NBC just replayed the race I caught the 450 main.
NBC just replayed the race I caught the 450 main.
What does this dart device do?Originally Posted by juice780
He’s probably talking about them pulling the front ends down. They have gone the way of Moto GP.
Proud Army Dad
Start devices. It compresses the front suspension and keeps the front end down during starts.
Dang do away with that crap and just let um race.
Technology is what makes MX/SX and racing in general cool and interesting. The start devices have been around for 20+ years (I used them before I hung up the boots), it's nothing new and it still comes down to the rider...same with the mesh starting gates.
Mapping, Gate, and fork locks all make for a faster launch to the first turn. Just like FFS, technology doesn’t move backwards.
( For the record Id rather see dirt starts, with no fork locks, or mapping............but I know those days are gone)
Last edited by spinningreel; 01-13-2025 at 03:13 PM.
According to a lot of the riders the start grate combined with start devices and mapping takes alot of the skill out of starts.
I'll argue that until I am blue in the face.....there is still allot of skill involved in getting a good start. The same good starters yesterday are the same good starters today.......
I’m just going off what current riders say and past pro riders say. I think they are the experts.
I might be wrong.
But If I remember right i think the Holeshot device was brought out about the same time as the steel grates to start on.
I would hate to be the one to try and take off on those grates without a Holeshot devise to keep the front end down some.
It still takes a lot of throttle and clutch control to do so.
Its not going to change and I wouldn't say one is better than the other.
I can tell you I am 100% positive that I couldn't get a better start on a 450 off a steel grate with a holeshot device and mapping that McGrath could on a 250 off a dirt start gate with no holeshot device and no mapping.
Its still a skill.
I was always a hell of a starter off the line. But I was a woods racer so was a lot different. But I knew by bike and how to use it. Had a lot of guys that had a hard time getting me off the line back in the day.
Do you guys like the Sand Sections? I just don't care much for a sand section of track, might as well add a mud pit.
I'll only say this about all the starting line technology... Holeshots/first turns have always been sketchy, but this stuff sure seems like it's putting a bunch more guys into the apex all at the same time than we used to see.
As far as sand sections... heck yeah, like 'em a lot. Continually changing, requiring line selection adjustments... great test for the riders.
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The holeshot device was around in the early 2000's. I had them on my last several bikes, my last being a 2007 CRF450. So they have been around quite a bit longer than the metal grates behind the starting gate.
The sand sections are cool. Like Brian mentioned, always changing and adding a wrinkle to that perfect lap because of the constant changing lines.
The holeshot devices coupled with launch control and start mapping really seem to be tightening up the first turn over the last couple seasons it seems. The best starters will still have the advantage but the tech has undeniably made a difference.
1994 Stratos 201 Pro XL
225 Optimax
holeshot device came before the grates
KTM files for bankruptcy, CF moto & Bajaj are interested. I don’t see them hanging in SX.
That was the Europe part. From which I heard ktm USA is separate. They said the USA race team shouldnt be affected and nothing will change with the motocross team.
S.D.
Here we goooo!
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Doesn’t look like there’ll be a lot of passing tonight…
Starts at a premium, even more than usual.
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