Yigit Ali Selek in Afyon: Where is the limit for an MXGP start?

How big can the gap to the top be before one has to discuss whether a rider should start in a Motocross Grand Prix?

At the Turkish MXGP, Yigit Ali Selek unintentionally provided fodder for precisely this discussion. The Turkish local hero didn't attract attention by challenging Jeffrey Herlings, Romain Febvre, and others for positions. What was striking, however, was the unusually large speed difference.

Selek was already being lapped from the second lap onwards. I certainly couldn't remember the last time the leading riders in an MXGP race caught up with a rider at the back of the field so early.

The figures from the first run show why it happened so quickly. Herlings set a fastest lap of 1: 54,019 minutesSelek needed 2: 35,352 minutesMore than 41 seconds difference per lap. The average speed also illustrates the scale of the problem: 54,465 km/h at Herlings, 39,974 km/h at Selek.

Of course, Herlings is as newly crowned six-time world champion The other end of the spectrum. Nobody expects a Turkish guest driver to match their lap times. But with a gap of more than 41 seconds, we're no longer talking about the usual gap between a factory driver and a local starter.

And that brings us to a question that concerns Selek himself less than the system that makes such a start possible.

How was Selek even able to start?

Anyone expecting a clear percentage rule in the MXGP regulations, according to which a rider who is too slow will be automatically eliminated, will not find this hurdle.

The current MXGP qualifying procedure does not include a classic 120 percent rule, as is known from other racing series or classes. Therefore, Selek was not necessarily eliminated solely based on his lap time.

However, a World Championship entry isn't possible without prior vetting. The respective national motorcycle federation plays a crucial role in the registration process. They must confirm that the rider possesses the necessary racing experience and skills to compete at the FIM World Championship level.

And that's exactly where one can inquire further after Afyon.

Because somewhere a decision has to be made about when a driver is ready for a Grand Prix. Does a certain speed have to be reached? Is sufficient national racing experience enough? And how big can the gap to the rest of the World Championship field be?

A rigid percentage rule wouldn't automatically be the perfect solution. Track conditions can change, weather can distort times, and technical problems can also occur. But if the leaders start lapping cars as early as lap two, it at least shows that the gap in Afyon was exceptionally large.

The speed difference affects both sides.

The situation should not be viewed solely from the perspective of the top drivers.

Even for Selek himself, this was probably not a particularly easy task. While he tried to ride his own rhythm, riders with considerably higher speeds were approaching from behind. Blue flags, different lines, and the constant question of where best to make way became practically a permanent part of his race.

On the other side, Herlings and Co. are fighting for World Championship points and have to assess how the slower driver in front of them behaves when lapping other drivers.

That doesn't automatically make Selek a safety risk. We are not aware of any specific situation in Afyon where he endangered another driver. You shouldn't judge a driver based solely on a stopwatch.

Nevertheless, a difference of more than 41 seconds per lap is large enough to discuss what requirements should apply for a start in the highest motocross class.

For Selek himself, the home GP was something special.

Amidst all the discussion about lap times, it shouldn't be overlooked what this start apparently meant to Selek personally. After the weekend, he addressed the Turkish fans and thanked them for the support he had received surrounding his home GP:

“Many thanks to everyone who supported me at the MXGP, who applauded and cheered me on from the stands, who called and inquired about me. I received an incredible number of messages and calls. If I wasn't able to reply to anyone, I hope they don't hold it against me.”

This puts his performance in a different light. For Selek, it was an opportunity to compete in a Grand Prix in front of a home crowd. He can hardly be faulted for taking this opportunity and subsequently being pleased with the support.

The real question is, according to which criteria is this opportunity granted?

Rob Andrews takes it with humor

Rob Andrews also noticed Selek's impressive performance. The former British 500cc World Championship rider addressed the topic with a healthy dose of paddock humor. "I know Herlings could become world champion this weekend, but in MXGP I'm rooting for Yigit Ali Selek from Turkey."

Andrews had already observed the large time difference during training and made a rather scathing calculation out of it:

“Yes, he’s a full minute slower than everyone else – on a two-minute lap. And yes, that means he’s getting lapped roughly every other lap. But if he perseveres and just gets his butt to the starting gate to join the other 16 drivers, two 17th-place finishes and eight points are practically guaranteed.”

Andrews saved his real barb for last:

"Then he leaves the track on Sunday in 37th place in the World Championship. That's one place better than I managed in 1989. You can be proud of that. Go Yigit."

That initially sounds like a pretty harsh statement against Selek. However, when you look at Andrews' own history, it takes on a different meaning.

The Briton competed in the 500cc World Championship from 1985 to 1990. In 1986, he finished the season in ninth place, and a year later he came second in a Grand Prix race. He represented Great Britain at the Motocross des Nations and later secured a factory seat with Kawasaki. Looking back, Andrews doesn't consider himself a big star, but he competed against names like David Thorpe, André Malherbe, Eric Geboers, Georges Jobé, and Håkan Carlqvist.

His comparison with Selek therefore focuses at least as much on the circumstances as on the driver.

Because in Afyon, only 17 riders lined up at the MXGP gate. This means that a World Championship ranking can result that says little about how competitive a rider actually is compared to the regular World Championship field.

Selek is more of an example than a problem.

This is precisely where the discussion should be separated from his personal involvement.

Selek was given the opportunity to start in his home Grand Prix. He rose to the challenge, received support from the Turkish spectators, and subsequently expressed his gratitude. It's unlikely he himself was unaware that his pace wasn't comparable to the frontrunners.

The more interesting question, therefore, is why the existing system allows such a large difference.

If a national association is to confirm that a driver has the necessary experience and skills for deployment on World Championship level If the system has the necessary criteria, then there must also be criteria by which this assessment is made. A lap time alone certainly doesn't tell the whole story. However, a deficit of more than 41 seconds on a lap of less than two minutes is not something that can simply be ignored.

Perhaps a rigid 120 percent rule isn't necessary. Perhaps an assessment by Race Direction and the responsible parties on site would suffice. This is something we can discuss.

But Afyon has shown why this discussion is even worthwhile.

Yigit Ali Selek is less the problem than the visible example of how wide the performance differences within an MXGP starting field can become when there is no clear time-based qualifying hurdle.