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1968
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7/21/2011
Location
Galesburg, IL
US
Edited Date/Time
5/23/2019 11:52am
I have always struggled wrapping my head around why anyone who races (amateur or professionally) is willing to ditch their goggles mid Moto and keep racing. What's even more complexing is that the sanctioning bodies allow it.
The AMA rule book clearly states goggles must be worn to start the race, but can be discarded during competition without penalty or disqualification. WTF....
It just seems increasingly probable that sooner or later someone is going to have a massive eye injury, possibly loss of sight, and then everyone is going lose their minds because the AMA was allowing them to race while mud, rocks, etc, are being blasted into their faces from roost.
Why would the AMA not mandate that if a rider ditches their goggles, they must stop in the pits to get a new pair before proceeding? If they continue to circulate w/o goggles, black flag their asses.
The AMA rule book clearly states goggles must be worn to start the race, but can be discarded during competition without penalty or disqualification. WTF....
It just seems increasingly probable that sooner or later someone is going to have a massive eye injury, possibly loss of sight, and then everyone is going lose their minds because the AMA was allowing them to race while mud, rocks, etc, are being blasted into their faces from roost.
Why would the AMA not mandate that if a rider ditches their goggles, they must stop in the pits to get a new pair before proceeding? If they continue to circulate w/o goggles, black flag their asses.
How can you say it's not an issue when there is consistently a notable percentage of the field finishing mud races without goggles?
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If a rider goes down and gets a face full of mud in their helmet/goggle, could they remove their helmet (their choice) and continue to race?
I feel like the rules should be consistent for all protective gear
And name one privateer who races the AMA circuit who only has 1 pair of goggles... that's a piss poor excuse to bring a privateer into this.
Eye injuries are no joke
The rule should be come in next available lap.
Whats funny is in other sports, the refs jobs, and race control(For like Indy car) is to ensure safety and fair play.
Last year at an Indy race a guys face shield came loose on one side when he flipped it up during a yellow flag. Race control saw it and radioed driver and pits to come in next lap. Race control steward was there to make sure he was fixed up properly before letting him out of the pits.
Can't too safe, ya know.
What are the rules on stopping for a new, fresh pair with tearoffs/rolloffs? I'd imagine that ~5 second pit stop wouldn't hurt if everyone's doing it and if lap times are already skewed by mud.
Rules and laws fix any problem.
Common sense dictates that you not ride without goggles.
However there are circumstances, an example would be doing a faceplate that leaves your goggles completely useless. Now you have to ride around to get a new pair while you can't see anything and are a hazard to yourself and everybody else out there.
Sure you can give them a lap or two to get a pair, but for amateur racing who the hell is going to keep up with it. Promoters and staff usually have their hands full scoring and dealing with other issues that come up if conditions are bad enough that riders,are tossing goggles..
Let's just do like they have done in new jersey for years. They have a state law requiring goggles with state police trackside monitoring it and pulling riders off if they don't see goggles.
The riders solution was to drill holes in their goggle lens and loop a zip tie through. If it got to the point that they couldn't see anymore they would use the zip tie to jerk the lens out. The troopers wouldn't bother them as long as they saw a goggle strap.
Pit Row
My point was made - with it being implemented in MXGP, our National Series will have to follow suite.
Anything in the works Coombs?
Why not try something new that helps increase their safety when needed?
Post a reply to: Would like to see a rule change from the AMA