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I watched the Pala track map https://racerxonline.com/2019/05/24/fox-raceway-animated-track-map and while I knew it would not resemble a typical motocross track, I was reminded that each year I am a bit more disappointed when outdoor motocross tracks add more supercross-style obstacles at the expense of straightaways, hills, and natural terrain.
I realize this has been happening for a long time, probably before I was born (1990), but if me as near 30-year old is noticing this and becoming disappointed, what are you old heads and vets thinking? Do you like how things are changing? What tracks have been influenced the most?
Washougal and Southwick are sweet because the appeal isn't just the jumps alone - it's the track following the natural elevation up and down hills, through valleys, on off-cambers, and through the trees!
My home National is High Point and I feel lucky that I get to watch the pros rip up and down the hills of that valley, though I do think the racing could benefit a tiny bit from some of the jumps being removed to allow the racers to shred the natural terrain which High Point has a ton of!
So, what do you old heads, vets, and other young folks think? Which tracks have been influenced the most/least?
I'm really interested in hearing from the older members of our community who have lived through more of this change than me.
I realize this has been happening for a long time, probably before I was born (1990), but if me as near 30-year old is noticing this and becoming disappointed, what are you old heads and vets thinking? Do you like how things are changing? What tracks have been influenced the most?
Washougal and Southwick are sweet because the appeal isn't just the jumps alone - it's the track following the natural elevation up and down hills, through valleys, on off-cambers, and through the trees!
My home National is High Point and I feel lucky that I get to watch the pros rip up and down the hills of that valley, though I do think the racing could benefit a tiny bit from some of the jumps being removed to allow the racers to shred the natural terrain which High Point has a ton of!
So, what do you old heads, vets, and other young folks think? Which tracks have been influenced the most/least?
I'm really interested in hearing from the older members of our community who have lived through more of this change than me.
But these guys are professionals the best of the best.
I like to see them hitting big jumps , and hauling ass through some deep rollers etc.
Imo variety is good and personally i like the fact that its a different track than last year, i would like to see a couple new tracks every year and maybe rotate , so say glen Helen gets a national every other year ,
And do the same in other states rotate different track in out every other year.
- TRARNISHED, Esq.
To be clear I'm not opposed to big jumps like Larocco's Leap or the big quad at High Point, and massive rollers are sweet. I more meant that when it's jump after jump after jump with now regular terrain in between, that is the part that I do not prefer.
However, like kb228 said, so long as there is good racing, I will keep watching and cheering!
The Shop
And have wished for years that they would add a couple more, hopefully Florida is sand.
I like jumps, and I've enjoyed my fair share of airtime. As long as the tracks are built in a safe manner, I say bring it on.
I am in search of my own property where I am going to put 1 or 2 pitbike tracks. I will most likely be getting flatter land, so to compromise I will put some jumps in. Nothing crazy, but when you have flat land you have to add some jumps. Would I like hilly land, yes, but from what I have seen on the market not much hilly, cleared land has been available near me.
I'm only 28, but I prefer more old school! I loved The Ranch. That track was badass and Marc Peters built the Carlsbad replica track there to spec. It was badass!
Edit: You don't need hills to make a badass outdoor track and you don't need jumps. Soft dirt and the right prep to get rough and rutted and you're good to go!
And that could be a great time, But to actually try to race on that same track is a different story.
The actual Racing of other riders would probably be better
If you set 2 cones 100 feet apart on a flat field,
And had 2 or 3 guys Race each other around the cones
People with a lesser ability could actually try to RACE ,
Instead of just trying to get around safely.
Usually 1 or a couple guys are a mile ahead and there isnt much Racing actually going on it seems at local tracks these days , except in the A class
In my opinion , do you guys see it that way?
I agree but from an east coast style. Never been to Glen Helen or any west coast tracks, but I grew up riding rutty, rough, chewed up east coast tracks. Those ruts used to swallow the wheels on my kx60 back in the day.
Unadilla is in my mind a great example of what MX should be. Set in a valley, lots of elevation, a big jump, some smaller jumps, and so on. Most people hate the drive to the track because it's in the middle of nowhere, but hey, I enjoy the fact that cows outnumber people around Unadilla
If you want evidence, watch RV2 on the 125 at Hangtown. There was at least a few jumps where he was giving it everything he had just to be able to case the top of the landing....jumps that 250 class privateers all cleared with ease.
Also, a track like Pala that is mainly flat will naturally be "jumpier" than a natural terrain track. If not, it's going to be speedway style racing with few obstacles to create passing opportunities.
Pit Row
The problem today is the ruts, it's all the same dirt.
Jumps are fun and needed in MX. They have a place and it should be that way. I just also like when there are a couple parts without jumps so I can see how the riders race in those sections.
Now that I am thinking about it... Steel City was the first track my dad took me to as a kid, the 98 national, and that track had a lot of jumps, and I loved it lol. Hypocritical a bit, I suppose. Oh well. Good memory.
My local track has 21 jumps on it . Its basically jump, jump, jump bowl turn repeat. Is it MX, not a chance...
Jumping or not jumping is dangerous.. a lot more dangerous then racing on the ground.
At the last Amateur daytona sx race 109 riders went to the hospital. Thats seriously messed up.
The reason MX was so popular back in the 70's -80's was EVERYONE could do it.
Now most people are smart enough to stay away because of the jumps...
There's too much money in SX for this to change. I'm just glad I got to race back when the track were real tracks...
I feel bad the pro's have to race tracks like pala...
If you wanna see guys pinning it on real natural terrain, the off-road guys these days are on another level whether it be desert racing or GNCC. It ain't outdoors but it's damn good racing.
Holy shit . . . really?! That is a mess. That is seriously eff'd up.
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