How should electric bikes be treated at local races?

I think that Open and Vet classes are a good place to start. Then  if and when there are enough electric bikes , and enough of a need to support it, there has been talk by Stark of  Stark providing a way for the sanctioning body to check power output so a 250 class could still be a thing. 

Hopefully Stark will provide that help to local race promoter's or track owners if they reach a certain number of Varg's racing  at a track. And not just provide it for use at the national levels.  Even if you are racing E bike VS. Ebike  a way of monitoring the power output would be helpful so there could still be multiple classes  similar to the displacement classes .    Or I wonder if those would go away . And you would only have  the class separated by chassis size.  So there would  only be a single Full size E bike class , instead of a  125 ,250 and 450 or Open class .  I guess then a second class could be  made up for age and skill so racers could still ride multiple classes. 

Cheating with an EMX bike might be easier to do and harder to catch, If there are power limited classes.  I wonder how the class structure will adapt if the time comes that there are a majority of electric or even a 50/50 split?       

As much as I hate the concept of battery powered bikes (they aren’t electric-my electric drill has a cord) I say let them run in the Open class.  If they are so wonderful and so much better, they’ll get banned and have to run their own class.  Personally I don’t think they’ll be all that much of an advantage if the power can somehow be regulated.  That’s the problem, you can go from 40-80 hp with a button push (and subscription).  I think it will be interesting to see how these work on trashed soft tracks though.  They seem to prefer optimal traction from all the videos I see.  I saw only 1 clip of a BP bike in sand and it was visibly struggling to gain forward motion.

Funny, just like the gear poll, everyone always posting about Fly and Oneal (but they are way back in rankings) and with e-moto there is so many posts hating on them, but the pollsters here seem to welcome them. Confusing bunch.

“We don’t like your kind around here”

the whole mx group says to the sole electric bike rider

they should run with the Quads 

Hahahahha

OK, I don't  necessarily agree with this, but that was damn funny.

Depends on power output when it comes to 250s and minis. Should be legal in non displacement vet classes, and 450/open classes. The faster/more fit rider is going to win anyhow. A track where a 450 can stay in 3rd gear the whole time is pretty even with electric, and for me, jumpy tracks are easier to learn on a gas 350 or 450 . Electric was harder for me to judge speed while learning jumps, but I'm a vet c class spode. It may be different for better riders. 

I agree unless it's a jumpy track. The older ex a/b riders still put whooping on me tho.

AMA Class Description for all the 450 class and Vet classes are "122cc to Open cc". That means there is no limit to the amount of cc's legal for the class. XR650 or if you can stuff a ZX1400 into a chassis it would be legal. So the VARG would be able to fit in that descrption. 

Those classes include 450 A, 450 B, 450 C and every vet class starting with Over 25 all the way through Over 60. 

BTW, I raced my Alta in two AMA and one non AMA races in Texas during 2018, all in the Over 50 class. 6 holeshots, 4 moto wins and 2 seconds. Looking forward to riding my VARG, but at 61 my racing days might be over. 

Technically, the Varg, and all other electric bikes are illegal as they do not meet the requirements set in the rulebook. 

Electric bikes are measured in watts/kilowatts, not cubic centimeters.

No option for the women's class?

I was thinking about identifying as one so I can finally win a local race.

I find it interesting that all of these concepts are something people are seeking in an MX bike.  Maybe the tracks need to be smoothed flat, jumps removed, whoops flattened and just have a TT track with banked turns.  That will make it much easier for everyone to ride without having to worry about any potential skill issues.

No kidding…..here we go

I say let them run wherever.....

We still do not have equal displacement AMA Pro racing....

With open arms welcoming them to their own class against electric machines.    End of discussion.  Next.

Because the AMA blew it with the four strokes, do we really want them to blow it again?  

Yes, that is what the AMA does best..

LOL   The reality is we have to dance with the girl we brought, and the AMA is the only "date" we have.   Dingman has not been a positive to the organization or SX/MX racing with getting rid of people with experience replacing them with less experienced but less costly to the AMA.  

I would prefer to see the AMA finally fix the displacement and get the electric bike thing right but not holding my breath given on the AMA's history.

Regular class. And if they wind up ruining 4-strokes forever, so much the better.

Considering ya can’t buy one what’s the point.  If ya can let me know where and what,  I might buy one!

they should be laughed at and shamed until they aren't at the local races

This. Its a no brainer. Put them in an open class. If there's three or more, they race each other. Say what you want about the bikes, they are cheaters. Easy to ride, will pull a holeshot and say bye-bye. Even with a spode like me on it. 

That sounds like the same things said about 4 strokes way  back when.

Ban then they are Racist !

with disdain?

1 moto in the morning then gtfo