Upgrade to enjoy this feature!
Vital MX fantasy is free to play, but Premium users receive great benefits. Premium benefits include:
- View and download rider stats
- Pick trends
- Create a private league
- And more!
Only $10 for all 2026 SX, MX, and SMX series.
The Shop
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
Free shipping: VITALMX
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
Height and Weight equal Center of Gravity (CG), so maybe we can adjust wheelbase and bike weight to adjust for CG, then we can get everyone on the motor displacement that we think would be fair for their combined weight and CG.
I know its complicated, but this is for pro racing only. What would that scale look like?
We'll make 450lbs. the highest combined rider & bike weight.
CamP at 6' 6" will be at the top on height but since he weighs less than the max of 225#, he only gets part of the maximum wheelbase extension.
We'll make 225lbs rider weight the highest body weight, so it carries no ballast on the bike. But if you weight 225 and you are only 5'5" you only get about half of the wheelbase extension to make your CG equal to everyone else's.
Depending on his height every rider would get whatever; WB, weight and displacement that he needed to keep his CG , acceleration and power to weight ratio that was equal to a set formula.
No one could say that they didn't get consideration for their body type and weight and that would be so much more fair than it is now. We the fans, would get to see some incredibly close racing from the first turn to the finish.
We'd be ablt to race Danica Patrick against Shak O'Neal and they would both have a fair chance in performance on the start and everywhere else.
Tall people can be successful in the sport look at Windham or Pastrana. I do think it is harder for us tall guys though (I am 6' 2"). IMO most taller guys are a little less coordinated, or it takes them a few years to grow into their new body size while maturing. I think height can be a slight disadvantage but can be overcome by talent and set up.
Big muscular guys on the other hand are almost no existent in our sport but my example is Weston Peick. He is a big boy for sure, but this year I flagged at the Steel City national and he was doing things on the bike that no one else had the muscle to do. I mean, it didnt matter if he made a mistake the bike was never in control of him, he could force that thing to go exactly where he wanted it. I think that could be an advantage to him and it was awesome to watch
Thats because they get thir butts kicked by skinny kids with a lower CG.
I want to see those big guys in our sport also and they aint gonna get here unless something is done.
You know why I have never heard of your Weston Peick? Becasue he's too big for the current rules.
I hope your Mr Peick proves physics wrong, but history in our sport says he won't.
He'd be better look at car racing until this sport gets some equalizing formula.
I do see the O.P. point though. BUT.....being short or tall.....both have advantages and disadvantages. It also depends on fitness ( which Preston never had!) and the heart that beats in your chest......as in how fucking bad do you want it?
some really good tall guys :
Mike "too tall" bell
David Bailey
Broc Glover
Marty Smith
Ron Lechien
Jonny O' ( I think?)
Mike Larocco ( I think?)
K.W.
D.V
And almost every guy i just named won championships. I remember an interview with Jeff ward where he mentioned he was at a "dis-advantage" because of his height as well. He said that Bailey and Glover could both soak up a lot of the rough tracks better.
I kind of think that the shorter guys have an advantage in the SX. Where as i think being a little taller out doors is an advantage. I'm speaking in general here , i'm not talking about RC , or Jeff ward.........just speaking in general.
Glover, Bailey, Johnson, lechien were all 6'2"
O'mara was about 5' 9"
KW is 6' 1" I think.
DV is about 6'3" and the Suzuli could not work for his height and weight last year and that retired him back to France.
Lorocco is about 5'10" I believe
Supercorss preview today (Saturday) 2:30PM Eastern on CBS
Your idea is ridiculous.
As is any suggestion of adding weight. Just because I work on keeping my weight down, I should get penalized to make it fair for the fatasses of the world?
Go back to school, your slaughter of the english language has put me off my tea.
What gives you the right to tell anyone they're wasting their time?
You are a proper tool.
Pit Row
1st its not Horse racing!
2nd yes, both have there pros and cons, but at the end of the day, the guy with the biggest heart will prevail. You state RC only had a perfect season due to his holeshots. What a load of crap! The guy simply put more into it then anyone else on the track. As another guy mentioned, technique and reaction time will help you more off the start then your size, nothing like a bit of extra weight over that tire to help it hook up!
3rd, Seen any Japanese over 6ft? didnt think so...
Now i do see valid points, but i also dont think theres much in, yes you can argue the centre of gravity point, and being bigger creates more force so when you hit the ground ect, but im a bigger framed rider (height wise not weight) and i think the biggest downer is not the height as such, its the leg length and peg to seat ratio (affecting yes, the centre of gravity and being able to grip the bike better) but as CamP says, and i agree, its not such a bad thing on rough tracks! And i also agree with the pant length comment!
Just my 2 cents...
"Injuries did not effect Charmichael, he never had to bend his legs."
Funny those little stumps of his couldn't avoid blowing out ACLs eh... RV's stumps failed him recently too, and Mike Alessi seems to disagree with your theory too. The list could go on forever. As it could (both ways) with tall guys.
I think there could be something to this thread, but I think its more of an aesthetical thing. Often short dudes style just look really good (Grant for example) , this transfers to BMX too, some of the biggest style cats out there are well under 6 ft (Mike Aitken, Mike Miller, Steven Hamilton).
I think the short people don't get hurt thing is bull shit though, it would be very easy to find a list of 5'7 dudes with horrific injuries.
Why is Pourcel not mentioned in this thread? He looks like he was bred to be on a motorcycle, same with Everts (literally). Bottom line is there are obviously pros and cons to either. But to say "Big strong and/or Tall guys have no place in pro MX/SX these days" is a bit sensational and pining for attention!
just sayin
Give them all equel desire.; Do that by giving them all a fair shot at winning starting with the start then the turns then getting from turn to turn then making sure they do not wear out becasue of some height difference, or weight disadvantage (to the small guys) and finally let determination give them the rest.
How many guys think they are going to win a MX/SX usually 1 , sometimes 2, a few times in history 3 or 4, the racers generally know who is going to win. The rest have a postioin in mind that they want and it aint 1st.
Change that by letting them know they have as good an opportunity as the next guy, if hey hang it out, no matter what size or wieght or anyhing else either of them might be.
If you think its that way now, then you live in coo coo land or never raced and haven't a clue land and have watched too much WWF.
Moto and hockey all all us short guys have left.
450's were made for you strong tall fat guys how much advantage do you need?
Post a reply to: Big strong and/or Tall guys have no place in pro MX/SX these days