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10/16/2014
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US
Edited Date/Time
10/24/2017 3:43pm
I'm serious. Maybe not exotic superminis, but 85's. Kid's are in school, so national or regional would not be realistic, but how about 1 shot under the lights per rider. 1 entry per season. Cut the track if need be so Doc Bodnar isn't running out of leg splints. The entertainment factor is top notch.
The Shop
The the tracks were obviously not like the current tracks but the jumps were always friggen huge.
Stephen Gall would do a Supercross school on the Friday (which most used for track time) and would allow you to get your Supercross endorsement. They were given to pretty much every kid and Gumby that turned up.
It was carnage all weekend.
Again cut out sections if needed, just like the 50's. There would be Dad's cashing in their retirement plans to get their kids in the show. Full gates would be the least of the problems. It's not about the talent level (which I'm sure would still shame all the Vets in the stands) or the engine size being big enough to clear jumps. It's about the close competition and rider's giving it their all.
I don't see anyone saying Supermini's are ok but 85's are not. Regular supercross track is totally different from the MEC track. I say no to anything other than the KTM JRSC and the big boys in supercross
There is already a KTM 50 program announced to fill 1, let's assume that same track layout could be adapted for 85's. Now where's the big danger? Cut out the whoops and maybe the bigger jumps and let the show begin.
If you are Feld (a promoter) you'd have to be stupid not to recognize that year after year the Mini's in Vegas put on the best show and the crowd loves the 2 strokes screaming their guts out. Give them what they want and grow the attendance for sure. The new mini's racer's and their families would for sure fill some seats. As far as talent goes, anyone that hasn't had a minibike go smoking by them on the track is a Pro or a liar.
You're going to end up with kids hurt every weekend...that will not go over well. Having adult professionals that are racing for money getting hurt at every Supercross round is one thing...but young kids getting hauled off at every event is another thing all together, and won't go over well.
Not only that, but if you tried removing some of the track for the superminis, you'd be left with a few corners, the finish line and maybe 1-2 sections. What fun would that be?
Pit Row
It's all about the show, who cares about the kids and their well-being. The injury level that riders like Ken Roczen and Ryan Villopoto faced, along with many others, were near career ending and financially crippling if they hadn't made millions already. Sure, let's send these kids out there and see what happens when they end up with these high-level injuries and the financial burden that will come with it, let alone the emotional toll and their questionable future within the sport.
Chad Reed, Michael Byrne, Brett Metcalfe, the Mossy's, the Marmonts, Craig Anderson All came through the supercross masters juniors. I don't think anybody would argue that we have seen the same supercross and skills in our up and comers since those guys.
Those tracks however were basically carbon copies of current arenacross tracks, I don't think the full blow US outdoor tracks is the place to set these kids loose however. I've tried to walk tracks before, its a lot more scary up close than it is from the comfort of our lounges.
It's bad enough with Adults (and some barely that - either chronologically or mental age) getting hurt - throw in 'Kids' getting sacrificed to the Lions, and well, things would not be good.
As much as I like seeing the KTM Juniors out there, I fear the day that one of the little takkers get stretchered off with series injuries. I don't think it's happened yet? You can bet your arse that the Media and Powers That Be, will have a field day if that ever happens.
Somehow it's OK to let the kid's risk life and limb at Loretta's and at local races and Ponca, the GNC's of Jerry Surber days etc., but don't let the public see our dirty secret? We let kids ride in extreme sports! Be proud of it!
We used to blow the wheels out of Schwinn lemon peeler's bicycles jumping ditches back in the day with no gear at all. At least a few kids got killed riding our local practice area. That didn't stop my love for the sport nor make me quit.
At the SX races, the KJSC kids roll the whoops. Brap, brap, brap...
I will say, that more and more of them do seem capable and prepped for this race than in the past.
From my vantage point, the biggest thing I see with the kids at in the Supermini (and even the Amateur All-Stars) is sometimes the pressure and excitement (combined with a whole bunch of adrenaline) lead to crashes. I'm okay with giving them more time to develop.
The fact that every other thread went on and on about the mini's being the best happens year after year. If you are trying to fine tune your product, the show, how could you miss the gorilla in the room?
Maybe learn how to take a hint?
Leaving any full-size rhythm lanes for these guys or full sized triples are dangerous at these rider's skill level. I repeat what I said earlier, we have kids who are top 20 in the nation...who get time to actually train in SX tracks that still struggle and get hurt at MEC. You're not going to get that quality of rider at every round or riders that have access or will adjust their bikes for this round. How do you pick the field for these rounds too? There's not enough time in the day schedule to do qualifying for these kids at a normal SX round.
And as for your repeating...you've got pretty much every soul in this thread, some who have spent some serious time around these track, telling you this is a really...really bad idea.
Post a reply to: Supermini's a big hit. Why not have them in SX?