Moving Up a Class After 30+? Thoughts

mmain62
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2/19/2020 4:53am Edited Date/Time 2/22/2020 5:21am
Alright guys my buddies and I have been going back and forth a bit about moving up to 30A for the new season. I'm at a fork in the road where in one direction , yes it would be cool to have a chance at making my entry back, 'but on the other hand at 31 yrs old is it worth it to move up ride harder and inevitably take more risks? Or stay down take it easy and keep it just for fun. Don't turn this into a " There should only be one +30 CLASS etc etc argument." I am sure some of you have been at the same point in your racing life and want to here opinions.
Poll

A CLASS AFTER 30

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observeroffacts
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2/19/2020 4:58am
My vote is if you’re even considering it, it’s time to move up. If you run back of the pack more often than not, I don’t think it matters. If you win 30+ B I also don’t think
THAT matters.
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JWW85
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2/19/2020 5:06am Edited Date/Time 2/19/2020 5:06am
Stay in B and collect more trophies to line the wall of that new garage of yours, sandbagger.

J/k Mike. I vote move up and get your wife to let you take a road trip down here to ride Monster Mountain while it's s snowy up there.
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ElliotB16
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2/19/2020 5:16am
If you’re winning 30+ B now move up. You might struggle at first but it will help you in the long run.
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Forty
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2/19/2020 5:24am
The move to A could make you a better racer.
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The Shop

Mossy
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2/19/2020 5:26am
If you don’t move up to A you’ll always wondered what could’ve been...
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dedi684
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2/19/2020 5:36am
As a fellow vet rider ive got only 1 thing to say dont be a fucking sandbagger!
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mmain62
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2/19/2020 5:48am
dedi684 wrote:
As a fellow vet rider ive got only 1 thing to say dont be a fucking sandbagger!
I appreciate this ! Ha I only rode 1 year in 30B So I am not to the sandbagger level yet.
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dedi684
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2/19/2020 6:01am
dedi684 wrote:
As a fellow vet rider ive got only 1 thing to say dont be a fucking sandbagger!
mmain62 wrote:
I appreciate this ! Ha I only rode 1 year in 30B So I am not to the sandbagger level yet.
Do you use transponders? That will give you your answer.
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WoodsRacer
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2/19/2020 6:08am
"is it worth it to move up ride harder and inevitably take more risks"

All the risks are managed by the nut that connects the handlebars to the foot pegs.

Give it a go, move up, ride smart, have fun.
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mmain62
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2/19/2020 6:10am
dedi684 wrote:
Do you use transponders? That will give you your answer.
There is only one or two tracks in Illinois that have transponders. I didn't go to either one last year.
2/19/2020 6:55am
Might as well ride 250/450 A on local weekends too. What’s the worst that could happen, be competitive For a couple laps and maybe make your money back?

I recorded a whole podcast about moving up. If this doesn’t help you decide (which it’s motivated 5-7 guys just in the Kansas area to move up) then nothing will.

Click here to listen.
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kkawboy14
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2/19/2020 7:01am
Your 30+ your not gonna get faster, your just gonna get older!
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mmain62
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2/19/2020 7:29am
kkawboy14 wrote:
Your 30+ your not gonna get faster, your just gonna get older!
I can honestly say I was the fastest I have ever been last season and I know I have room for improvement. 99% sure I'm going up.
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Forty
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2/19/2020 7:55am
kkawboy14 wrote:
Your 30+ your not gonna get faster, your just gonna get older!
Lol. Not true.
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DB505
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Rowlett, TX US
2/19/2020 8:12am
dedi684 wrote:
As a fellow vet rider ive got only 1 thing to say dont be a fucking sandbagger!
mmain62 wrote:
I appreciate this ! Ha I only rode 1 year in 30B So I am not to the sandbagger level yet.
dedi684 wrote:
Do you use transponders? That will give you your answer.
Yeah check your times with the class you thinking about moving into,
But then again each race is different!
And each year is different, kinda depends on who signs up in the class you want to ride!
Sometimes the really fast guys just don’t show up!
Moto520
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2/19/2020 8:23am
It all depends on how much you are willing to risk. "A" class....you are going to have to always push. "B" class....you can take it easy and have fun.
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Forty
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2/19/2020 8:29am
Moto520 wrote:
It all depends on how much you are willing to risk. "A" class....you are going to have to always push. "B" class....you can take it easy...
It all depends on how much you are willing to risk. "A" class....you are going to have to always push. "B" class....you can take it easy and have fun.
WTF?
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loftyair
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2/19/2020 8:30am
Whatever is 'funnest' to you!
Forty
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2/19/2020 8:32am
Damn I can’t think like some of the people responding. Coming up the goal was always to get to A class through continued improvement and training and then get to the front of the A class by racing better riders and learning and honing skills.

Things have changed.

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Moto520
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2/19/2020 8:38am Edited Date/Time 2/19/2020 8:46am
Forty wrote:
WTF?
What do you mean? I am personally an "A" guy. I understand how some of the guys that ride don't want to push that hard. We are racing for money and make that choice. I've seen a lot of guys leave the sport because at the vet age they just want to have fun and participate.
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mark_swart
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Chapin, SC US
2/19/2020 8:40am
If you were 39 I'd say no, but at 31 if you are winning or consistently finishing at the top of B, I would definitely consider it. The downside is that you probably will have a lot less guys in A than B, depending on how big your scene is. And of course, that also means you'll have to run A in +25 if that's your second class, but at 31 it isn't too much of an age gap there.
erickx450
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Vancouver, WA US
2/19/2020 8:46am
Please stop sandbagging.
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Forty
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2/19/2020 8:54am
Forty wrote:
WTF?
Moto520 wrote:
What do you mean? I am personally an "A" guy. I understand how some of the guys that ride don't want to push that hard. We...
What do you mean? I am personally an "A" guy. I understand how some of the guys that ride don't want to push that hard. We are racing for money and make that choice. I've seen a lot of guys leave the sport because at the vet age they just want to have fun and participate.
Fair enough
2/19/2020 8:55am
Do you know how your speed is specifically compared to the guys that always finish near the back of the A pack? My buddy moved up to A, and he stopped racing because wasn't able to hang with anyone. The guys in the front of 30A around me still race 450A and were qualifying for nationals 10 years ago, so little chance of a VetB rider ever getting that fast.
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gt80rider
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2/19/2020 9:04am
ElliotB16 wrote:
If you’re winning 30+ B now move up. You might struggle at first but it will help you in the long run.
This is the correct answer sand bagger
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mmain62
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2/19/2020 9:12am
Do you know how your speed is specifically compared to the guys that always finish near the back of the A pack? My buddy moved up...
Do you know how your speed is specifically compared to the guys that always finish near the back of the A pack? My buddy moved up to A, and he stopped racing because wasn't able to hang with anyone. The guys in the front of 30A around me still race 450A and were qualifying for nationals 10 years ago, so little chance of a VetB rider ever getting that fast.
I honestly don't know. The times when we dropped with 30A last year I'd be with A for the first lap then back off the throttle because I had a safety net with the B class. That being said most of the 30 B/C class in D17 is guys that also race +40&50 so I cant say I was beating super fast dudes. The plan for this year was to start practicing with some A guys and see where I am at and go from there. Calling me a sandbagger (not you carlton) after only racing the class one year then considering moving up is pretty dumb though. I am racing dudes that have been winning this class for 10 years.
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2/19/2020 9:15am
kkawboy14 wrote:
Your 30+ your not gonna get faster, your just gonna get older!
I'm the fastest at 32 that I've ever been. 2 years ago I wasn't in the same zip code as the top guys. Now when I'm off the box I'm pissed, For me it was learning better technique and gaining comfort.
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Hallzilla
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Langtown, CA US
2/19/2020 10:26am Edited Date/Time 2/19/2020 10:33am
I had a buddy who was in the same predicament. He was going faster and faster training harder and harder. He had his head set on being a World Vet Champ! I was so impressed with his riding and endurance. Everything was peaking. Then one day at our local track, he high sided and lawn darted ... never to wake up. It still hurts me like it was last week. He left a 4 year old son behind. I can definitely say its not worth it. Miss You Jason RIP. There is way more in life than racing a fuggin dirt bike. I'm a little jaded because Ive lost 2 buddies. I still ride, but have no need to try and be fast anymore. It's all about flow, fun, and getting home in one piece. Looking back at it, he was pushing his limits and ability, which I get you have to do to go faster. But at what cost ? Well in Jason's case it was his life.
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KW62
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Ferndale, MI US
2/19/2020 10:29am
Might as well ride 250/450 A on local weekends too. What’s the worst that could happen, be competitive For a couple laps and maybe make your...
Might as well ride 250/450 A on local weekends too. What’s the worst that could happen, be competitive For a couple laps and maybe make your money back?

I recorded a whole podcast about moving up. If this doesn’t help you decide (which it’s motivated 5-7 guys just in the Kansas area to move up) then nothing will.

Click here to listen.
Tried listening to your podcast and it appears that it keeps replaying the same couple minute loop over and over?
mx216
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Portland, OR US
2/19/2020 10:38am
I had quit racing for the most part in 2008 in my mid 20's. Was a local A Guy and had good time winning a lot of local stuff. Ended up having a private track to ride and rode quite a bit until 2012. Took a while off and went to to work for some of the race teams and rode very little but noticed I enjoyed it so much when I went. In 2016 I raced the industry cup at Milestone and ended up winning the +25 Pro class over Perebijnos, Castloo and a couple of other faster socal vet dudes. We had just had a kid, I borrowed a bIke for the race from the team, and it was one of the most fun races I had ever done. Fast forward to this last year. I finally bought a bike again, the kid has a PW and an OSET and I'm having more fun than ever and honestly feel faster than I ever was and still have that competitive drive. Moral of the story, do it while you still can and if you are even thinking about it, you still have that competitiveness and it will teach you a lot riding with the faster guys. Go rip with the 30 A guys.
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