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Where are all the "Chase" fans now?
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If they would have reset the points after round 7, Tomac would have won the championship by 24 points. He would have had a 15 point lead going into Vegas.
How does having fewer rounds that count insure a close championship every season?
The Shop
And yes, this season kicked ass! Why? Because we lucked out and got a naturally occurring chase in sx this year. Wish it was like this Every year. But you know it won't be. But it could be if they implemented the chase format.
Since 90, the premier class has come down to the final round in 92, 97, 2000, 2003, 2004 (due to AMA), 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2017. The rest were blowouts, some as early as two rounds early but effectively a third of the way in.
In fact, due to the weirdness of the season, we actually probably saw more what a chase might be... being drama filled with multiple story-lines coming into the final part of the season.
Put it this way, if Kenny's arm doesn't get better, you better like Eli's podium banter.
I'm on board
If it's a point reset and everyone that has qualified for the chase starts even in points again at the 3/4 mark of the series then it's just a gimmick to punish the riders that were better at the beginning of the season and it nullifies the first 3/4's of the season.
If it's an qualify to get in, then elimination format like NASCAR currently is then it will make the beginning races important and the final races as exciting as Vegas. But it will still be a manufactured entertainment.
If the elimination format was something like:
First 10 races (Qualifying Races): 10 riders qualify for the Chase.
All race winners make it into the chase, it puts the pressure to win. You would get chase points that carry over to the first round. You win, you're in. So if a rider wins A1 then gets hurt, he is still in the chase in 11 weeks.
The remaining spots would be filled by points.
During the Elimination Chase, a win moves you to the next round.
Races 11 &12: 10 Riders try to qualify for the final 8. Bottom 2 are knocked out
Races 13 & 14: 8 riders try to qualify for the final 6. Bottom 2 are knocked out.
Races 15 &16: 6 riders try to qualify for the final 4. Bottom 2 are knocked out.
Race 17: 4 riders race to be the champion. Winner take all. High intensity final and everyone would tune in.
If we went into Vegas with Dungey, Tomac, Musquin, and Anderson all having a shot at the title. There wouldn't have been team tactics. It would be who wants it the most.
It makes every race an important race. People don't like the Nascar chase, because it is so unpredictable that the favorite doesn't always win. You have to have consistent good rounds, 3 bad races in a row and you're out. It's high drama and every driver is on the edge to make the next round.
So, a standard win is worth 3 points over 2nd, but for the last 6-7 races, increase that margin to 5 or 6 points. Putting more emphasis/reward on winning, for the last 1/3 of the season, could make for some very interesting April's and May's more consistently.than it has in the past 35 plus years.
All jokes aside a win streak should be rewarded.
Normally there is not a chase like what we had this year! Add in 5 more ridersslamming each other, sic
Pit Row
Been following that for years. The chase has been a great addition.
Drivers race their asses off trying to get that 1 win to lock them into the chase.
Then the chase itself is a brawl. SX and MX would both benefit from something similar.
I go to the Ironman mx every year and the racing there is is not great. It's easy to see the crowds have declined each year.
The points are usually a done deal at that point and the riders are just mailing it in to get the long season over.
You can see it in the way they ride. I'm thinking about skipping it this year. Not much drama, so it's kind of a waste of money.
But doesn't mean you can't interject some interest through some format changes and potential for story lines.
We've had enough dominant runs of one guy to know what we'll likely get if there isn't change.
You know we had our Nat in Gainesville taken away (albeit not for attendance), and it still sucks that the only pro race in Florida is Daytona.
What am I trying to say? Once it is gone, it is hard to get back.
If an NFL team goes 17-0, they are seeded #1 in their conference, and get a bye week. That is their reward for performing well during the season. But, it is entirely possible that in their first playoff game, they could lose to a 10-7 team. Is that unfair to them since they were good all year long?
Same thing goes for MLB, NBA, NHL.
With a chase format in Supercross, riders would still have to be consistently good during the "regular season" rounds in order to qualify for the "chase" rounds.
Is this when I am supposed to throw a tantrum and swear to never go or watch another race if they change it?
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