Not sure, but I do know that out of the people I know who do good at one or the other.... the motocross guys are way nuttier when not on a bike than the road racers.:lol

 

Having done about 20 years of MX and Harescrambles, and have done a track day I will say the skill level is a little higher on the MX side, your hitting ruts, hitting whoop sections, flying over doubles and triples while trying to stay low, all along trying to keep the bike underneath you

 

I don't know which requires more skill, but I would say that i'm more open to pushing my limits on my dirt bike because I'm not worried about scratching plastic. Also when riding in the dirt the terrain is always changing wether it's on a MX track or out in the desert haulin ass where as on a road course it reamains the same and you get familiar with the track.

 

I don't know about "skill" but it seems one has to be in better physical shape for moto x. And though injuries can be very serious while racing on a track, it seems they happen more often in the dirt...

 

Hard to say whether one takes more skill than the other. It's different skills, that's all. Learned to ride dirtbikes when I was just 6, didn't get on a streetbike until I was 18 or so. Just about killed myself the first time I rode that bike, it wasn't anything like the 2 strokers I'd been riding for years. It took the act of learning new skills to learn how to ride hard on the streetbike. Now that I'm 31 and have had about 25 years of riding both dirtbikes and quads and sportbikes, I can honestly say that I am a better street rider because of the basic skills I learned on the dirtbikes. Losing the fear of falling is probably the most important asset you can have as a rider, it'll loosen you up and make you more comfortable. And I've had plenty of falls in those early years. Just my 2cents.

 

Moto X: You need to be in better shape and a bit crazier. But much more people can do it, fear is your enemy, after that it's pretty easy.

Road race: It's heavier, faster, more powerfull, you don't slide on dirt but on tarmac, if you do to much mistakes the bike won't let you go away with it like a moto x. Skills, skills, skills, much more skills!!!

 

I'd say the top level road racers are make WAY more cash and drawing crowds WAY bigger than any top moto X race. I dont think we even want to start comparing the salaries at the world level between the two. Take that for what its worth:dunno

 

I'd say the top level road racers are make WAY more cash and drawing crowds WAY bigger than any top moto X race. I dont think we even want to start comparing the salaries at the world level between the two. Take that for what its worth:dunno

That brings up another question...who makes more? I know for the AMA i would say moto-x. i know that RC brings home about 3.5 mil a year just from Suzuki, Do you think Mladin makes that much? I could be way off. Supercross draws 17k a meet, while moto-x draws 50k+ a meet. i would like to see the #'s.

MotoGP obviously makes the most $. I can't imagine what those guys pull.

 

That brings up another question...who makes more? I know for the AMA i would say moto-x. i know that RC brings home about 3.5 mil a year just from Suzuki, Do you think Mladin makes that much? I could be way off. Supercross draws 17k a meet, while moto-x draws 50k+ a meet. i would like to see the #'s.

MotoGP obviously makes the most $. I can't imagine what those guys pull.

I'm talking at a world level! The best of the best. Not AMA.

 

How about the best of both worlds...instead of supermoto riding MX bikes with slicks on how about Superbike with doubles, triples and whoops on the track! Going 150mph over some whoops, not that would take some skill.

 

Ok I'm going to say it takes quite a bit more skill to ride MX fast. I've been to two trackdays, and by the end of both I was lapping pretty quick. But MX? It's soooo hard to be a fast rider on an mx track even after spending all day practicing 3 and 4 days a week.

This is how I look at it. I see and know alot of middleage guys that get into trackdays. By middleage I mean guys in their 30s, and after a handfull of trackdays they can teach themselves to become decently fast riders. I would say 8 out of 10 times I see a guy in their 30s get into MX racing they are threw with it after a year and have only alot of doctors bills and ailments to show for it. Not to mention the physical factor of mx racing. I'm exausted after 10-15 minutes on my '00 yz125 while I can ride hard on the road for alot longer.

Now when your talking about who is a more skillful rider RC or Rossi. I say its a toss up. I'm not going to make that call. But for the average guy MX is WAY harder. $.02

 

I think motoX is much more physical, but I think road racing is much more mental.

MotoX - get the bike setup close, be a bit crazier and willing to go a bit higher, and be in awsome shape. Oh, and you don't see many old motoX'ers cause they can't walk anymore.

Road Racing - Bike setup is CRUCIAL. The successful riders are those who have the ability to read the bike and adjust it to the given situation. Also, judgement is crucial since when you're backin' it in at 100 you can't really stick your foot down and hold it up. It seems like a much more refined skill. Yeah, after a few track days, a good rider can be within 10 seconds or less from a race pace, but getting that last ten seconds is where the difference between the track day stars and world champions is decided.

 

motoX=balls sportbike racing=skills and an endless supply of cash!

 

I think MX is much harder to master and takes more skill....

 

I think the skill level is the same. The actual skills themselves might be different, but the level is the same.

I don't think that RC is any less skilled than say Mladin. Or that a Chad Reed is any less skilled than Kurtis Roberts. Also, there's some experience required to do either. I'd be willing to put quite a bit of money on Rossi getting his ass kicked in MX for a couple or three years before he started to figure it out. Same thing if Mac went superbike racing.

 

mx is way harder to get good at, dont get me wrong, road still requires alot of skill, but take it from someone who has done both. MX is harder

 

I think motoX is much more physical, but I think road racing is much more mental.

MotoX - get the bike setup close, be a bit crazier and willing to go a bit higher, and be in awsome shape. Oh, and you don't see many old motoX'ers cause they can't walk anymore.

Road Racing - Bike setup is CRUCIAL. The successful riders are those who have the ability to read the bike and adjust it to the given situation. Also, judgement is crucial since when you're backin' it in at 100 you can't really stick your foot down and hold it up. It seems like a much more refined skill. Yeah, after a few track days, a good rider can be within 10 seconds or less from a race pace, but getting that last ten seconds is where the difference between the track day stars and world champions is decided.

The thing about moto-x is that the track is dynamic. It may be totally different from your previous lap. Your line will change with each lap. Ruts appear constantly. The woops may change as well. Roadracing tracks are a static medium. Unless someone drops oil on the track, each lap is usually the same.

Bike setup is just as crucial for moto-x. Depending on what track your racing, the suspension, gearing, etc. needs to be adjusted to get the most out of each race.

 

I am not a pro or anything, but here is my .02

MX takes alot more physical endurance and strength because of the way you have to move with the bike and change your balance so often. You have to keep your upper body relativly stable while moving you legs and arms with the bike

Road racing takes WAY more mental endurance. You have ALOT more things that you 'monitor' as you ride a bike around a track.


And this is a side point, during any kind of road race you are always changing lines because you are either trying to get around someone or protect the inside from the guy behind you. Thats why practice and qualifing times are always faster than during the race.

 

Road racing takes WAY more mental endurance. You have ALOT more things that you 'monitor' as you ride a bike around a track.

Explain ALOT? More variables exist on a moto-x track than a road racing track.

And this is a side point, during any kind of road race you are always changing lines because you are either trying to get around someone or protect the inside from the guy behind you. Thats why practice and qualifing times are always faster than during the race.

You just explained moto-x to the T.

 

They both take alot of skill, just different skills. I can't remember squat, so a track is useless to me. I could run around it all day and still not learn it. But, hair scrambles is where I shined. Because the whole track was new and the ability to make quick decisions is needed.

 

Interesting thread. Having raced moto-x for many years and now a full fledged track day junkie I have to agree with most here that the "skill" level for each is about equal. I tell all my trackday buddies is more physical skill and road racing is more finess. your not going to muscle a road bike around like a mx bike.

 

They both take alot of skill, just different skills. I can't remember squat, so a track is useless to me. I could run around it all day and still not learn it. But, hair scrambles is where I shined. Because the whole track was new and the ability to make quick decisions is needed.

Harescrambles are another story. I race harescrambles as well and I can barely finish them. 31 miles in tight Eastern forests are extremely technical. You may only do 2-3 laps. Good luck remembering the "bad" spots. Although, the whole race is filled with bad spots. Ruts, rocks, roots (UUGGHHHH!!), stream crossings, etc. The guys who ride GNCC have to be the most underrated riders in motosports.

 

. The guys who ride GNCC have to be the most underrated riders in motosports. [/B][/QUOTE]

I agree wholeheartedly with that statement, the true fitness/skill level of the rider is tested during the last hour of a 3 hr race. That being said, I would rate fitness level as more important top to bottom

1) Hare Scramble/GNCC
2) Supercross
3) Motocross
4) Road Racing
5) Enduro

Any of you that have ridden on a whooped out torn up track/trail at 95% top speed for even an hour know what I am talking about. A professional offroad event is by far the toughest race you will ever compete in.

 

I think road racing world had it in there Rossi makes either 24 or 34 million a year forgot which it is. Now thats an insane amount to make doing something that you love

 

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This is how I look at it. I see and know alot of middleage guys that get into trackdays. By middleage I mean guys in their 30s, and after a handfull of trackdays they can teach themselves to become decently fast riders. I would say 8 out of 10 times I see a guy in their 30s get into MX racing they are threw with it after a year and have only alot of doctors bills and ailments to show for it. Not to mention the physical factor of mx racing. I'm exausted after 10-15 minutes on my '00 yz125 while I can ride hard on the road for alot longer.

Now when your talking about who is a more skillful rider RC or Rossi. I say its a toss up. I'm not going to make that call. But for the average guy MX is WAY harder. $.02 [/B]

Midddleage is in our 30's? SHIT!!!!!!!!!