"What I would change in Supercross....."

OW38B
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OW38B
Edited Date/Time 1/20/2015 4:29pm
Not in my words but from a gentleman the has won a few Supercross races. Tongue

Jeremy McGrath (The King of Supercross) was on the PulpMX show this week and gave his perspective on the current state of the sport of Supercross.

SX Format: "The format is pretty much the same, difference is the bike size"

Bikes: The more I see..... bring back the two strokes.........the 450's are so fast and are a handful to ride and we as fans to do not get to see as good of racing as we could. Guys won't take as many chances. 250cc races seem to be pretty good and are about the right speed.........if we had a bit of a more manageable motorcycle we might see a few more guys getting up in there"

Not verbatim but you get the drift.

PlupMX Show with Jeremy "Showtime" McGrath Starts at 2:54 of the netcast.
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jeffro503
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jeffro503 1/17/2015 10:47am
1/17/2015 10:47am
I get the point 100%.......the only thing is , it's totally against human nature to " slow down " after they have already gone certain speeds. The big pro's aren't buying the bikes....we are. And I think most of us on this board totally agree with what MC said , but the other 99.9% of planet earth ( Like mr Joe Blow who has a 700HP Chevy truck in his driveway ).....doesn't want less power....they want more. The bike manufacturers get crucified when one of their bikes come in 2HP less than the competition.......which is still about 20HP to much for the average person. We know that........we get that " Here ". The average consumer doesn't.
jeffro503
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jeffro503 1/17/2015 10:48am
1/17/2015 10:48am
I agree with this as well.....even though it kind of goes against what I said up above. Last weekend's racing was simply awesome!
Outsider
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Outsider 1/17/2015 10:50am
1/17/2015 10:50am
450's are easy to ride though... not like a 500T

The Shop

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Whoops_Blitzer 1/17/2015 11:01am
1/17/2015 11:01am
jeffro503 wrote:
I agree with this as well.....even though it kind of goes against what I said up above. Last weekend's racing was simply awesome!
It was. Best back n forth SX since RD/RV in '13, right?

But you know how it could've been better? Checkers fly at 10 laps (or 12), line em up and do it again.

Not to thread-jack. I can tell this one is headed in directions we've never been before. :]
jonesaustin
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jonesaustin 1/17/2015 11:04am
1/17/2015 11:04am Edited Date/Time 1/17/2015 11:04am
imo it's very similar to comparing dogfights between WWII fighters and the modern day jets. the last great dogfights were 70+ years ago. as so many do, i definitely prefer the way 2 stroke 250's were raced. add into the equation the respect the racer has to have for that type of power. the 450 may be "faster" but so is a jetski. it's not a fair comparison really, because the 2 stroke 250 is more terrifying, deserves more respect, and is more of a handful - except in all the right ways.
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Drfletcher 1/17/2015 11:18am
1/17/2015 11:18am
Make the only changes to the bike should be setting the suspension up to the correct weight and exhaust. Make them run stock bikes. That would be more interesting than anything.
bsm121
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bsm121 1/17/2015 11:30am
1/17/2015 11:30am
Drfletcher wrote:
Make the only changes to the bike should be setting the suspension up to the correct weight and exhaust. Make them run stock bikes. That would...
Make the only changes to the bike should be setting the suspension up to the correct weight and exhaust. Make them run stock bikes. That would be more interesting than anything.
^^^ This

Put them all on stock bikes. Let the best rider win, not the best bike.

I read somewhere that a factory race bike is ~$80k. How can a privateer compete with that?

OW38B
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OW38B 1/17/2015 11:30am
1/17/2015 11:30am Edited Date/Time 1/17/2015 11:31am
Outsider wrote:
450's are easy to ride though... not like a 500T
500T ......And what happened to them?

I have raced all three, 450F, 500T and a 250T, the 250 two is by far the easiest for me to race and go fast on.
KlootZak
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KlootZak 1/17/2015 11:35am
1/17/2015 11:35am
very different tracks with more passing opportunities, some designed by past riders, use a safety system so more 180° bowl turns and

heat 1 250
heat 2 250
heat 1 450
heat 2 450
LCQ 250
LCQ 450
main 1 250
main 1 450
main 2 250
main 2 450
Drtbykr
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Drtbykr 1/17/2015 11:46am
1/17/2015 11:46am
Have an Ashley Sarto cam, 25 points for the win, 20 for second.
2 points for a heat race win.

And especially have it like 2 years ago when I could sit down and watch it on my big ass TV instead of paying to watch it on my puter.

I liked the lcqs better when only two riders qualified.

#freeBubba
downard254
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downard254 1/17/2015 12:22pm
1/17/2015 12:22pm
Drtbykr wrote:
Have an Ashley Sarto cam, 25 points for the win, 20 for second. 2 points for a heat race win. And especially have it like 2...
Have an Ashley Sarto cam, 25 points for the win, 20 for second.
2 points for a heat race win.

And especially have it like 2 years ago when I could sit down and watch it on my big ass TV instead of paying to watch it on my puter.

I liked the lcqs better when only two riders qualified.

#freeBubba
Two hell. I remember when only one qualified. Talk about knock down drag out fighting.
Outsider
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Outsider 1/17/2015 12:35pm
1/17/2015 12:35pm
Outsider wrote:
450's are easy to ride though... not like a 500T
OW38B wrote:
500T ......And what happened to them? I have raced all three, 450F, 500T and a 250T, the 250 two is by far the easiest for me...
500T ......And what happened to them?

I have raced all three, 450F, 500T and a 250T, the 250 two is by far the easiest for me to race and go fast on.
Personally, the fastest I've ridden was on a 250F.. it didn't feel as fast but I started hanging with guys I couldn't normally hang with.
731chopper
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731chopper 1/17/2015 12:51pm
1/17/2015 12:51pm
If I could wave a magic wand I'd change the engine sizes. 250cc class goes to 200cc and the 450cc class goes to 350cc.
2smokertillend 1/17/2015 1:27pm
1/17/2015 1:27pm
Have the top fastest qualifying guys start on a second row starting gate Wink or Bring back the 250cc 2t
overthebars39 1/17/2015 1:43pm
1/17/2015 1:43pm
Drfletcher wrote:
Make the only changes to the bike should be setting the suspension up to the correct weight and exhaust. Make them run stock bikes. That would...
Make the only changes to the bike should be setting the suspension up to the correct weight and exhaust. Make them run stock bikes. That would be more interesting than anything.
Possible unfair disadvantage and advantage. The rider that gels the best with the stock setup benefits the most from this idea.
OW38B
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OW38B 1/17/2015 1:58pm
1/17/2015 1:58pm Edited Date/Time 1/17/2015 1:58pm
Outsider wrote:
450's are easy to ride though... not like a 500T
OW38B wrote:
500T ......And what happened to them? I have raced all three, 450F, 500T and a 250T, the 250 two is by far the easiest for me...
500T ......And what happened to them?

I have raced all three, 450F, 500T and a 250T, the 250 two is by far the easiest for me to race and go fast on.
Outsider wrote:
Personally, the fastest I've ridden was on a 250F.. it didn't feel as fast but I started hanging with guys I couldn't normally hang with.
I hear ya. It depends on the type of track also.

I raced my son's YZ125 a while back at Perris Raceway against a field of mostly 450's. I had to ride the wheels off of it but I beat the entire field of 45/52 Intermediates on the bumble bee.

Pit Row

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Hgibbs566
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Hgibbs566 1/17/2015 2:47pm
1/17/2015 2:47pm
Make it family friendly again, without it being a Sluts-R-Us party for old, horney men.

Just my opinion.
motomike137
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motomike137 1/17/2015 2:57pm
1/17/2015 2:57pm
less qualifying racing and more main event laps. Either 25 laps or multiple mains with the nights overall top 3 or 5 getting bonus points. I wait around all night to see a 20 minute race?
OW38B
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OW38B 1/17/2015 3:31pm
1/17/2015 3:31pm
Hgibbs566 wrote:
Make it family friendly again, without it being a Sluts-R-Us party for old, horney men.

Just my opinion.
Hey! I'm not sure if I should be insulted or take it as a complement.? Huh
zehn
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zehn 1/17/2015 3:35pm
1/17/2015 3:35pm Edited Date/Time 1/17/2015 3:35pm
Oh look, this thread again. This thread pops up AT LEAST once a week, and it's always the same dudes with the same tired old opinions. Nobody who matters is listening...
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level 1/17/2015 3:44pm
1/17/2015 3:44pm
I don't really know what a 2 stroke would do. I do think that a 450 is just not necessary but I don't know what the alternative would be. It is so different how the 250f vs the 450f ride. You see them throwing those 250f's around like a 125 and it's awesome to see. They look more aggressive and fun. 450's just look heavy and so different so I think over time they will get the bikes lighter and handle more like a 250. However, displacement wise a 450 is about same as a 250 2 banger.

I'm not sure what else they could really do. I think the bikes are fine. There may be something to do with the format. I am pretty big on the start having to much weight on the outcome of the race so if you don't start out front then you miss some good racing.

If Tomac gets a 6th place start and Roczen gets a holeshot then you won't get to see the 2 fastest riders battling for the win and it makes a boring race. Supercross needs to figure out how to get the fast guys with equal lap times racing against each other and the start is what is hurting that. I don't know what the solution is but we all want to see the top 5 guys battling the whole race and they just don't because of the start.
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level 1/17/2015 3:45pm
1/17/2015 3:45pm
We all want to see the fastest guys battling against each other but one might be buried in 6th place and another one in 1st and another one in second that is 5 seconds behind because he got a bad start so you end up with a boring race because there is no battling. There is too much importance on the first 5 seconds of the race for a 15 to 20 minute race.
OW38B
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OW38B 1/17/2015 3:47pm
1/17/2015 3:47pm
zehn wrote:
Oh look, this thread again. This thread pops up AT LEAST once a week, and it's always the same dudes with the same tired old opinions...
Oh look, this thread again. This thread pops up AT LEAST once a week, and it's always the same dudes with the same tired old opinions. Nobody who matters is listening...
So the King of Supercross , Jeremy McGrath is the "same old dudes with the same tired old opinions"?

MC2 has 72 Supercross wins, what do you have for credentials?
zehn
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zehn 1/17/2015 3:51pm
1/17/2015 3:51pm
OW38B wrote:
So the King of Supercross , Jeremy McGrath is the "same old dudes with the same tired old opinions"? MC2 has 72 Supercross wins, what do...
So the King of Supercross , Jeremy McGrath is the "same old dudes with the same tired old opinions"?

MC2 has 72 Supercross wins, what do you have for credentials?
I obviously have no credentials, and neither do any of the other guys posting here. They just happen to agree with MC. And of course MC would want to bring back 2-strokes, he made his fame and living racing them. Supercross has changed.
OW38B
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OW38B 1/17/2015 4:02pm
1/17/2015 4:02pm
OW38B wrote:
So the King of Supercross , Jeremy McGrath is the "same old dudes with the same tired old opinions"? MC2 has 72 Supercross wins, what do...
So the King of Supercross , Jeremy McGrath is the "same old dudes with the same tired old opinions"?

MC2 has 72 Supercross wins, what do you have for credentials?
zehn wrote:
I obviously have no credentials, and neither do any of the other guys posting here. They just happen to agree with MC. And of course MC...
I obviously have no credentials, and neither do any of the other guys posting here. They just happen to agree with MC. And of course MC would want to bring back 2-strokes, he made his fame and living racing them. Supercross has changed.
The difference is we respect McGrath's opinion.......................others who do not, well, they know little about motocross.

Sorry you can't see that.
Donny O'Slow O'Hara 1/17/2015 4:05pm
1/17/2015 4:05pm
I've said it before and I'll say it again ! they should bring back the 70s & 80s style tracks, slow the racing down, get rid of the ''Big, gnarly, sketchy, one mistake you die, triple-quad-triple rhythm sections'' and replace it with smaller more technical stuff that is almost impossible to rhythm or do perfectly every lap, even by the very best, like old school outdoor Motocross, which in the beginning is what they were trying to do with Supercross, Bring the outdoor Motocross experience into a stadium for the ease and enjoyment of the spectator.
KMC440
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KMC440 1/17/2015 4:06pm
1/17/2015 4:06pm
More practice time for the c and b groups ... seat time means everything.

Heat transfers 4 and 4 then 5 and 5 from semi's the rest from the lcq. 1st and 2nd automatically in main with last 2 voted in by the fans in attendance for a 22 rider gate. Last 2 riders optioned in must be either last seasons class champion or finish in the top 8 of the lcq. Voting to be done using a db meter at a central track location. Riders can do whatever they want to sway the crowd.

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