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The other solution is stop having C class national champions. Which the powers that be will never let that happen.
Beginner class national champ has a nice ring to it.
So the feedback here is really good, better than expected. I'm even more convinced to take some time away from my day job and pursue this bucket list project. YOLO theory. I'm bouncing around more "classes" within ride groups, but you will end up with riders from the same "classes" in different ride groups and it doesn't seem right to give awards to people that didn't race together, but only against the clock. Sometimes old traditions just have to die.
If the ride groups are separated by time each race, depending on the turnout you will likely end up in a different group each time, there would be no "kicking anyone out of a class" and that is the beauty of this concept.
With regards to mini's, no concessions are intended for them. If you are in the slowest ride group, you will be surrounded with other equally slow rides, some on big bikes, some on mini's, some women, some dual sports, some trail bikes, some old dudes on vintage bikes. For a program to be short, the track must stay full, no idle time and no small ride groups while everyone else waits. I realize this goes against the mini Dad's protectionist attitudes, but once they realize it is safe and they will have more fun and learn more riding with someone their speed rather than alone on the track, it should catch on. There would likely still be Dad's following the kid's around the track too.
Also, typical moto racers are intense and want to charge straight through to checkers as moto is by nature a closed course, in your face, all out race where typical HS people are a bit more mellow and pace themselves to finish the long, slower paced course. I'm not saying all are like that as the top guys in HS are balls out the entire race, but im talking majority. This is why people are typically moto racers or HS racers. Yes, there is some cross over, but again im talking majority. Most people that race with me at local moto tracks are not there for HS races, and even more of the HS people are not showing up for the moto races. Some might argue its because of the format differences, but i think you would have to be short sided to not see the difference in the type of racing in general and the types of people that attend them.
Pit Row
I understand the concern with conditioning and ability to safely go all out on MX tracks. The Triple Crown format of 10 min./20 min./30 min. may work better. There is no getting around the fact that more seat time must be offered, or the riders that sign up for 3 classes will never be onboard. Most of the riders capable of extended high physical output will also be the riders qualifying in Group 1, and so on, so that will work itself out. It's a legit concern seeing as there is no real history of this type of concept, and considerations for weather conditions may play into the format.
This idea is a step in the direction of attracting off road riders to MX, and they are used to longer races. It is the MX guys who will be harder to convince, since they believe that only Herlings is capable of 30 minutes flat out. I know plenty of people who practice MX for an hour without stopping as a training technique, 2 weeks ago I watched one pro do 10 laps never sitting down once as training. It will sort itself out IMO.
My bigger concern in attracting the off road and vintage crowd back to MX (or to try it for the 1st time) is the tracks. The deep prep and extreme jumps turn them totally off. Most likely you would have to allow riders to skip jumps and ride around them on the water truck lane, and ease up on the deep prep and over watering.
Seems like people that complain about sandbagging are mislead that their local "B" and "A" guys actually belong in those respective classes. Anyone can bump themselves up, and most dont truly belong in those classes as they just are not good enough.
Also, its funny how these people complaining about sandbagging keep trying to use the "new" racer argument, yet they themselves are not new racers, yet apparently all race in C class and get beat a lot by "sandbaggers".
Sandbagging is only one area affected. Riders that dislike the concept will vote with their wallets. This thread and everyone’s input is invaluable in foreseeing obstacles and the harder the challenges the better. Keep it coming!
Moto has a starting gate. No hands on helmet or lemans start.
Woods racers are use to long races on a woods/HS course not a MOTO track. Big difference. A lot of really good woods racers couldnt do 5 laps at full speed on moto track. Like i stated earlier, there is a major difference in how one has to race a moto track compared to a woods course. Some can do both, but even at the highest level we see how different it is. Russel is pretty dominant in GNCC but he wouldnt come close to winning a national. Just as Eli is dominate in moto right now and KR would spank him in GNCC. Its just different.
I'd love to get Woods guys racing Moto, but i just dont see it happening as majority do woods racing for 2 major reasons. NO jumps, and less pressure/less intense close course racing. Of course a lot will claim riding time, but ask those same people to practice moto for an hr and see what they say.
Local moto needs all the moto guys that show up for practice to actually show up to race as well. Cater to what those people want and you should hopefully get more racers showing up. Again, biggest complaint is 12hrs of sitting at the track for them to do there 20 mins of track time. That doesnt mean they need more track time (as most cant handle that like i stated earlier) it means they need less time sitting around waiting.
Edit: Also just wanted to say that i love the idea of doing timed qualifying to determine classes (thought of it myself before you started this topic). Would love having 30 guys on the line that are relatively close in speed, but its just not practical for most local moto tracks.
I would like 30 mins motos as well, as i dont get good starts, take a while to get up to speed, and would take pride in training for long motos. I just dont see majority of local racers liking that at all based on my experience with the moto racers in my area.
"That’s the most asinine thing I’ve ever seen on vital." That statement is asinine.
My statement may be a bit exaggerated, depending on your idea of a "really good" woods racer, but it was relative to my experience. I know guys who i consider "really good" in the woods (they beat me by a considerable amount in a 1hr woods race) that can not hang with me in a 5 lap moto race and are tired.
Some woods guys ride MX and go well, just the same the other way around.
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