Is super cross seriously THAT difficult?

3/12/2022 1:34pm
I've never seen any other racing series where the talent and speed differential through the field is so vast. It seems like there's only about 10-15...
I've never seen any other racing series where the talent and speed differential through the field is so vast. It seems like there's only about 10-15 actual pros between all three classes. I genuinely think I could show up at a west coast race and qualify for the night show having never ridden SX before.

Guys with more experience, why is the field soooooo spread out? A few tenths between the pros and then 5+ seconds/lap compared to the trash riders filling the bottom of the classes.
wb173 wrote:
Almost as easy as wondering why there's a space between "super" and "cross" in your title; or why Brandon flew over the fence...
Posting from mobile and it autocorrected. At least I don't call it MOTERCROSS!
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MotoChris
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3/12/2022 1:38pm
The lappers in Supercross would blow your mind if you watched them at a local track. Comparing them to the elite in this sport says more about the elite than it does about the rest.
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wb173
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Spring, TX, USA
3/12/2022 1:40pm
I've never seen any other racing series where the talent and speed differential through the field is so vast. It seems like there's only about 10-15...
I've never seen any other racing series where the talent and speed differential through the field is so vast. It seems like there's only about 10-15 actual pros between all three classes. I genuinely think I could show up at a west coast race and qualify for the night show having never ridden SX before.

Guys with more experience, why is the field soooooo spread out? A few tenths between the pros and then 5+ seconds/lap compared to the trash riders filling the bottom of the classes.
wb173 wrote:
Almost as easy as wondering why there's a space between "super" and "cross" in your title; or why Brandon flew over the fence...
Posting from mobile and it autocorrected. At least I don't call it MOTERCROSS!
Cool. I forget to check what I send often.
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The Shop

Meister
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3/12/2022 1:42pm
Ignorance is deep with this one.

Do you currently race? If so, what's your name and let's see some results.
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dsmith
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Fantasy
3/12/2022 1:42pm
Dood...you'd break something
Patrick Potato
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3/12/2022 1:44pm
If you can’t spell *Supercross correctly, then yes. For you it would be extremely difficult.
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Titan1
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3/12/2022 1:45pm
I remember a local pro that would clean house every local race…125 and 250 class…dominate.

Showed up at the SLC supercross…couldn’t even come close to qualifying…rode around the whoops almost every lap of practice…looked like a total amateur out there. I was shocked! The way he rode locally, I thought FOR SURE make the night show and likely make the main…I thought he was that good.

So I think the OP is drastically underestimating just how good those guys that are getting lapped in the main event actually are…and they are probably a lot closer in talent to Tomac, than you’d like to admit (despite the lap time difference).
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3/12/2022 1:52pm
Titan1 wrote:
I remember a local pro that would clean house every local race…125 and 250 class…dominate. Showed up at the SLC supercross…couldn’t even come close to qualifying…rode...
I remember a local pro that would clean house every local race…125 and 250 class…dominate.

Showed up at the SLC supercross…couldn’t even come close to qualifying…rode around the whoops almost every lap of practice…looked like a total amateur out there. I was shocked! The way he rode locally, I thought FOR SURE make the night show and likely make the main…I thought he was that good.

So I think the OP is drastically underestimating just how good those guys that are getting lapped in the main event actually are…and they are probably a lot closer in talent to Tomac, than you’d like to admit (despite the lap time difference).
Thanks man. This is actually the type of insight I was hoping for. So the time gap in supercross doesn't really translate like it does with other types of racing is what I'm gathering. 10% skill/talent difference could make 10 seconds a lap in supercross whereas in flat track it would make .1 second a lap. That makes sense.
8
Spoonguy
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3/12/2022 1:57pm
Separation at the pro level is pretty severe in trials and GNCC too.
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1
Flatliner
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3/12/2022 2:00pm
Tv doesn’t do it justice.

Get down to track level and prepare to be amazed.
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kijen
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3/12/2022 2:00pm
I walked Daytona after the race, respect any rider that makes it around the track at speed.
But i get your point, the few elite are the only ones with a chance, and by the end of the season, if we're lucky, 2 have a shot at the championship ship.
I think a lot of individual sports are like this though.
boxing, tennis, swimming, usually have only a few that dominate. I would say golf is the exception,.
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Ryan625
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3/12/2022 2:02pm
aeffertz wrote:
Post a photo of you even rolling a SX triple or set of whoops.

Embarrassing thread…
I’ve ridden several “spec” SX tracks. Even rolling the whoops is hard lol

It would typically take me all day to hit everything (not even the “fast lines”) and I used to consider myself pretty decent. SX tracks are gnarly dude.
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plowboy
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3/12/2022 2:05pm
I will tell you the truth...most people that ride dirt bikes could not make 1 lap on an SX track. The guys you see gooning around during qualifying are really good dirt bike riders. The guys that make the night show and finish 22nd are bad mofo's. The top guys are freaks. What they do shouldn't be possible. I can't think of any other sport that is as physically and mentally demanding of a human. Having said this...it would be pretty boring to have only 5 or 6 guys on the gate.
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1
1911
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3/12/2022 2:07pm
I've never seen any other racing series where the talent and speed differential through the field is so vast. It seems like there's only about 10-15...
I've never seen any other racing series where the talent and speed differential through the field is so vast. It seems like there's only about 10-15 actual pros between all three classes. I genuinely think I could show up at a west coast race and qualify for the night show having never ridden SX before.

Guys with more experience, why is the field soooooo spread out? A few tenths between the pros and then 5+ seconds/lap compared to the trash riders filling the bottom of the classes.
1911 wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2022/03/12/537774/s1200_22721972_3A2D_447F_845B_46FD925540EF.jpg[/img]

I honestly don't think that many of the riders are using cocaine and I wouldn't classify it as a PED by any means. I've done tons...
I honestly don't think that many of the riders are using cocaine and I wouldn't classify it as a PED by any means. I've done tons of it.
Done tons of it, are you Rick James?
3/12/2022 2:11pm
I've never seen any other racing series where the talent and speed differential through the field is so vast. It seems like there's only about 10-15...
I've never seen any other racing series where the talent and speed differential through the field is so vast. It seems like there's only about 10-15 actual pros between all three classes. I genuinely think I could show up at a west coast race and qualify for the night show having never ridden SX before.

Guys with more experience, why is the field soooooo spread out? A few tenths between the pros and then 5+ seconds/lap compared to the trash riders filling the bottom of the classes.
It is that difficult, yes. unless you have a personal built to spec maintained SX track, a bike built for it(make that a few bikes), a couple of mechanics and a budget to pay for it all along with your flights across the country so you can return to your SX track to practice mid week. (Go ahead and get the trainer personal doc and nutrition plan going also) You ain’t learning this shit in a field or local track. You just asking this question tells me that a guy with a P30 qualifying time in SX would pass you on your favorite track so fast it would peel the paint off your helmet and make you take your bike to the shop to see if anything is wrong with it. If Etnicknap is college ball, those who wonder how foreign a SX track is are T-ball.
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1
lumpy790
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York, SC, USA
3/12/2022 2:22pm
I've never seen any other racing series where the talent and speed differential through the field is so vast. It seems like there's only about 10-15...
I've never seen any other racing series where the talent and speed differential through the field is so vast. It seems like there's only about 10-15 actual pros between all three classes. I genuinely think I could show up at a west coast race and qualify for the night show having never ridden SX before.

Guys with more experience, why is the field soooooo spread out? A few tenths between the pros and then 5+ seconds/lap compared to the trash riders filling the bottom of the classes.
Your in Charlotte so drive 30 minutes north to Statesville and see if you can hang with Chad Reed on his SX track and get back to us.
4
TeamGreen
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Thru-out, CA, USA
3/12/2022 2:26pm
I've never seen any other racing series where the talent and speed differential through the field is so vast. It seems like there's only about 10-15...
I've never seen any other racing series where the talent and speed differential through the field is so vast. It seems like there's only about 10-15 actual pros between all three classes. I genuinely think I could show up at a west coast race and qualify for the night show having never ridden SX before.

Guys with more experience, why is the field soooooo spread out? A few tenths between the pros and then 5+ seconds/lap compared to the trash riders filling the bottom of the classes.
Hey, there...uh...yeah...have you EVER even so much as WALKED an actual supercross track?

Askin' for a friend.

Grinning
6
nousername
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Box Springs, GA, USA
3/12/2022 2:46pm
Ok so I wasn't trying to say it looks easy. I'm just wondering why there are so few guys able to do it. Not even enough...
Ok so I wasn't trying to say it looks easy. I'm just wondering why there are so few guys able to do it. Not even enough to fill a field with actual competition.
Shouldn't that tell you how hard it really is?
captmoto
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3/12/2022 2:49pm
Have at it, pal. Make sure your health insurance is up to date
Life insurance too.
Cali
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3/12/2022 2:51pm
People crack me up, I’m positive OP has never been to a live SX event.
captmoto
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3/12/2022 2:52pm
Brad460 wrote:
QB is probably a good analogy…the more skill required, the fewer the elite…
Similar to a starting MLB pitcher with a winning record.
captmoto
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3/12/2022 2:55pm
I'm surprised this thread has survived this long without hitting the dumbgeon.
TeamGreen
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3/12/2022 3:01pm
Cali wrote:
People crack me up, I’m positive OP has never been to a live SX event.
Well, this one time, at band camp, he watched one on tv.
1
ktmdan
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Houston, TX, USA
3/12/2022 3:04pm Edited Date/Time 3/12/2022 3:05pm
Can we just like clip this guy orrr…
1
1
Joey_Bridges
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3/12/2022 3:05pm
Maxing out the video game isn't quite the same, dude.

4
mark293
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3/12/2022 3:16pm Edited Date/Time 3/12/2022 3:42pm
I raced amateur day in the Astrodome the day after (or was it the day before?). I wasn't able to do a single obstacle, and I was a fast Novice.
clem
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3/12/2022 3:24pm
This post reflects what four strokes have done to the sport.
js451
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3/12/2022 3:29pm
Yeah for sure bro like it’s not even hard dude man you got this legend
Carstensen14
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3/12/2022 3:35pm
Back when tomac was on geico honda, watching him spin laps on the milestone sx track was insane.
When he went threw the bowl turns, the berm would flex/ shake/ move and just feeling the ground shake when he went through the woops every lap. Compared to the other guys that day. Insane
It reminds me of North shore pipeline, when that place is pumping, you can feel the waves hit the reef from the parking lot.
1

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