C'mon man. 8:1? This is my understanding.
More than 32:1 is good for beginners, tight trails, or putting around quads or weedeater gas.
32:1 for stock riders, obeying owners manuals, mechanicaly conservative mind-set
40:1 for seasoned rider, open trails, and mild caliber racing.
44-50:1 for seasoned rider in open trails, on sand and harescrambles/ motocross
50-100:1 for Hillclimbing, drag racing, loose sand, screamin' the r's.
The idea is to run the same amount of oil/minute regardless of average rpm's. Smart riders find a high quality oil and find a ratio and stick to it. If you change anything, it would probably be going leaner, due to the rider getting better on riding skills and wiser on mechanics. Synthethics protect and seal rings and smell good. If you want to ride green, ride it lean and mean. Any fatter than 32:1, you have a 2 smoker that has the powervalve all clogged up.
Look at the guys on here, that really know, and what they run. Well, what they RACE. Absorb the info Grasshopper!!
This web site is great at eliminating myth and rumor. Keep an open mind and consider the sources.
I personally run 44:1 and run Cam II, high octane pump gas. I know VP works Don, but I like to play ride my bikes too. Maybe work will pick up enough that an $80 Pail of good gas won't break me. Anyways, I have a 250 and a 500 and they both are running the best that I have ever had them. The best thing that I can recommend is to get jetting right. After that, ride it, till it needs rebuilt.