What changes have been positive and what have been negative?

Positives:

• More manufacturers!!
• TV package continues to improve every year (I don't care what most people say, it is a solid effort and I've noticed a lot of little tweaks that have increased the overall professionalism of the package.)
• We have a really interesting cast of characters right now: Lawrences as the nice clean cut guys, Deegs who is ready to go WWE, and veterans who have been around long enough that they say what is on their mind (Kenny and Webb come to mind). Add in Mookie, The Cowboy, Jorge and Chase and there is always plenty of backstory.
• 20 rider gates - I'm onboard with this return to tradition. Having two extra guys out there riding for NO POINTS makes no sense to me. While we're at it, why don't we go ahead and pay points to all 40 positions on the gate at the nationals?!?!

Negative:

• Season is too much of a grind. Plain and simple. SX is 17 weeks of almost the exact same thing and by the time we get to nationals I already have "fan fatigue". The triple crowns do mix things up a little, but honestly I don't like the viewing experience nearly as much as an actual SX program. I would be absolutely content with 15 SX, 10 nationals and three SMX rounds, with one caveat (see below).
• SMX tracks - They all need to look/feel like the finale this year. Full stop, non negotiable. 
• SX mud races. I understand there can be scheduling conflicts that prevent booking domes vs outdoor venues, but SX mud races are stupid to me. It's not a test of how they are actually supposed to compete. The more domes the better.
• WSX -- They missed the boat on their niche. They should have gone after top-tier recently retired riders (or guys who couldn't get the rides they wanted in the US) with star power and let it overlap with regular SX. Think of it almost as a masters championship, where up and comers could also compete. 

Undecided:

• SMX doesn't quite feel like it has found its footing. I'm not sure if it is because of the tracks, the fact that no matter how much hype or purse it doesn't have the weight of a full-up series. And it's tagged onto the end of a long season.

Negative: 

Losing a national. 

Losing Red Bull Straight Rhythm 

Allowing the 250 2T in the 250 class in amateurs, but not the pro level. 

New BS YouTube Channels

Being a 32 year fan and had a 12 year racing career in that time.
Positive:
-Better payouts for riders
-Fixed the points back to normal for '27.

Negative:
-AMA's complete BS inconsistency with rulings, license point garbage, and race director calls on raceday.
-AMA SOUND RULES need to go away. Feld has literal 150db monster trucks in the same arena the next weekend. For professional racing, there shouldn't be a sound rule other than a 130 db limit.
-SMX is a joke. Remove it and bring back the Off-season prestigious venues like Paris, Geneva and Straight Rhythm.

Putting live GNCC and Lorettas behind a pay wall to pad Tim Cotters pockets

I could write a book on how much the GNCC series has gone down hill

Betting has to be the worst change. 

250 class should not be regional, nor should it be a Championship. Your either part of the main game (450 Championship) or your not.

Sx should be all indoor events, mudders are for MX

MX tracks need differing surfaces, bring back some Blue groove or marble surface events.

SMX sucks, who cares for a 3 race Championship, just add extra races.

What negative does gambling bring? I’m not being sarcastic. I don’t know. 

Positive:

More OEM's-this is cool as shit and I so impressed with how quickly they became competitive. Means more guys getting rides for good money.

WMX garnering enough support to grow-women's sports are on the rise, rapidly, and nice to see our sport support this. Been some great racing and they are badasses.

The level of the sport continues to impress-both riders and bikes.

More Euro's coming to race in America, again, raising the level of compete and the level of interest.

I personally love the International SX/MX/SMX pass as a Canadian. It has been bulletproof for me. Prices are going up quickly however....

I know I am in the minority, but there is still so much potential for the SMX rounds. We just haven't found it yet, but I remain a believer. A very few of the top guys may not be motivated by the money, but generally getting the riders more opportunities financially is a huge win and it can still be successful. Come on!

Negative:

Losing 1 outdoor national. I am concerned that this is a slippery slope. The great outdoors need to be protected for grassroots participation, and engagement and for the very soul of the sport, without getting too corny...

With electronics developing like they are, let's get rid of the grates and starting devices, and bring back more skill and selection to the gate. Hell concrete would be better than grates! Tricky as fuck that concrete. 

I too would like to see more variety in SX tracks but appreciate the constraints around it. Easier said than done but I don't let that ruin the racing for me! Be it afternoon or evening racing.

There needs to be a much harsher penalty for cutting the track (better track markings are a must), and for not heeding blue flags. You get what you are willing to tolerate.

The final one is a long shot, but I would love to see equal displacement in the 250 class. This would be much more affordable for privateers, especially outdoors. I also think 300cc or higher 2 strokes should be allowed in the 450 class, and although I'm sober it doesn't sound like it right now with this whole 2 stroke thing.

General comment/outlook:

Our sport has never been in a better place in every way, EXCEPT for local riding areas becoming harder to find/keep. 

Positives:

• The app to watch the racing (in Australia)
• The drone footage 
  
  Negatives:
• AMA's complete BS inconsistency with rulings, license point garbage, and race director calls on raceday. (Cut and pasted)
• The cost of the app

I havent been to one since their dumbasses banned pit vehicles besides stupid fucking UTVs

Dislike: Opening ceremonies feel so meh now, when I first started going to SX races every year ('13 or so) they were a lot better IMO. Talking specifically about A1

Likes:

SMX next/futures. The sport needs a true go between rather than AX. AX is better as its own series

Triple crown events. format changes are more fun

Peacock/ larger purses. More money and the coverage is top tier compared to 20+ yrs ago. Us old timers remember trying to catch random coverage on ESPN

Dislikes

SMX next/futures. it hasnt gone far enough. It needs to be a series, an actual PRO-AM series. The idea would still be there to develop upcomign kids but its not strictly 14-17yr olds

Triple crown events.  their a little overhyped and there are so many other ways to format the event as Monster cup showed us. There should be handful of events that utilize a 3rd format or even two others. Nascar isnt just 500 laps or 200, nor does it stay in just ovals. 

Peacock/ larger purses: The money favors the 450's obviously but the 250 back runners make nothing. IIRC 20th in 450 walked off with 30k while 250s got 3k. Im not saying more more needs to be in there total but i think a 250 guy in 20th should be netting a bit more

Peacock, 8 pm start times (east coast guy), and riders personal merch sales. 

Like:

Matt Burkeen's videos showing the condition of the track, something the official footage doesn't show.

Dislike:

Media changes meaning no more of the above!

11 Nats

14 SX

3 Grand National Championship Races: 1 MX, 1 SX 1 truly mixed SMX 

24 weekends off 

Positives: live broadcasts, all the talent coming to AMA series, new manufacturers, helmet technology, electric starts, and FI two strokes!

Negatives: local track closures, reverse jump trend (a few are ok, whole track bad), peaky landings, used bike market, me buying a Gasgas right before the crash 😣

Was just watching Iron man Gncc on utube tv….looks like 1/2 the amount of riders in most of the afternoon classes, than what it used to be….

I think some of it has to do with Ironman not being the final round this year. 

I noticed they didn't mention the amount of racers in the recap like they usually do. Maybe their greed is finally catching up to them 

Big negatives, start devices, concrete pads, start maps, all that kind of shit. Big plus, new manufacturers

Positives - getting rid of the semis (again), coverage and content, some of the tracks, and definitely the ability and prep to recover a soaked track to race condition.

Cons - ama penalties, starting grates/blocks, 9 whoop max (did they gid rid of that?), some of the tracks.

All time high riding ability, up top the competition is fierce.

Negative, season is too long, after watching hunter all year first time ive felt viewer fatigue, if im fatigued I cant imagine what the riders are going through.

Start assistance such as blocks grates need to go.

I am really impressed how the schedule for SX/Nationals are kept really close to being spot on when it comes to gates  dropping. Other than the occasional delay from red flags the guys running the show do an amazing job.

 
I also love the SX next races. A great addition to the program. 

Awesome to see the addition of many new manufacturers. It brings back memories of the 70’s when we had 9-10 bike brands on the line. 

My biggest dislike is opening ceremonies in daylight. It takes pre-race festivities from a 10 to a 3. 

Pros: good live broadcast with drones! (not great tough like mxgp)

Cons: Start enhancing electric gadgets. Grates. SMX! 9 whoops… Open roof sx races! Not equal cc for 2/4 stroke in 250 sx/mx. 11 nationals! (Solve the Glen Helen issue!) Silly infractions-penalties enforced, serious infractions-no worries. Boring SX tracks. Top 9 qualifies to the main = 3-8 rolling around. No race day live with ALL the qualifying both sx/mx. MXoN lost status. 18 years to-be-pro rule. General greed, both riders and you-know-who.

I hate the injuries. Honestly, it sucks not having the large majority of the top riders out there for the full season

I like that we have more vets and guys stick around longer.

I long for the 80s when a broken collarbone was a serious injury, however top riders retired at 26 in the 80s. 

It would be nice to have both. Less season ending injuries but also guys staying competitive longer due to better training programs, compounds and better pay checks. 

Positive:
Triangular/prismatic tuff blocks
Weege and Stew in the SX booth
Steve Matthes nets
 

Negative:
SX Ticket prices
SMX (feels forced)
450 track designs - megaleap megaleap turn, megaleap megaleap turn, megaleap megaleap turn....

Pros: Peacock, combined SX and MX, moto media choices, bikes are all awesome, speedway tracks.

Cons: short whoop sections, no dragon backs, cookie cutter jumps, sub 50 second tracks, no whoops in smx races, KTM and Husky's new shrouds, less MX races than SX races.

NEGATIVE:

• Front fork starting devices
• ECU Starting maps
• Metal grates for Starting 

They need to ban all starting aids.

Exactly what I was going to say. 👍

Not to be THAT GUY but positive and negative for who??? We have so many different interests (Promoter, Broadcaster, OEMs, Industry Sponsors, Outside Sponsors, Fans, Factory Racers, Privateer Racers, Teams) - at least 9 different groups who all have different challenges and want something different out of the races. Until we can better align all of those interests, it will just be a pendulum swinging back and forth. I know you can't make everyone happy, but at least agree on what is helpful for most groups.

For example - most people agree the bikes are too fast and have become dangerous. so do we reduce the displacement? Sure, but you just made it harder for every privateer rider and team to be competitive because the smaller the displacement, the more the bike becomes the limiting factor. That means a bigger gap between the 1st and 20th place lap times, and more lappers ---- less safe. 

So ---- what changes have been positive and negative? I'll list the ones that are pretty universally good or bad.

• Bad - Cookie cutter tracks - no dragon's backs, fewer out-of-the-box obstacles, 9 whoops (WTF?) - theoretically safer but end up being so fast that when a rider does make a mistake, it's a big one. 
• Bad - Starting grates, staring blocks, and holeshot devices - get rid of them all. Create separation in the first 10 feet. This may make racing even more start-dependent but it will be safer and create more exciting racing.
• Bad - Longer season - only good in the short-term for promoter, broadcaster and sponsors, but bad long-term for the longevity of our best racers which ultimately is bad for those same groups. 15 SX, 10 MX, 3 SMX and that's it. 
• Good - SMX Next - great stepping-stone series into the Pros and more chances to race at the highest level. The only negative is I think the tracks have been watered down a bit since SMX-N began, which goes back to my first point. 
• Good - The broadcast has been excellent. Live coverage of practice and the entire show for SX & MX! I remember having to watch re-runs on ESPN 2 at 2AM because that's the only time it was on. 
• Good - WMX with some seriously bad-ass ladies racing, and a prominent spot on Saturdays for their second moto is a great step in the right direction.
• Good - The sound rule. I hated it at first but they're right, it's better for the sport long-term. 
• Good - More factory teams than ever before
• Good - Timed race format is much better than going by laps. Even the by-product of the tracks breaking down more has been good for racing as it's the only time in the entire day that the track is challenging to them. 
• Bad - Racing is getting way too damn expensive, so more companies going after fewer and fewer wallets that can handle it. This goes from the pro level all the way to local racing. 
• Good - Access - we've never had it this good before. Between social media, rider's vlogs, podcasts and journalist vlogs, we've never had so much moto content and behind-the-scenes access. Hopefully (hint hint Feld) nobody screws this up. 
• Good - efforts like USMCA are great - anything that helps make it easier for people to get into the sport benefits everyone
• The Worst - No KDUB opening ceremony. Opening ceremonies have completely lost their luster now that it's in the daytime and riders just ride around the outside. They should just let Bereman and Hodges be a part of opening ceremonies to hype up the crowd.