Posts
221
Joined
3/14/2014
Location
Schaumburg, IL
US
Edited Date/Time
5/3/2022 5:30pm
As a long time GP fan, I used to always look forward to the USGP's to see how the 2 series stack up. After the success of the Red Bud MXoN (which was my 2nd one to attend in person - 2016 Maggiora being first), I was sure a regular USGP would be back on the schedule, but was really disappointed when the schedules came out the last 2 years and nothing there.
I have been sitting on an idea that I think could make it successful again. To me there are 2 key factors that haven't been there in the last few attempts (Fla, Charlotte, Glen Helen) that need to happen to make it successful and sustainable:
1) Make it count for both series - when the only motivation to ride the race is that you are a Monster athlete and your contract says you have to, then only those guys show up and often not very motivated
2) Put it in the "middle" of the season - if it is in May the US based riders are too close to SX, if it is toward the end of the series too many riders are injured or people are often protecting championship leads.
That's it, just those 2 things...
Ok, so how to make this work: Clearly, if 2020 has shown us nothing else, it is that we can be flexible and look at different options for how to format races and schedules. My proposal would be to go to a 2 day event similar to the MXoN (and GP's), where Sat is the qualifying day, with the difference that on Sat, the AMA riders and normal GP riders stay separate. The race is limited to the top 40 in points to enter from either series (wildcards for GP side could be added if not enough to fill gates). Top 10 in points for both series will get an automatic bid to the main races, but still have to do the qualifying race on Sat to determine gate pick Sunday.
Sat Schedule: 2 timed practice sessions for each group, followed by 20 min + 1 lap qualifying races for each group (250 AMA / GP & 450 AMA / GP). Top 19 from each group automatically qualify for Sunday races (unless someone from the top 10 in points drops out of the top 19). 1st Gate pick Sunday will be based on faster qualifying race.
Sun Schedule: 2 practice / warm up sessions with the groups together for the first time. In between session 1 and session 2 - B Main (one of my favorite races at MXoN) - 15 min + 1 lap - top 2 in each division make main races. Then normal 250 and 450 motos with points paid to both series.
I think the 450 rules are close enough that this should work awesome! If we can't get past the age rule in the 250 class for the GP's then keep them separate and have AMA run Sat and GP Sun. The main thing is to get the 450 guys together at least once a year!!!!
Where should it be held:
My theory is that is would be on a rotating schedule thru some of the more iconic tracks on the schedule: Red Bud, Unadilla, Millville, and Washougal. 5 yr rotating schedule, with an MXoN thrown in on the 5th year.
Could definitely include other tracks to that list, but my theory is that it should be no earlier than Rd 5 and no later than Rd 9 (of the AMA series and at least 3-4 rds left in GP's).
Thoughts? Could it work? DC - please get us a GP back!!!!
I have been sitting on an idea that I think could make it successful again. To me there are 2 key factors that haven't been there in the last few attempts (Fla, Charlotte, Glen Helen) that need to happen to make it successful and sustainable:
1) Make it count for both series - when the only motivation to ride the race is that you are a Monster athlete and your contract says you have to, then only those guys show up and often not very motivated
2) Put it in the "middle" of the season - if it is in May the US based riders are too close to SX, if it is toward the end of the series too many riders are injured or people are often protecting championship leads.
That's it, just those 2 things...
Ok, so how to make this work: Clearly, if 2020 has shown us nothing else, it is that we can be flexible and look at different options for how to format races and schedules. My proposal would be to go to a 2 day event similar to the MXoN (and GP's), where Sat is the qualifying day, with the difference that on Sat, the AMA riders and normal GP riders stay separate. The race is limited to the top 40 in points to enter from either series (wildcards for GP side could be added if not enough to fill gates). Top 10 in points for both series will get an automatic bid to the main races, but still have to do the qualifying race on Sat to determine gate pick Sunday.
Sat Schedule: 2 timed practice sessions for each group, followed by 20 min + 1 lap qualifying races for each group (250 AMA / GP & 450 AMA / GP). Top 19 from each group automatically qualify for Sunday races (unless someone from the top 10 in points drops out of the top 19). 1st Gate pick Sunday will be based on faster qualifying race.
Sun Schedule: 2 practice / warm up sessions with the groups together for the first time. In between session 1 and session 2 - B Main (one of my favorite races at MXoN) - 15 min + 1 lap - top 2 in each division make main races. Then normal 250 and 450 motos with points paid to both series.
I think the 450 rules are close enough that this should work awesome! If we can't get past the age rule in the 250 class for the GP's then keep them separate and have AMA run Sat and GP Sun. The main thing is to get the 450 guys together at least once a year!!!!
Where should it be held:
My theory is that is would be on a rotating schedule thru some of the more iconic tracks on the schedule: Red Bud, Unadilla, Millville, and Washougal. 5 yr rotating schedule, with an MXoN thrown in on the 5th year.
Could definitely include other tracks to that list, but my theory is that it should be no earlier than Rd 5 and no later than Rd 9 (of the AMA series and at least 3-4 rds left in GP's).
Thoughts? Could it work? DC - please get us a GP back!!!!
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I did get a nice LOL from Mr Info, so that was cool!
I figured one of the biggest blocking points was that the Nationals were sponsored by Red Bull while the GPs were sponsored by Monster. Based on the announcement on RacerX earlier this week, that is now gone and both are Monster Series.
With Red Bud up again this year for MXoN, Cairoli coming over for some Nats and clear interest from Herlings, why can't something like this happen? Clearly there is interest to get both sides together.
Many tracks have tried, With high hopes, but the fans didn’t show up in enough quantity to make it a winner. The last giant crowds the USGP saw were at Carlsbad and Unadilla in the early to mid 80s. The other races struggled to bring in the crowds, even the last couple Years at Carlsbad and Unadilla saw dwindling attendance compared to the peaks.
The MXDN is another animal and will be interesting to compare Redbud 18 to Redbud 22.
edit: the true badass's would ride both days
DC
Racer X
Then it’ll increase the USA chances of having a riders within the title hunt once the series comes to them.
As long as the elite US riders are more interested in staying national riders because it’s easier way to make a living, then I don’t see much changing unfortunately.
Pit Row
And that's a shame.
Post a reply to: Can we get a USGP in 2021 or now 2023 and beyond? Please!?!?!