NOVICE TO EXPERT PROMOTIONS FOR 2019!!

[Chuck Ergle]

When I got promoted to Expert I had no choice. Connie Brothers, who really ran the club back in the day even though she was only club secretary/treasurer, came up to me after my first full season on a mini (YSR50) at the end of 1989 and informed me that I was going to be an expert for 1990. I had just bought a 400 and intended to stay novice so I could learn about racing with the Big Boys, so I complained and argued and was ignored.

In retrospect, I was glad she promoted me because it got me the hell out of big bike novice practice, which was and probably still is a real eye opener. ULW practice, where N and E are combined, now reminds me of that. IMHO, IF the ULW grids keep growing, for safety reasons the practices are going to HAVE to be separated, and trust me, you'll want to be an Expert at that point!

My first Expert year on the big bike I crashed A LOT in sprint races trying to keep up with the pack where their speed exceeded my talent, but I learned a lot; my second year I did pretty good, and my third year with a newer bike I won my first two sprint championships.

If you have the luxury of being asked to promote yourself to Expert, do it and don't look back. IMHO. YMMV. Not valid where prohibited.

[Brian Millsap]

In retrospect, I was glad she promoted me because it got me the hell out of big bike novice practice, which was and probably still is a real eye opener. ULW practice, where N and E are combined, now reminds me of that. IMHO, IF the ULW grids keep growing, for safety reasons the practices are going to HAVE to be separated, and trust me, you'll want to be an Expert at that point!

The flaw in this logic lies in the fact that if, riders are not ready to bump and they are bumped, they will now be hazards in EX instead of NV. So you self promote to remove yourself from the dangers of these novices only to find yourself grossing up with the same guys/gals as experts.