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It never rutted. Not a fan of the flat dry corners. That’s not the Washougal I’ve been riding for the last 10 years. I like good clay ruts in a corner.
I agree. People can really race each other in those conditions. Rut o cross sucks
Well I’m sure they are not considering the opinions of +60 vet beginner when prepping the track for the national.
60+ Int and actually, this is how they prep if for the OTMX races so it doesn’t rut up as bad for the vets.
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It was amazing that when the track isn’t ripped up to their ear lobes and requires more throttle control that the racing dynamic changes quite a lot.
I’ve always liked riding ruts, but not a big fan of racing in them, under pressure. Easy to make mistakes when you get tired.
But today’s track raced well !!
Yes, we need other tracks to follow suit. We finally had true moto battles today...not follow-the-leader boat racing.
Yup…this track was prepared very nicely….rut-o-cross is lame…Ruts belong in corners…not all the way down every straight…let them move around on the track a bit…
Ruts suck! I liked this track.
Two weeks in a row of great track prep. Perhaps they took note of how last week’s track raced.
Everyone talks about growing the sport, how about prepping the track like they did today so guys aren't stuck in ruts for 3/4 of the track? That was great to see some racing finally.
You sound like a ray of sunshine. This track can vary a lot (you should see it in the rain).. Anybody who races this track with any regularity knows when it is prime (it wasn't far from it, B vet here too). No need to be a dick, he knows a thing or two regardless of his 'pro license' status.
What a great change, more harder surfaces needed.
Calm down. I’ve seen it in the rain, bro
And here’s me doing my best RV loop out impression. Except I’m hurting more then him. I did not get my front wheel over big hole and that sent of the chain reaction. I guess I could have let off the gas or I need to cover the clutch. Oh well.
The TV does not in any way illustrate how rough horsepower hill is. Hopefully your tail is OK 😄
It’s not great. But I want to come back next year! Haha. Track was great and unlike anything I’ve ever ridden tons of fun
Just a C rider but went 4th overall in 40+C with a 5-3, and 8th over all in the Warrior C with a 5-15. Thank god my loop out was my last moto. 👍
Pit Row
Just talked to my boy (he’s on the way to Loretta’s wrenching for his buddy) and he said same as me - prep was too dry and shallow. At Regionals last month track was better and developed good ruts in all the corners. It’s rare to get ruts in the straights there unless it’s a real mudder. To each their own, but having done 100s of laps there that’s not how I like it.
While I'm not going to argue with your personal track preference, the track provided for great racing today with tons of passing in both classes. It was nice to see everyone be able to move around in some of the berms instead of being stuck in long ruts.
Do you disagree that there was good racing there today?
It was good racing. I felt too many guys had to tip toe around because it was so dry it was super easy to override the traction. Edit: I think the track didn’t let these guys show what they and the bike can do. Jett and Hampshire (?) both crashed in the same spot before the triple because the inside rut that usually develops there didn't. It was just dry dirt over hardpack on the exit. Normally that corner has 5-6 ruts from entry to exit that really allow you to push as they are sticky clay. Same with Haruup's crash before the step-up. The berm was loose and it gave out when he got up on the wall/top. That's another corner (although it's changed a lot recently) that usually has 5 or 6 really good ruts to choose from.
It's a funny track. It's narrow with a very hard base, and passing is tough on the best of days. When it rains, forget it. When it's dry, it goes bluegroove in 5 minutes. And damn I hate coming down the hill through the trees, I am blind the entire way. But when it's right, it is tacky goodness with perfect ruts through every corner.
Best day ever was a private ride day there where my boy got the entire track to himself for the first lap. I'll never forget hearing him wring out the 125 up Horsepower.
So, how many vet guys have taken your woman away? Although you appear to be a complete dick to everyone, you have a special hard-on for Vet guys it seems.
I thought the prep was great. What you said about guys having to tiptoe around I thought was the best part. It was a completely different dynamic that the riders have not faced yet this year and it showed in the results. That first moto chase was so smooth and planted, he was making Jett look sloppy.
I will say I was not a big fan of these small bumps they added in nearly every corner of the track. Stupid. Prep was spot on but the changes they made to the track were not for the better imo. The track doesn’t need to change each year. Sometimes it’s fine to just stick with what works. Redbud has gone this route and the track has been getting progressively worse each year
Variation with track prep should be a goal for track owners/ operators…hopefully local track owners will back off the constant over water rip it deep concept….The racing looked great at Shoug…never been there, Someday…
100% agree. The track is a very very little different than the other national tracks. And it's the same for everyone.
Red Bud is scared to do anything different at this point and It needs a shake up badly imho. It has gotten stale.
The prep was great this is how they used to do it for the longest time. It allows for more moving around line choices. We actually had battles.
It wasn't until a few years ago did they start the rip it deep then over water it start up. Which it becomes rut cross. Guys like hammer are the minority. When it comes to liking that. Majority of the people i talk to at the track. Loathe the rip it deep rut fest.
I’m not suggesting a red bud style deep. Washougal couldn’t do that if they tried with the base and dirt they have. Well, they could, but they’d have to bring in tons and tons of outside material. I’m suggesting a middle ground between the two that allows riders to really push hard since they can trust the traction. Jett himself said he overrode what the track had and that’s why he went down.
Last week here was very hot and dry. It sucked the moisture out of the dirt and you could see the results Saturday. Rock hard base with a few inches of dry-ish dirt on top. Very traction limiting esp once you get off the main line. It’s what we locals all bitch about at Mountainview MX which is a mini version of washougal. When that place is dry it’s freaking scary marbles off the main line.
I guess you have to have ridden washougal on a really good day to know the difference. Next time I see Ryan I’ll ask him what he thought of it.
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