Back-ground: From 2011, the VMX National titles will be split between older era bikes (pre-75 and older, vs Evo and newer). The question is now where to put the pre-78 bikes.
As the MoMs says, the pre-78 class exists to represent the era of 'medium travel' bikes - the bikes that bridge the gap between the short-travel pre-75 bikes and the long travel Evo bikes.
With only three years of eligible bikes, pre-78 will always be a relatively small class.
Col Metcher has submitted a formal proposal to the MA commission, which suggested the split and asked for the pre-78 class to be included with the pre-75 and older bikes. "Everyone" seemed to agree with this, however...
From Col M's post in another thread:
The recommendation by the Commission is the split be at Pre 75.There are valid arguments for this ,but there is a strong counter argument for it to be split at Pre78.It is agreed by both factions that the split is needed, it's a matter of where
.
So what are the arguments for each?
Pre-78 with pre-75 an older bikes:1. With the Nats split, the Evo/pre-85/pre-90 tracks are likely to be run on modern style tracks. With a maximum of 9" of travel front and rear, the pre-78 bikes (and their riders) are going to find it hard going on these tracks. In contrast, the pre-78s small numbers mean that they will never be able to demand that pre-75 bikes run on tracks that are unsuitable for the short-travel bikes.
2. While some 1977 model bikes have a full 9" of travel front and rear, the majority are well short of that mark - most have suspension travel figures closer to that of a pre-75 bike.
3. The vast majority of pre-78 bikes are based on pre-75 bikes. This means that they are visually and mechanically more closely aligned with the older bikes. Consequently, this means that these bikes are more 'at home' with the older era bikes.
4. Anecdotally, the riders who compete on pre-78 bikes at National level, are far more likely to also compete on pre-75 and older bikes, rather than Evo+ bikes.
5. Previous experience has shown that pre-75 events are not particularly viable, and adding the pre-78 bikes is enough to tip the balance.
Pre-78 with the Evo and newer bikes:1. The longer travel pre-78 bikes will chop up the track more.
2. The early days of the sport were only about pre-75 and older bikes. Keeping the pre-75 eras seperate from the pre-78 and later bikes is returning to that tradition.
3. Pre-78 bikes will cut up the Narrogin track in WA.
Feel free to add, delete, change or discuss the points on that list!
Please keep it civil!
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