Charlotte track

They need to find a way to keep deep ruts from forming in the rhythms if they want to prioritize safety (yes, lime, I know). They can keep the ruts in the turns if they want. Removing whoops and dragon backs isn’t the fix. 

After seeing this track in person I seriously question whether they should ever use dragways as tracks. 1/3 of the track was not easily visible by anyone in the stands unless you had binoculars.  Trying to morph it from Supercross to outdoors on the same track is just a giant compromise. Outdoors is outdoors, and outdoors indoors is supercross. Would have been much better if they use Charlotte Motor Speedway and developed the track more like Daytona.

Zmax just kind of sucks as a venue for this event anyway.

the big problem I see with it that was really exposed this weekend is that drainage sucks.

I bet that water drains the length of the lanes because they would not want grates anywhere near the  drag racing surface.

then they come in and dam it up with lanes crossing between the barriers and there is nowhere for the water to go.

the end where the outdoor section was built looks like it would be swampy and squishy even without the track there.

It does not seem like the concrete really is as big a problem as some make it out to be. It looked like they put more dirt on the sides of the lanes and more haybales than last year. 

There are a lot scarier track side hazards at a lot of facilities. Guy cables for overhead structures, Tunnels, trees and fences are everywhere outdoors, and it is surprising that more 450s are not bouncing off everything in the stadiums.

I have not noticed anybody asking why it was a day race this year. Speedway does their own lighting power with big generators, and lights probably have to be repositioned for a SMX event, so I am sure it is a big expense.

In checking stats for zmax there are 30,000 permanent seats there. they were not filled. Maybe 20k gate count.

Hell, they could have it at the dirt track like the MXGP did and have almost that much and it would be easier to build, light and spectate at. They have thousands of seats in portable bleachers they could bring in as well if ticket sale warranted it.

Originally the MXGP was advertised at ZMAX, but then they moved it. Maybe the knew something Feld has not figured out yet.

It would surprise me if they ever do a sx in the main speedway again.

SX, and SMX are a gnat compared to what the car races do and it is simply too expensive to do it in the speedway.

The dirt track would be fine with some extra seating.

There are concrete walls on the perimeter but plenty of room for a wide safety buffer and just like the MXGP it could have a more MX feel to it.

 two lanes right below grandstand for a couple of sx type rhythm lanes and then some fast sweepers and rollers in the infield and back straight.

And no more gimmicky split starts. That silliness alone takes the "Super" out of SMX

Add in Marchbanks. 

They were in the hole from the beginning because the stored dirt they brought in to build the track was already full of moisture from all the rain we’ve had here throughout the latter half of the summer.  I agree with Joe that the dirt track next door would be more suitable for this event for a variety of reasons, most notably drainage and more permanent lighting (if needed).  However, unless it’s in a dome, there’s no contingency for lightning.

Dirt track is not large enough for the USGP they had to rip out all the safety fencing and build the track up the hill to make it longer 

Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't smx a response to world sx after the drop of fim protection.

It was meant to keep teams and riders from jumping out of the series.

IMHO it is gimmick-y, they threw a lot of money with the intention to make it great!

Looked like they put a lot of time money and effort into the Charlotte track, the mistake was chancing the weather in a outdoor venue.

From what I saw it was a total bust.

If the weather would have held and the track was prime, it would have been very entertaining...even great, I mean the layout was massive for an sx track.

It worked really well!! I was there, and it was way better than the drag strip!!! All of the safety fencing was not taken down!! There was some taken down on the end of the track where they went outside the speedway, but that was a long ways from all of the fencing taken out!!! That track was really good!! 

Yes, it was pretty good, for what it was.

I think a far better thing than a drag strip track. 

Affected by the weather , as was the SMX - with part of Hurricane  Hermine washing out the 1st days practice and qualifiers. And, I think the threat of that , Really  reduced the spectator turnout the day of the Motos, which was a bit of a bummer. 

I just now remembered the hurricane!! We dodged a bullet!!! The crowd was kind of light!! But it was supposed to be pouring rain that day!!!

Aaaaaah, murdercross is back.

Well, at least Charlotte was outside.  St. Louis is in a covered stadium, yes?  MX conditions cannot be replicated in a covered stadium.

We had qualifying, we got 250 guys going 20 minutes instead of 15, so longer than a 250 SX main. We got a 450 moto. Part of the “gimmick” is two motos. It’s a bummer it wasn’t both motos but we essentially got a full SX with 250 guys going longer, hardly a bust in my eyes.

Well, this round is the mostly supercross'ish round so not trying to be MX...  

bro how is this even a question. Track was terrible, racing was boring (and dangerous for the riders)

Can we get ride of the safety word? When has any of this been safe?

My default is to listen to the riders, so if they don't like the track, something probably needs to change. With that being said, I don't want tracks that are designed to promote close racing. I want tracks that promote separation and passing. There is nothing better than close battles at the front, but not when it's manufactured by easy, one lined tracks. I loved watching everyone struggle with the track and then watching the cream rise to the top. i just don't like watching the top guys get hurt. It seems like an impossible ask to make challenging tracks that send everyone home safe. 

Thought it was interesting that Chase, Eli, and Jett all said it was one the sketchier tracks they’ve raced on. I enjoyed the racing, but was hoping they could have raced 2nd motos. Maybe mix up the points.