Should Side Panel Numbers Be Optional in SX?

crt32
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Seeing the Ducati MXGP Bike thread made me wonder if it is time for side panel numbers in Supercross to be optional. As a spectator in the stands or on TV, you can see their numbers clearly on the front, and roost usually isn't a huge problem covering up the front plate. That would open up the whole side panel for an additional premium sponsor vs just the shroud.  

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BoxcarWilly
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2/12/2025 6:52am

No those old GP bikes looked horrible with no side plate numbers. 

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RDnutz
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2/12/2025 7:03am

nope. side numbers became mandatory precisely because of the probability of the front plate getting obscured. 

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crt32
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2/12/2025 7:06am
RDnutz wrote:

nope. side numbers became mandatory precisely because of the probability of the front plate getting obscured. 

They have transponders now, watching on TV they usually have a graphic of the rider, and the front plate and jersey are usually always visible. 

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-MAVERICK-
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2/12/2025 7:07am

It looks horrible.

1000006425 0.jpg?VersionId=akSDZb8CE6hzzgl2p75
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The Shop

RDnutz
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2/12/2025 7:14am
RDnutz wrote:

nope. side numbers became mandatory precisely because of the probability of the front plate getting obscured. 

crt32 wrote:

They have transponders now, watching on TV they usually have a graphic of the rider, and the front plate and jersey are usually always visible. 

ever seen a race on a muddy track or during a rain event? Besides, it would just give more room for sponsor logos and advertising in the blank space 🙃 there's too much of that already IMO

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disbanded
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2/12/2025 7:30am

No, you need to see the numbers while in the stadium and you can't even do that now because they are too small.  I used to be able to say, watch number 24, but now you can't even do that because again the numbers are too small to begin with.

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Village Idiot
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2/12/2025 7:36am
disbanded wrote:
No, you need to see the numbers while in the stadium and you can't even do that now because they are too small.  I used to...

No, you need to see the numbers while in the stadium and you can't even do that now because they are too small.  I used to be able to say, watch number 24, but now you can't even do that because again the numbers are too small to begin with.

Don't worry, they're gonna fix that. The AMA plans to soon require them to be in Braille on the sidepanels so even the blind can tell who the rider is when they're watching on TV.

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Magoofan
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2/12/2025 7:43am

Every day on vital now....  

200-879469106.gif?VersionId=f0lAUI.pG1PjPh5EIf63

 

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4
2/12/2025 7:58am

What happened to the Ducati thread? Did it turn into a shit show? 

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1911
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2/12/2025 8:24am Edited Date/Time 2/12/2025 8:26am
Magoofan wrote:
Every day on vital now....   

Every day on vital now....  

200-879469106.gif?VersionId=f0lAUI.pG1PjPh5EIf63

 

100% it’s like 365 days worth of off season posts and topics. 

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Press516
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2/12/2025 8:43am

No!  I think they’ve gotten too small and need to expand a little.  Not crazy, but put a number size requirement that is just a bit easier to read.

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Magoofan
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2/12/2025 8:47am

Why do we need numbers at all.....      I mean, we should just be running the guys one at a time around the track so there are no lappers, no "Friesing", no chance of accidental contact, no first turn pile ups....  

Think of the money teams can save in stickers alone....it's monumental.   KTM could especially use the cost savings these days.

 

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pummel
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2/12/2025 8:52am

Last week there were three Star Yamahas together all dressed the same . Side number plates are absolutely necessary 

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Village Idiot
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2/12/2025 9:01am
Magoofan wrote:
Every day on vital now....   

Every day on vital now....  

200-879469106.gif?VersionId=f0lAUI.pG1PjPh5EIf63

 

1911 wrote:

100% it’s like 365 days worth of off season posts and topics. 

Agreed.

It appears some are overthinking things and taking a piecemeal approach - ban this, eliminate that, etc.

Get to the root and take care of all the issues in one fell swoop - eliminate the bike. 

Done and done.👍

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tmx860
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2/12/2025 9:06am

I really can only see numbers on the back of the jersey 

Paul333
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2/12/2025 9:46am

I want to see a Motocross bike, not a two wheeled billboard. 

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Pop Shmoke
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2/12/2025 10:41am

Hell no the ducati would look way better with side numbers. Also mxgp should go back to needing the same color backgrounds on all plates. This black front plate white side plates crap is dumb. Keep it consistent across all bikes. 

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Magoofan
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2/12/2025 11:00am
Pop Shmoke wrote:
Hell no the ducati would look way better with side numbers. Also mxgp should go back to needing the same color backgrounds on all plates. This...

Hell no the ducati would look way better with side numbers. Also mxgp should go back to needing the same color backgrounds on all plates. This black front plate white side plates crap is dumb. Keep it consistent across all bikes. 

I don't know....I thought the yellow plates in the 500 class were the bomb....

honda-cr500-1
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philG
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2/12/2025 1:12pm

Can you remember Stadium Plates. 

They existed for a reason. 

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BigBoreFan58
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2/12/2025 1:32pm
Pop Shmoke wrote:
Hell no the ducati would look way better with side numbers. Also mxgp should go back to needing the same color backgrounds on all plates. This...

Hell no the ducati would look way better with side numbers. Also mxgp should go back to needing the same color backgrounds on all plates. This black front plate white side plates crap is dumb. Keep it consistent across all bikes. 

Magoofan wrote:
I don't know....I thought the yellow plates in the 500 class were the bomb....

I don't know....I thought the yellow plates in the 500 class were the bomb....

honda-cr500-1

Real men run yellow backgrounds.

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Village Idiot
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2/12/2025 3:43pm
Pop Shmoke wrote:
Hell no the ducati would look way better with side numbers. Also mxgp should go back to needing the same color backgrounds on all plates. This...

Hell no the ducati would look way better with side numbers. Also mxgp should go back to needing the same color backgrounds on all plates. This black front plate white side plates crap is dumb. Keep it consistent across all bikes. 

Magoofan wrote:
I don't know....I thought the yellow plates in the 500 class were the bomb....

I don't know....I thought the yellow plates in the 500 class were the bomb....

honda-cr500-1

Nice '87. 👍

Had an '88, which is essentially the same bike in the blood red scheme. Just another one I wish I still had.

image 1171.png?VersionId=2ynr1wRN9Sp1T0kxN4tSgfw
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2/12/2025 4:03pm
tmx860 wrote:

I really can only see numbers on the back of the jersey 

If you’re in last, wouldn’t the track have turns where you’d be able to see the side plates and switchbacks that would make the front number plate visible? 

2/12/2025 4:22pm Edited Date/Time 2/12/2025 4:22pm
Press516 wrote:
No!  I think they’ve gotten too small and need to expand a little.  Not crazy, but put a number size requirement that is just a bit...

No!  I think they’ve gotten too small and need to expand a little.  Not crazy, but put a number size requirement that is just a bit easier to read.

Make the side panels and numbers bigger, like they used to be...

1984 RC250M 3
12
Village Idiot
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2/12/2025 6:43pm
Press516 wrote:
No!  I think they’ve gotten too small and need to expand a little.  Not crazy, but put a number size requirement that is just a bit...

No!  I think they’ve gotten too small and need to expand a little.  Not crazy, but put a number size requirement that is just a bit easier to read.

Make the side panels and numbers bigger, like they used to be...

Make the side panels and numbers bigger, like they used to be...

1984 RC250M 3

Yep.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

1
2/12/2025 6:52pm
Press516 wrote:
No!  I think they’ve gotten too small and need to expand a little.  Not crazy, but put a number size requirement that is just a bit...

No!  I think they’ve gotten too small and need to expand a little.  Not crazy, but put a number size requirement that is just a bit easier to read.

Make the side panels and numbers bigger, like they used to be...

Make the side panels and numbers bigger, like they used to be...

1984 RC250M 3

Yep.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Silencer manufacturers prefer smaller side panels!

1
Bearuno
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2/12/2025 7:05pm

Silencer manufacturers prefer smaller side panels!

Yup, I find it puzzling that Akrapovic only have their emblem on the wheel side of the muffler., and Not the full name as they have on the outer side......... 😁

I wish most manufacturers would go back to decent sized side panels. The Ducati ones are non existent, pretty much, and a few. look like  they've PW50 sized side plates put on as an afterthought.

But, this is coming from an Silly Old Bastard -  I think , automatically, of Black, Green and Yellow ( GP colours) backgrounds for respective classes . 

7
uncledaddy69
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2/12/2025 7:28pm
-MAVERICK- wrote:
It looks horrible.

It looks horrible.

1000006425 0.jpg?VersionId=akSDZb8CE6hzzgl2p75

I can’t believe how bad those look, especially compared to Troy’s version. 

Stickers on the side panels are for freestyle riders. 

1
Village Idiot
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2/12/2025 8:51pm
Make the side panels and numbers bigger, like they used to be...

Make the side panels and numbers bigger, like they used to be...

1984 RC250M 3

Yep.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Silencer manufacturers prefer smaller side panels!

Canon manufacturers prefer smaller side panels!

FIFY

lumpy790
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2/13/2025 5:27am

Side numberplates have been headed back to the old 1970’s style for a few years 

lumpy790
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2/13/2025 5:34am
IMG 1130 1.jpeg?VersionId=bQkaKyoq

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