Good questions John! I happen to be waiting on parts so I have some time.
Sign up is $220 per rider, per event. Plus $50 per mechanic and guest.
Unless you're there for press day, they park 'rigs' at 9am(ish) and privateers at 9:30ish Friday mornings. We try to get to privateer staging early (Thursday Night)to get parked first(for the best spot available after the rigs)
To qualify, they simply need to haul ass for a solid lap. All the riders I have talked to hate the current qualifying format. Unless you have points, you practice in the 'B' group which goes out first on the horrible over watered track. The problem is, most guys hit a solid lap and roll (get in the way of other riders trying to hit a hot one).
Typically 40 per session, but usually they will overload the B practice with the left over entries. (like it needs to be harder on these guys)
They stagger start them for practice, for the best shot they try to get to practice staging 15 mins or so early to try and avoid the clusterF.
They do 2 practice sessions, 15 mins each. The first 5 mins of the first practice is not timed, the final 10 are. All 15 mins of practice 2 is timed.
We find out timing from the screens or live timing from the computer in our hauler.
LCQ prep is intense, each rider has their own method for getting mentally prepped. These are the races they should show on TV.. Brutal
There is about an hour between practices and about 1:30 between 2nd practice and LCQ. Its not bad prepping one bike, but 2 or 3 in the allotted time is a challenge.
It has been the biggest emotional roller coaster, but I wouldn't change a thing. Great learning experiences, and we have made some great industry contacts.
One thing I thought was interesting.. Everyone always says the AMA would hate this effort and make it difficult.. Not at all. They love what we are doing. The AMA techs actually think its BS we can't run 300's. They all support what we're doing. MX Sports on the other hand.. not so much.
