Not only do those plates take the prestige of being an Expert, or all that went into getting there to get a plate at that level, but it takes incentive away. I mean if you get to Nat #8 novice, and you are comfortable, why turn Ex, stay another year and go for #1, meanwhile all the newer riders that are really novice, are now racing someone that could race Ex and getting discouraged.
Bottom LINE, it doesn’t promote rising to the top!!!!! Let alone the fact there really aren’t heroes the way there used to be in the sport. Mike Savage and I had this conversation last night. Used to be go to the Nat, and see all the guys you would read aout in the mag, now it’s go to a Nat, and it’s like an overgrown local!!!