Make Qualifying Great Again

rawdawgin
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I dont post much, unless I'm trying to sell something in the Bizarre. But, I had a thought last Saturday while watching Race Day Live. The show, while Weege and James make it as entertaining as they can, sucks.

In my opinion, there's two issues. First, the qualifying process is dumb. We saw Jett pull off the second one because the track was beat up and much slower, making it pointless for him to continue. Lots of risk with no benefit it seemed. Secondly, the broadcast is horrible for outdoors because of the format. I have an idea to fix both.

On most of the tracks it seems like the 2nd qualifier is a snooze fest and dudes are just looking for lines, setting up their bike for the motos, etc. Very rarely in outdoors, especially on the broadcast, do we see a guy go to the top of the board and bring some type of excitement to the show (unless its a mudder and the first session was a wash). We mainly see highlights of the session before, or an interview during press day thats asking what the riders what their favorite animal cracker is.

My idea.... make the 2nd qualifier count too. Combine BOTH sessions and make the average of the sessions be the overall seeding. This way, BOTH sessions will count toward the overall placement. Riders will NEED to do well in both sessions. It would make 250 B Group Session 1's weight not as heavy if they go back on the track after 450 group 1 B/C with a rough track for their second session.

This would make for a better show in my opinion. I thought of a con to this idea, and the only thing I can think of is if one of the guys has a bad crash or bike failure during 1 of the two sessions. But, then there is always the consolation race, so that sort of makes that point a non-factor.

Something has to change, because the Peacock Race Day Live show is wack for outdoors, and seeing B guys at the top makes no sense when we never see them in the Motos.

Anyone else agree? Or have suggesstions?

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yz133rider
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7/2/2024 9:51am

Damn good idea but way too complicated for the Neanderthals involved in motocross.

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rawdawgin
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7/2/2024 9:53am
yz133rider wrote:

Damn good idea but way too complicated for the Neanderthals involved in motocross.

HA! You may be correct.

But, they time each session.. Its not hard to average it. Timing and scoring can do that very easily

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Bonanza69
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7/2/2024 10:09am

One free practice and one qualifying would be enough.

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yz133rider
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7/2/2024 10:12am
yz133rider wrote:

Damn good idea but way too complicated for the Neanderthals involved in motocross.

rawdawgin wrote:

HA! You may be correct.

But, they time each session.. Its not hard to average it. Timing and scoring can do that very easily

I agree and I still stand by my statement lol.

 

it would solve the issue of random group b guys laying down heaters that are only possible because it’s a perfect track and then being a speed bump in the motos.

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The Shop

sumdood
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7/2/2024 10:39am

Qualifying by lap times on a track that changes every lap has to be one the dumbest Nascar-ey rule changes ever. Just drop the gate and race to qualify and get gate picks.  

 

Nevermind I forgot I'm a dinosaur who wants to watch races not "Heater laps" 

14
Motodragon
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7/2/2024 10:53am

How about the established top riders don’t do a qualifier and everyone else has to race an LCQ to fill the remaining gates. Everyone still gets a site lap before the main. 

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Fox88
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7/2/2024 10:54am

How about showing the entire first practice, throw it down to Will for the pit interviews and lifestyle filler during the intermission, then show all of second practice?  Even better, end the race day live show with the consolation races?! 

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7/2/2024 12:08pm

How about 2 practice sessions on Saturday, top 15 seeded in then the next 40 from P1&2 have a 6 lap qualifying race top 25 make it. National on on Sunday.

I know a lot of people who could make it to more nationals if they were on sunday still. Shit i have a hard time just making Red bud an hour away on Saturday some years due to business.

 

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7/2/2024 12:15pm
Bonanza69 wrote:

One free practice and one qualifying would be enough.

This ^^^^

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motomike137
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7/2/2024 12:17pm

2nd session is qualifying. 1st is practice/warm up. Problem solved.

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dsmith
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way north, IN US
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7/2/2024 12:21pm Edited Date/Time 7/2/2024 4:59pm

Easy...you get so much time to practice ....two different 40 group motos... top 16 qualifies to main....lcq top 8 go to main...same for sx just cut in half...

Shakybonez15
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7/2/2024 12:44pm Edited Date/Time 7/2/2024 12:48pm

Personally i had the same thought Saturday.

however if i was in charge. Id do it car racing style.

1 rider at a time. So the fans can watch their favorite rider wide open without another rider on the track.

1 slow sight lap, 1 rider at a time. for the top 30 only in 250s & 450s

1 hot lap per rider.. for the top 30 only 250s & 450s

riders outside of the top 30, so your 30-60 have to do a 8 min race in moto (to qualify) .

 

this would save time and also be challenging for the riders because now, you only get 1 shot to set a heater.. so that added pressure would be exciting to watch. Add in small bonus points structure (smarter people can do the numbers, so guys won’t wing it)

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KurtJ99
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7/2/2024 1:59pm Edited Date/Time 7/2/2024 2:21pm
yz133rider wrote:

Damn good idea but way too complicated for the Neanderthals involved in motocross.

The Homo Sapiens in MXGP run a qualifying race. More evolved more exciting. 

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peelout
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7/2/2024 2:06pm

top 20 get to pick a clothes pin from a bucket like the rest of us joeys.

the rest get to figure it out with a gate drop. 

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Not hillbilly
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7/2/2024 2:17pm
sumdood wrote:
Qualifying by lap times on a track that changes every lap has to be one the dumbest Nascar-ey rule changes ever. Just drop the gate and...

Qualifying by lap times on a track that changes every lap has to be one the dumbest Nascar-ey rule changes ever. Just drop the gate and race to qualify and get gate picks.  

 

Nevermind I forgot I'm a dinosaur who wants to watch races not "Heater laps" 

Throw in a few championship points and you have a great idea. Just like MXGP qualifying.

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dboivin
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7/2/2024 6:06pm
peelout wrote:
top 20 get to pick a clothes pin from a bucket like the rest of us joeys. the rest get to figure it out with a...

top 20 get to pick a clothes pin from a bucket like the rest of us joeys.

the rest get to figure it out with a gate drop. 

i seriously wish this was still the method. there is nothing better than watching the fastest guy get the 33rd clothespin

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Mit12
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7/2/2024 8:09pm Edited Date/Time 7/2/2024 8:11pm

There is no need for Qualifying in MX or SX. They start on a gate not in rows. Gate picks should be given by the points standings. This is just BS brought over from MXGP. Timed qualifying promotes one lined tracks. It is really obvious in SX. 

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7/2/2024 8:42pm

Timed qualifying is boring and stupid. Go back to racing to get in. It was a lot more exciting. They seeded the top 10 in the late 90,s. Everyone thought they should hv to qualify too.  People travel and spend money to see racing. Not timed riding.  And go back to racing on Sundays. Practice and qualifying on Saturday. A couple qualifying races on Sunday then the mains.

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dedi684
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Ravena, NY US
7/3/2024 3:57am

Qualifying races are much better imho

MxRewind
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Swansea, MA US
7/3/2024 12:50pm

Not that I have much leg to stand on in the AMA pro side of things as I haven’t qualified yet myself but I have noticed in Canada how kids that ran 5sec faster in qualifying would fade and I’d finish 10-15 spots better than I qualified. Needless to say speed does no good without being able to hold that speed

I always felt you’d get the best 40 if the first session was a timed 15 min session taking your fastest lap and then the second session a 15 minute moto and combine the overall for the qualifying for 36 and then your LCQ. That way you don’t get your one lap wonder who’s gonna fade vs the slower but steady who will hold the pace and not drop as far back 

Talon
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Beaver, UT US
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7/3/2024 1:07pm

Quit trying to shit on Tom Guyon’s top qualifier award over the best in the world. At least he backed it up with ZERO points. 

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SPYGUY
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7/3/2024 1:34pm
Talon wrote:

Quit trying to shit on Tom Guyon’s top qualifier award over the best in the world. At least he backed it up with ZERO points. 

Look at the bottom of the combined qualifiers sheet and moto results.  One rider that made it in was going 30 seconds per lap slower than Deegan at the end of 250 Moto 1. He got in over riders in the 250 A qualifying session that would have performed much better in the actual race but got screwed because of the ridiculous qualifying procedure.

It's baffling how we're comparing qualifying times on VASTLY different track conditions.

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