Should it be harder to become an expert?

[ktd]

Do you think it should be harder to become an expert?

[jigs]

Depends on the criteria,other than racking up points,and or championships,what are we going to use...lap times??Or do you go to a relagation system.Is the question an issue of safety?? As in closing speeds,predictability in close quarters??

[ronhix]

In my opinion, it should be harder to stay amateur.

[Super Dave]

I've always advocated a three tier system. 

An expert/pro program at the top.

An entry level novice program with a limited number of races/time period befor moving up to the next level.

A sportsman based program in the middle to fit the needs of most club racers that want to enjoy motorcycle racing without the need to go to extraordinary measures just to never feel competitive in an expert race, are experienced and safe enough to be good racers, and don't belong in an entry level program. 

[Burt Munro]

I've always advocated a three tier system. 

An expert/pro program at the top.

An entry level novice program with a limited number of races/time period befor moving up to the next level.

A sportsman based program in the middle to fit the needs of most club racers that want to enjoy motorcycle racing without the need to go to extraordinary measures just to never feel competitive in an expert race, are experienced and safe enough to be good racers, and don't belong in an entry level program. 

+1

[danch]

I've always advocated a three tier system. 

An expert/pro program at the top.

An entry level novice program with a limited number of races/time period befor moving up to the next level.

A sportsman based program in the middle to fit the needs of most club racers that want to enjoy motorcycle racing without the need to go to extraordinary measures just to never feel competitive in an expert race, are experienced and safe enough to be good racers, and don't belong in an entry level program. 

Yep. No 'championships' in the novice. Probably still have to combine the classes on-track in some way just to get through the day. Maybe have limited novice categories (LW, MW, UNL + a couple of 'twins'/'thunderbike' classes?)

Would you have to request 'Expert/Pro' status? Would some run of Sportsman championships force a bump up?

[ktd]

For me I'm just looking like I will get 400 points this year and thinking I am kind of not worthy of it.
If I race in a class with 5 entries versus a class with 30 is 400 points really the same? My last Ultra Lightweight race had 4 finishes, big deal I got second out of 4.
In one of my Supertwins race there were 4 or 5 people on 1000cc or greater the rest on SV 650's.  Normally I am 3-5 seconds faster on my Duc than SV.
In Formula 40 at CMP I think we had 5 people.  

[Super Dave]

Yep. No 'championships' in the novice. Probably still have to combine the classes on-track in some way just to get through the day. Maybe have limited novice categories (LW, MW, UNL + a couple of 'twins'/'thunderbike' classes?)

Would you have to request 'Expert/Pro' status? Would some run of Sportsman championships force a bump up?

You're getting it.

Pretty much as you state:  no championships in novice.  Limited classes for the displacement category only.  Simple, straight forward.  Limit the opportunity to X number of event weekends or a time period of 12 to 18 months. 

Sportsman forced bump?  I would say no.  But there should be "opportunities" in pro/expert.  As it is, there is more contingency money.  Allow those that try pro/expert to move back to Sportsman if they wish.  Don't leave a rider trying to stay out of racing for three years to come back as a current amateur.  Give racers a reason to keep racing, even if it's only a couple times a year in the Sportsman classes.

[danch]

For me I'm just looking like I will get 400 points this year and thinking I am kind of not worthy of it.
If I race in a class with 5 entries versus a class with 30 is 400 points really the same? My last Ultra Lightweight race had 4 finishes, big deal I got second out of 4.
In one of my Supertwins race there were 4 or 5 people on 1000cc or greater the rest on SV 650's.  Normally I am 3-5 seconds faster on my Duc than SV.
In Formula 40 at CMP I think we had 5 people.  

I see where you're coming from - in a lot of those classes it'd be easy to pile up 'expert' points without feeling much like an 'expert' racer.

[Sobottka]

In my opinion, it should be harder to stay amateur.

I agree. Not enough incentive to turn ex.... to much incentive to stay am

[jigs]

You can pettition to stay am. if you're not totally comfy with the bump.Not sure who and how they let stay yellow.

[ktd]

You can pettition to stay am. if you're not totally comfy with the bump.Not sure who and how they let stay yellow.

I will prob try that but with my results you would think I was fast.