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Not saying the National tracks don't have ANY sections like that or that they're mindless freeways. Absolutely not. But I do think the GPs have a more traditional feel to them.
It would be interesting to sit down with the Alli and MXLife archives and really vet the issue track by track. I think we're tossing around a lot of generalities that don't really play out as dramatically as people are arguing (other than a couple of awesome sand tracks it would be great to have here).
Sure, there are fast guys on the GP circuit, but we clearly don't give a shit how fast they are because 7 out of ten of your very fastest MX2 champs decide they want to race the US SX's and Nat's. Is that purely a monetary decision or do they not want to be a big fish in a small pond? Hell, I don't know, but your GP's are hemorrhaging hot young talent (that sounded like a porn reference lol) to the US series faster than it can be produced.
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The FIM rules now (since 2004 or so I think) limit track length (unless exceptions made) to 1.5-1.75km (.9-1.1 miles). That may have something to do with the compact tracks.
I didn't realise you held the UK in such high regard
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Dungey would probably beat Cairoli over here. Cairoli would probably beat Dungey over there.
Roczen was beaten by our guys over here. Roczen would probably beat our guys over there.
If the differing track surfaces in the GPs give GP riders extra points in the "best overall rider" column, it's canceled out by our supercross series giving the AMA riders a few extra points.
The differing cultures of the GP circuit put an additional strain on GP riders, and the balls-hot climate of some AMA rounds puts an addictional strain on the AMA riders.
I will say it seems Cairoli is content just taking the easy route and staying in Europe. In every interview I hear, when he's asked about racing in America, he makes sure to bring up that it's too late for him to ride supercross. No one's asking you to ride supercross, bro. And if you're "not watching numbers" or worried about matching Everts, then let's go already. Our guys are interested in beating EACH OTHER. Ricky was the last guy to win 2 mx championships in a row, SIX YEARS ago. Our current top guys are being challenged enough over here. If any of them had won three or four titles in a row, maybe they would look for a new challenge overseas.
I will also say that, while we're perennial favorites for the overall, it seems that Herlings is going to hammer everyone in a few weeks. Hard.
When rider from Europe makes the jump into the AMA series the question is always inevitably asked by some media outlet, "which series has the fastest riders, what's the difference?" and the answer is always, depth of field, pace of the riders and not having ridden the tracks or being as used to them. When Zach comes back next year I am sure his answers will be nearly the same. (I'm guessing)
Geoff, why don't you believe the very riders that answer these questions? Do you not read these interviews or see these riders who in years passed dominate world championships come here and not do as well? We Americans feel the way we do because we see more often times then not world champions or European riders just simply not do as well here wether they are champions or 5th-15th place guys. On the flip side, we are used to having people who are struggling over here go to europe to salvage a career or try to get some more momentum, WE NEVER LOSE OUR CHAMPIONS TO EUROPE. Why? These guys are competitors right? You think they are afraid? They want to be the best in the world, the riders know that if you win a series in America. There is nothing else to prove.
The transition for an American to go to Europe is a lot harder than for a European to come to America. In most cases, the Europeans that come this way are world champions (or top riders) with a large contract and can bring an entourage (family, GF, wife) of people. They speak English (pretty much the universal language) and don't have to worry about multiple languages and for food, well Everybody likes In-N-Out.
Typically and American that goes to Europe is going there because he can't get anything here, which means it is going to be on a shoe string budget, which means no family, no friends...... Language barriers, food and traveling to all the different countries is a lot tougher then going across America where everything is the same. However, there are instances where a few come back, stronger and faster than before. (Brown, Osbourne, Hughes and others)
Whatever, this is a lame argument. The facts seem to all be there. History always seems to repeat itself. It is what it is.
Unadilla is one of the fastest tracks on the circuit. Wide open.
IMO it is more of an idividual thing as to how some one adapts to living in a different country.
The depth of field should be a lot bigger in the US compared to Europe as the participation level in MX between them is huge.
IMO if Cairoli & Herlings raced in the AMA MX series they would be racing for wins & championships after they had time to adapt to the American tracks etc & I will not be surprised if Roczen does a lot better next year after getting some time racing in America.
This thread can now be put to bed. Regis just summed up the whole argument in the above paragraph, especially the comments in bold! The fact no American rider has ever vacated the US in their prime to race GP's say's it all! Say what you want, but this fact alone substanially marginalizes the GP's. As I alluded to in an earlier post..calling the GP's a World Championship is nothing more than a play on words.
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