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this season got boring quick after supercross, no depth left.
Plessinger:
“Just one of those days,” he recalled. “I’m alright as of now – went down in the first corner and a footpeg caught the top of my butt-crack, split it open pretty good… would give you guys a picture, but it would probably get flagged.
“Got some stitches and gonna get my tailbone X-rayed when I get home. Really bummed, but I’m still in one piece. Just gotta let it heal and see when I can come back. Sorry to all the fans that came to see me out there today and thanks to everyone for checking on me. We’ll be back"
Pulpmx said something about him getting some stitches....Steve made it sound like a front side injury. Glad it was a backside injury.
Rough year or Aaron.
i think that's called desert racing.
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Any start block higher than 3”, gone. Grates, gone. Holeshot device, gone. But they could never take away start maps, there would be no way to monitor that.
Isn't there a switch on the bars for that?
You'd have to have someone do some deep digging and its entirely possible based on all the 90s and 2000 videos available on youtube. Yes off the top of my head there are a good amount of pileups I can remember even before the holeshot devices.
I do agree the main issue between now and then is separation off the gate. The works bikes back in the day were noticeably better than privateer ones so the riders with better bikes (and skill) were able to separate easier and make the first corner maybe a little bit safer. Mechanics used to prep the rut they started in behind the gate
Something else I've noticed is Justin Cooper seems to be affected the most by the metal grates. He was an exceptional starter pre grate era and if he didnt pull the holeshot, he was top 5 at worst. Now he seems to be midpack in the first corner if he doesnt nail it. While I'm sure other riders and the AMA like that the playing field is more level, I do think the grates are a disadvantage to people who used to be good starters
They can program it into the ecu.
Wait, are you suggesting that the grates don't help all riders equally and that before the grates some were better starters, and with grates others are better starters?
Every turn is a crash in drag racing!
Get rid of all physical starting aids. Easy. Go back to ruts and no start devices. There is no differentiation on a 4 stroke when you dump the clutch on a grate with the fork sucked down 11". All of them go relatively the same speed. A terrible start vs a holeshot is the difference of like a tenth of a second.
MURRIETA, Calif. – Aaron Plessinger will sit out Rounds 6 and 7 of the 2026 AMA Pro Motocross Championship while recovering from an injury in the tailbone area sustained at the RedBud National.
The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider fell in the first turn of 450MX Moto 1 this past Saturday and required stitches immediately afterward, but has since been cleared of any fractures despite significant bruising of his tailbone.
While he will miss the Southwick (July 11) and Spring Creek (July 17) rounds, Plessinger's condition will be reassessed ahead of Round 8 at the Washougal National on Saturday, July 25, with a decision on his return to competition to be made closer to the event.
Plessinger has achieved a season-high result of fifth overall at High Point onboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, while also comfortably finishing inside the top-10 at Fox Raceway and Thunder Valley. He is currently positioned 10th in the 450MX standings.
Aaron Plessinger: "RedBud did not go as I expected, really disappointing to go down like that and not even a lap into the first moto. I got a decent jump out of the gate and went down in the first corner – as soon as I hit the ground, I got hit from behind, which tore my pants and gave me a nice cut right on my tailbone. The team from the Alpinestars Mobile Medical Unit was able to get me stitched up and on my way, so I'm thankful for that, and I'm glad it's not worse or even broken. I'm going to take the time to get this wound healed up and be back as soon as I can!"
50%? We've had 20 starts in the outdoors have we had 10 pileups?
I think your percentage machine is broken..
This coming from a guy that broke his neck in a first turn crash in 2003, before grates, before holeshot devices, on a 125..
I say all that to say this I'm all for improving safety where we can but unfortunately we participate in a sport that's extremely dangerous and there's some aspects of it that can't be improved unless we completely change it
Can take 2 races off and have 3 weeks to recover or take 3 races off and have 6 weeks to recover. Highly doubt he races Washougal if he's already going to be out for the next 2.
There are small things they can change which probably slightly increase space between riders in the first corner/section of the track. More space in the first corner = more safe. There isn't a downside to removing start maps, traction control, and starting devices. It should create mores space, but the difference is likely small.
You're right though, starts are incredibly dangerous and always will be without significant changes like grids or something, and that would be awful. Starts are dangerous, but holy smokes are they exciting. Standing in the first corner at Southwick as a spectator has to be one of the greatest experiences in motorsports. 40 bikes thundering directly at you at speed with only a chainlink fence between you and those bikes.
Pit Row
Post a reply to: Another first turn injury