Posts
20957
Joined
4/26/2009
Location
Sydney
AU
Edited Date/Time
10/22/2014 11:21pm
Just listening to the Weege/Matthes/JT pod on the MEC, what say you guys about bringing elements of MEC to supercross? We're actually INCREDIBLY basic in terms of motor racing - No strategy, no pitstops, no nothing.
I had buddies over to say hi to the kid when MEC was on. They were into the flat track, the joker lane etc, the million, the split start. It was all interesting, and these are dudes I've known my whole life and they've DEFINITELY seen races and heard me talk(drone) on about it.
I'm not saying for all races but why not split the series up...
3 x 10 lappers at say 6 rounds? Schedule could run like
250 heat 1 - 6 laps (5mins)
250 heat 2 - 6 laps (5mins)
450 heat 1 - 8 laps (6-7mins)
450 heat 2 - 8 laps (6-7mins)
250 LCQ - 4 laps (3-4mins)
450 Semi 1 - 6 laps (5mins)
450 Sem 2 - 6 laps (5mins)
Break - Amateur all stars - 6 laps (6mins)
450 LCQ - 4 laps (3-4mins)
Break - Amateur all stars - 6 laps (6mins)
450 Final 1 - 10 laps (8-9mins)
250 Final 1 - 10 laps (8-9mins)
450 Final 2 - 10 laps (8-9mins)
250 Final 2 - 10 laps (8-9mins)
450 Final 3 - 10 laps (8-9mins)
What about the joker lane at a couple? Some a shortcut, some a longer section. Almost all other motor-racing has the intrigue of pit stops or some other element. You could combine it with an event that has 2x15 lap main events... Have a flat barrel race section that dudes have to take and it's a 10 second difference - and finishing position is reversed for gate ORDER. ie 1st starts outside.
Hows about using the outer limits of the stadium floor areas like they do at the MEC? Each track could theoretically gain an entire lane (And valuable lap time) with some flat tracking section - which will suit some guys and detriment to others depending on bike setup.... If you made it substantial, add some sand, it could make for hectic yo-yo effect lap to lap
Points for qualifying?
Holeshot points?
Some combination of any of these...?
I definitely think 20 laps is cool, is it selling? I think it could more with some change, and it's not like other racing hasn't proved it works. What say you?
I had buddies over to say hi to the kid when MEC was on. They were into the flat track, the joker lane etc, the million, the split start. It was all interesting, and these are dudes I've known my whole life and they've DEFINITELY seen races and heard me talk(drone) on about it.
I'm not saying for all races but why not split the series up...
3 x 10 lappers at say 6 rounds? Schedule could run like
250 heat 1 - 6 laps (5mins)
250 heat 2 - 6 laps (5mins)
450 heat 1 - 8 laps (6-7mins)
450 heat 2 - 8 laps (6-7mins)
250 LCQ - 4 laps (3-4mins)
450 Semi 1 - 6 laps (5mins)
450 Sem 2 - 6 laps (5mins)
Break - Amateur all stars - 6 laps (6mins)
450 LCQ - 4 laps (3-4mins)
Break - Amateur all stars - 6 laps (6mins)
450 Final 1 - 10 laps (8-9mins)
250 Final 1 - 10 laps (8-9mins)
450 Final 2 - 10 laps (8-9mins)
250 Final 2 - 10 laps (8-9mins)
450 Final 3 - 10 laps (8-9mins)
What about the joker lane at a couple? Some a shortcut, some a longer section. Almost all other motor-racing has the intrigue of pit stops or some other element. You could combine it with an event that has 2x15 lap main events... Have a flat barrel race section that dudes have to take and it's a 10 second difference - and finishing position is reversed for gate ORDER. ie 1st starts outside.
Hows about using the outer limits of the stadium floor areas like they do at the MEC? Each track could theoretically gain an entire lane (And valuable lap time) with some flat tracking section - which will suit some guys and detriment to others depending on bike setup.... If you made it substantial, add some sand, it could make for hectic yo-yo effect lap to lap
Points for qualifying?
Holeshot points?
Some combination of any of these...?
I definitely think 20 laps is cool, is it selling? I think it could more with some change, and it's not like other racing hasn't proved it works. What say you?
Perhaps to remedy that they could simply apply a 5second (or equivalent time to the lane) penalty, like they do if you cut the track now and that moves you down however many spots in race time. It'd work out still.
Kawaboy. We'll strike that one from your record. We're trying to add interest, not take it away!
450 LCQ
250 heat 1
450 main 1
250 heat 2
ktm 50s
250 LCQ
450 main 2
track maintenance
250 main
450 main 3
IDEA FOR MONSTER CUP 2015
Huge whoop section, bypass lane for amateurs and to use as a joker lane variation for the mains
The Shop
What we are not considering is how these changes might affect lap times and event positioning for live coverage. I can tell you that since they are broadcasting every event live this year I don't want them to do anything to jeopardize that luxury!!! Hell I go to the Houston and Sometimes also the Dallas SX here locally but the next day I have to pull up the DVR and watch it again to see what I missed at the event! The wife always says...."Seriously!! Again!!?? You just watched it yesterday!!". LOL
I put the times above... if I haven't had too many beers (working late, not a wednesday drunk) that's about two hours of track time. What is it now? Maybe slightly less than that (No amateur and 10 mins less 450 time) So that's similar...
One thing I'd also like to see is some goddamn imagination in the tracks. Windham brought it up too. That rhythm section at MEC was just 9 5 foot jumps in a row.
Where is the interest there? There's one way through. We need tall tables step on, step off, high, low, short long blah blah. All the 08/09 rider designed tracks had cool sections, and most of the late 90s early 2000 tracks had some similar cool stuff... not just table to table to table–maybe the fastest obstacle going.
And how about recruiting some former Hall of Famers to help with track design on a few tracks a year. Or even team an old school pro with a newly retired pro for track design.
Marty Smith/Showtime2
Marty Tripes/Goat4
Bob Hannah/Fro
Steve Wise/Windham
Jeff Ward/TP199
I rest my case.
as for the joker lane, i think it's cool for the MEC but not so much for other races.
qualifying should ALWAYS be as races, i hate the timed qualifying.
just my opinions, bros
I'm not real sure how to go about changing it, maybe reformat the points system by making larger gaps between positions? Instead of say 25pts for the winner, how about 100 for 1st, then 85 for 2nd, and so on? Would this work or would it cause one or two guys to really pull away in the points? I would think that having a larger gap, would allow someone who had a bad night to catch back up by stringing together a few wins, as opposed to just being completely out of the championship. I really don't know, just thinking out loud. But I think everyone can agree, seeing RV or JS come through the pack is way more exciting than seeing them settle in and try to minimize damage.
Pit Row
I also would change the track layouts. Some are really one-lined, typical and therefore boring. They should take some sections from the Red Bull Straight Rhythm and add some corners.
No to joker lanes. If you can't get by on the same piece of track, you shouldn't get by at all. No to points for qualifying, holeshots, etc. The whole point of racing to to finish as best you can. Your reward for qualifying well or getting the holeshot is that it improves the probability of getting a good race result. That is your "bonus" for getting the hole shot.
There is a reason that close finishes are exciting in SX, and it isn't just because they are close. It is because you've watched the whole battle develop slowly over 15-20 minutes. You've watched the ebb and flow of different riders being fast throughout the entire race. You've watched two or more people experiment with different lines, different rhythms, make mistakes, come back from mistakes.
If you shorten the races, you decrease the build up of tension, which makes the finish less exciting, even if it is close.
Only thing I want at this point is timed main events so fans no matter where they see a SX race get the same bang for their buck plus the riders have x amount of minutes to get the job done.
I'd also like to see a points change and possibly chase format... If the points payout was higher per round and then last 6 were sprints and vegas was a super final 30 lapper or something silly... just to have some interest. James would have contended for the last 4 straight if that format was around.
Why not have a couple sand rounds?
RV has wrapped up the last 4 at least a round early right, even two? There has been some great competition but I believe some format changes could intensify it for sure...
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