10/15/2018 8:18 PM
Edited Date/Time: 10/15/2018 10:16 PM
I read that interview with The Devil (Luongo) last week. It read as it (and the 250 2t class - and that worries me in that they then will be ushered out of the EMX250 series, when equivalency should be spreading to MX2 and MXGP) was just an idea for the future.
I guess, like a King, he can rule by fiat? Even with that swines power, I would have thought such a rule change would have to be at least 'rubber stamped' by the FIM Congress. And, there are still good people around in the FIM and affiliated National controlling bodies, that you'd think would not agree to this sort of idiocy.
The only way it could be remotely good for the sport, is if the age rule was lifted from MX2. But shit, there's no need for an age rule in EMX250, either. They generally get Huge turnouts to just try to qualify for the EMX250 class - at many rounds, far more than what try to qualify for, say, the US Nationals. And, having older, more experienced riders for the up and comers to race against, I feel, benefits said up and comers. You only get better by competing with betters.
Gaston Rahier was 27 when he won his first of 3 125 World Championships.
Harry Everts was 26 / 27? when he won the first of his 3 125 World Champions (23 when he got the 250s on the Puch).
Alessio Chiodi was 24 when he got the first of his three World 125 Championships.
Joel Robert was 21 when he got the first of his, 23 for his 2nd, of 5 250cc World Championships, and his 3 2nds.
And, I'm sure there were a fair few other 250cc World Champions that got their titles after the age of 23.
Donny Schmidt got his 125 title when he was 23.
I think Bobby Moore World 125 title may have come after his 23rd birthday? So, both he and Donny would have not got those 2 World Championships if a BS age rule was in place.
Closer to home for Americans, John Dowd got his 125 West SX title at the age of 33.
We used to have 3 Healthy World Championships Capacity classes (from 1975 on) , with no age limit, nor a limit on the titles you could achieve in each. It should still be the case.
Yet, Luongo has seen fit to ever f**k with Our Sport, because, it's His.
Damn him to Hell, I say.