UPDATED! 11/23/13 2014 Rule and Class Structure changes

[Brian Millsap]

This one is likely off the table now.

Not sure how it'll play out but our team is going with the EX300 platform. It's really the most feasible. The best balance of investment and being semi-competitive.

No specific info but I hear the rumors. I chose to wait for someone to protest but no one did.

Ahh. Gotcha. And I agree with that course of action. Or lack thereof. Hard to fathom the rumors aren't true though.

Not even close to mini classes anymore.

Maybe not but I guess that depends on your definition of mini. You'd be hard pressed to sell me on the CBR500R being a mini for sure. The EX250 though... Not such a hard sale. Yet they'll be gridded up together. If not in the sprints, in the endurance for sure. I don't agree with running 250s and 500s on the same grid, even in separate waves/classes. Same for the 300s and 500s.

I do want to say though, even though I don't agree with some of the (proposed) rules, I do acknowledge and agree with the club embracing the new generation of machines and trying to find a place for them on the grids. To do so this quickly is also very noteworthy.

[Kasey Lewis]

I'm not thinking only of her, just citing her as an example. Many of the smaller (ie, younger and/or female) racers come to mind...Newton, Gore, Doolan, the young blonde girl who races (can't remember her name), etc.

And who's dumping over a grand, much less up to 3 grand in their 250 motors? We wouldn't run the 250 if we had to put that much into a motor.

You're a smart guy Jeremy, very smart, so don't go all "duh" on me now. If they don't weight what Becka does, and they're still absolutely flying, my math cries foul. But we all know my math isn't very good. And i enjoyed chasing Doolan this year, pack 40-60lbs on him i might get just a little closer! I'll just have to hope he can't get away from the dinner table in the off season.

Exactly why we are not going with a weight limit at this point.


Shame on those who have gone this route.

FYI, there will be mandatory post race inspections in the 300 and 500 classes.

Without cracking the engine open will this do any good? FYI i'm a parts swapper not a mechanic so i'm curious.

No specific info but I hear the rumors. I chose to wait for someone to protest but no one did.

Sorry, my huevos weren't big enough.

Not sure how it'll play out but our team is going with the EX300 platform. It's really the most feasible. The best balance of investment and being semi-competitive.


Ahh. Gotcha. And I agree with that course of action. Or lack thereof. Hard to fathom the rumors aren't true though.




I do want to say though, even though I don't agree with some of the (proposed) rules, I do acknowledge and agree with the club embracing the new generation of machines and trying to find a place for them on the grids. To do so this quickly is also very noteworthy.

I'm only switching platforms because i can not work on carburators (can't even spell that), the EX300 offers an FI system that i can swap parts on and make work.

[John Black]

the 250 and 500s weigh roughly the same... not sure why one would be considered a mini and the other not... they damn sure belong on the grid together way before a 250 belongs on the grid with a NSR/NSF/KLX/XR F7 bike, i.e. a true mini...

[John Black]

I have to say, very disappointed that the mini endurance has been replaced with a series that is less inclusive as opposed to more inclusive...

[Scott McDermott]

I really don't understand weight limits. They didn't make Kareem play on his knees. Usain Bolt doesn't wear a weight vest. Are we going to hobble the more talented riders? Will Ty have to race 1 handed? Why would we saddle the weak with a heavier load? Weight is a strength just like agility, balance and quickness. I've raced kids on true minis and been walked on straights due to weight but I can lose weight if it's that important to me. Until then I'll either make it up in the corners or accept that 180lbs is not an ideal weight. I certainly don't expect anyone else to carry that burden for me because I want to win but I don't want to work for it

whew, ok. That feels better now.

[Brian Millsap]

EXCELLENT post Scott.

[Walter Walker]

It's clear that no one here understands the concept of minimum weight limits. From the comments posted it seems that most think that we would take the heaviest rider in the field and force everyone to ad weight to match that. That's just silly! To be clear no minimum weight limit has been announced and likely will not be implemented for 2014. Move on.

[Brian Millsap]

the 250 and 500s weigh roughly the same... not sure why one would be considered a mini and the other not... they damn sure belong on the grid together way before a 250 belongs on the grid with a NSR/NSF/KLX/XR F7 bike, i.e. a true mini...

375lbs vs 425lbs
39hp vs 54hp

Not even 'roughly' the same by any reasonable standard.

As far as putting the 250 on the same grid as the NSR/NSF/KLX/XR F7 bikes, I bet if those bikes showed up in nearly the numbers the 250s did they'd be on a grid by themselves. Last round at TWS I counted 25 bikes on the ESS/F4 grid. The reality is that these are not profitable races for the CMRA. No one turns up to race them. They've been given chance after chance and the base is just not there. This is not gonna make me popular among true mini guys but maybe that's why the TMGP is around? The only flaw in my logic is the fact that the 250s show up to the grid by the dozens and we are still going to have to battle with the 500s. Again, I applaud the embracing of the new bikes, just don't agree with some of the proposed class groupings.

[John Black]

as compared to a 160lb true mini, those bikes weigh roughly the same... and yes, people used to race those bikes before they were all squeezed out by the 250s... the 250s battling with the 500s is no different than the BBE with lightweight bikes and the liter bikes... they all weigh roughly the same and are basically the same sized bikes, but, make different HP numbers... so what?

[Ryan Max Johnson]

The displacement bump for F4 machines is intended make the true F4 machine more competitive with the EX250s. As of right now with riders being equal they are not. We are only talking about a 12cc bump for 2 strokes and a 30cc bump for 4 strokes. These mods are available in kit form.

As for the things be considered list
1) yes rider and bike
2) we will gather info from the top riders and make a decision. (Likely a 2015 thing if it happens) nothing new for spec series. AMA XR1200 for example.
3) correct pump gas
4) this is an option only if a tire brand steped up to sponsor the class or classes. Shouldn't cause an issue with contracted riders as it would be a requirement of the class. (Likely 2015 if it happens)

That's exactly what we have in mind for race lengths and format. Maybe even qualifying.

Thanks for the response, Walter.