The sport of Motocross has evolved and it's gotten more and more extreme, over the years the bikes gradually got more & more horsepower plus better suspension and interestingly they also got easier to go fast on, which is sort of a double edge sword because people still make mistakes, and crashes at higher speeds are more likely to cause worse injuries which is exactly what's happening. Its now considered an extreme sport by the general public, and for the most part it is now extreme.
However there is a part of the sport that's rarely seen on TV or publicized, that is a friendly more family orientated side of the sport that is super that isn't very extreme and that is 50cc racing for kids usually 8yrs old and under.
Guys that have gotten their kids into the sport that they grew up with and love, naturally put their kids on 50cc bikes and they feel very confident that this is a safe and fun route ... and it is, wouldn't you agree?
The kids that start on 50cc bikes can race, battle, have fun, and even fall down and rarely get hurt.
But is it the same for Dad?
Are their any safer options were their Dad's can race and have a good time without much risk? Especially if he is new to the sport himself and relatively inexperienced.
With the way things have evolved, and currently are in the sport of motocross, if Dad is still racing at all he is likely Racing a 250f or 450f motocross bike, which is a very advanced race bike, they are great bikes, but not the best starter bikes in my opinion especially if you are also just learning to ride period, with land use being at a minimum in some states some people are learning to ride dirt bikes at the motocross track, as apposed to in a field near their home or at a home made track near where they live which would have been the normal way to learn in back in the 70's and 80's.
I think we need to introduce some new ways for the dads to also race and battle and be able fall down and rarely get hurt, not only would this get some Dads that used to race back into racing it would also be great for beginners.
The Current big bike classes have become pretty darn extreme and risky, if you crash on one there is a good chance you are gonna get hurt, and possibly break bones. (Especially if you whiskey throttle)
a new much less risky class for beginners and Dads that would be safe and fun. (Think PW50 for adults) not literally 50cc but a new beginner class to help get more people into the sport, using less powerful air cooled race bikes, bikes that still have a race chassis and good suspension jusr less power would be ideal.
What if there was a class for dad to race were he could get out and bang bars with his buddies have a good time even if he has never raced before, and even when he crashed feels pretty darn sure that he wasn't going to get seriously hurt?
What if this new class for dads was much much cheaper than our usual form of motocross racing?
What if these bikes were so mellow mannered that he could talk a neighbor or co worker that's never raced a dirt bike before into coming out and trying it With little practice?
Be honest can you do that now?
Here is what I am proposing.
New options for motocross racing that use cheaper simpler bikes and race on tracks smaller than we usually use now preferably on more natural terrain tracks.
(Another option for natural terrain tracks or for taming down some current tracks would be to add some optional lines in current tracks that go around some of the bigger or more technical jumps that could be used in some of the races.
Or a shorter version of a current track like a track within a track.
The new type of racing looks like this.
Staycyc
PW 50cc
big 50cc
110cc
125cc air cooled
150cc air cooled.
200 air cooled.
In addition to the above
I also strongly believe that there should be 125 two stroke Classes added to all Local races.
A. Expert/pro
B. Intermediate
C. beginner amateur's
125cc two stroke are the perfect stepping stone before transferring into bigger bikes.
We can race these classes on smaller tracks made just for them., or use parts of the current tracks to make a smaller track. (make a track within the track)
We can create new leagues nationwide that will run on Small tracks that will be put together by people in the local area, we will help form groups using the internet and social media, and give them the format, points system and template to follow.
Groups can make small tracks in their area. Like at a fair grounds for example. They can start their own local points series with some guidance from the industry on a website we will create.
It's a pretty well known fact that if you race a dirt bike you are eventually going to crash, it's really not if its when!
With that in mind I think we have passed the threshold for how fast we can go and crash and expect our bodies to be able to absorb the impact. I think The speeds are to high for beginners.
I absolutely love watching pro motocross racing, I also love watching local fast guys that are really good riders rip it up in the local expert classes its awesome to watch someone that can ride a modern dirt bike the way it was meant to be ridden and really put it through its paces, but for the average guy the speeds have just gotten to fast and its claiming a lot of victims. If new riders get hurt they are very likely to quit.
I have done surveys online and the number one reason people that have quit racing motocross have said they quit because of injury.
Injury or fear of injury was by far the number one reason.
Number two was cost.
Creating some new classes that use basic less powerful bikes addresses both of these problems because these bikes will be safer by lowering the speed and also be less expensive.
I'm not suggesting that we take anything away from the racing we have now! Not horsepower or speed or make any new rules or regulations that change the current form of Motocross.
I am simply wanting to add more options, with the hope that more people will move up later to bigger faster bikes we use now in the future when they are ready.
I absolutely positively believe that if we can do this we can and will help the sport of motocross grow overall, including on the fast modern bikes currently used, because it will get more people on two wheels and riding dirt bikes in the first place, and it will bring new attention to the sport.
*A new form of Motocross is sweeping the nation!*
Picture that headline on the local News and in Newspapers (Social media sites) nationwide!
This plan fills a much needed void in the sport in my opinion, I believe if we can implement this that a lot of new people that start on less powerful bikes will want to move up when they are ready to faster bikes in the future this will be a stepping stone that we currently don't have in the sport.
Like a bunny hill for older kids and adults.
The Next step is to show this type of racing to the masses through nationwide marketing campaigns and to let the general public know that this is something they can do, there are motocross bikes that are less extreme, with an organized focus we can show this to the masses.
we will need to make a format and create a points series for these bikes for people to follow like we do for the current classes.
In the future we could also have a national championship for small air cooled bikes.
(Perhaps another week long event at Loretta Lynn's just for small air cooled bikes. Or at another location.)
Something like what is being done at Loretta Lynn's amateur National championship.
Next we need to let people try it. I don't think people are trying to ride dirt bikes for their first time in ways that they used to in previous decades.
In the 1970's and 1980's if you asked most young males if they had ever tried riding a dirt bike at some time in their life the answer was usually yes, If you asked most kids that now the answer would be no.
In the past trying a friend or neighbors bike in the neighborhood was common, that or dad just bringing a bike home that you would learn to ride by riding around the neighborhood, but that just isn't common anymore, since we know that isn't happening much anymore, If we want people to try it we have to create ways for that to happen.
(website vlog/blog GoRving.com)
The sport was also considered cool in the 70's and 80's we need to bring the coolness back. It is cool and it should be cool to be a motocross racer!
We also need to help people learn to create tracks in areas where there aren't any. Learn not only physically how to make a track but How to go about creating community, finding people to work together, finding a spot, resources/funding, basically the whole process A to Z,
I believe that we can create tracks in or near cities and towns, with an organized focus, if enough people get together and put the heads together and combine knowledge and resources it's very Possible to find a place to make a track on public or private property. We will share stories on our website and Vlog from people that have done it.
We can also put a focus on mini bikes and mini bike racing at current tracks, I believe doing this will help grow the sport.
I also believe we should fill other areas in the sport were there is a gap, and I believe 125cc two strokes is an area that needs to be focused on again nationwide, they give people that start out on mini's a stepping stone to bigger race bikes like the more powerful 250f and 450f bikes.
I Believe we need a 125 A,B,C, class and series at every full size track in America
A,B,C, being
A. Expert/Pro
B. Intermediate
C. Beginner/Novice
When the 250f's came into the picture they where combined with the 125 two stroke class. I not only think they should be separated again but also believe that the ABC classes are necessary. I specify it like this because some tracks did bring back a 125 two stroke class but just one for everyone. I think ABC is a must.
I would also like to see a 100cc, 150cc, and 200cc air cooled classes.
Additionally keeping some totally stock classes is a must!
In the late 90's early 2000's there was a mini craze and a lot of people quit because it quickly evolved and the bikes were so heavily modified that people just starting couldn't compete. There were people putting $10,000 to $15,000 into their mini's.
Modified classes are fine but there needs to be some stock classes as well.
I would also like to see a stock mod class with well defined rules that keep the motor stock but allow suspension mods and a pipe.
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