[John22j]

I've shifted my race MX bikes without using the clutch for years -- sometimes by design and sometimes because my arms were too pumped up to pull in the clutch lever. :roll:

Anyway - it's not a problem to do that -- but I would wonder why you get grinding when you normally use the clutch. It almost sounds like your clutch is not adjusted properly or the basket is getting notched. Does your bike lurch or lunge when you put it in gear while holding the clutch in when stopped?