Does anybody else wish they would bring back 3 digit permanent numbers? Theres so many iconic 3 digit numbers… 259, 199, 934, 100, 338, 111, 103, 711, 800…etc. Even more when you think about MXGP, who still allows them.. like 222, 243, 259, 101..etc. Cairolli was able to use his career number over here because he only raced one year but if he had decided to race another he would have had to pick something else, imagine that!
Now you have a few big time rookies who have always ran 3 digit numbers who will be forced to change them. Daxton Bennick has always ran 241, but after this year will have to pick something else. Seeing Deegan up front leading races this year with a 3 digit number reminded me of how it made it better when it was allowed. He also has ran 338, 238 for many points throughout his career, but wont be able to next year. It just seems like a stupid rule that really isn’t doing anything positive for the sport and should be changed back. It’s obviously not the biggest deal ever, but it’s just kind of stupid that we have so many iconic 3 digit numbers but will never have another one again… because reasons.
Agreed. If a permanent number is earned they should be able to select any number they want.
I agree I think it’s silly to not allow many riders to pick a number. I’d honestly not even force them to run the 1. Here’s how I would do it:
Defending champion can run the 1 if he wants. Otherwise he can run his career number. He has a gold background all season. The series points leader has the red plate.
If you score at least 20 points in the previous two years combined, you keep your number if you choose to. If you score 0 total points in back to back seasons, your number becomes available. From there, the total points scored in the 450 class gets to choose their number from what’s available, in order from the most accumulated points to the least. Any number is available. 2 through 999. Obviously they can also choose to keep their current number. Then you go to the 250 class where they do the same thing. Someone scoring 600 points in the 250 class chooses after someone scoring 1 on the 450.
Anyone scoring 0 points in the previous 2 seasons has to run a triple digit, which obviously includes rookies. Exceptions can be made for rare occurrences like Dungey last MX season.
I mean, look a the 722. He built a following from his number. They should give riders a choice to pick a 2 digit they earned or keep their 3 digit.
It's such a dumbass rule, riders who earn a career number should be able to pick whatever number they like. So dumb that someone has to change their number from what they've ran their whole life/career because they did too GOOD
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You’ve got Jalek Swoll who’s instagram name is Js352, but because he can’t run that he is 38 this year. You’ve got some rookies coming in who’ve always had triple digit numbers that will have to change. Ryder D was always 199 but he can’t run that number now as a pro, stilez Robertson was 325 but same situation, Dax Bennick has always been 241 but after this year he’s gonna have to change. Theres no good reason to not allow them to run their numbers, they do it in the MXGP and are just fine. Also what if somebody like Tim Gjaser wanted to come over here to race full time, he would be forced to change his number. That would be dumb.
Agreed. Terrible rule. Those that want to run 3 digits get penalized for doing well.
As they say a picture is worth a thousand words.
Seeing the #100 on Cole Davies bike fired me back up on this topic. Legendary number. Its a crime its illegal for that as a permanent number now. We need to fix this! I love seeing the 100 back out there.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DEsUnvXvEmV/?img_index=2&igsh=MXB1Y2w4amtld…
We also had deegs with a 3 digit and red plate for a bit. Theres been a lot of renewed 3 digit action lately.
Unpopular opinion:
Bikes look better with a 3 digit.
I miss number 125
Some history on #100 courtesy of Racer X 2015
https://racerxonline.com/2015/12/10/the-list-the-curious-cases-of-100
I.miss when there were no permanent numbers and each year they ran the 1 or the number they got in the championship.
Absolute nightmare for looking back at history. Hey look at the holeshot from the 2022 450 main. Oh sick #2 is crossing the line in first! Wait but thats a suzuki? Thats… checks notes, ken roczen? Oh well still look at the #5 up front on the ktm, I forgot dungey was still racing that year! Hold on, thats aaron plessinger??? Hmm ok. Well lets look back at some 2020 pics then. Ok nice we got the #2 out front on the yamaha…. lets go webb… Thats eli tomac? What about 15 on the husky, we all know thats thats dean wilson right…. Thats chad reed??? This is all going off of where they finished the year before in points. Absolute cluster. Especially having social media these days itd be a nightmare.
Yet again we have a race with a 3 digit number out front, lets bring it back!!
Yaa, 3 digit permanent numbers were the shit. Alessi 800, Millsaps 118, Pourcel 377, Langston 111, jimmy albertson 702
How about the powers that be letting Cairoli use 222 instead of his earned number from last season?
Was Alessi the 1st one to keep running his 3 digit number or was it Pastrana? I think they have a choice now if they want to run the top 100 number or keep running their 3 digit number.
Scoring enough points to be in the top 100 had always been an honor. It kind of thinned out the top 100 points battle when they first started counting the SX East and West into the system. The old way as little as 1 or 2 points could earn a top 100 Pro number but they only allotted top 20 overall to get points or even get paid by the AMA.
There's no reason these guys who are picking a permanent number shouldn't be allowed to pick a three-digit number. It's not like we're gonna run out of numbers. You have to score like 25-30 points nowadays to get a national number so it'll just bump one guy up a spot
Pit Row
I gotta say, the most memorable photos for me were definitely before permanent numbers. I preferred that the riders wore the number they earned the prior season and wish it was still like that.
I suppose that there could be a few fans who might never know that this is Bob Hannah because he’s not wearing a ‘career number’, or even his AMA number…….
It's okay for me to let TC each year use 222,let it do also other riders...
McGrath ran 125 on his 1st pro bike a 89 cr125 & team peak pc.
Probably an unpopular opinion, but I would like to see all permanent numbers be three digits.
I would like for 2-99 be used to assign to all riders annually (including permanent numbers holders) based on prior year combined points results as historically appropriate.
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