote:
Last year Eli wasn’t Eli, riding very uninspired. Anderson was injured and didn’t care for Husky after they got rid of “his guy”. Sexton was a...
Last year Eli wasn’t Eli, riding very uninspired. Anderson was injured and didn’t care for Husky after they got rid of “his guy”. Sexton was a rookie going through learning season. Webb wasn’t dominating but riding well. Now those riders are on it and Webb has been pushed back in the pecking order. Has he come out blaming the bike? Maybe it’s not all about the bike…
Stop making shit up. Look up the results again and take a look at the second half of the season. Webb was THE guy. Only finishing off the podium four times plus 8 race wins. Clearly something is off this year. If not for his back injury in 2020 there would have been a good chance for him to be a three time champ now. Blows my mind how people still downplay him like that and I'm not even a Webb fan.
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flyliketrains 2/1/2022 6:45pm
2/1/2022 6:45pm
Has top level guy ever changed teams midseason and won a championship? I was always curious how it would work. For arguements sake say if Sexton did 16 rounds with Honda, switched teams or got released from his contract and won the title for factory Triumph or privateer Beta, who gets the championship?
KirkChandler
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KirkChandler 2/1/2022 7:00pm
2/1/2022 7:00pm
flyliketrains wrote:
Has top level guy ever changed teams midseason and won a championship? I was always curious how it would work. For arguements sake say if Sexton...
Has top level guy ever changed teams midseason and won a championship? I was always curious how it would work. For arguements sake say if Sexton did 16 rounds with Honda, switched teams or got released from his contract and won the title for factory Triumph or privateer Beta, who gets the championship?
Marvin Musquin switched from Honda to KTM midway through his first World Title.
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Black Diesel Bomber 2/1/2022 7:14pm
2/1/2022 7:14pm
flyliketrains wrote:
Has top level guy ever changed teams midseason and won a championship? I was always curious how it would work. For arguements sake say if Sexton...
Has top level guy ever changed teams midseason and won a championship? I was always curious how it would work. For arguements sake say if Sexton did 16 rounds with Honda, switched teams or got released from his contract and won the title for factory Triumph or privateer Beta, who gets the championship?
KirkChandler wrote:
Marvin Musquin switched from Honda to KTM midway through his first World Title.
Very interesting, please tell us more.
Meister
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Meister 2/1/2022 7:42pm
2/1/2022 7:42pm
Not a chance in hell ktm will let it happen n create that kinda look for their new model.
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KirkChandler
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KirkChandler 2/1/2022 7:59pm
2/1/2022 7:59pm
flyliketrains wrote:
Has top level guy ever changed teams midseason and won a championship? I was always curious how it would work. For arguements sake say if Sexton...
Has top level guy ever changed teams midseason and won a championship? I was always curious how it would work. For arguements sake say if Sexton did 16 rounds with Honda, switched teams or got released from his contract and won the title for factory Triumph or privateer Beta, who gets the championship?
KirkChandler wrote:
Marvin Musquin switched from Honda to KTM midway through his first World Title.
Black Diesel Bomber wrote:
Very interesting, please tell us more.
https://www.vitalmx.com/forums/Moto-Related,20/Musquin-to-Ktm-wait-no-back-to-honda,536000
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