250 Riders Placing In The 450 Class

mt798
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mt798
Edited Date/Time 1/19/2012 10:03pm
When a 250 rider gets a podium finish like we occasionally see in SX why aren't they moved up to the 450 class come outdoors? Also, when a 250 rider places on the podium in SX and they finally do move up to the 450 class how can it be called their rookie year? I mean they have placed in the top 3 in the 450 class previously so how can they claim to be a rookie in the 450 class when they beat most of the 450 field and collected 450 points? Just wonderin....
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NoGo
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NoGo 8/26/2010 7:42pm
8/26/2010 7:42pm
Dungey?
mt798
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mt798 8/26/2010 8:17pm
8/26/2010 8:17pm
Yes, and I'm sure next year they will be saying Canard is a rookie in the 450 class. If they podium they get the points right? How many times did Canard podium this year in SX in the 450 class? Or Dungey last year? I mean if a 250 West rider decides to ride a 450 on the East Coast and gets third he just beat all the best 450 racers in the US other than the two ahead of him. To me that rider is ready for the 450 class and should go ahead and move up after the 250 series he is contesting is over. This is just my opinion though and I'm in no way slamming any riders because rules are rules but they may need to be revised. Just think of the 450 season we would be having if we had Canard in the 450 class. I bet Dungey would not have as many over-all wins as he has now...
blake-s
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blake-s 8/26/2010 9:22pm
8/26/2010 9:22pm
they shouldnt be labeled "rookies"

it should be, new to the class.
these guys have so much experience with racing its hard to consider them "rookies"
DC
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DC 8/27/2010 3:33am
8/27/2010 3:33am
There is no advancement rule outdoors. Both the 450 and 250 classes are considered national championship classes, while in SX the 250 class is a regional class, split in East and West divisions.

As for the rookie lable for first-year premier class guys, I think that really started with Jeremy McGrath in 1993 when he just shocked everyone by moving up and dominating from his third race on. It was amazing to see anyone do that so early in the big boys' class.

DC
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MCfan4life
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MCfan4life 8/27/2010 3:40am
8/27/2010 3:40am Edited Date/Time 8/27/2010 3:40am
DC what time is it there? Don't you sleep man???? Tongue
DC
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DC 8/27/2010 4:34am
8/27/2010 4:34am
Just up early, work out, get Vance ready for school, bench race! Just another day in the life...

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Aaryn234
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Aaryn234 8/27/2010 6:10am
8/27/2010 6:10am
DC wrote:
Just up early, work out, get Vance ready for school, bench race! Just another day in the life...

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Cool if your up this early does that mean i will get to read RacerHead before i go to sleep downunder, or should i plan to wake up and read it with a coffee early Saturday morning here in OZ Land. Smile
paul937
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paul937 8/27/2010 8:06am
8/27/2010 8:06am
mt798 wrote:
When a 250 rider gets a podium finish like we occasionally see in SX why aren't they moved up to the 450 class come outdoors? Also...
When a 250 rider gets a podium finish like we occasionally see in SX why aren't they moved up to the 450 class come outdoors? Also, when a 250 rider places on the podium in SX and they finally do move up to the 450 class how can it be called their rookie year? I mean they have placed in the top 3 in the 450 class previously so how can they claim to be a rookie in the 450 class when they beat most of the 450 field and collected 450 points? Just wonderin....
MT to answer your first question, when a guy like Canard rides opposite coast 450, most of the time it’s a temporary “fill in” type situation (and as you’ve seen it happens a LOT in SX). Some guys (although fewer and fewer each year it seems) actually have clauses in their contracts that allow them the chance to race opposite coast 450, usually in their last season on the 250 so that they can prepare for the following year moving up. Regardless of their situation or even how they finish, when they’re done they have a contractual obligation to finish what they started on the 250. That includes finishing whatever coast they’re on in SX AND the outdoors. It’s rare, but maybe a privateer team would keep a guy up there for the remainder of the season because they find he is performing better on the 450, but like I said, the rest of the guys have unfinished business on the 250.

In Canard’s case (Dungey too), the original 450 rider came back, and they both also had a legit shot at a 250 title outdoors, and that’s what they were hired to do. Sponsors are banking on that, race bikes are built, parts are ordered, training is specified, etc. So to just throw them on the 450 for performing so well doesn’t make sense business wise. Sometimes the factory bike/works parts just literally aren’t available, even if they wanted to. Sorry, I’m kind of talking in circles here (only half way thru my red Bull :-)), but I think you get the point. Canard will have plenty of time to bang bars with the 450 boys, I think for now he and his team (and sponsors) would like a 250 #1 plate on their mantles.

As for the whole “Rookie” thing, that’s a little bit easier to explain :-)
Although it’s obviously true by the pure definition (and yes, by that definition MC wasn’t a true rookie either), what they are basically saying is that it is their rookie SEASON in the 450’s. It’s whole other world training and preparing to race a 17 round season on a 450 rather than just jumping on a 450 for a few rounds.

My two cents, hope it helped.

Paul

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