Motocross starts are ruining the sport

7/18/2026 4:12pm

All this outward projected fear from the couch hahaha

Said the arm chair psychologist. I want to see racing. I can't watch racing when every top rider falls down in the first 5 seconds for no reason.

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7/18/2026 4:14pm

It is past time to do away with ALL starting helpers.

No, starting skill is a meaningless MX skill. The whole thing is pointless. See how good a rider is at a 200 ft drag race and starting every race that way? Meaningless.

Line up Q1-40 from inside gate to outside gate. Drop each gate in .25 second intervals. Safe and offers racers a chance every single moto and the fans get to see the top riders battle every single moto. Problem solved. 

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7/18/2026 4:34pm
dirtcan wrote:
I partially agree with op. Starts are probably the most exciting part of motocross and the most dangerous as well, even at the local level. Knowing...

I partially agree with op. Starts are probably the most exciting part of motocross and the most dangerous as well, even at the local level. Knowing this, I don't know why they start on grates with a holeshot device so low the bike looks like a dragster. For sure we would still see first turn pile-up without these two things, but the guys would be coming 5-10mph slower into the first turn and a little further appart so for sure the risk of injury would be lower. It wouldn't be as exciting for tv tho, so we probably won't see any changes.

More exciting than seeing the top riders battle every single moto? That's what you're trading in for traditional starts, every single moto we could see Deegan...

More exciting than seeing the top riders battle every single moto? That's what you're trading in for traditional starts, every single moto we could see Deegan vs Lawrences. But we never get to see anything because of the starting method.

30minmotos wrote:

It’s so obvious too but you’ll never get this crowd there.

I might have to call into Pulp every week like crazy lady and start pounding the bully pulpit this is crazy.

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30minmotos
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7/18/2026 4:36pm
More exciting than seeing the top riders battle every single moto? That's what you're trading in for traditional starts, every single moto we could see Deegan...

More exciting than seeing the top riders battle every single moto? That's what you're trading in for traditional starts, every single moto we could see Deegan vs Lawrences. But we never get to see anything because of the starting method.

30minmotos wrote:

It’s so obvious too but you’ll never get this crowd there.

I might have to call into Pulp every week like crazy lady and start pounding the bully pulpit this is crazy.

“Idk man 40 wide into the turn is our thing”


Yeah but it ruins nearly every race 


Yeah but it’s our thing


Yeah but people are crashing and getting hurt completely out of their control


Yeah but it’s our thing


Yeah but kids are getting hurt amateur races completely out of their control because the starts are completely inbred 


Yeah idk man it’s our thing



Let me know if that is how it goes lol

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truck
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7/18/2026 4:49pm

Yeah the staggered starts after red flags are totally awesome and give everyone a chance, we should totally do that to start every race. 

The NFL kickoff comparison doesn't work. Kickoffs were almost never of any consequence to begin with so getting rid of them and eliminating that risk didn't take anything away from the game. Even so, the change they made would be more comparable to making start straights much shorter, not changing the format entirely.

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RDnutz
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7/18/2026 4:53pm
mxaniac wrote:
My preference would be no grate, no holeshot device. Let them fix their spot behind the gate for sure, maybe even for the first 10 feet...

My preference would be no grate, no holeshot device. Let them fix their spot behind the gate for sure, maybe even for the first 10 feet to deal with when someone digs a trench going sideways.

It will create more space between riders in the first turn.

"create more space?" somebody with more aggressiveness would immediately fill that space and probably bring a couple others right behind him.

Can't see that working in a completive racing environment.

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MXJIM10
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7/18/2026 4:54pm

30 Bikes on the gate. Not 40. Will cut some of the first lap crashes. Not all, but will definitely help. 

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RDnutz
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7/18/2026 4:56pm

maybe add some safe spaces and crying rooms for the guys who can't handle aggressive riding in traffic?

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MXJIM10
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7/18/2026 5:02pm

Youre a moron if you don't agree. 40 BIkes are too much on any Motocross Track!

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30minmotos
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7/18/2026 5:07pm
MXJIM10 wrote:

Youre a moron if you don't agree. 40 BIkes are too much on any Motocross Track!

Especially when from 15-40th they’re massively off the pace. Don’t belong in the same track. There’s a reason most other professional racing circuits have some sort of 107% style rule. Exact number to be determined by track length and like variables. 

But here just full reeeeeeeeee inbred 40 wide letting any inbred ruin the entire race every start. And then again when it comes to lap them 3 wide in each section.

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7/18/2026 5:08pm
truck wrote:

Hidden due to down votes

VitalMX known for it's astute public opinion.

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7/18/2026 5:09pm
truck wrote:
Yeah the staggered starts after red flags are totally awesome and give everyone a chance, we should totally do that to start every race. The NFL kickoff...

Yeah the staggered starts after red flags are totally awesome and give everyone a chance, we should totally do that to start every race. 

The NFL kickoff comparison doesn't work. Kickoffs were almost never of any consequence to begin with so getting rid of them and eliminating that risk didn't take anything away from the game. Even so, the change they made would be more comparable to making start straights much shorter, not changing the format entirely.

I never said anything about staggered starts 

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7/18/2026 5:13pm

Sending million dollar athletes to wreck themselves playing a game of chicken for no reason. It's the dumbest design in all of modern sports.

Your right, and starting immediately motocross should identify as a finish only sport. 

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RDnutz
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7/18/2026 5:15pm

get rid of qualifying sessions and LCQs. No Mains either. 250s and 450s each get 1 practice session to learn the track and then you get 3 motos. Just like the old days.

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truck
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7/18/2026 5:15pm
MXJIM10 wrote:

Youre a moron if you don't agree. 40 BIkes are too much on any Motocross Track!

30minmotos wrote:
Especially when from 15-40th they’re massively off the pace. Don’t belong in the same track. There’s a reason most other professional racing circuits have some sort...

Especially when from 15-40th they’re massively off the pace. Don’t belong in the same track. There’s a reason most other professional racing circuits have some sort of 107% style rule. Exact number to be determined by track length and like variables. 

But here just full reeeeeeeeee inbred 40 wide letting any inbred ruin the entire race every start. And then again when it comes to lap them 3 wide in each section.

The first turn crashes today were all up front.... literally the first few guys into the turn..... almost like the issue was maybe they didn't get off the gas soon enough. The 35 guys behind them didn't have much to do with them going down. 

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wpark89
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7/18/2026 5:21pm

It’s not the start…or the amount of riders.  But please let’s have a serious conversation about the grates and starting devices.  At this point…what’s the reason for them?  When they first came out it was still the 2 stroke era and lining up in ruts.  How could anyone argue that they don’t contribute to how fast and even the riders are coming into the first turn?  Taking them off would do nothing but add separation, technique and strategy to the racing. 

You could argue about right hand starts being sketchy…or that pile ups have happened since rubber band starts.  But please somebody tell me why we need to keep the grates and devices?

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MXJIM10
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7/18/2026 5:22pm

Today that was the case. Most of the time it isn't. Too many first lap crashes. One thing MXGP gets right is max 30 Bikes on the gate.

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30minmotos
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7/18/2026 5:22pm
MXJIM10 wrote:

Youre a moron if you don't agree. 40 BIkes are too much on any Motocross Track!

30minmotos wrote:
Especially when from 15-40th they’re massively off the pace. Don’t belong in the same track. There’s a reason most other professional racing circuits have some sort...

Especially when from 15-40th they’re massively off the pace. Don’t belong in the same track. There’s a reason most other professional racing circuits have some sort of 107% style rule. Exact number to be determined by track length and like variables. 

But here just full reeeeeeeeee inbred 40 wide letting any inbred ruin the entire race every start. And then again when it comes to lap them 3 wide in each section.

truck wrote:
The first turn crashes today were all up front.... literally the first few guys into the turn..... almost like the issue was maybe they didn't get...

The first turn crashes today were all up front.... literally the first few guys into the turn..... almost like the issue was maybe they didn't get off the gas soon enough. The 35 guys behind them didn't have much to do with them going down. 

Right almost like being 40 wide into the turn isn’t the right recipe for success.


 

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RF145
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7/18/2026 7:36pm

Maybe instead of changing the bikes (starting devices) and removing the grates, the AMA looks at designing a safer first and second turn and have that standard for every track? 
Of course that would require the track owners spend some money and in some cases a huge redesign of the start and first and second turns. 
It seems some first turns are too tight, too sharp and too narrow. And perhaps every first turn should be a left turn.

I am sure there are solutions to this issue. I have seen many races where the first turn was not a factor in the race. 

It seems a poorly designed first turn is much worse than grates and starting devices. 

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7/19/2026 5:40am

I'm not sure what the answer is, but they DO need to do something to spread the riders out coming into turn 1. There are too many getting hurt after doing nothing wrong. Just being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Like other motorsports, there should be more of an advantage of qualifying well. I think I would like MUCH shorter start straights. And make the far inside gate a straight shot to turn 1. Then every other gate is slightly worse, with the far outside gate the worst. Such a gate arrangement, with a shorter straight, would spread them out a bit, but not totally eliminate the "40 riders into turn 1" spectacle everyone seems to want to keep.

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30minmotos
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7/19/2026 5:45am
I'm not sure what the answer is, but they DO need to do something to spread the riders out coming into turn 1. There are too...

I'm not sure what the answer is, but they DO need to do something to spread the riders out coming into turn 1. There are too many getting hurt after doing nothing wrong. Just being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Like other motorsports, there should be more of an advantage of qualifying well. I think I would like MUCH shorter start straights. And make the far inside gate a straight shot to turn 1. Then every other gate is slightly worse, with the far outside gate the worst. Such a gate arrangement, with a shorter straight, would spread them out a bit, but not totally eliminate the "40 riders into turn 1" spectacle everyone seems to want to keep.

Brilliant. Seriously. That’s a great suggestion. Make the inside gate the obvious advantage so it naturally funnels the riders into position rather than now where folks are forced to hold it wide and pray.

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Perky
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7/19/2026 6:44am

Was the bad one yesterday not caused by an overly excited rookie that caught the side of the track AFTER the first turn?

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30minmotos
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7/19/2026 6:49am
Perky wrote:

Was the bad one yesterday not caused by an overly excited rookie that caught the side of the track AFTER the first turn?

Was that not a result of the current starting format… is the second turn so far removed from the start that you’re seriously going to try to pretend it’s a seperate issue.

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Perky
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7/19/2026 6:52am
Perky wrote:

Was the bad one yesterday not caused by an overly excited rookie that caught the side of the track AFTER the first turn?

30minmotos wrote:
Was that not a result of the current starting format… is the second turn so far removed from the start that you’re seriously going to try...

Was that not a result of the current starting format… is the second turn so far removed from the start that you’re seriously going to try to pretend it’s a seperate issue.

Yes.

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RDnutz
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7/19/2026 6:52am
MXJIM10 wrote:

Youre a moron if you don't agree. 40 BIkes are too much on any Motocross Track!

30minmotos wrote:
Especially when from 15-40th they’re massively off the pace. Don’t belong in the same track. There’s a reason most other professional racing circuits have some sort...

Especially when from 15-40th they’re massively off the pace. Don’t belong in the same track. There’s a reason most other professional racing circuits have some sort of 107% style rule. Exact number to be determined by track length and like variables. 

But here just full reeeeeeeeee inbred 40 wide letting any inbred ruin the entire race every start. And then again when it comes to lap them 3 wide in each section.

why don't you and the few guys who agree with you on how many riders "should be allowed" in the same race start your own racing series and fully fund it yourselves? That way you can set all the rules you want and see if the biz is successful and provides exciting enough events people will pay to see them? For me, I think we've already strayed WAYYYY too far from the roots and spirit of what makes MX so appealing to so many people who ever participated. 

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30minmotos
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7/19/2026 6:53am Edited Date/Time 7/19/2026 6:53am
MXJIM10 wrote:

Youre a moron if you don't agree. 40 BIkes are too much on any Motocross Track!

30minmotos wrote:
Especially when from 15-40th they’re massively off the pace. Don’t belong in the same track. There’s a reason most other professional racing circuits have some sort...

Especially when from 15-40th they’re massively off the pace. Don’t belong in the same track. There’s a reason most other professional racing circuits have some sort of 107% style rule. Exact number to be determined by track length and like variables. 

But here just full reeeeeeeeee inbred 40 wide letting any inbred ruin the entire race every start. And then again when it comes to lap them 3 wide in each section.

RDnutz wrote:
why don't you and the few guys who agree with you on how many riders "should be allowed" in the same race start your own racing...

why don't you and the few guys who agree with you on how many riders "should be allowed" in the same race start your own racing series and fully fund it yourselves? That way you can set all the rules you want and see if the biz is successful and provides exciting enough events people will pay to see them? For me, I think we've already strayed WAYYYY too far from the roots and spirit of what makes MX so appealing to so many people who ever participated. 

How about you watch destruction derby if you’re here for the wrecks and not the racing?

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RDnutz
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7/19/2026 7:04am
30minmotos wrote:

How about you watch destruction derby if you’re here for the wrecks and not the racing?

it's becoming more and more apparent you have never raced (or probably ever ridden) MX yourself so want to sit back and armchair QB every detail of how YOU want to see racing occur on your TV. Much easier to take it and leave it and leave it that way when you move on to your next temporary hobby.

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30minmotos
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7/19/2026 7:07am
30minmotos wrote:

How about you watch destruction derby if you’re here for the wrecks and not the racing?

RDnutz wrote:
it's becoming more and more apparent you have never raced (or probably ever ridden) MX yourself so want to sit back and armchair QB every detail...

it's becoming more and more apparent you have never raced (or probably ever ridden) MX yourself so want to sit back and armchair QB every detail of how YOU want to see racing occur on your TV. Much easier to take it and leave it and leave it that way when you move on to your next temporary hobby.

So apparent and so wrong dude. But keep on keepin on. Do you still line up? Do you still hit the jumps that are sending kids home in helicopters? Are you riding a 450 for more than 3 laps?

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Radical
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7/19/2026 9:50am Edited Date/Time 7/19/2026 9:53am

Sending million dollar athletes to wreck themselves playing a game of chicken for no reason. It's the dumbest design in all of modern sports.

What would be your idea on how to start 40 riders at the same time? The current MX first turn is one of the most exciting...

What would be your idea on how to start 40 riders at the same time? The current MX first turn is one of the most exciting things of an entire moto.

Bring start results back to rider skill.

Dirt starts

No holeshot devices.

Slightly shorten start straight length: 10%.

Limit riders to one ECU map per moto, set at the start of the moto, that cannot automatically change after a fixed amount of time {after the start)

In my opinion, no traction control.

Some of these would be difficult to enforce.

Right now, all of the helps level the field and cause too many to enter the first turn at the same time, at full speed.

This would do the opposite of leveling the field.  It creates con where the most talented riders will holeshot often, while staggering riders getting to the first turn, at a slightly slower speed.

It'll still be exciting, while less predictable.

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mxaniac
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7/19/2026 9:57am
mxaniac wrote:
My preference would be no grate, no holeshot device. Let them fix their spot behind the gate for sure, maybe even for the first 10 feet...

My preference would be no grate, no holeshot device. Let them fix their spot behind the gate for sure, maybe even for the first 10 feet to deal with when someone digs a trench going sideways.

It will create more space between riders in the first turn.

RDnutz wrote:
"create more space?" somebody with more aggressiveness would immediately fill that space and probably bring a couple others right behind him.Can't see that working in a...

"create more space?" somebody with more aggressiveness would immediately fill that space and probably bring a couple others right behind him.

Can't see that working in a completive racing environment.

That assumes someone from the rear can brake later and find more traction to still make the corner. Merely being aggressive doesn't make that true, and at some point you're hitting the laws of physics. If all the top riders were coming from the rear I'd agree with your point. If we're talking a Gaussian distribution on skill then I don't. If we assume the most skilled riders are already up front then I think the opposite of your point is true. With no holeshot devices, start maps, and grates I think the later is the most true, the top riders are in front which leads to more separation.

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