You had to know this was coming... so here it is...
The decline continues for Ohio riders at LL... With the old farts leading the way, the Great state of Ohio put 17 amateurs in the show. Out of the 122 spots available that is 14% of the field. Not bad. BUT. The youth of the state claimed a big fat goose egg on the top step at Red Bud. With 117 spots awarded only 6 of them are from Ohio. That is a measly 5%. 89 entered but only 6 made it. Now, some riders did have some bad luck in one moto and it cost them a spot but WOW.
I was starting to believe in the excuse of local riders not getting enough seat time at area races but the average moto at Red Bud was a shade over 10 minuets. Some of the kids I have seen lately around the state look to have the speed. They win every moto around here, then run mid pack at the regional???
Just for comparison, Georgia put 13 youth riders in the show. Followed by Ill and Mich with 12 each. PA and TN got 11 each. NY got 8. Ohio, Florida and WISCONSIN got 6. Wisconsin... really?
So its not seat time. Its not "Ohio is cold". It not lack of participation. So why?
I can only think of 3 other "reasons"
1. Red Bud gets ruff and local kids are not use to that.
2. Ohio kids are not used to riding with a full gate.
3. Just not fast enough.
Now, I'm not knocking anyone or anything, I hope to have a child trying for the show next year and I want to see 100 kids from Ohio make it.
So, Why do you think?