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Mega Racing
12/28/2020 2:39pm
12/28/2020 2:39pm
I just watched the Levi Kitchen interview on Swapmoto & he seems like a cool talented kid. However the strange thing is he’s coming 20 in February I believe, & he wont race sx this year then he will go race some Amateur races then maybe if all works out he races nationals.
That doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. Tom Vialle is 20 & already a world Champion. Prado is a 2 time world champ & racing MX1 & is only 5-6 weeks older than kitchen.
Factory Husky just signed 14 year old Maxime Grau to race EMX 250.
I listened to the Mitch Payton Whiskey Throttle show & he didnt seem like a big fan of the Amateur scene. He said it didnt make sense to call them titles when its on one day at one track.
Why do riders stay in Amateurs so long? Is there a lot of money to be made in titles at Lorettas? Is there big TV audiences for fans & sponsors?
would it be better to have 6 rounds of nationals with a under 18 125 support class. 25min plus 2 laps. Then 6 rounds of under 21 250 support class. That way top teams can scout new talent & see them on real tracks in real conditions & bring some talent on.
Motocross is such a short career i dont see why guys are being held in Amateurs by teams. Why not send kitchen to Europe for the year to race EMX250? Im sure that would boost Yamaha exposure. If the schedule didnt conflict he could go back to US for amateur races.
That doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. Tom Vialle is 20 & already a world Champion. Prado is a 2 time world champ & racing MX1 & is only 5-6 weeks older than kitchen.
Factory Husky just signed 14 year old Maxime Grau to race EMX 250.
I listened to the Mitch Payton Whiskey Throttle show & he didnt seem like a big fan of the Amateur scene. He said it didnt make sense to call them titles when its on one day at one track.
Why do riders stay in Amateurs so long? Is there a lot of money to be made in titles at Lorettas? Is there big TV audiences for fans & sponsors?
would it be better to have 6 rounds of nationals with a under 18 125 support class. 25min plus 2 laps. Then 6 rounds of under 21 250 support class. That way top teams can scout new talent & see them on real tracks in real conditions & bring some talent on.
Motocross is such a short career i dont see why guys are being held in Amateurs by teams. Why not send kitchen to Europe for the year to race EMX250? Im sure that would boost Yamaha exposure. If the schedule didnt conflict he could go back to US for amateur races.
C class is insanely fast. How does any of this make sense in any way?
Current amateur races are screwed up. $100 per class, spend a whole week there and only 4-5 lap motos.
The Shop
I would like to see a A/B class support race at the nationals. No series, but have it at all races, open to anyone.
Also Id like to think I am a decent C class rider, but I have no hope to race national C class. I would get destroyed lol. Its hard to enforce class levels. Anyone can ride at 90% and race the slower class. The only class you cant TRULY sandbag is the Pro/A class. It is what it is. Im not going to go anywhere in this sport so Im not too wound up in it. I will say its pathetic to see an obvious C Class rider race the D/Beginner Class and just beat everyone by at least 30 sec.
I do think if I was a parent with a kid racing hoping to get somewhere, I would be irritated by some of the things that do go on
You can see it semi regularly in America. A phenom comes out of the amateurs with a ton of titles, but cant stay healthy for a full season when he goes pro. I believe running a season is a skill that's not being taught.
As far as the Europeans being so young on 250s, I believe that has to do with the 23 year age limit on the MX2 class. So factories are rushing kids up to give them time to develop and have several seasons in the MX2 class before they're forced to MX1.
If it's good now locally and you go messing with it at the National level, what will it do at that local level?
Riding 4 classes only adds to the event program which only adds to time away from work which regular working people don't have. This in turn only helps the rich or homeschooled hence they get noticed by the bad recruitment fraternity. The blue collar family is driven away not only for costs but who wants to take 3-7 days from work so Lil Johnny can race maybe 3 to 6 races over a week.
Pit Row
It’s seems to me the manufacturers dictate more in the states than they do in the rest of the world.
That there is a big reason for being a 'Pro', PDQ............
Thankfully, Zacho had the opportunity to go back to the USA, when he , by his own admission, was Not ready for MX1.
Going back to the US, gave him as many years as he needed, to stay in 250s - I think until he was something like 28 - to get a few 250 titles, and then get onto 450s. To finally get a US Outdoors 450 title this year. Fantastic! Thank goodness the USA doesn't have such a rule as the GPs do.
Everyone is different, some need / want time to follow their own course, and Not be pushed into a class they may have no chance of a ride / no chance of doing well (at that time, or Any time), and, just lose their racing career through stupid age out rules. Some - well, a shedload - just get passed over for those that employers regard as a better 'bet'.
But, to this Levi youngster - he may be making money with an Amateur career. He may have no current opportunities for a Pro ride. Heck, he may not want a Pro career. I never feel like I, or others, should delve into riders motivations / decisions / circumstances.
Your "would it be better to"?
Well, that's down to DC and Co, as he / they run Outdoors, Junior and Senior. He's the Man that can make / enact a Plan.
Levi going to EMX and returning for the US Amateur races - someone has to finance that - Who?
Do i think a year in Europe would help him to be a better rider rather than riding a practice facility & a few amateur events? Yes i do. Riding lommel & slick hard pack in france & Italy & being pushed by 10 guys the same speed every week would definitely help. Just look at how it helped Osborne as you said.
Max Voland wanted this year in EMX 125 & rode the first one untill Corona hurt. His dad obviously felt a year in Europe was a good option then return to US for big Amateur races.
If you do the stand up thing and move up from c after you win let’s say a race or two which is a fair move to do.
You’re now in b class (where you realistically belong) and now let’s say you wanted to try to qualify for lorettas.
You essentially have zero chance in b. Because as mentioned you’ll be against people like Levi kitchen in b class who are ready for the pros.
So you’re options are sand bag and try to qualify in c. Or move up to b like you should and then have zero chance to compete nationally etc.
C class at lorettas will run local a class pace, if not surely local b easily.
How does this make sense?
Classifying yourself is also insane. And it’s so easy to dodge getting moved up. Heck even locally people have won the series and are still allowed to stay in the same class the following year because they didn’t exactly dominate.
If Jimmy Twotits keeps a low profile and only rides and trains, how do you rank them? What class do they race? They don't have the points to advance and if they only race nationals or outlaw events, how do you change that?
Force them to race?
You race locally in your class ie 65 or 85 and if your good enough you qualify for nationals.
Post a reply to: Ama Amateurs, does it need a refresh?