Posts
10
Joined
6/16/2009
Location
USA
Edited Date/Time
1/23/2012 2:21pm
if only the powers at be had some freaking common sense. if they want to make this all official and shit, they need to make dam sure noone is going over a jump without a rider seeing the flag. the solution? they need to put 2 guys at the jumps, one on each side, at the jumps they want to do these this. DUH. typical AMA crap
oh and have them waving the piss out the flags might be a good idea, the last questionable incident had a flagger not even doing anything with the flag, just holding it there like a dumb ass, glad i wasn't on the ground and he was protecting me, he should of been waving it like one of his family members was down there. geez
oh and have them waving the piss out the flags might be a good idea, the last questionable incident had a flagger not even doing anything with the flag, just holding it there like a dumb ass, glad i wasn't on the ground and he was protecting me, he should of been waving it like one of his family members was down there. geez
I guess it is the clubs providing them and they are flaggers, but for a real safety issue, it is simple...
There should be more...
And there should be some real training...
Stroupe at Colorado last year was a joke... and there have been countless others... Most act like they are scared of getting hit by a bike when a downed rider will suffer if they don't do something...
More needs to be done!
Ever held a flag at a US national? They have good reason to be scared.
These changes put in place will be good for the downed rider, and with a liitle time the process will improve.
Props to all involved. As with any change, it takes some time.
I'll say it 'til I'm blue in the face, there is no way in hell your're gonna get it with a crash course 15 minutes before an event...NO FREEKIN" WAY!!!
I've seen it plenty, while the flaggers may be worried about their safety, they (being new) are afraid to draw attention to themselves, and are shy about waving the flag.(Am I doing the right thing?)
A big problem is that the riders can now see two flags at the same place in some cases so that surely will and has caused problems. It seems like it should be easy to spot by arm chair racers but in reality its not so easy in blind areas, corners etc.or in just the right circumstances such as the flagger happens to be on the wrong side of the track for a rider to see it when he is layed over for a corner etc.
After seeing the results of this new system i would have to vote for the use of the yellow flag only and it ALWAYS means wheels on the ground just like in local AMA competition. IMO that makes the most sense..
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How do you propose to cover the expense of flying, driving, feeding, hosting these 20 to 35 people at each event?
I would have to "assume" most people flagging at a national aren't professional flaggers by trade, and earn a living doing something else..
Would the logistics of putting together a flagging "team" that traveled to all the events be somewhat unrealistic?
Ever seen an Indy car race? How about an F-1 race? CART? No? OK, how about an AMA road race? SCCA? IMSA?
I've done all of these (except F1, I was in the paddock) and at each one, there was a veteran running the corner. These folks are out there.
Even if you don't send a team, do a little research. Call the local SCCA club, and they'll gladly send a team, and whatever the track pays will go to their club...All they want is to protect racers, maybe get a T-shirt, and some lunch.
Tugging at the heart strings won't accomplish much.
I don't disagree with the need for improvement, but people are finally starting to recognize the need for it. The way this thread was started won't help those same racers we are concerned for.
The problem has been rampant for a long time in professional moto cross. There are a lot of people out there capable of doing a good job. Pointers on finding them will go a long way in positive change.
Heart strings have nothing to do with real life expierences...I've seen some horrific stuff.
Sorry to be agreeable to the problem. I don't need to call anyone since I'm not an AMA official nor do I promote professional races.
We just have to be realistic about the fix,how it can come down., and who is going to deal with it..
If they can fly a crew in from Canada, motocross could at least work on creating regional crews with experience.
Of course our corners crews were set up with headset radios, 10x10 sun/rain tents, chairs, coolers, snacks, water, lunch, etc. It was/is the very best place to watch a race from. None of this standing in the sun all day for a free burger and 15 bucks. They didn't even make 15 bucks, but they got treated well and were respected by everyone at the track. The announcers would always make sure the crowds recognized their efforts and the riders would always thank them when they were walking through the pits, or scraping us off the track.
On the cool down laps they'd all be up waving every flag they had they way you see at the end of an F1 or MotoGP race. It wasn't uncommon for riders to pull over and shake their hands if they had an incident in their corner that race. Nothing but professionalism and mutual respect all around. A far cry from anything I've ever witness in motocross.
I just get frustrated at the lack of concern there seems to be at the highest level of our sport.
What would be so hard about making a few calls, and get the seasoned officials from area tracks? In many cases the're going to be there anyway.
They are there because they love racing, not for cash for their next 40.
The idea that it should be OK for AMA Pros to jump and pass on a yellow is stupid at best.
it's damn simple........ but it's "taboo" in the moto world..... headsets in the helmets..... very simple..... doesn't cost much these days, and the message would be relayed to every rider on the track instantly.....
Now the people in that decision making capacity need to act. The flag rules need to be followed, first and foremost. That is one of the things that created most of the problem.
Next the right people in the right sections of the track...
Dang, you and I almost have the problem solved already.
The No jumping on the yellow would seem like a simple solution, but we use it for "Non-Life threatening" situations as well. How do we warn riders of potential hazards down stream of the actual obstacle the flagger is on?
If you "over flag" the riders will start to blow you off. Sure you can penalize them, but it might be too late to solve the problem.
I've considered going back to one flag, but I use standing yellows too often.
Here is where I think the whole stems. No standards.
In road racing, every driver/rider is taught from day one what flags mean, and they can be confident that the next track they drive will be the same as the one they just left.
Flagging must be consistent for it to stick in the driver/rider's subconcious. They don't need to have to think about what they are seeing. It should be more of an instinct (for lack of a better word). You see a standing yellow..."Yeah, something's going on down stream. Keep an eye out". Waving yellow...something serious is going on, track blockage ahead. Dude Waving like a wind mill in a tordado...Don't freekin' jump until you pass the incedent.
My comment when that new flag deal came out was that it would never work and only add to confusion and i stand behind my opinion that only one flag, yellow, is necessary if it means wheels on the ground and no racing/passing. If you need riders to slow down to a crawl, use the red cross flag.
How can you argue against this logic?
Pit Row
How can you argue against this logic?
This statement clearly defines the number of concussions you've suffered. Remember where you are?
Also at the GH National Frank Thomason assembled a team of great flaggers....no reason to have to fly people in if you do your homework ahead of time like GH and Hangtown do with the Dirt Diggers.
For the record I am not dissing any of the other National tracks....only sharing what I know from the tracks I'm familiar with.
I agree with raddad on the yellow flag issue 100%...to date the yellow flag strikes me as next to useles
Also at the GH National Frank Thomason assembled a team of great flaggers....no reason to have to fly people in if you do your homework ahead of time like GH and Hangtown do with the Dirt Diggers.
Good to hear.
Whenever a flag is waiving at a jump (besideds the finish line), keep your wheels on the ground. End of story, no need for the rider to take a split second to register what color the flag is and then decide.
But what can I say??? Great minds think a like?
Post a reply to: all the stupid flag stuff can be fixed, easily