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5/31/2017
Location
Grass Valley, CA
US
Edited Date/Time
9/2/2017 9:48am
Listening to the Moto 60 podcast, I have to say I disagree about the excuse that Americans got smoked by Herlings at the Ironman because they focus so much on SX.
When Johnny O' whipped Thorpe's butt in 1986, the Americans (myself included) pretty much used that one race to declare US superiority for the next, what, 20 years? As far as the US was concerned (egged on by MXA calling Thorpe the word's fastest novice) that one race proved everything-- end of story, close the book. But Thorpe had some kind of problem that day if I remember correctly.
Anyhow, you can't have it both ways. The big story in '86 is that the American riders were so much better BECAUSE they raced Supercross. It supposedly made them more aggressive and better with timing jumps and going over huge jumps. Now we are arguing the opposite effect- it is 30 years later but I just don't think it's legit at all. And if SX is eroding our talent pool to the point that Herlings came to a foreign track on an unfamiliar bike and made them look like Vet B riders, we have a serious problem!
When Johnny O' whipped Thorpe's butt in 1986, the Americans (myself included) pretty much used that one race to declare US superiority for the next, what, 20 years? As far as the US was concerned (egged on by MXA calling Thorpe the word's fastest novice) that one race proved everything-- end of story, close the book. But Thorpe had some kind of problem that day if I remember correctly.
Anyhow, you can't have it both ways. The big story in '86 is that the American riders were so much better BECAUSE they raced Supercross. It supposedly made them more aggressive and better with timing jumps and going over huge jumps. Now we are arguing the opposite effect- it is 30 years later but I just don't think it's legit at all. And if SX is eroding our talent pool to the point that Herlings came to a foreign track on an unfamiliar bike and made them look like Vet B riders, we have a serious problem!
Moral of the story if you can ride a dirt bike fast no matter what country you are from you can likely get similar results in SX given enough practise.
The tide will change this weekend when Eli brings his A-game. The tops boys are all on a very similar level it's just s shame we don't get to see them up against each other in a championship. Enjoy while we can.
The Shop
He style looks relaxed but his corner speed is seriously fast & certainly not novice like I can assure anyone.
Onto the point about the states speed. Do you think it's also a case of the rest of the world improving also. If you look at the amount of the countries that can produce world class riders, the GP have been more competitive & that will raise the standard of riders.
" AMA riders should come and ride lommel see how they get on "
The us riders do supercross half the year and eu still struggles.
I was really pleased that Herlings finally got his chance to silence the haters and prove to the doubters what he is capable of, but overreaction has been ridiculous. Tomac could easily go 1-1 on Sunday and all this Supercross talk will be forgotten in a flash.
Pit Row
I bet Jeffrey never has a sloppily torqued sprocket bolt either. At the speeds that guy rides can you just imagine the carnage in the spectator areas by flying sprocket bolts and nuts?
Yes, there was a time when it was seen as an advantage to race Supercross. The reasons were that Supercross required a bit more precision and aggression as well as some specific techniques. Now that SX has been around for 40 years, these special techniques have propagated to the entire earth which has leveled the playing field. To me, the only advantage that racing SX gives a rider is that it forces them to be precise. But that only matters when actually racing supercross. That precision doesn't help much when blasting down a sandy whooped out straight in Belgium. All the special techniques that made the 80's and 90's American racers harder to beat are now known and practiced by all countries. The disadvantage that SX creates is that there is a lot less practice on things like the sandy whooped out straight I mentioned above. Don't forget the ruts that only get half the year's attention.
My point is that the SX series has become a hindrance to the US riders prowess on a motocross track and the things that made it advantageous in the 80's no longer exist.
Photo Rob Kinsey Art, all rights reserved.
Champions have a special bond, a true respect and friendship that shines through!
Ps David lost his rear brake in battle with Johnny, just sayin..........................
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