More 250SX talk? Yessir.
More 250SX talk? Yessir.
Matthes: Swiz, the decision by the AMA/FIM/Feld/Monster or whomever to allow both Filthy Phil and Kyle Chisholm to go back down into the 250 class is an interesting one. We’ve talked about how both riders are going to do and all that. I don’t want to focus on the results so much as- should they have been allowed to? Each rider has their own reasons for it, Nicoletti’s is more of a power move by JGR to get a good rider in that class because Phil’s part-time SX fill-in ride wasn’t ideal, but he was going to make a living at it. Chisholm really didn’t have much going on, he’s been hurt, he didn’t have a team and this allows him to make some money racing professionally. I know Michael Byrne sniffed around being able to drop down and I know Chiz has been denied before. Both riders have stated that their reasoning behind their desire to move down is because they never actually pointed out of the class (they got good enough results in the 450SX class to deny them going back down), they both don’t have a lot of experience in the class and the powers that be went with it. Now me myself, I’m ok with Chiz but I don’t like the Phil move as he’s had better results than Chiz, he’s been struggling so maybe this helps. What do you think of all this? Is this opening pandora’s box?
Swiz: The AMA is obviously no stranger to criticism, rightfully so, and this just adds to the laundry list of problems they’ve created for themselves with the rulebook. I’m sure they think they are just a whipping boy for getting picked on in the sport but that’s what comes with being the group put in charge of the rule making and enforcing. Honestly, I don’t have a problem with the AMA taking it right in the kisser if the bending or “re-precidenting” of a rule is better for the sport. The AMA will always end up with egg on their face when they flip flop on a rule but that’s temporary and flip flops that strengthen the sport, are aces with me.
In regards to this specific rule, the point-out rule seems to be about as pliable as Play-Doh, I mean they change it all the time and each time it seems less sensical than previously. Remember my buddy Broc who wasn’t allowed to defend his 250SX title? That was some bullshit. It’s funny, Chiz has requested to be let back into the “feeder” class over the years and been told swiftly “no”, now Nicoletti has more support behind him that the rule makers actually listen to than Chiz and he indeed opens Pandora’s Box. Yes, it’s open now. This option will be considered by all the 450 riders who just can’t get out of the funk in the big bike class and want to spark a new hope by sort of “resetting” their career.
Do I think this is good? Sure. Why stay in the 450 class with declining results when you have a legit shot at some exciting action in the 250 class. If it brings some optimism to these riders who pursue this venue, cool! What’s the worst that could happen?
Matthes: Well I guess nothing really, as I said I’m fine with Chiz’s decision because he had limited help going on with the 450 team he was on and he hasn’t exactly been “killing it” lately mostly due to injuries. The rule is you get three years in the class if you win the title your first year. After three years, you win the title and you’re out. Or you can get 135 points three years in a row and you’re out. And I don’t know of anyone who’s done that other than Dean Wilson. It’s really hard to get that many points three years in a row and NOT win the title. Chiz himself told me that he’d been denied two times and then this year, after Nicoletti got in, he was allowed. I would LOVE to hear the reason for the next guy to get denied…if a guy who’s on a team, getting a salary and finished fifth overall in 450MX can be allowed to drop down, what in the heck would a guy have to get to be denied?
After I wrote my 250 Words column on Racer X about that class and proposing rules to make the 250’s less important to help out the 450’s, I’ll say that the other way to do it is NO point out rules, make it free and clear for all riders to drop down whenever they want to or a team will give them a home. You can also make it 17 rounds like the 450’s and I’ll be ok with that also.
Swiz: 17 rounds for the 250’s?! Now that is a rule change I can totally get down with. People are always talking about things with the race program that could make the racing really confusing for the average or fringe fan, you know what is really damn confusing, the fact that the 250 class is presented in the exact same fashion as the 450’s! 5 laps less than a 450 Main? Who cares?! That is so miniscule. Lets stop fooling ourselves into believing the 250 class is less of a spectacle and has less crowd appeal than the 450’s because it doesn’t. Raise the purse across the board and make it 17 rounds.
Like you said, “Make the 250 Class Great Again!”
