diff --git a/src/g_game.c b/src/g_game.c
index 26a4249d1..cde802f76 100644
--- a/src/g_game.c
+++ b/src/g_game.c
@@ -1759,7 +1759,7 @@ void G_Ticker(boolean run)
 				{
 					if (players[i].bot == true && grandprixinfo.gp == true && grandprixinfo.masterbots == false)
 					{
-						const UINT8 bot_level_decrease = (grandprixinfo.gamespeed <= KARTSPEED_NORMAL) ? 3 : 2;
+						const UINT8 bot_level_decrease = (grandprixinfo.gamespeed == KARTSPEED_EASY) ? 3 : 2;
 
 						if (players[i].botvars.difficulty <= bot_level_decrease)
 						{
diff --git a/src/k_grandprix.c b/src/k_grandprix.c
index 994ec43bf..77841e3ae 100644
--- a/src/k_grandprix.c
+++ b/src/k_grandprix.c
@@ -604,11 +604,58 @@ void K_IncreaseBotDifficulty(player_t *bot)
 	disruptDelta = abs(statusQuo - bot->position);
 
 	increase = (beatenDelta + winnerDelta + disruptDelta - 2) / 3;
-	increase++; // At least +1 level up.
+
+	INT8 rankNudge = 1; // Generally, we want bots to rank up at least once, but...
+
+	// If humans are struggling, we want to back off, or even derank if it's dire.
+	// Average human ranks to determine general bot "rank inertia".
+	INT8 totalRank = 0;
+	INT8 humanPlayers = 0;
+	for (i = 0; i < MAXPLAYERS; i++)
+	{
+		player_t *human = NULL;
+
+		if (playeringame[i] == false)
+			continue;
+
+		human = &players[i];
+
+		if (human->spectator == true)
+			continue;
+
+		if (human->bot == true)
+			continue;
+
+		humanPlayers++;
+
+		totalRank += human->tally.rank;
+	}
+
+	INT8 averageRank = totalRank / humanPlayers;
+
+	switch(averageRank)
+	{
+		case GRADE_E:
+			rankNudge = -2;
+			break;
+		case GRADE_D:
+			rankNudge = -1;
+			break;
+		case GRADE_C:
+		case GRADE_B:
+			rankNudge = 0;
+			break;
+		case GRADE_A:
+			rankNudge = 1;
+	}
+
+	increase += rankNudge;
+
 	if (increase <= 0)
 	{
-		// No increase...
-		return;
+		// TYRON: We want to allow SMALL bot rank downs if a player gets rolled but still squeaks by.
+		// (Think, like, dire E rank in 4th.)
+		// This is a deviation from SalCode™ and should be reexamined if bots get drowsy.
 	}
 
 	bot->botvars.diffincrease = increase;