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I take that back, if Dungey was on the 350 some of you guys would have a field day and claim he'd be winning straight up on the RMZ450. And.. remember how last years stinking pile of turd was the KXF 450? That thing seems to be doing OK this year.
Roger is repeating the factory mantra. A 350 can undoubtedly turn fast times on a clear track, but you put a guy on a 350 on the gate with the knowledge that he's probably not going to get a great start, and all race he's going to be blocked in turns and out-dragged on straights, up hills and in deep dirt by 450s. It's a big disadvantage, and on the pro level, even small disadvantages are tough to overcome. On the local level, it'd be all different, I'm sure.
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If Short, Alessi and Roczen were riding the 450 last week, they would have gone 1, 2, 3.
1. Doesn't the AMA have a rule on how light bikes in each class can be regardless if it's a 350cc or 450cc bike ? Aren't the 450's right at that limit? If so doesn't that just throw out the argument of the 350 being lighter out the window for the purposes of pro supercross racing?
2. I don't know, but I'm assuming the rules for bike set up are different in Europe than US. So are the 350 engines in Europe the same as the 350 engines in the US that race outdoors and supercross here in the US?
In my opinion, the smaller the track the better for a 450......sounds crazy, but 450's don't feel heavy at low speed. Where they feel heavy is on 40 mph rutted choppy straights.
This is just my observation from riding 450's and 250F's.
The 350 is a good bike, you just need to learn how to ride it to maximise its potential. The transition from 250 - 350 should theoretically be quite a natural step, whereas swapping from a 450 to a 350 will surely take time to adjust due to the riding habits you've become accustomed to onboard a big bike.
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When it comes time for the nats and 90+ deg. and 80% humidity for 30+2 x 2 it will be a factor no doubt.
Mike went from being arguably the greatest Holeshot artist in the history of the sport, indoors and out, to ZERO holshots on a 350.
But Oh no! its not the bike!, his incredible holeshot ability just "happened" to vanish the same year he switched to a 350. Okdoky.
Now one may say, yeah but Short, a b rider, is beating Mike now. um...Have you seen Mike Alessi's reaction to finishing 2nd to the greatest rider in the world in the nationals? He was miserable!, because Mike is programmed to do one thing, Win
So, when he lines up to race knowing he has no chance to holeshot, or pass a dozen 450's, he is demoralized. Finishiing in the top ten and developing a bike, and being happy with that isn't what Mike Alessi is about.
Now look at Shorts reaction to finishing 5th, 6th etc...the dude is always smiling from ear to ear. I used to like him, but it kinda makes me sick now. It doesn't bother him because he has never won, and isn't a winner. He is just happy to be a professional test/development rider and cash his cheques and retire with lots of money and good health. He will finish his career with ZERO 450 wins.
Alessi was an absolute stud on a 450 outdoors, (or is 3rd in the world no good?) and even tho he is so shitty indoors, he has podiumed on a 450.
But yeah...the problem isn't the bike, No sir, ..its Alessi, he simply lost all his talent, forgot how to holeshot, and ride like an animal outdoors. Okdoky.
The 350 is perfect for indoors. Giving up that 100cc outdoors is a big disadvantage.
'If shorty has to ride the 350 this year for outdoors i don't think he will come close to as good as he did last year. He will be getting Beat by MA800 if he is on a 450'.... so I guess we should all take that as gospel instead should we?
'If roczen were to race his 250 at thunder valley for the nationals this with everyone healthy and the fast guys there see how he does. Not as good as that time' Right, let me just make a note of that one too...
The 'everyone' you're talking about would be Stewart and Villopoto Im guessing (who wouldn't have both been in that particular race together, but anyway) but lets remember... Villopoto won two races on his 250 at Budds Creek. Against Ricky Carmichael on no less. The point is, that lower displacement bikes have proven numerous times that they can compete against the almighty 450. If you can win on a 250, you can surely win on a 350... as Cairoli has. "Oh but Cairoli's bike wasn't a '350..." Really? Show me some evidence that it wasn't, because otherwise its just speculation, either way.
I find it fascinating that people (and Im not specifically mean you jms) choose to take such a negative stance on this whole 350 thing. To the people who try and shoot it down, why does it matter to you sooo much? It seems some people view it as some sort of insult to their own intelligence. So the bike is down 100cc... do you HONESTLY think, all the issues raised by the haters on here haven't been taken into consideration by KTM? Do you not think KTM had countless meetings to discuss the project from top to bottom, not to mention riders such as Stefan Everts, a 10 time world champion who has spent years mulling this idea over. If Short and Alessi didnt want to ride the mike, if its ruining Alessi's career and making him so miserable, they have a choice to do something about it, so let them instead of assuming you know whats best for them.
If after a few years they concede that it hasn't quite achieved the potential they were hoping for, and revert back to the 450 for professional racing, will you applaud them for their innovative approach, for at least having the balls to attempt something different, or will you sit back and say 'Ah ha, told you so!'? Because if its the latter I would suggest that for a Motocross enthusiast, that would be pretty lame.
There is quite obviously a stigma attached to KTM in America, and I for one am finding it quite interesting to watch the public perception change already. Before you know it KTM will probably be the leading manufacturer in the world, if its not already and most of you will probably even own a 350 in 5-10 years time.
Post a reply to: Decoster thinks the 350 is better for outdoors