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Kid crushed it in Portugal last weekend and went 1-1. Guess they finally got the bike dialed in and he decided to wear gloves this time...haha. I heard he signed a 2 year deal, or maybe I'm wrong. Anyone have info on all this? He should be up in MX2 IMO.
Also good rides from Weltin with a 3rd in EMX250 and A-Rod with an 8th in MX2.
Also good rides from Weltin with a 3rd in EMX250 and A-Rod with an 8th in MX2.
I would be surprised if he signed again, the bikes have been super flaky.. seen them break in the holding area.
They could have still just done the Euro rounds.. maybe Youthstream said no.
EMX is insanely tight,which shows that guys can go top 5 in the races, after having to do the LCQ .
The Shop
EMX250 is great for kids stepping straight off a 125, there are guys who could and should be in MX2 on speed, there are plenty of riders to back fill those that move up.. that said EMX is great racing and its not easy to win,
Isn't that what GPs are supposed to be? The fastest riders?
If some pay-to-play GP guy doesn't qualify, tough. Be faster.
It is still a screwed up system, but things aren't as simple as they used to be. Talking to a guy who knows, the budget to run a top line 250F is staggering , just in parts , let along associated costs .. the days of having 6 bikes a year , running them for 3 GP's and moving them on are long gone.
I know he's done for now and heading back to the states, but I heard that there might be a chance for him to sign with HRC Honda for next year?!
I don't know but if that happens it's one more very weird choice for HRC. If they are thinking about it NOW to possibly sign him next year, why send him home now after two GPs and not let him get more experience this year...
Is it that it's mainly contracted Teams that are 'in', with a few 'wildcard entries?
Are there also quite heavy requirements with regard to team presentation, over and above the very high entry fees, and overseas travel expenses?
And on, and on, and on.
I never have been able to find the whole list of requirements and charges the times I've gone searching.
You see EMX2 riders doing select GPs at times. They've met riding standards, or is it just (well, of course including) they / their team have stumped up the money to race?
I quite like the EMX classes - it seems to be a cheaper way for a rider / team to get into things, yet show themselves off to bigger teams and crowds when the classes are held at a GP. It also shows the troglodytes that always want to denigrate Euro MX, that there are a hell of a lot more fast riders and teams than just what is seen in the heavily controlled MX2 and MXGP classes. As ever, I say again, I'd like to see an EMX450 class, as well.
That you see so many 'aged out' riders in EMX2 is not a good thing, to me - it just shows how it fucks up the careers of so many riders.
MX2 is a World Championships - it should have No age limits to it. Hell, Rahier didn't get his first World 125 Championships ( yes - I know 1975 was the first year of a 125 MX World Championships) until he was something like 28, I think. Though, aging out certainly brought Zach Osborne back to the US - he said he wasn't ready for MX1 / MXGP at the time that he was going to be forced up to it. He had no option, other than going back to the US (or other National series) , or entering MX1 / MXGP. The aging out rules certainly help the flow of riders to the US series / or the depletion of riders from the GPs - take your pick with those points of view. You'd think Luongo might just give thought to that......
To have got more than the 2 races that the deal entailed, he would have had to done better than he did - though he did pretty bloody well in Portugal. It will be the same for the other riders coming in for these 'try outs'.
It's a hard thing, is racing, And, the mob in charge of Honda's MX2 set up, down from being the MX1 / MXGP team, have been known for their 'way' about doing things, for many years. I think Honda would do well to set up a very much 'different' team, with their efforts for next year in MX2
Imagine if Mookie had rocked up with a set of forks and a shock (no ECU) and ponced a practice bike off of Stefan Everts, just to put himself out there.
Pit Row
I like the EMX250 class. It's a natural way of stepping up from 125s on your way trying to make it to MX2, and the xompetition is hard. Yes, the top riders in the class would do well in MX2, but as mentioned it's easier to make a name for yourself as a top EMX guy than a top 20 MX2 rider, and for less money. What I don't like is that there isn't an age limit like in MX2. I think Malin mentioned that Furlotti, who rode MX2 last year, aged out of MX2 and that's why he dropped to the EMX class, which in my mind doesn't make sense.
The EMX450 class sounds like a good idea and could work as a platform for guys that age out of MX2. After all there is already a bunch of guys that ride some National series and some selected GP's that could find it a good option. But at the end, we already kind of had that class in the form of the MX3 class a couple of years back, and atleast I didn't think too much of that class. Yes, there were a couple of younger guys that were still trying to make something of their careers, but mainly older guys with the backing and/or extra cash around to be able to ride and race around before retiring.
EMX 450 is a bit pointless, that was kind of what MX3 was , and although it got riders, they didnt ride at GP weekend and went to random places as a try out for a proper GP.
Any of the top 10 or 15 could be in MX2, but the rides that do a full GP series are thin on the ground, with the amount of fly aways.
They are great races to watch, they are all hanging it out
An EMX 450 class would offer the same opportunities that EMX250 does, but for 450 class riders and teams. A chance to show their 'wares' to on a bigger stage. And You know, RG1, there are a Hell of a lot of very fast riders throughout Europe and Britain that do National series on 450s. As ever, it would be an eye opener for the Twats that have no idea about racing outside of the US, to see just how many riders and teams there are, that would love to do GPs.
EMX450, would be nothing like the old MX3 class.
An EMX450 class would not be the answer I think. The MXGP gate is barely filled. Maybe it would be a cool idea to give the country that hosts the GP the possibility to choose 5 riders for each class as wild card riders. No entry fees and a possibility to make a name for yourself. For example, France is able to choose from about 20 riders who are capable to score points in a moto
And how about adding the European qualifying rounds of 85cc to the GP circuit? This year is the third time I'm going to Loket, last year the EMX65 and 85 finals where hosted between the MXGP races, and those kids are on fire!
In a perfect world the setup would be for me:
- 6 rounds of EMX85 (5 qualifying races, 1 final)
- 9 rounds of EMX125 - age limit 16 years (?)
- 9 rounds of EMX250 - age limit 23 years
- 19 rounds of MX2 - no age limit
- 19 rounds of MXGP - no age limit obviously
I know no one other than Dungey, Tomac, Roczen returning or Baggett competing in the GP's would generate nearly as much hype as Villopoto but having a 5th to 10th place 450 guy go over would generate more interest. I doubt anyone will do it, but I can dream.
As for the interest in the GPs in the US, I think fairly many watch and follow the series, they just don't show up in the race threads since many probably aren't able to watch the races live.
Post a reply to: Tristan Charboneau in the EMX250