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On the list of top 3 pts for FIM 500Mx I see Yamahas showing up in the last 5 years of 500Mx. . I dont understand what thats all about. . I see Peter Johansson in 98. . I see Andrea Bartolini in 99. . I see Marnicq Bervoets in 00 + 01. . And I see Stefan Everts in 01 + 02
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Whoa!!!
Don't forget that Bartolini,Bervoets and Everts were on YZ400/426/450 4 strokes,
not a 500 open class 2 stroke, as was being discussed.
Despite those guys amazing talents on a motorcycle, I have some serious doubts at their ability to pull off championships those years,if aboard the YZ490 2 stroke
So I don't think those titles are relevant to the demise of the 2 stroke open class.
Suzuki dropped the model,
because they dint sell many.
Yamaha was pretty much was the same , and heavily petitioned the AMA to drop the 500 class.
Ironically they came back to the AMA in 97? 98? to petition for a lift of the
*production rule* so they could bring on the YZ400 4 stroke with Doug Henry on it, in the 250 class (with the allowed displacement advantage)
I'm not blaming Yamaha for the demise of the 2 stroke open class!
I'm sure overall sales were down on the model, so Suzuki and Yamaha suffered first,
since the
Honda and Kawasaki offerings in that line up were doing better sales wise.
(but likely still decreasing)
It is a bit telling that
Honda kept making the bike until 2001 and a bit longer in other markets, and that Kawasaki did until 2004.
Its also more than a bit ironic that the displacement allowences,and advancemsts in technology, have morphed the old traditional 125 and 250 classes to the point you have now a 250 and open class, with basically the samne or higher hp than before, and
actually lost the 125 class.
The open class dint go away really in the long run? it morphed through an internship in the 250 class , to being 4 stroke open class, (same for the 250F's in the 125 class) ?
If that makes any sense
lol
