Local kid in WI, has really improved the last couple years. I didn’t look into the vault but pretty sure the first year he made LL was in 24 on minis(he might’ve made it in ‘23 so don’t blast me if I’m wrong, but know it was a huge deal to his family that he finally got his ticket when he did). Last year he moved up to 125s and went again in those classes. He has gone to some training camps but wasn’t “living” at them for years. Was cool last year he ran some of our local races and was able to see how much speed he gained over the year. Doing that screwed him over forcing him into the A class. He hasn’t been given a chance to really ride a 250 four stroke as he got his first one this past fall and now can’t run 250B yet kids that only run the big races can run 250B multiple years. I’m all for moving people up but this kid didn’t even have one year to ride 250B at LL? They move kids up under 18 into A but kids under 18 can’t turn pro? Confused by these actions… 
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I’m guessing he ran A class at the local races he did rather than B?
You can thank the sandbaggers for that. I understand what the AMA is trying to do even if it didn't work out. I appreciate them trying though, it's annoying racing against guys clocking lap times near the A class and scrubbing everything when I race C class
No, I believe at a race or two he was in a race they had two gate drops with A and B due to turnout but he wasn’t entered in A. His family didn’t game the system and pull off 2nd moto when racing the local classes with low competition so they penalized them for it.
This father is complaining about his minor son being too young for the A class, but doesn’t mention hiw successful his boy is as a racer. “Back in my day” (lol) promotions were based on race results, not age. I think it’s healthy for him to vent, but I don’t think he has a winning argument.
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Yep I get that and I even have posted raging against sand bagging but this kid raced 125 classes last year and never had a chance to race 250B. Also you have factory supported kids that race B class multiple years but they kick this kid out that has no real support? And not like he dominated the national classes he did race last year. He did win Baja in 125 last year but that’s not LL.
He won Baja Brawl last fall, other than that if you look at his results he really hasn’t done much at big races compared to kids with way more support that are still in B class. The kid went at most 2 years LL in minis and one on a 125 but you have kids that raced there every year since they were 5 that race 2 years big bikes in B.
So that’s the argument to make, not whether he’s too young for the class.
Makes sense for him to move up then to me. I’ve always been told as soon as you are winning a class local or national it’s time to move up. Although most don’t follow that lol.
Agreed and that is the argument along with forcing him to A as a minor. Why have a rule saying you have to be 18 to turn pro but force kids under 17 to A (and I know many B kids should be racing A but that’s not how it works if they live at a facility and only race the big races). I can support the AMA in this decision if they force every kid that makes it to LL in B to A the following year, no exceptions for injuries or results, or if they are factory supported. Maybe then the A classes will be the fastest class at LL every year.
I thought you were only forced to race A if you took top 5 in the previous years B class at LL (I assume this is about racing Loretta's this coming season)? Maybe it's changed. At least that's what I used to hear 15-20 years ago about advancement.
Yes and that’s why their plan was to move up from 125b/c class they raced at LL in ‘25 to 250B class this year. If you see the kid he weighs probably just over 100lbs soaking wet, he actually looks tiny on a big bike, and can understand why his parents didn’t want him on a 250 until after riding 125 for a year. I’m probably too close to the situation but really think the appeal shouldn’t have been denied. @SlowOldGuy maybe you can provide some feedback on the decision to move him up before getting a chance to race 250B at LL?
I think it’s more personal for you, and I totally respect that. I also feel for the family. Unfortunately the ama is super inconsistent with how they handle all situations. Age, weight, support etc. have nothing to do with a riders ability and speed, every person is different but the ama’s inconsistency make things difficult for sure.
I don’t agree with it due to his size & only 1 yr on big bikes or 125,s. I Really wanted to see what Logan could do in 125 b/c at LL. He did race quite a few b races & won all the ovr alls. Are they moving Isabella Chad Johnson,s daughter up ? She finished 2nd in 450b & 4th in 250b points. The top 12 at the bigger 125 races in Wi. R So fast . If we had a big 125 series like 125 emx they’d be competitive. 125 b/c lap times at LL R among the fastest of any class every yr.
Too many classes with too many variables for it to ever be clean. They're trying to make classes based on age, skill, and bike size. Always going to be a mess trying to make that many factors all work. It is quite dumb that kids are going from B class to outdoor nationals in 12 months though. Maybe make 250 and 450 B classes only open to adults. If kids want to stay in B they can race 125 and if they want the big bike experience and plan on racing pro in a year they can go to A class.
He does hv 2 classes to race now though. 14-24 A & 250A not many racing these classes though. Except for the pro ams
Yeah there’s definitely classes he can race but they plan was to get some attention in the 250B class
The entire system is broken and any attempt to talk about fixes has everyone losing their absolute minds and doubling down on the most inbred of excuses.
Same as talking about improving safety.
Take up chess or flat track or rah rah rah…
He can still race the 125 class right in Wi. Right ? He should do the premix 125-150 class at the Canadian nationals. Deshchambault is a week long practice & 3 motos. With premix & pro national on Sunday.
Pit Row
Similar situation with my son when we went from mini bikes to big bikes. He was doing really well locally on the 80/supermini, so we started riding a 125 and racing the schoolboy class, while still racing the mini bikes. He was 12 years old and small for the 125, but he could ride it really good. He was instantly running with the fastest kids in the schoolboy class at our local races, they were 3-5 years older than him. Several were in the intermediate class and he was beating them on occasion. These kids were local kids and not national level racers… He had a bad crash on the supermini and I decided to get rid of the mini cycles and go full time on the 125.
I kept him in the schoolboy class to have more seat time before racing the Novice class. We had signed up for the novice class to race Lake Whitney to see where he’d stack up. 3 days before we were scheduled to leave (I was flying and my buddy was taking our bikes and my son), Ryan Holiday who was working at the AMA, called me to tell me he’d been protested to race the novice class and he’d have to compete in the intermediate classes. I was pissed, I avoided the novice class on purpose to keep this from happening, but Ryan wasn’t going to change his mind. He had just turned 13 years old that week.
I had to cancel our trip and lost my plane flight costs, along with having to cover half the fuel costs for my buddy, which was part of the plan.
Meanwhile, Jeff Alessi was racing the novice class as a factory Honda support rider, make it make sense….
I think LaPaglia also raced C, while getting support.
I -TOTALLY GET- how and why this dad is upset. The complete race only the big events shit-show that is waaaaay too manipulated by those that can afford to play it…
Is PATHETIC.
How the hell we allow this system of “peek-a-boo” racers that only come out for the big shows…and go hide away at their training facility is not good for my sport. It’s not good racing. It’s not legit competition. It’s outright…
Sandbagging by Design.
And to think…we’ve got the balls to call this Amateur…or even worse…Youth Amateur Racing…well, that’s outright insulting.
At the same time…
To that justifiably pissed of dad, I say this…
Stay the course. So, life threw some shit in your face? Fine. Whipe that shit off and go back out there. That’s what we all have to do when life throws this crap our way. Yup, you need to simply adjust your course due to this latest episode of How To F’Up A Young Kids Racing Life…so be it. Hit other races, other events…take another path.
All the while, when the Areas come around, hit’em as an A and see what you can pull off.
If that produces some surprises, and…brother, trust me…even the young Ryan Dungey was a surprise, you may find yourselves on your way back to Tennessee…again.
That’s not how it works. More to this story.
Well, he said he should have known based on his birthday. Good to see them having the riders in the right classes based on performance. Age has nothing to do with it, but hopefully he can go crush the A class. B is faster than A most of the time anyway which does not make sense
Go off road racing for a year? Build some different skill sets, like Ryan Sipes for example.
When I was 16 I promoted myself from B to A with 48 of the 60 promotional points needed, after an injury filled season in the B class. Things were different back in 1985.
Explain please, I’m trying to understand
To bring this back to the topic title, the problem I have is we often say local racing is dieing, or no fast guys show up. This case shows the reason. If Logan would’ve skipped the local races and just rode at a facility he would be eligible for the class and this wouldn’t even be a topic. He would be racing B class as planned as his results at big races had him no where near dominate. But because he won a 15-20 rider local B class he now has to race A class at 17 years old and the kids that ran top ten in 250B limited in ‘25 will be eligible for 250B at LL this summer
He should try to get a 125 emx ride. Has me thinking though I was going to race 40b because it’s slower than 50+. 125 class is going to use a lot of energy. 5 rounds of Racer X vet series in 125 class, 50b,55b. Chase points in 40b then I get moved up to 40a only 2or3 race that. I want to hv fun racing more people more fun. No chance I win the 125 class but it is a Blast. The 12+ 125 class these kids R Real fast & in control. Much cleaner riders than 50+. I had a dream last night I hole shot Chrystal Falls . The 1st big table top I heard a bike coming , in the air I look ovr & give him a nod. Shifted to 5th pushed the bike down & tried to beat him to the corner, and I did. A split second later I m in 7th all alone. Then hit my marks perfectly & rode it in. I was pretty happy 7th of 24. I woke up exhausted. Haha
lol, you’re wild man 😂
It is top 10 at LL's in either C class to B and B class to A.
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