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It doesn't take a big jump, or high speeds either. This situation happened on the smallest jump on the track, which is about 20 feet. It's a 2nd gear jump and you are doing about 10mph when you hit it.
I was shocked when I started riding again in the late 2000's seeing all these open practices. It's nice to get some rides in and leave early but damn is it scary. The close out speeds of a capable rider on a 250cc+ machine with a 50cc or 65cc beginner on the track is heart stopping sometimes. You come up on them soooo fast.
A crazy concept that not many people can wrap their heads around is to just not let your kid ride around on a track with a bunch of big bikes/faster riders. Does your 5 year old really need to be riding on a full sized motocross track? No, but waiting until your kid is old enough to handle themselves on a track isnt really an option for some people. Their baby Ricky Carmichael needs to start early!!
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To Tanner, his family, the rider that was involved and the track owners you are all in my thoughts and prayers. I cant begin to imagine your pain..
Tom Bugg
prayers for the family.
The 1st :15
On the classes getting smaller subject what will our sport look like in 20 years if we keep losing riders?
As long as the cost of living keeps rising and the decent paying jobs become less and less, nobody will be able to afford to take their kid racing.
My brother and I have been running and promoting races here in Southern Indiana for over 20 years. We've done many fair races over the years, as well as a full size mx track.
We currently run a small mx track here as a not for profit fundraiser for the small town we live in.
We do not let 85's on the track with big bikes, period.
So we split this way: A&B, C&D, 85&65 and all 50cc. We run 15 to 20 minute sessions depending on how hot it is, and we have very few complaints. And the few we have had were fast 85 riders that felt they should be out there with the big bikes. But our rules are set in stone.
It works pretty well for us. Everyone knows when they go out, so they can plan their breaks and meals accordingly.
We go for 6 hours. By the last couple sessions most riders are worn out and have headed home, so I don't think anyone feels cheated.
Lincoln Trail Motorsports in Casey IL (awesome track btw) does something very similar. Although the splits are a bit different the intent is the same.
No small bikes on the track with big bikes!!!
As someone said, money and rider turnout are no excuse for ignoring rider safety.
MX is dangerous enough without putting riders at undo risk.
Besides, anyone who's done any promoting should know it's a clear violation of the liability insurance policy to have big bikes on the track with little ones. It's a lawsuit waiting to happen.
All that said, none of it matters now to the family of the young rider who passed doing what he loved.
God speed and prayers sent!!!!
With all this discussion of small bike and big bikes, what do you guys consider a big bike. I know the series I run cross country with (actually it's only a 5 mile loop that runs for an hour plus 1 lap.) the 85's run the big track with the big bikes. So where do you make the split if you run a split practice. We have some 10-11 year olds running the bike track. We even have a few 65 riders that race the big track.
It's about safety, period. Also, did you read the part about insurance?
I have 2 adult son's. Both raced from 50's on up to big bikes. My oldest still races.
I would not want them out there with big bikes. Unfortunately injuries are part of our sport and I've seen way too many over the years.
Ultimately I'm responsible for what goes on at our races. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if I allowed something like this tragic accident to happen. But that's just me.
Cross country is much different. No blind doubles and triples. Anyway, I'm only talking mx since that's what I ride and know.
And is that person going to take responsibility if it goes bad?
It's physics. You're still mixing big bikes and big bodies with small bikes and small bodies. Not a good combo imo.
After all it's just practice. This is not about 1 or 2 fast riders. It's more about the greater good.
Anyway, I feel it's the best and safest way for us to do it.
We can agree to disagree.
Pit Row
My opinion is when you're setting safety policy to apply to a public facility the law of the lowest common denominator has to apply. These things are never about those who are 'just fine running with the big boys', but guarding against those cases for riders (and mistakes by the fast kid, too) that are not.
It was a freak accident that really isn't grounds for turning this tragedy into a soap box for how tracks should operate.
Like CamP said it was just a freak accident. There was no where for the 15 year old to go. Tanner was still on his bike when he was hit so there was no way for the other kid to try and jump over him.
Anyone that goes to a track to ride and thinks it isn't safe has the ability to not even unload and ride. Or pack back up and leave. I will refund anyone's money that thinks my track isn't safe for them and thier family.
What happened to this boy is more than tragic. And as a Father of 4, my heart goes out to the family.
But for some of you to say it couldn't be prevented is total BS.
It's quite simple. If big bikes and mini's aren't on the track at the same time they can't collide! It's called minimizing risk, not eliminating it. That's why most liability policies require it.
Maybe it's just me, but I just don't see how anyone can think having these bikes on the track at the same time is a good thing.
Whats the upside?
I'll just say, in 20+ years of promoting races, although we've had our share of bad getoff's, pile ups and injuries, and we're not perfect, we've never had an accident involving a big bike and a mini. And as long as I'm involved we won't. I never want to be in a position where I have to explain to a parent why his child got run over by a big bike.
Hell, I get nervous sometimes when the 85's and 65's are out there together, let alone big bikes..
But just as in all accidents, some are preventable. Hopefully, as with all tragic events, something good comes out of this.
It's a discussion that needs to be had.
But you're right, every promoter needs to do whats best for their situation.
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