250f in the 450

Starling is for sure. Highly doubt Pipes is.

Starling qualified for the main on a 250 in Tampa.

Starling is on a Husqvarna FC 250, Pipes is on a RM-Z450

Why do they even allow that ?
Some time there could Be a track where the small bike will have the advantage .
Not to mention isn't the point to see who rides a 450 the best ?
Take the 500 two class
The point was to see who could ride that type of bike the best
A 250 2 stroke could have won the race in that class
no doubt

Riders from the other East or West area have run in the 450 class for years.

I hate that they let the 250 in both classes. Even locally it's lame. I miss the distinct difference between the sounds/skills of the different displacements. By letting the 250 in the 450 class what's the point of even having 2 different classes?

There is the real question.

I agree seeing who can ride what is good. Like, the pit bike thing, its fun. I also wish that there was a true open class, where they get to choose whatever bike they want, and see who is best motocrosser, not taking a 'certain' bike into consideration.

Proof that people will complain about anything.

So there's a few cases of this in SX...and maybe it's not a big deal to most. My comment comes more from the local races where a bigger number of 250s are in the "450" class. Essentially both classes look the same. Then you throw in a handful of 250 2 strokes out there in the 250F class, and they can ride the 450 class too....so you end up with 2 "different" classes that are pretty much ride whatever you want in.

A 250 East rider can NOT race in the 250 West. BUT ..... he can race on his 250 in the 450 class. And vice versus for the 250 West riders.

I suppose some of you also think a 350 should not be allowed to do it either?

When guys start winning on 250’s maybe then you’ll have something to complain about.

I see the point in the complaints on this....

Is an opinion a complaint?

It's just that we started with 2 specific classes because they are supposed to be for different sized machines. The different sized machines have different weights/characteristics, obstacles, situations, etc. where one may be more effective or get around the track faster for certain guys.
This is much more blurred with today's 250/350/450 than ever before. But we have cc classes...it never made sense to me to let one race up if you're not going to let the other race down.

The class is a maximum displacement. That is the point.

Anything that shines light on the fake rules where CC designations mean almost nothing and riders switch back and forth between classes and perform equally well in either is a good thing. The sooner CC classes go away in the pro's the better off the sport will be. It creates more confusion and proves nothing. The same lap times for both classes is a joke. At least make the "lesser" class mean something like age. Put all pro's together, no East / West (what was the point of that again?) either. 1 open class.

And please don't bother to cry for all the people that will lose jobs. Sports are designed for competition, not job creation. I don't think everyone should get a trophy. This pie is cut too thin already, not enough manufacturer and sponsor dollars are available,

If you don't think Tomac could have done the same thing (or very close) at Daytona on a 250 you are delusional. 6 of 1 and 1/2 a dozen of the other.

This

How many fast 250 guys would prefer to take their 250's into the 450 class if they had that option? Certainly no factory team effort would allow it to happen as it seems to not be in their marketing plans.

It seems far to many guys dead end their career by making the switch. I hope for their sake it's a well paying move with good medical insurance perks cause many are going to need the money and insurance to carry them though some significant injury periods. Those who are smart and take it slow adapting to the 450's lose, or even worse, reverse their fan base when they don't instantly have results. Look at Webb, Barcia, Bogle, Baggett, etc.; all 250 class champions that seem to hit a wall going to the 450's.I'd bet many of them could have put a 250 on the podium if given the opportunity to race them and quite possibly had better overall season results by racing them. As I've said in other posts if I want to watch who can tame the big beasts I can watch PBR or steer roping for that. I just want to watch the best MX racers race the best MX racers. We don't see that with the current format.