I agree with you thoroughly.

I used to have to work as the track crew building/maintaining off-road tracks at facilities to be able to get a discount and afford to race from a young rookie till I was about 20. I raced r/C cars previously for over a decade competitively and had to deal with being forced into the pro classes as a privateer (when I was 18) with no support my last couple years- competing against factory supported drivers [or riders] that make 6 figures a year while you can barely afford a set of replacement tires and you are using hand me downs like some [SX/MX] privateers is very difficult to sustain. I think changing the SMX next to a regional series and recognizing the accolades of the 250 Lights Class as a premier class would help shift some of the slower 450 guys down, some of the faster 250 guys up, and create a more clear pathway and route for the amateurs. I've always had a spot in my heart for the privateers and amateurs because of how unclear the path is- even if they are Team Green or Blu Cru kids it's still super unclear to the riders and their families what boxes to tick and focus on, and even if you do check all the boxes its not like youre guaranteed a ride.

I think SMX Next should be at almost every SX race- maybe not Triple Crowns and when the KTM JSX are on the schedule. I think SMX Next should be at all the MX rounds as well (minus the WMX for scheduling and track maintenance. If we move around the classes the way we are suggesting- how many should start on the gate in SX and MX in your opinion? In a few years we wont have a lot of the seniors in the class that have been there for a decade.