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"Lap them once and they should go out" If he thinks so, someone might have to think again what to do next year...
Seriously, as a Spaniard, he makes it really hard to root for him, he really likes to say things like this, and, unlike the MXGP media/athomsphere/fanbase, things like this will not go unnoticed and it could Backfire him if he doesn't back it up.
Work out what that is, and think what a 15 rider gate will look like.
Idk why you expect consistency on this site, like there's ever been a thread where everyone agrees on something.
on a personal level, I genuinely have no problem with that as long as it aids in the pedigree & perception of the sport. Indoors or Out. The whole "argument" against WMX back in the day was, "- barring Ashley, Tarah, Sarah, JP - it just looks bad because the gap is sooo big." It's genuinely that. It's the same thing? I'd even go as far as saying there are moments it looks like LMP3 / Dentists in IMSA haha
+ a Third class, cut down race length or go back to a two-day. Naturally, you would have to drop it back to 130% or something to reach a 15 man gate. But either relegating the rest OR already having them slated for the 3rd class. Something that would give that group from 16th-50th (in Qualifying) a consistent place where they can get a greater opportunity for racing visibility, (by perspective) it would make it look a lot more dynamic, incentivize fans to stand along the fences longer, give a larger forum for the more personality-driven athletes a place to get results / screen time, etc.
I don't know, just some random thoughts for a Wednesday morning.
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Reason most spanish fans root for ruben. I hope gets smoked in SX.
But positions 30-40 still get in the way being lapped, and create more confusion when going multiple laps down. Recall the Houston supercross where Wilson was getting the blue flag but thought is was for another rider who was going 2 laps down, ultimately resulting in blocking Roczen who immediately got passed by Webb for the win. They also add to the risk of first turn/lap crashes and battling with elite riders who could instead be battling with other elite riders.
I don't think eliminating lappers is realistic, but taking away the slowest 25% would reduce lappers by - rough estimate because I don't know who is still circulating at the end - 50% of leaders passing a lapper. The confusion and risk is not proportional. As you say the racers getting lapped the first time and the end of the moto may individually be more of a problem, but easy problems can be solved by removing riders before the start.
Privateers getting sponsorship is hard enough, i cant imagine a sponsor would be happy getting less value if the have to pull off.
For most privateers, the only exposure they get is whist being actually lapped.
MotoAmerica alters the max % over fastest qualifier by class. Easy adjustment, same concept.
Alternatively, we have decades of laptime data to see what would make more sense for a starting number, rather than just filling the gate because that's what they've always done. Seems like the Australian method of sending breakdancers to the Olympics.
I don’t expect consistency. However I do expect sound logic.
I guess he was thinking about outdoor and not SX, 2 minutes VS 1 minute lap times.
I think some sort of mid-race "cut" would be beneficial, but one big issue I could see is that the riders are really hard to identify in severe mud races. Most can't be distinguished until they ride past so you can see the name/number on the back of the jersey if that isn't caked with mud too.
Either if you get lapped before a certain time in the race, or make it a cut off time and position instead.
Like 20min in, only top 20 will remain. It will be a race within the race to get to top before the mark. You could use a simple light on the bar to indicate if you are inside or outside the cut off.
Light on bar. If it's red, you will need to pull off when the 20min flagg is thrown.
I say leave it all alone. People will be complaining about the exact same thing 20 years from now, but if you make the top 40 you've earned the right to race.
As a TV spectator having only 20 riders would make zero difference. The only way I know that anyone is from 21st and back is from the panel on the broadcast.
We already have 22 riders in SX.
Breakdancing is a joke, that's why we sent her!
I can’t wait to hear what he bitches about when he’s getting his dick kicked in by Jett, Hunter and Chase.
Pit Row
I hope people realise that not a small portion of the spectators/campers are family/friends of those lappers. That's a hit to the pocketbook if they are gone.
The answer is obvious, 40 is just too many riders nowadays.
The pro nationals need to be pro, so maybe 20 on the gate. Then the privateers need to be a feeder support class, with the goal of moving up into the 20 pro race.
Mixing amateurs into elites is daft & not fair on either competing.
To be fair he's not talking about all lappers but riders being lapped 2 or 3 times.
He's also stating that it doesn't happen as much in other series, compared to MXGP.
For instance at Budds creek that would have only been a couple of riders instead of 6.
I’m okay with “lapped twice, black flag”… I also support “get lapped once, have a seat.” I would rather watch 10 racers actually battle on the same lap than 10 battling through a minefield of 30 slower riders. Let the slower pros have their own race.
Classic whataboutism.
I think something that might be lost on some of you is a feeder class class could provide bloody good racing, at the moment we don’t generally appreciate or get to see some of the privateer battles, if 20-40 had their own gate, combine the 250 & 450 but score separately, we would get to see another class of racing & no doubt some good racing.
The main pro class would be better racing aswell as less hazards to negotiate from half way.
Ohhh the horror. How did any of the top riders survive through the amature ranks?
Lapping a rider is no more dangerous than any other part of the sport. Prado comes from the GP's...not many...if any privateers can afford that game.
I guess if people want to replicate the GP's...whatever.🤐
They can only pass him on the left
21st place isn't making a living at this let alone 31st place. It doesn't make sense to string them along just to include them in the show by being lapped multiple times every moto. I'd rather those spectators support local pro races where their family/friends do better financially.
A battle for 31st place should never be in the way of a $1M title or $100K race win.
My interest has less to do with safety and more to do with spectating ease. The fact that we even have to have leader lights is damning
I have no heartache with pulling riders that ignore the blue flags. They should address this protocol before trying to re-invent the wheel.
I'm old so tradition still means something to me. I won't apologize for it. If passing lappers was significantly more DANGEROUS than any other aspect of the sport then I'd jump on the bandwagon...but even my slow, never was, ass...worried more about passing for the lead than getting around lappers.
One of the things that has always made American moto so compelling is the "every man" aspect. Give me a break...I'm still not over them cutting the motos from 40 minutes.🙃
I would counter that if you’re getting lapped 2+ times you’re not actually racing
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