The Gossip - Old-School

Welcome to the first edition of The Gossip!

Each time I think of something worth thinking about, I'll post it under this title. It is more of a thinking man's article than that of pure entertainment or of information. It is purely my opinion, and isn't backed up by any research or facts.

Today's Gossip is old-school.

I, by no means, can consider myself old school. At best, I can only emulate what my idea of old school is. I'm talking about back in the day when riders didn't need a track to attend, merely a time. When the motocross gods of yesteryear learned their skills in California's hills, Utah's moonlike desert, on grandpa's land, or on public property. When public property was public to all takers, when cops let kids play baseball in the streets, shoot hoops, or ride their motorcycles with some friends.



I found myself pondering the same question over and over: Why are the older pro's still so damn fast and consistant? For example, McGrath could still get top five well after his retirement with no real training and effort. I mean, he looked out of shape for even by McGrath standards! Mike Larocco was still very competitive in his latter years. John Dowd still practically owns Southwick, and Kevin Windham is still absolutely flying. And don't forget the ole' red dog like some of the factories did. Hell, in the latest Transworld, Shorty writes practically an entire page about how he is pissed Timmy Ferry keeps hunting him down in races.

So what is it that makes these "old guys" so damn good. In my humble opinion the answer includes growing up on the two stroke, combined with less of a purely competitive nature to their riding. That may not make sense, so let me elaborate.

Most riders these days coming up are very singular when they train, ride, or prepare for large amateur nationals. Current amateurs have one goal in mind now; winning races. That means all practice is dedicated to getting faster on the race track. Back in the day, riders had that aspect of competitiveness, but the way the got there may have been different. Older generation pros learned to ride in the hills of California, not testing themselves purely against the clock and track, but against the terrain and their balls. This led to a huge ability to be strong technically on the bike for whatever the track throws at them. Look at the old motocross videos, Terrafirma etc... All the riding is filmed off track, in a free ride situation. I think that may be why McGrath is able to enter a hill climb event, and get first or second or whatever he got. That is also why he can enter the step up freestyle event and do extremely well off the cuff.

It amazes me that the same pro's who were top five while I was growing up are still top five now. Not to discredit this amazing wave of talent entering the ranks now, but for example after a couple years, Davi Millsaps still isn't winning week in and week out. He is close, but not there quite.



James Stewart was the last two stroke hold out. He proved that talent was king, not the bike you rode; that the rider, not the bike won races (although he may have had the fastest 125 ever built).
I truly feel that the skills learned keeping a high strung two stroke on the pipe at all times produce better riders. It is sad, but most current novice class riders on 250f's, would lose at least 4 seconds a lap if they switched to a 125. They wouldn't know how to shift constantly, how to feather the clutch in the corners if need be, or how to carry maximum entrance and corner speed in order to clear obstacles. That said, the current top amateurs are still sticking to the two stroke for a large part of their career. With the current most competitive super mini bikes being two strokes, the extremely competative two stroke only schoolboy class, and the lack of a four stroke 65cc equivalent bike, many top amateurs still learn on a two stroke. But those days are coming to an end soon. The wide, easy to use four stroke power band is a nice thing to have, and it's coming to all bikes, like it or not.

What really saddens me, is the cost of four strokes. It is killing the little guys in our sport. I currently would have no hope at fielding an equal mod class bike at Loretta's, and my family is well off. It is no longer a "mere" grand for a pro-level, nationally ready full mod motor, and possibly entire bike (suspension...graphics). Now, be prepared to spend a grand for just the exhaust (some exaggeration, although some systems are more than the millennium mark). I may continue this in another post.

All said and done, do yourself a favor. Stick with the two stroke for as long as possible. It's cheap, teaches great skills, and sounds better than anything on earth, especially those fart machine four strokes. I know from personal experience, that a box stock 125 can win the intermediate (B) class at almost any local and semi local race in the country, I've done it.

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