You cannot solve the lapper issue until..

Freezie is still a fuckwit though 

You’re right. If the last 5 in the 450 main event were Davies, Pierce, Hamnaker, Bennick & Shimoda then you wouldn’t have this problem. 

I think the 250 class has a serious problem with guys sticking around for too long. Not only is it making the back end of the 450 class weaker, it's also making it harder for kids to break through in 250 class.

That being said, lappers have always been a a part of the equation in Supercross, and lappers getting in the way comes with the territory. But jumping in and out of the main racing line, like Friese did, is incredibly dangerous, and imo, should result in an immediate black flag for lappers.

I do not think black flags solve all our issues here.  In most cases, the damage is already done before they would receive the flag

But if the AMA started using it maybe clowns like Feesy would be more inclined to move over, I'm sure if you get black flagged you don't get any of the purse?

There are two separate issues here.

1) lappers, some of whom have zero business on a Supercross track during a 450 main…particularly in thin fields where they may be 6+ seconds per lap off the pace but still qualify. 

2) Vince Friese, whose stupidity manifested itself in the form of lapper shenanigans last night, but who should have been banned for life after his other exploits. 

It's an incentives problem. As long as the 250 class gets the same TV and media coverage as the 450s, teams will focus on both series. There is presumably more ROI having TV eyes on your guys upfront in two different classes rather than one. If you had only members of elite factory teams in the 450s it would still mean the majority of the field wouldn't be shown during the races.

Yes, good points. I'd add the LCQ system is also problematic. Because of the length of those races, all the 'bubble' riders focus only on being able to sprint for a short amount of time. Therefore, if they do get in the mains they're completely unable to run an acceptable pace for the full 20 plus two, or even for triple crowns. 

Salary cap for 250sx 

45 second lap times results in way too many lappers too early in the race. Some of them go down multiple laps. I would like to see anyone going two laps down be officially shown the exit ramp.

I think the 250 class should go 17 rounds and make futures the coasts.

Should be an age limit of 23 or 25

Also if you are a certain percentage off the leaders in the 450 you cant race.

They should fine the heck out of the lappers until they wake up, Friese doesnt give a f… unless it hurts his hip pocket.

Imagine how fast the laps at Indy would be without the rutty soil…would we be in the 30s? Is that stadium that much smaller than others?

I wish I could ride fast enough to qualify for a 450 main.

The guy who finishes last is an excellent, and fast racer - just not an “Alien” like the guys at the front.
Remember, guys that have won: sometimes finish 10th.

I don’t think it’s lack of talent, or the 250 class, that is the issue.

Short lap times, and ruts add to the problem, but potentially better flagging, and riders doing better with the blue flags would be great.

How’d this for an idea?
As I believe some (VINCE FRIESE!!) think the guy behind is a competitor, rather than a leader lapping them, and don’t want to lose a place - causing the issue we are talking about. How about “no passing under a blue flag” Obviously except for people doing the lapping. So riders being lapped could slow, and move further offline, without the risk of losing a position to their competitors. Some of these guys are trying to hang on to their best ever finish!
Thoughts?

With all of the electronics available now, why do we rely on a blue flag that only comes out occasionally.     This is where the 2 way comms may come in handy, but maybe blue lights?   If you see them, Get The F**K Outta the Way, and no passing the guy in front of you for 15th place.   If you interfere with the leaders, automatic disqualification.

Not sure why everyone overlooks the easy, simple solution. Have less riders in the races/mains. If you have only 18 riders for example, Vince Friese is not even in the race last night.

If you remember it used to be 20 in the main, now it is 22. Cut the riders down and it will be less of an issue.

I would try to fix it from the track side of things. There’s no reason for any track to have 45 second  lap times. I know room can be a challenge sometimes but there are still ways to lengthen the lap times. 

I agree with this. It’s wild to call the 450’s the premier class while having a good 1/3 of the field not even riding in the same zip code. I’d be happy with at least dropping it down to 20 riders and not keeping guys down in 250 for so long. 4 years should be the limit with a possible injury waiver to extend one more year. It really seems insane to have the best dudes in the world having to deal with even more risk by racing next to guys that have literally nothing to lose and cannot keep pace. 

There's plenty of space to lengthen a track in a football stadium. They can start by not having the start straight run 90% of the length of the field. Cut it down by half and add in a couple more 180 turns.

I’ve spoken to a top rider from NZ, who, 20years ago, went to the US to race the AMA series. He said it’s cheaper to be competitive (not podium, but have results that might get noticed) in the 450 class. Basically get your suspension working for you - the bikes have enough power. The 250s need mega dollars spent to get competitive power, then the mtce is frequent and expensive. 5 or 10hp in the 250 class makes a difference. Far less so in the big bike class. 
One more reason there might be some “slower” riders in the class. 

Smooth brain feezy will never get it. He continually, for years, endangers riders lives. Ban his stupid ass.

If the AMA had a functioning set of balls, and pulled the roadblocks off the track, this wouldn’t be a recurring issue.. black flag if anyone ignores the blue flag, first time. 

Although I like the idea of making the 250 class run a full series, and having the futures run a regional series perfectly fills the intention of the 125 regional series that started our current situation. 

I think start 22, after 3 laps the last two out. Then at the end of every lap the last guy is out until 1 guy is left and he runs a victory lap.  

1.  Lengthen the track.  Nothing under 55 seconds per lap. 

2.  Limit finals to 20 riders.

3.  Once a rider is lapped - he must stay to the right side of the track.  Can still race to improve their position but all on the right side of the track.

4.  If they don't adhere to the blue flag - they get black flagged, fined and must sit out the next race.

5.  If they get three blue flag infractions in a season - they must sit out the rest of the races and lose the ability to race in SMX finals.

     Vinny Feces is a slow witted , passive - aggressive circus performer. I wish it was not true, but I believe he will not be banned from SX until he hurts some racer severely.  Then mainstream media will gleefully report the bad news.

Impossible to implement. Much easier to just put an age limit on the 250 class. Lets put it at 24 years old. The ones that can't make it until then can still make a living in Arenacross and/or WSX. Kyle Peters has been making 6 figures for years doing Arenacross.

It's just incredible how much of improvements to US SX and MX could be made but it always, always falls of the sentence "But what about the privateers that....". 

So then you create an outcast class who are probably fast enough to race 250’s competitively but can’t, and aren’t good enough to be mid-pack or better in the 450 class.

"The ones that can't make it until then can still make a living in Arenacross and/or WSX. Kyle Peters has been making 6 figures for years doing Arenacross."

Everyone can't be a professional dirt bike racer. These people need to get an education and get a real job. Sorry, not sorry.

Lappers are a part of the sport. We don't see this issue in other Motorsports because they race on very different conditions. Racing 4 wheels or on tarmac makes it easier to get out of the way without putting yourself at risk. The majority of Motocross riders could not ride a supercross track consistently even in perfect conditions. If you can get into the 450 main event at St.Louis, you're fucking talented, you're one of only.... what, 40 people in the sport who can do that? Doing a rhythm section with those ruts on that dirt is wild. The sport is more than just the top 5 riders, so those top 5 riders need to work out how to handle lappers. 

Also, Vince Freise is a fucking menace who needs his licence revoked. 

This might be stupid, but I'm going to throw it out there anyway.

Would it be possible that when you get Blue flagged, you must use the "alternate race line" around the track? Everyone knows the main race line, maybe when you get the blue flag, you are forced to use the alternate line, which could be communicated to riders after practice? That way, the leaders know exactly where they'd be, and the people getting lapped are still racing together? This would also make it easier to penalize 

If you get lapped in the first 50% of the race - Black Flag.