Zondebok, on 06 August 2012 - 06:12 AM, said:

Video or it didn't happen

I've always been leery of that article.

Slackkinhard, on 06 August 2012 - 07:32 AM, said:

Yeah, I just had the link handy because a co-worker asked me how much of a difference the bike makes compared to rider skill, and it makes for a good story

Slackkinhard, on 06 August 2012 - 07:32 AM, said:

agreed!  you can't tell me that a average joe on a 450 can't beat a pro on a stock drz110.  i know they are fast riders but that kinda of handicap is too much.

T-Doshi9, on 06 August 2012 - 09:25 AM, said:

He could probably still beat me, but I will admit to being a slower-than-average joe, so, who knows...

"Greatest Of All Time" and "Amateur Nationals" should not be in the same sentence.

Ricky should have (at least) raced a box-stock bike. With one arm tied behind his back.

And then GIVEN it to the last place finisher in his class.



Back in the day...the big 4 used to carry "claiming checks" to all the races, to counter a privateer from grabbing a factory one-off. Example: If Honda won the hat-draw, they would give the Suzuki in question back to  Suzuki. 4-1 odds for the factory.

MR Honda, on 06 August 2012 - 12:34 PM, said:

Yeah I heard that too. I was told that it did happen at one race and since then the factories would cover each other.

Slackkinhard, on 06 August 2012 - 07:32 AM, said:

That's because you want to believe that a factory bike will make you fast

Edited by meyermetal, 06 August 2012 - 03:47 PM.

meyermetal, on 06 August 2012 - 03:43 PM, said:

Is that what you got out of that?

Slackkinhard, on 06 August 2012 - 04:13 PM, said:

No

Just saw an opertunity to be a smartass

Slackkinhard, on 06 August 2012 - 03:23 AM, said:

Maybe thats what it will take, but at the end of the day, I would still never cheat someone out of a bike they put money into. Its a morals thing more me i guess. If ruining a racers day and stealing his bike is ok to you, then go right ahead. I could never do that, simply because its messed up. call me old fashioned but I just treat people in the way that I expect to be treated. I'm not gonna ruin your day because you make more money then me, and I would expect that you wouldn't do the same if I worked my ass off to build a $17k bike.

AdamW21, on 03 August 2012 - 10:32 AM, said:

Or for substantially less if you are Ricky Carmichael. You can't think that Ricky pays msrp for his parts. As stated above, it is advertising for Pro Circuit, with a chance to get a good return on a used bike at the end of the week.

JWB21, on 06 August 2012 - 05:24 PM, said:

I think you're missing the point...IF some kid is outgunning your kid week after week, and your kid is an equal or better rider, and comes home bitching about it week after week...AND there are multiple other father's in the same position, I suspect you, like many fathers will try to do what it takes to create a fair environment for your child. It's your money, gas and time you are investing, along with insurance, etc. I can't believe you're a human if you think these things don't factor in.

Slackkinhard, on 06 August 2012 - 06:56 PM, said:

I'm not saying they don't, but at the end of the day, if everyone goes to work, and earns their money, why would you take from someone who earns more than you because it's "not fair". If you made the big $$ you would do the exact same thing for your kid. I'm not saying that its fair, I'm just saying the rules are messed up. There has to be a better way to regulate people building ridiculous bikes then to have them possibly put up for auction at the builders expense.

JWB21, on 06 August 2012 - 10:55 PM, said:

If you've got a better idea, I'm SURE there are people that would listen

This problem is older than both of us.

Slackkinhard, on 07 August 2012 - 03:28 AM, said:

Of course there's a better way. If preventing rich people from "buying races" by building high-dollar machines is the goal, simply limit mods to suspension.

Chokey, on 07 August 2012 - 03:42 AM, said:

Do you honestly think that would be what this country of motorheads would go for?  Like I said, this problem is OLD, there's reasons it exists.

Edited by Slackkinhard, 07 August 2012 - 03:47 AM.

Waaaayyy back in the 70s, in New England at least, you could "claim" a winners bike to have the displacement measured. Happened in the 100cc class a lot: Racers would sleeve down a CR125 to 100, and TMs, YZs and Hodaka's 100s looked identical to the 125s.

I think it cost about $80-$100 (70s money) to have an official pull the head and mike the piston/bore. I think the Winner got to keep the $, if his bike was legal.

This was the schoolboy class, so it was always the Dads who would protest, as they couldn't believe Jr got smoked, and a few losing dads did it just to be a-holes.

Again, I'm going from a hazy memory, if anyone has details, or if any such rule still applies, chime in!

First off, I know I would be a little upset if someone who just a few short years ago was considered the "Greatest of all time" lined up next to me on the Vet line just because he could.  Technicality or not.....it's just not very fair to your fellow competitors. Secondly, its all about the rider.  Take James Stewart for instance.  He said in interviews a few years back, that his "Bubba scrub" had roots dating all the way back to his mini days, when he rode bikes that didn't have a lot of power....and he had to find ways to go faster.  Look at Justin Barcia in his amateur days......he rode what many consider to be one of the worst MX bikes of this decade (CR125), but absolutely killed it because he was simply just that much better than anyone else.

Bottom line:  When you race at the most elite level, technology does make a difference.  When you are racing at the amateur level (albeit the highest amateur level), the fastest riders will still prevail.  And like many others have stated.....this problem is older than most of us, and its probably not going anywhere.  Time, and RC character as a person will only tell wether or not he does the right thing in regards to both his bike and classes he decides to race..

I would LOVE to have RC lined up next to me day in and day out....there is no better way of getting faster than riding with those that are faster.

Slackkinhard, on 07 August 2012 - 11:25 AM, said:

True statement my friend.  I could only hope that I would be fast enough to keep up with him and see his lines