Future of 250 class and SX futures?

Phillip_Lamb
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Edited Date/Time 2/3/2022 1:52pm
Many people think that the current East/west series is long in the tooth and seems to be conflicted with balancing who the class is for ranging from being strictly rookies but also somehow including veterans riders who can get paid to race a 250 instead of a 450.

With the supercross futures being turned into an exclusive 250 (amatuer a/b) class and being ran on same day does the 'futures' class take the place as a regional pro/am series? and if so, does the 250 class turn into a national series or stay regional?

or does it stay in its relative state as an exhibition?


Personally i would like to see a 250 class mimic what used to be featured in the AX series, a national series and a pro/am regional.
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deanwhite51
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2/1/2022 5:59pm
now that futures are in play, 250 class should be a complete national class.

it was split to east vs west prior because 125 was a feeder class before going to the premier class and riders where looking to prove them selves and than move up.

Now people are going pro in their 20's and staying until they are late 20's.. its no longer a feeder class.
the 250's are almost setting the same lap times as the 450's in some races.

Outdoor nationals is combined and has no issue or shortage of factory rides.



Crazy to think before 2018.. Majority of the past SX champions had won multiple SX titles and retired by 27 years of age...
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ACBailey89
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2/1/2022 6:08pm
Tell me you want less people to make a living in the sport we love without telling me.
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2/1/2022 7:41pm
ACBailey89 wrote:
Tell me you want less people to make a living in the sport we love without telling me.
Get your point but what type of living do you really think 11th to 20th are earning in 250’s?
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ACBailey89
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2/1/2022 9:33pm Edited Date/Time 2/1/2022 9:33pm
Not just those guys would lose there jobs. Also all the factory 250 teams would cut down on size. Star would go to a 2-3 rider team in 250s rather than the 4-5 guys in 250s they have now. Same with Pro Circuit. Not to mention all the privateer teams that would go by the wayside without a chance of making a main with no East/West splits. It talking about riders, but also mechanics, team managers, drivers etc. Lots of jobs lost in the industry.
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Phillip_Lamb
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2/1/2022 11:52pm
ACBailey89 wrote:
Not just those guys would lose there jobs. Also all the factory 250 teams would cut down on size. Star would go to a 2-3 rider...
Not just those guys would lose there jobs. Also all the factory 250 teams would cut down on size. Star would go to a 2-3 rider team in 250s rather than the 4-5 guys in 250s they have now. Same with Pro Circuit. Not to mention all the privateer teams that would go by the wayside without a chance of making a main with no East/West splits. It talking about riders, but also mechanics, team managers, drivers etc. Lots of jobs lost in the industry.
if there is a ama sx title to win,they will hire guys to win it.

this would just change the rules of the current east/west to allow amatuers in much like canada's 250 class; then add a 250 national series.

this wouldnt kill off jobs just spread them around differently,

if anything id be more concerned with having enough riders show up to fill the gates

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mx313
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2/1/2022 11:56pm
ACBailey89 wrote:
Not just those guys would lose there jobs. Also all the factory 250 teams would cut down on size. Star would go to a 2-3 rider...
Not just those guys would lose there jobs. Also all the factory 250 teams would cut down on size. Star would go to a 2-3 rider team in 250s rather than the 4-5 guys in 250s they have now. Same with Pro Circuit. Not to mention all the privateer teams that would go by the wayside without a chance of making a main with no East/West splits. It talking about riders, but also mechanics, team managers, drivers etc. Lots of jobs lost in the industry.
I wouldn't be surprised if they stayed 4 rider teams. They have all 4 or more racing outdoors.
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Indy mxer
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2/2/2022 4:20am
I agree with the OP. The 250 class can no longer be called a feeder class. Time to combine them and watch the best riders compete every week.
At the very least Daytona should be an E/W shootout every year.
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mxtech1
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2/2/2022 7:14am
I used to be a long time believer that East/West should be eliminated making the 250s a "premier" pro class alongside 450s. My reason for this was force the best 250 riders to line up against each other every weekend and compete for wins.

After watching the last couple rounds of Futures, I have completely changed my mind. Aside from a couple standouts, these guys are really lacking in speed, technique, and endurance to compete at a TV-worthy level. I'm not saying they are bad riders, it was just never so evident of the skill gap between amateur and pro until you make them all ride the same track. A tamed down SX track for amateur day is cake compared to the race day SX track for pros.

After seeing this, I do think the East/West format is still providing value and preparing guys for the 450 class. The futures program is going to benefit the privateer type rider trying to get SX experience and qualifying points.
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CR92
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Fantasy
2/2/2022 7:32am
I don't personally agree with combining the coasts. I think a lot of riders will lose their rides, people will lose jobs. That said, I believe the problem is with the pointing out rules.
As above stated, it is no longer a feeder class, it's a full on pro class. So why point people out? If they want to stay, stay.
Develop the supercross futures into the feeder class and maybe add another class to it, like 125's.
Personally, that's what I'd like to see.
rhargrave431
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2/2/2022 7:33am
To me, leave it as a regional series, but force guys to point out and move up. Whether it's career points, wins, seasons, salary caps, whatever.
For the people that say that "there aren't enough rides in 450s", it forces the current riders to step up. I like Bogle, Hartraft, and all these guys, but you can't say that Craig and Nichols wouldn't be doing better. Wouldn't J Mart being doing just as good as Craig on a 450 outdoors?
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brimx153
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2/2/2022 10:44am
Imo we are just going through a low atm for talent . It's the weakest 250 class in years the last couple of years . Give it a couple of year s could be completely different . The only riders I could see win races in 450 s any time soon are j mart (outdoor s ) J coop and Jett . Only j mart would have a chance atm
early
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2/2/2022 12:21pm
If I had the keys to the kingdom...

450SX: 20 rider gate, 17 rnds, 2 15 min motos per round, moto scores tallied for overall finish, points based on overall finish, bonus points paid for moto wins, top daytime qualifying time.

250SX: same as 450SX

250 Futures West, South, North: 20 rider gate, ages 16-20, AMA B-Pro class, 250 Limited rules (similar to Loretta rules), 4 rounds per region, 3 round combined runoff with regional top 10 to crown futures champion, futures champion must advance to 250/450SX. 1 12 minute moto, extra daytime practice sessions.

Night show:
450
250
Futures
250
450
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2/3/2022 11:14am Edited Date/Time 2/3/2022 11:17am
250 is a feeder series. Professional, but still a feeder series. How many young riders WANT to spend their entire career in 250, and have no interest in ever racing the 450 class. None. They all dream of being a 450 champ. 450 is the dream, 250 is a step on the path to getting there. There will always be one class that is more prestigious, and that class is 450. And 250 feeds riders into 450.
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ATKpilot99
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2/3/2022 11:20am
250 is a feeder series. Professional, but still a feeder series. How many young riders WANT to spend their entire career in 250, and have no...
250 is a feeder series. Professional, but still a feeder series. How many young riders WANT to spend their entire career in 250, and have no interest in ever racing the 450 class. None. They all dream of being a 450 champ. 450 is the dream, 250 is a step on the path to getting there. There will always be one class that is more prestigious, and that class is 450. And 250 feeds riders into 450.
Why do some riders sandbag , the true meaning of the word , to stay in the class ? Riders like Craig end up back there even if not necessarily by his choice . It hasn't been a feeder class since the 125 days .
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2/3/2022 11:24am
early wrote:
If I had the keys to the kingdom... 450SX: 20 rider gate, 17 rnds, 2 15 min motos per round, moto scores tallied for overall finish...
If I had the keys to the kingdom...

450SX: 20 rider gate, 17 rnds, 2 15 min motos per round, moto scores tallied for overall finish, points based on overall finish, bonus points paid for moto wins, top daytime qualifying time.

250SX: same as 450SX

250 Futures West, South, North: 20 rider gate, ages 16-20, AMA B-Pro class, 250 Limited rules (similar to Loretta rules), 4 rounds per region, 3 round combined runoff with regional top 10 to crown futures champion, futures champion must advance to 250/450SX. 1 12 minute moto, extra daytime practice sessions.

Night show:
450
250
Futures
250
450
Don't make Futures a championship. Just let the races be races.

Night Show
450 LCQ
Futures
450 Moto1
250
450 Moto2
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2/3/2022 11:27am
We always want to changes things, but my vote is to leave it like it is for the 250 pro class. I would rather futures race on Sundays like it was the first year(before covid). They can tame the tracks down a small bit and let the championship be races on the full supercross track at the last round.
2/3/2022 11:29am
250 is a feeder series. Professional, but still a feeder series. How many young riders WANT to spend their entire career in 250, and have no...
250 is a feeder series. Professional, but still a feeder series. How many young riders WANT to spend their entire career in 250, and have no interest in ever racing the 450 class. None. They all dream of being a 450 champ. 450 is the dream, 250 is a step on the path to getting there. There will always be one class that is more prestigious, and that class is 450. And 250 feeds riders into 450.
ATKpilot99 wrote:
Why do some riders sandbag , the true meaning of the word , to stay in the class ? Riders like Craig end up back there...
Why do some riders sandbag , the true meaning of the word , to stay in the class ? Riders like Craig end up back there even if not necessarily by his choice . It hasn't been a feeder class since the 125 days .
How is it not a feeder series? Riders sandbag because they want a factory 450 seat. Do you think if he had a Factory 450 ride on offer he'd blow it off to stay in 250? Not a chance. If a factory 450 isn't on offer, a factory 250 is the next best option.

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early
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2/3/2022 12:50pm
We always want to changes things, but my vote is to leave it like it is for the 250 pro class. I would rather futures race...
We always want to changes things, but my vote is to leave it like it is for the 250 pro class. I would rather futures race on Sundays like it was the first year(before covid). They can tame the tracks down a small bit and let the championship be races on the full supercross track at the last round.
Ideally, the "250 futures" class riders would already have years of racing the day after events on 65s 85s superminis and 125s and be ready to move up to the full sx track but without the competition of the 250 class. The last 2 years have thrown a wrench in that plan.
Radical
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2/3/2022 1:52pm
I believe it's a good balance the way it is.
One of the purposes of the East/West is to make it easier for privateers to compete.
It costs a lot of money to do a full series.

I also think that moving riders up earlier would result in more riders doing poorly in 450 and retiring earlier.

I'd rather have (2) 250 half series, plus 450.

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