Marchbanks showing why staying 250 any longer than you have to , is dumb.

FreshTopEnd
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6/8/2026 8:01pm
ando wrote:

Are we in the job creation business?

Combining SX regions would result in fewer rides but those riders would be better paid.

Actually - like it or not - it's a product promotional business, and the current SX system its a title creation business that creates an additional title for OEM's to advertise and more opportunities to do so.

Job creation is a byproduct.  

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ando
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6/8/2026 8:05pm
ando wrote:

Are we in the job creation business?

Combining SX regions would result in fewer rides but those riders would be better paid.

Actually - like it or not - it's a product promotional business, and the current SX system its a title creation business that creates an additional...

Actually - like it or not - it's a product promotional business, and the current SX system its a title creation business that creates an additional title for OEM's to advertise and more opportunities to do so.

Job creation is a byproduct.  

That is a good observation.

However the 250SX series is unique among elite motocross/SX series around the world in that it’s split into two regions.  I understand the history that it was meant to be a development class for SX but it’s evolved beyond that.

I’d argue the extra title for promotional purposes is itself a byproduct of this quirk.

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6/8/2026 8:30pm
Cortami79 wrote:
I’m actually happy that we have two coasts. You have double the amount of paid rides. No team will hire 6 guys if it is one...

I’m actually happy that we have two coasts. You have double the amount of paid rides. No team will hire 6 guys if it is one championship. Now you have 2x 3 rides. Or sometimes even 2x 4 riders (Star Racing)

Spec tires (don’t destroy the tracks SX/MX), Futures east and west, 250cc, and 450cc. Boom!  Done and dusted.  Throw in a better AMA AX as a feeder to Futures. 

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mb60
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6/8/2026 8:49pm

How refreshing is it to see Marchbanks, Cooper. Hampshire , Mookie and other guys giving it there all to be top 10. So glad to see Garrett put the kx 450 up there in the results. 

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The Shop

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6/9/2026 1:43am

Do you think he had a choice, then?

Mit12
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6/9/2026 8:44am
ML512 wrote:
There are other factors why someone like Garrett stays 250 for so long. Number one, a decent salary. Higher number of rides on decent bikes and...

There are other factors why someone like Garrett stays 250 for so long. Number one, a decent salary. Higher number of rides on decent bikes and salaries. Chance of hitting bonuses that will by far outweigh the salary itself (US race bonuses are so much higher than GP).

Look what he had to do on a 250 last year to even get considered for a good 450 spot. Guys like Smith and Hampshire didn't stay 250 forever because they chose it over good 450 spots, they never were offered a good 450 ride until recently.

While I fully agree some guys would be better off just getting out of the 250 class, it's not always that simple.

Nailed it. Riders have a choice, stay on a factory 250 and make great money and bonus or go to a privateer 450 ride with little pay. I would say that no 250 rider wants to stay on a 250 they are there until they get a good 450 offer. 

philG
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6/9/2026 11:57am

An age limit would sort it out. 

25.

Assuming you go Pro at 18, thats 28 shots at a championship. Well 14, and 14 Half Championships.  

Would get rid of the aged 250 guys who should step up or ship out, and make teams think about if the guy they have bankrolled since 15 , and still havent had a title from , is worth putting on a big bike, or letting them go. 

 

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ando
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6/9/2026 3:09pm
philG wrote:
An age limit would sort it out. 25.Assuming you go Pro at 18, thats 28 shots at a championship. Well 14, and 14 Half Championships.  Would get...

An age limit would sort it out. 

25.

Assuming you go Pro at 18, thats 28 shots at a championship. Well 14, and 14 Half Championships.  

Would get rid of the aged 250 guys who should step up or ship out, and make teams think about if the guy they have bankrolled since 15 , and still havent had a title from , is worth putting on a big bike, or letting them go. 

 

Your numbers are two big by a factor of two.  Only two title shots per year.

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yardsailor
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6/9/2026 3:12pm
philG wrote:
An age limit would sort it out. 25.Assuming you go Pro at 18, thats 28 shots at a championship. Well 14, and 14 Half Championships.  Would get...

An age limit would sort it out. 

25.

Assuming you go Pro at 18, thats 28 shots at a championship. Well 14, and 14 Half Championships.  

Would get rid of the aged 250 guys who should step up or ship out, and make teams think about if the guy they have bankrolled since 15 , and still havent had a title from , is worth putting on a big bike, or letting them go. 

 

ando wrote:

Your numbers are two big by a factor of two.  Only two title shots per year.

Cut-off at 25 but also able to come back at age 35?? 
Maybe Dowd will come back again. 

The Wolf Man
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6/9/2026 3:33pm Edited Date/Time 6/9/2026 3:34pm
philG wrote:
An age limit would sort it out. 25.Assuming you go Pro at 18, thats 28 shots at a championship. Well 14, and 14 Half Championships.  Would get...

An age limit would sort it out. 

25.

Assuming you go Pro at 18, thats 28 shots at a championship. Well 14, and 14 Half Championships.  

Would get rid of the aged 250 guys who should step up or ship out, and make teams think about if the guy they have bankrolled since 15 , and still havent had a title from , is worth putting on a big bike, or letting them go. 

 

ando wrote:

Your numbers are two big by a factor of two.  Only two title shots per year.

yardsailor wrote:

Cut-off at 25 but also able to come back at age 35?? 
Maybe Dowd will come back again. 

Anstie's milking the system for all that it's worth.

He's older than most of the 450 class...

old 1
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profmur
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6/9/2026 3:40pm

How does an arbitrary age limit on 250s make for better racing?

Is the argument that older 250 riders are too good? And that the younger 250 riders cannot compete with the older riders?

 

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ando
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6/9/2026 4:18pm
profmur wrote:
How does an arbitrary age limit on 250s make for better racing?Is the argument that older 250 riders are too good? And that the younger 250...

How does an arbitrary age limit on 250s make for better racing?

Is the argument that older 250 riders are too good? And that the younger 250 riders cannot compete with the older riders?

 

It doesn’t.  All it will do is lower the average level in the 250 class by forcing out really good 250 riders who are older than 25.  

Arguably it might lift up the average level of the 450 class IF you assume that all the good 250 riders will become good 450 riders.  It will also create the situation where there are more 450 riders than available seats so some guys forced to move up won’t have a ride, or decent 450 guys will be forced out.

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Cortami79
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6/9/2026 11:29pm
profmur wrote:
How does an arbitrary age limit on 250s make for better racing?Is the argument that older 250 riders are too good? And that the younger 250...

How does an arbitrary age limit on 250s make for better racing?

Is the argument that older 250 riders are too good? And that the younger 250 riders cannot compete with the older riders?

 

ando wrote:
It doesn’t.  All it will do is lower the average level in the 250 class by forcing out really good 250 riders who are older than...

It doesn’t.  All it will do is lower the average level in the 250 class by forcing out really good 250 riders who are older than 25.  

Arguably it might lift up the average level of the 450 class IF you assume that all the good 250 riders will become good 450 riders.  It will also create the situation where there are more 450 riders than available seats so some guys forced to move up won’t have a ride, or decent 450 guys will be forced out.

Exactly what is happening at MXGP Smile

philG
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6/10/2026 1:42am
philG wrote:
An age limit would sort it out. 25.Assuming you go Pro at 18, thats 28 shots at a championship. Well 14, and 14 Half Championships.  Would get...

An age limit would sort it out. 

25.

Assuming you go Pro at 18, thats 28 shots at a championship. Well 14, and 14 Half Championships.  

Would get rid of the aged 250 guys who should step up or ship out, and make teams think about if the guy they have bankrolled since 15 , and still havent had a title from , is worth putting on a big bike, or letting them go. 

 

ando wrote:

Your numbers are two big by a factor of two.  Only two title shots per year.

2 regional SX, 1 MX , and SMX.  Thats 4 a year. 

ando
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6/10/2026 2:12am
philG wrote:
An age limit would sort it out. 25.Assuming you go Pro at 18, thats 28 shots at a championship. Well 14, and 14 Half Championships.  Would get...

An age limit would sort it out. 

25.

Assuming you go Pro at 18, thats 28 shots at a championship. Well 14, and 14 Half Championships.  

Would get rid of the aged 250 guys who should step up or ship out, and make teams think about if the guy they have bankrolled since 15 , and still havent had a title from , is worth putting on a big bike, or letting them go. 

 

ando wrote:

Your numbers are two big by a factor of two.  Only two title shots per year.

philG wrote:

2 regional SX, 1 MX , and SMX.  Thats 4 a year. 

SMX?  Yeah ok…

And I’m assuming a 250 rider can’t compete in both regions at the same time, or at least no team would entertain that.

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philG
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ando wrote:

SMX?  Yeah ok…

And I’m assuming a 250 rider can’t compete in both regions at the same time, or at least no team would entertain that.

You are new here arent you ? 

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Tyler D
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1 day ago
ando wrote:

Your numbers are two big by a factor of two.  Only two title shots per year.

yardsailor wrote:

Cut-off at 25 but also able to come back at age 35?? 
Maybe Dowd will come back again. 

Anstie's milking the system for all that it's worth.He's older than most of the 450 class...

Anstie's milking the system for all that it's worth.

He's older than most of the 450 class...

old 1

is that Craig or Anstie or both?

ando
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1 day ago
ando wrote:

SMX?  Yeah ok…

And I’m assuming a 250 rider can’t compete in both regions at the same time, or at least no team would entertain that.

philG wrote:

You are new here arent you ? 

Must be

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