When did the 500cc Open Class end?

[jaypro55]

I was just reading through some stuff on Racer X's site about This Day in Motocross History and I kept reading the articles about the 500 national series and that. I looked through a few other posts on here about it and found some things, but I was wondering what year was the 500cc class cut? From past threads I guess it was because of a lack of manufacturer interest in the class, but do you think an open class can ever make a comeback? I drool over the CR500AF from Service Honda and I bet the thing just rips, I'd love to see guys race those again, but I'd imagine it'd be torture on your body to throw around such a heavy bike. Anyway I just wanted to ask those two questions..thanks

 

[MXFastGuy]

I believe 1993 was the last year they raced the 500's and Mike Larocco won the champeeeenchip.

With the new big bore thumpers, I think the days of the 500 2 smoke in MX are gone.

 

[mx547]

i wonder how larocco would do on the cr500af? would it be legal for the mxdn? i think that in the right hands (larocco) it would blow the 450 away.

 

[wardy]

Jaypro55, heavy and that bike can't be used in the same sentence! LOL, It's only a few pounds more then a regular 250, I have one and its likely easier to race then a 250, since it has so much power.
The last 500 national that i went to at red bud was in 88, it is also the last national i went to. I really enjoyed the open class, currently the thumpers will likely bring back the class but only since they have to be bigger in size to match what a 500 2 stroke will do.
wardy

 

[motomike137]

The true open class is gone forever but not forgotten. I'm sure I was at the National that Wardy mentioned. You can't imagine what it was like to hear 40 open class two strokes held wide open waiting for the gate to drop. The only thing I've been near that is like it is the first lap at Indy or Michigan International Speedway when 43 Stockers come roaring buy.

 

[kiwi_925]

If the '500' class came back it would cancel out the east/west 4-stroke championship wouldnt??

 

[wardy]

would gladly accept that if it did come back.

the last time I heard a bunch of 500's off the line was in 1999, when I promoted the "midwest Battle of the Big BOars" at buffalo range. It was a pro-am event with a good purse. and it was the day after red bud. If i remember correctly there was 34 open bikes. It was pretty cool to hear.

wardy

 

[MXFastGuy]

Originally posted by kiwi_925
If the '500' class came back it would cancel out the east/west 4-stroke championship wouldnt??

Don't worry, it's not coming back. Have you seen Kawasaki's 500 lately? It looks prehistoric. I may be wrong, but I believe Honda has stopped or will stop production of the CR500.

The reason the Open class failed was due to lack of manufacturer/race team support. I haven't seen any indications that the big five are going to invest in making brand new 500cc two stroke models again.

Like Wardy said, the Open class may be back, but it'll be firing on every other stroke...

 

[MXFastGuy]

Actually, now that I think about it, maybe the open class is already back. It's just runs along with the 250 two strokes...

 

[cladoo]

Why don't they just bring back the Open class! How can they call it a 250 class when there are 450s, 530s, 426s etc running in it. Try to explain that to a non racer spectator! While they are at it make the 125 class a 125 class. The way things are going with the manufacturers all bikes will be four strokes eventually :( . So get the classes back to what they really are!

 

[MXFastGuy]

Originally posted by motomike137
You can't imagine what it was like to hear 40 open class two strokes held wide open waiting for the gate to drop.

How about 40 125's? Won't ever hear that again, unless you go to Loretta Lynn's and watch the 125 12-15 class. I think the sweetest sound in the world is 40 125's heading for the first turn, it gets quiet for a second, and then starts back up again. Then you see them dropping 50' down Red Bud's ski jump....

 

[jaypro55]

cladoo I must say I am in some agreement with you. I think it wouldn't be a bad idea to have an open four-stroke class, a 250 four stroke class, and 250 two-stroke class and a 125 two-stroke class. I mean although the four-strokes are very comparitive to the two-strokes in their respective classes, the facts don't lie that other than RC, the 250 class's big competitors are four-strokes. And Chad Reed is a great rider, but put him on a 125 and he could never hang with Bubba, at least I don't see it happening. But within a few years like you said, the classes will probably be all four-strokes so we'll just have to live with it for now.

 

[Ramski]

2 stroke development had reached it's peak to the point where 250s were faster on the tracks than 500s. The big four saw money in developing big bore 4 strokes. The Honda XR line along with Husky thumpers paved the way for 4 strokes and away went the true 500cc class. I know what most might be thinking,"XRs and the old Husky thumpers were no MX bikes". True, but that's were the develpment started.

Don't be fooled, the 500s are still very competitive in certain races, especially out west here. At the last Mammoth MX, Richie Owens rode Destry Abbott's KX500 to 3rd place overall in the Open Pro behind Dough Dubach and Paul Carpenter. Let's not forget Destry Abbott and Brian Brown in the National Hare & Hound series. Shane Esposito ironmaning Best In The Desert races against American Honda's Johnny Cambell and Steve Hengeveld.

Yes, Honda droped the CR500 last year and Kawasaki plans to keep making the KX500 as long as it keeps winning. I'd love the get my hands on a Service Honda CR500. RocketScienceRacing makes a perimiter frame kit for the KX500 also.

 

[wardy]

You know as soon as i get my "big track" built i think i will hold a Big bike only pro am! Screw it lol put 6grand up for the "open class" and place it around the right national and see who shows up? may be a year or two but mite as well. May here a bunch of briggs but at least it would be a Big CC class.
wardy

 

[Ramski]

Ya, I'd be pretty cool to have a all 500cc 2 stroke ProAm race. I bet a few retired racers would come out and race it. Nothing beats the sound of a big bore. I kind of missed out of the last days of true 500s. I left dirt bikes back in 1983 and just came back into it a few years ago. I'd love to get my hands on some video of the last few 500cc nationals.

 

[cladoo]

I just got back from an awesome weekend of riding. Two days of bush trails and ending on the third day at a very fast sand track( Austin MB). My 300exc was not the greatest there but I rode my buddie's '00 KX500 and boy was that fun, there is no four stroke that will go that good in the deep sand. I don't care for separating the twos from the fours run them all together!