Bench Racing | Washougal National Motos

philG
Posts
11073
Joined
5/12/2012
Location
GB
7/26/2026 12:21pm
philG wrote:
There is an awful lot of money being spent , on guys that are only in with a chance until the gate drops. Unless there is a...

There is an awful lot of money being spent , on guys that are only in with a chance until the gate drops. 

Unless there is a massive change, where 250 guys are made to move up, and younger riders are given a chance , AMA is going to be in big trouble.  I think it already is, aside of Deegan, who is going to beat the Lawrences and Coenens, in the next few seasons. 

Tomac is aging out, AP is on the wane, Mookie is ready to slide away, RJ is RJ and isnt going to be more than he is, Barcia is aging out , Webb is aging out, Marchbanks has shown what an 'average' 250 Team guy can do on a 450, so why arent these older guys getting moved out ?  

vdrsnk04 wrote:
I never understand this thought, but that’s why we all have different thoughts. I always look at this style comment as you are in your position...

I never understand this thought, but that’s why we all have different thoughts. I always look at this style comment as you are in your position at work and have been for 10 years, but you should attempt the next higher position because you should give the guy below you a chance at it. It sounds like a participation trophy to me. If the younger guy wants it go take it now. 

What i am saying is, there are way too many guys in the 250 class as career 250 guys who should have been pulled up already.  

Factory Kawasaki is Garrett Marchbanks, and Cornelius Tondel.  HTF does that even happen?  If i had told you 3 years ago that this would happen, you would have told me i was on drugs.  But Marchbanks just out qualified both Lawrence brothers, and he isnt even considered to be one of the 'good' 250 guys.  Now i have been impressed by him, and his work ethic, to get the chance he has got, but teams are  rehiring the same people year in year out in 250 when they have won nothing at 10 attempts (20 in some cases)   so guys stay in 450 for an eternity, without a hope of winning, and guys sit on a 250 ' to have another go at it'.  Its insane. 

Riders who have moved up, RJ , Jordan Smith and Haarup, have run easily in the top 10, Marchbanks  has been a revelation , and Tondel is literally unemployable in europe,(doesnt have the pedigree)  but he has backed himself to be good enough and he is. 

There are factory guys in 250 struggling to make top 15, and guys in 450 making top 15 who have jobs, it makes no sense at all. 

I raced a few weeks ago, at a track where we had a guy who raced MXGP last week,  he was 26 seconds a lap quicker than me, there were guys in the 450 class yesterday who were more than that slower than Jett.  I am 61.   Please make it make sense. 

 

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Wo Phat
Posts
229
Joined
3/11/2023
Location
Montgomery, AL, USA
7/26/2026 12:25pm

i was kinda hoping Marchbanks could put his bike up front to see how he raced Jett, Hunta, and Deegs.....i guess it was just wishful thinking

1
3
7/26/2026 12:53pm
WFO72 wrote:

Anybody know what manufacturer and year bike two stroke Stienke qualified on? Just curious?

Wo Phat wrote:

this year it was a Husky 450.....probably a 2025 model since they didn't import any 26's

He was on a KX450

vdrsnk04
Posts
2220
Joined
9/5/2018
Location
USA
7/26/2026 1:03pm Edited Date/Time 7/26/2026 1:03pm
philG wrote:
There is an awful lot of money being spent , on guys that are only in with a chance until the gate drops. Unless there is a...

There is an awful lot of money being spent , on guys that are only in with a chance until the gate drops. 

Unless there is a massive change, where 250 guys are made to move up, and younger riders are given a chance , AMA is going to be in big trouble.  I think it already is, aside of Deegan, who is going to beat the Lawrences and Coenens, in the next few seasons. 

Tomac is aging out, AP is on the wane, Mookie is ready to slide away, RJ is RJ and isnt going to be more than he is, Barcia is aging out , Webb is aging out, Marchbanks has shown what an 'average' 250 Team guy can do on a 450, so why arent these older guys getting moved out ?  

vdrsnk04 wrote:
I never understand this thought, but that’s why we all have different thoughts. I always look at this style comment as you are in your position...

I never understand this thought, but that’s why we all have different thoughts. I always look at this style comment as you are in your position at work and have been for 10 years, but you should attempt the next higher position because you should give the guy below you a chance at it. It sounds like a participation trophy to me. If the younger guy wants it go take it now. 

philG wrote:
What i am saying is, there are way too many guys in the 250 class as career 250 guys who should have been pulled up already...

What i am saying is, there are way too many guys in the 250 class as career 250 guys who should have been pulled up already.  

Factory Kawasaki is Garrett Marchbanks, and Cornelius Tondel.  HTF does that even happen?  If i had told you 3 years ago that this would happen, you would have told me i was on drugs.  But Marchbanks just out qualified both Lawrence brothers, and he isnt even considered to be one of the 'good' 250 guys.  Now i have been impressed by him, and his work ethic, to get the chance he has got, but teams are  rehiring the same people year in year out in 250 when they have won nothing at 10 attempts (20 in some cases)   so guys stay in 450 for an eternity, without a hope of winning, and guys sit on a 250 ' to have another go at it'.  Its insane. 

Riders who have moved up, RJ , Jordan Smith and Haarup, have run easily in the top 10, Marchbanks  has been a revelation , and Tondel is literally unemployable in europe,(doesnt have the pedigree)  but he has backed himself to be good enough and he is. 

There are factory guys in 250 struggling to make top 15, and guys in 450 making top 15 who have jobs, it makes no sense at all. 

I raced a few weeks ago, at a track where we had a guy who raced MXGP last week,  he was 26 seconds a lap quicker than me, there were guys in the 450 class yesterday who were more than that slower than Jett.  I am 61.   Please make it make sense. 

 

Unfortunately there aren’t enough riders who can take those career 250 guys seat because those guys are good, really good and those guys stay 250 to get the better paychecks because they won’t be as good on a 450.

1

The Shop

philG
Posts
11073
Joined
5/12/2012
Location
GB
7/26/2026 1:49pm
vdrsnk04 wrote:
Unfortunately there aren’t enough riders who can take those career 250 guys seat because those guys are good, really good and those guys stay 250 to...

Unfortunately there aren’t enough riders who can take those career 250 guys seat because those guys are good, really good and those guys stay 250 to get the better paychecks because they won’t be as good on a 450.

there must be 10 guys currently in 250 who think that they would 100% have Marchbanks covered.  

It needs an age limit, or pointing out needs to be a thing again, because the current system is broken. 

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1
Jettsonator
Posts
112
Joined
11/19/2024
Location
Murrieta, CA, USA
7/26/2026 2:09pm

Jett in the post race interview when asked about "battling" with Deegan- "I don't think you call it much of a battle when you drop someone". 🤣 So good. 

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vdrsnk04
Posts
2220
Joined
9/5/2018
Location
USA
7/26/2026 2:45pm
vdrsnk04 wrote:
Unfortunately there aren’t enough riders who can take those career 250 guys seat because those guys are good, really good and those guys stay 250 to...

Unfortunately there aren’t enough riders who can take those career 250 guys seat because those guys are good, really good and those guys stay 250 to get the better paychecks because they won’t be as good on a 450.

philG wrote:
there must be 10 guys currently in 250 who think that they would 100% have Marchbanks covered.  It needs an age limit, or pointing out needs...

there must be 10 guys currently in 250 who think that they would 100% have Marchbanks covered.  

It needs an age limit, or pointing out needs to be a thing again, because the current system is broken. 

Or just do it the old fashioned way and beat that guy every week so you take his seat. 

2
1
mx691
Posts
957
Joined
6/27/2008
Location
Stockholm, SE
Fantasy
7/26/2026 2:47pm Edited Date/Time 7/26/2026 2:48pm

Not even during the RC4/JS7 24-0 years has the 450 nationals been this boring.

10
kiwifan
Posts
9800
Joined
10/31/2009
Location
USA
7/26/2026 3:12pm
I had to watch the race with the sound muted.  Deegan’s constant reviving the fornicate out of the engine is nails on a chalkboard.  For the...

I had to watch the race with the sound muted.  Deegan’s constant reviving the fornicate out of the engine is nails on a chalkboard.  For the love of deity please cease that feces!  And I like the kid!

He's like Barcia almost always on the rev limiter 

2
kpiper
Posts
2465
Joined
3/20/2019
Location
USA
7/26/2026 3:15pm
vdrsnk04 wrote:
Unfortunately there aren’t enough riders who can take those career 250 guys seat because those guys are good, really good and those guys stay 250 to...

Unfortunately there aren’t enough riders who can take those career 250 guys seat because those guys are good, really good and those guys stay 250 to get the better paychecks because they won’t be as good on a 450.

philG wrote:
there must be 10 guys currently in 250 who think that they would 100% have Marchbanks covered.  It needs an age limit, or pointing out needs...

there must be 10 guys currently in 250 who think that they would 100% have Marchbanks covered.  

It needs an age limit, or pointing out needs to be a thing again, because the current system is broken. 

How exactly is the current system broken in a way that an age limit for 250 guys would fix?

mx691
Posts
957
Joined
6/27/2008
Location
Stockholm, SE
Fantasy
7/26/2026 3:27pm Edited Date/Time 7/26/2026 3:31pm
vdrsnk04 wrote:
Unfortunately there aren’t enough riders who can take those career 250 guys seat because those guys are good, really good and those guys stay 250 to...

Unfortunately there aren’t enough riders who can take those career 250 guys seat because those guys are good, really good and those guys stay 250 to get the better paychecks because they won’t be as good on a 450.

philG wrote:
there must be 10 guys currently in 250 who think that they would 100% have Marchbanks covered.  It needs an age limit, or pointing out needs...

there must be 10 guys currently in 250 who think that they would 100% have Marchbanks covered.  

It needs an age limit, or pointing out needs to be a thing again, because the current system is broken. 

kpiper wrote:

How exactly is the current system broken in a way that an age limit for 250 guys would fix?

No 250 riders wants to class up right now…

Please come back in +5 years.

truck
Posts
3848
Joined
6/10/2015
Location
Louisville, KY, USA
Fantasy
7/26/2026 5:32pm

250 class should not be a class people are content to stay in. No sport, motorsports or otherwise, pretend to have two equivalent premier classes. I'd be fine with an age limit but I'd rather see the money concentrate on the 450 class so if you're consistently making 450 SX mains you're paid like a pro athlete. 250 should be minor leagues, development class, paid as such. Would make both classes so much better. 

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