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168
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9/18/2011
Location
Sacramento, CA
US
Edited Date/Time
9/9/2018 2:57pm
Has there ever been a claiming rule in SX / MX?
It seems to make a lot of sense to me, but there must be some drawbacks that I'm not aware of?
Here's the actual bike: http://www.mxworksbike.com/Tripes_1979_RC250.htm
Rule is still in effect.
The Shop
If you're brave enough to enter a $100,00.00 works bike in a class that has a claiming rule then that's the risk you take.
No?
"AMA Claiming rule
The AMA claiming rule was originally written for dirt track racing to keep the equipment fair in a sport that was relatively static as far as equipment was concerned at that time. It was written long before motocross had arrived and long before the Japanese factories were developing very expensive works bikes for research and development that was supposed to filter down to the companies production bikes. AMA Championships equaled increased sales and while motocross in the US was relatively young at this time, it was growing at an exponential rate. During the seventies motocross was in a hyper-evolution phase with engine, chassis and suspension design. The factories were not only trying to win on Sunday and sell on Monday with their factory teams, they were competing against each other to build the best production bike to sell to the public. It was not uncommon for a production bike to be outdated in six months after it was released and at the works bike level this could occur on a week by week basis. The price of some of the Japanese works bikes in 1976 was approaching the price of the National median home value of $44,000.00. The Type 2 Honda's probably exceeded that while a production 125 sold for less than $1000.00. While all this was going on the claiming rule in the AMA rule book remained, in fact it was virtually forgotten until May 23rd 1976.
The rule stated that any rider in the race with another rider could purchase the bike the other rider was riding for a sum. In 1976 the sum for a 125 was $2500.00. If rider A wanted to own rider B's bike, both riders had to compete against each other in the same race. Rider A had 30 minutes from the time the checkered flag fell on the first place rider to notify the AMA referee of the claim of rider B's bike. He then had to give the Ref the required funds in the form of a Certified Check or Cash. If rider B wanted to keep his bike he could also file a claim on the bike, put up the cash and then there would be a lottery or drawing to decide who would get the bike. In 1976 the factories worked together to counter claim any bike that might be claimed by having all of their riders that were in the same race as the bike being claimed, file a claim on the bike. The mistake both riders made in 1976 was filing too soon. Had Boone waited till the last minute to file the claim on Hannah's OW27, He would have owned it."
A common topic on all the forums is the plight of the privateer.
These guys can't make any money in that (250) class. This class is supposed to be the entry level class. But somewhere along the way the tables have turned. It's common knowledge that it is way more expensive to go racing in the 250 class as opposed to 450's.
So the trickle down effect is that you have teams that are completely avoiding this class which means less spots on real teams for the rookies moving up.
You also can see that some of the lower level pro's are making the night program in the 450 class with slower times than what it takes to make the night show in the 250's. At Oakland the 29-40th place qualifiers in the 450's would not have qualified in the 250's.
Seems to me, everybody in the 250 class would benefit from a claiming rule. Let's say the dollar amt. is $12K - this allows for a healthy race bike that is relatively attainable to most of the privateers. It's hard for me to see the negative, it even saves PC & Geico plenty of $$.
Pit Row
In this economy, who is this really going to hurt? The only guys that would be pissed would be the Geico and PC riders because their bikes would definitely be downgraded a bit. Might make for some really interesting racing.
the way i am reading it...if i race w/ my bike at a pro race and say pro racer guyb thats im my same race wants to buy it,if he notifys ref in time mentioned i have no say in the matter? i want to keep my bike.
but if its a works bike,one off handmade parts.who would replace/repair those items if they wore out.to whom ever bought it.
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