Another first turn pile up

RDnutz

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710

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2/13/2021

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Dolores, CO, USA

RDnutz 6/22/2026 8:03am

6/22/2026 8:03am

joshd wrote:

We have doubled the displacement in both classes. Paddle tires, launch devices, ecu maps, grates, this list goes on. One thing we haven’t improved is our...

We have doubled the displacement in both classes. Paddle tires, launch devices, ecu maps, grates, this list goes on. One thing we haven’t improved is our reaction times. I bet the guys are going 5-10 mph faster into the first turn that they were in 2006. It’s just silly.

Not only that. With all these devices have made the starts more even and everyone is closer together. That’s not a good thing.

I think it will take a star passing before any changes are made.

Village Idiot wrote:

This.So many of the variables have been removed from the race to the first turn that there's very little separation between the riders when they arrive.Remove...

This.
So many of the variables have been removed from the race to the first turn that there's very little separation between the riders when they arrive.
Remove all the aids (traction control, starting devices, grates, starting maps, etc.) and this will return the variability and spread out the field. It will also show who has the skill and who has been leaning on the aids. And isn't the skill what we're trying to measure between the gate drop and checkered flag?

this exactly ^^^ they've automated everything to do with getting equal starts to the point where the skill of individual riders is almost irrelevant. There are a couple guys that have problems with gate drops regularly and a couple that are like automatic hole shots- and then the rest of the pack. Remove all the tech assists and put starts back in the hands of the individual rider who can chose to hone their start skills or not and the pack to the 1st turn will naturally separate itself.

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30minmotos

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1049

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8/7/2025

Location

Rising Sun, MD, USA

30minmotos 6/22/2026 8:06am

6/22/2026 8:06am

joshd wrote:

We have doubled the displacement in both classes. Paddle tires, launch devices, ecu maps, grates, this list goes on. One thing we haven’t improved is our...

We have doubled the displacement in both classes. Paddle tires, launch devices, ecu maps, grates, this list goes on. One thing we haven’t improved is our reaction times. I bet the guys are going 5-10 mph faster into the first turn that they were in 2006. It’s just silly.

Not only that. With all these devices have made the starts more even and everyone is closer together. That’s not a good thing.

I think it will take a star passing before any changes are made.

Village Idiot wrote:

This.So many of the variables have been removed from the race to the first turn that there's very little separation between the riders when they arrive.Remove...

This.
So many of the variables have been removed from the race to the first turn that there's very little separation between the riders when they arrive.
Remove all the aids (traction control, starting devices, grates, starting maps, etc.) and this will return the variability and spread out the field. It will also show who has the skill and who has been leaning on the aids. And isn't the skill what we're trying to measure between the gate drop and checkered flag?

RDnutz wrote:

this exactly ^^^ they've automated everything to do with getting equal starts to the point where the skill of individual riders is almost irrelevant. There are...

this exactly ^^^ they've automated everything to do with getting equal starts to the point where the skill of individual riders is almost irrelevant. There are a couple guys that have problems with gate drops regularly and a couple that are like automatic hole shots- and then the rest of the pack. Remove all the tech assists and put starts back in the hands of the individual rider who can chose to hone their start skills or not and the pack to the 1st turn will naturally separate itself.

I don’t hate what you’re all saying it all makes sense. I think holeshot devices should go. No lowering of suspension. The units themselves shred the forks, they can snag and lock on unexpectedly, not release, just a dumb pointless thing to have.

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philG

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philG 6/22/2026 8:38am

6/22/2026 8:38am

Not hillbilly wrote:

Okay, I’ll bite, since 30minmotos won’t: 1) Grid start like MotoGP, 10 rows of 4-across riders, with a stagger so that qualifying well actually provides a...

Okay, I’ll bite, since 30minmotos won’t: 1) Grid start like MotoGP, 10 rows of 4-across riders, with a stagger so that qualifying well actually provides a greater advantage than “gate pick.” 2) Abbreviated run to the first turn to keep the corner entry speed down. 3) BIG penalty for jumping the start, like a one lap penalty for each infraction. Complete restart if anyone jumps. 4) No gates, no metal grids, holeshot devices allowed. Start is triggered by a light system.
So instead of having a long run on the big start straight, you have the riders grid lined up on the straight, with the front row almost at the first turn.

We do that in Supermoto, and there are always people that try and win from row 4, at the races we have full grids, by the time we cross the start line we are doing 60mph if we are at the back, and just like road racing , there are no small first turn crashes.

And then you have the issue of roost from all of the rows.

There is nothing wrong with it, it happens, its the sport. At the top level people are prepared to risk stuff that other arent. But as i said , leaving the straight and turn alone between races would be great.