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Prayers for the little man.
I got landed on last weekend, while blocking for a little man that was down. Same thing - big bike hauling over a jump during kid practice and he wasn't supposed to be out there at that time. I was on the downside of a jump, while other parents where on the previous jump telling everyone to slow down.
Respect buddy. Good karma coming your way. 👊
Good on you for taking the shot so the kid didn’t have to. Hopefully the dumbass who hit you was banned from the track for being out there during a mini session.
Prayers for the little guy.
but to rant quickly about LACR... the track is incredibly narrow and almost every single jump they have is blind. I didn't ride for 3 years and went to LACR about 6 months ago and it was nearly impossible to ride coming off a long layoff like that, every jump has a narrower landing than takeoff and it was tough to gauge anything. I can't imagine being a little kid riding at LACR with 450s on track at the same time, even if the kid rips that's dangerous.
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Did that happen Sunday? We were out there on Saturday..I’m hurt right now so I was just watching my son on the main..There’s a kids race there next weekend so the kid who got hurt was probably there for practice.
My sons fast enough that I feel comfortable with him out on the main..the speed difference between him and the average vet dude isn’t that big of a difference..He’s jumping the majority of the jumps and the two that he doesn’t clear he stays to the side if anyone is behind him.
That said he usually only rides the vet track during the kids session. I’d rather him be out with faster guys on the main that are in control and are aware of their surroundings than some of the squirrels that shouldn’t be going as fast as they are thanks to 450’s. But it’s a dangerous sport and anything can happen. I’ve seen a kid on an 85 land on a 50 riders helmet during kids time on the vet at lacr and I don’t think that kid was lucky enough to get away with leg injuries.
Hope the little guy heals up and can get back to racing soon.
Unless they have the minibikes racing on the vet or kids track, this would be worthless. If the small bikes race on the main track, they need to have a dedicated time on practice days for kids to ride the main track. The kids want to practice on the track they will be racing.
The problem is that you can't always see them up ahead, and when they do fall in a blind corner or backside of a jump, they sometimes don't understand how important it is to get off the track, or how to get going again safely.
Personally, when I see a kid down in a vulnerable spot, or an adult for that matter, I circle back and warn riders of the danger ahead.
At Fox Raceway, the little guys usually come out on the main, and vet tracks at the end of the day, when it's less busy. It always seems safer though when a Dad is riding behind them.
I agree though, that kids shouldn't be on the track at the same time as the big bikes, but I think the bigger issue is not knowing ahead of time that they're there. I think it's fairly safe as long as we know they're there
Can’t believe they still don’t separate practices in California. The rest of the country organizes their practices and aren’t open as often as California tracks are. Splitting the hour into 20’s or 15’s gives everyone plenty of time to ride. I’m sure a lot of us grew up around the sport, but any newcomers to the sport are risking their lives going out for open practice on a little bike.
Serious question as I've never been to LACR...
Are there always flaggers on all blind jumps?
I very nearly landed on a kid once. It was at Competition Park in about '98. There was a long tabletop, followed by a double. It was immensely fun, as you had to change direction between the two obstacles and whip the other direction - probably what saved this little dude's life.
I had just jumped the table and was leaving the ground on the double when I first saw the kid coming up the second jump, right in my line. Somehow I managed to put my front wheel down right next to him and rotate my rear wheel away, but I still clipped the kid with my elbow. He went down and I whiskey-throttled all over the place, swapping out and nearly wadding up myself.
When I spun around to see if the kid was OK, his dad was already there, cursing at anyone who would listen about some maniac who landed on his kid and kept riding away. I let him have it right then. First of all, I'm right here; second of all, don't put your 50cc kid out on the main track with intermediates and pros! He shut up pretty quickly. Thankfully his son was OK. I would have felt pretty terrible if I hurt the little ripper.
Glad no one got hurt!
I once told a dad that I was looking out for his kid (on a 65) on the track, and he let me have it, telling me that his kid was well able to handle himself out there. He was offended. Sheesh! His kid was fast, but a tiny little dude on a tiny little bike is only safe with adults on the track if the adults are riding cautiously.
That is simply, not cool.
Every track we run has split practices. Usually it is A/B, then C/D (depending on how many big bikes are there if they split), 85/65/pit and then 50's out on their own. If you have a little one that is not that skilled, why in hell would you send them out with the big bikes??? My son is twelve and is an established 85 faster rider so he either rides the 85 class or will go out with the big bikes if there are not too many newbie D riders in C/D that can be just as dangerous as novice little ones if not worse in some cases.
Parents really need to pay attention on what's going on with their kids out on the track and who else is out there with them.
No
The tracks can only do so much to prevent accidents. The parents must be involved and assess risk at every practice and track. Stuff will happen, it just does but you can minimize risk.
I was at a practice track w/o flaggers when a little guy was learning to ride and kept stopping in the valley between doubles on a 50. You could not see the rider when in the valley. I pulled off and rode over to the Dad and told him the kid didn't need to be out there. He didn't like it, I explained you can't see him in the valley and he should never stop on the track. This facility has a dedicated small bike track, so he moved over to that track.
If you see something say something. You might not make any friends but you may save a kid from getting hurt.
Thanks Matty
….so that begs the question why not?
Is that normal? Are there any flaggers on practice days? If not, splitting the kids and big bikes is now the #2 safety concern.
This is why I built a kids track at home when my kid was 4. None of the local tracks had a kids track then. Now a couple local tracks have them, but the little tracks they have suck. The rules are strict at my house to keep my kids safe. If a public track is stupid, we won't ride there until my kids are big enough and fast enough to be safe out there. Anyhow this is either the parents fault for allowing it, or the kid didn't listen and got himself hurt. Some parents are absolutely clueless, in that case I'd blame the track owner for allowing it, unless the kid jumped out there before someone could get him off the track safely. Same reason my fat ass doesn't ride with A riders, the speed difference makes it unsafe for the fast guys and the slow guys.
I always preferred they be split. The last couple years my boy was at the end of his 85 run and I was fine with him being out with big bikes. He did the jumps and was fast enough he didn't impede anyone. He has etiquette though and holds a line. When he was smaller, it for me, depended on how many big bikes and who was on them. Young guys less than 20 years old, nope not going out. Older guys like myself that watch out and will follow a kid for a corner if they need to do they can a nice wide spot to pass a little guy by cruising by and not roost his face, yep that's fine. It's two fold to me. Parents using judgement for when to put kids out there and big bikes to not be jerks to little guys. We were all little guys once, have little guys of our own or might in the future. Those little guys pay the same money you do too ride they have the same right to be there and probably complain less.
Pit Row
They have flaggers..sometimes it’s one guy covering two lanes but I’ve never seen the main track busy enough where it seems unsafe, and we ride there quite a bit. For some reason everyone rides the vet there..super fast guys and total beginners.
I took 8 years off riding and that was the second track I rode after coming back..I was a little intimidated at first but the jumps are actually super safe. Everything’s built really well and the longest jumps you can jump halfway and ease into them..and the dirt is amazing.
Praying for Paul, his family and all involved!
Hope he heals quickly and continues to want to ride bikes.
Parents need to be the first line of defense for their children. We need to keep our children safe! I have younger kids that ride, one just moved up to a big bike the other still on a mini. The tracks will sometimes split practice on certain days. It is their business and they have the right to manage it as they chose. It is my right to put my kids out there, or not. I have learned to pick and chose tracks, days and times to take my kids. Just as I have learned to make sure their bikes are safe and they have all of their gear on. My younger will ride the mini track till later in the day when I can introduce to the vet track. I will take the older to ride the vet till later in the day then practice the main track. BUT anything can happen at anytime and we except the responsibility when put ourselves at risk. Do you people, with children, consider when you put your kids in the ocean, snow board runs, schools, seats at supercross? I sure do
The worst thing I see when riding is old pros, or just trainers, training kids. They will take a 5-10 pack of kids and send them out for sections during open practice. Not just a California thing either. I literally will tapped a kid at AZ when this happened. No split practice there.
However…we really appreciate when the tracks have mini days! They use to do it at Perris every Wednesday and the place was packed! I for the life of me can’t understand why they don’t do it anymore but it’s not my business and I don’t have the numbers. Elsinore would do it also but not sure if they do it anymore. Also Elsinore is too inconsistent for the premium price they charge.
This happened at a track called coastline MX that lasted for only a little while, was shutdown soon after a kid got landed on. I've never understood non-split practices. Most or all of the tracks in Norcal do 20/20/20 mins of pro /int, vet/nov, and mini/women's groups.
Best recovery wishes to this kid. I know what it's like getting landed on unfortunately.
Tuesday Nite Mini Nite at Perris was the staple for generations of young riders...I'm not sure why the current management didn't maintain the tradition.
The bar is set so low now....Freddy and Donna were the last owners who did it right! There was always a qualified, knowledgeable, experienced, adult supervising the tracks and in charge of what went on. Always an EMT on duty, and at least 3 flaggers+ a "head" flagger in charge of them. Everybody had radio communication. The PA system was used to keep the riders informed.
Tuesday night was mini night, split practices for 50-65cc, and 85, with Supermini and ladies...Wednesday night fast guys, Thursday night was Vet Night. Saturday was open practice with split sessions for Minis and big bikes. Sessions would be split more as needed...ie: big bike beginner and novice, then Int and pro...
Just as importantly was that we had water hoses...we never had to shut down to water, and the track stayed in much better and safer condition.
Yes Tuesday nights! I mistakenly said Wednesday because that and Friday is what it’s been reduced to. You’re right they had that place working good. As a customer and not a track owner what they are doing doesn’t seem to make sense to me. Not running the lights on the vet track, fence off a good size portion of the facility, less days of operation, no membership, prune palm trees, restore buildings that don’t get used, close real bathrooms for porta unit, new sign, new pay both, no mini night, then raise the entry fee. All while claiming to be family friendly. Oh and last I heard they are putting in a beer garden?😂
I still like going there, the track is fun (could use change), and the staff is nice but I will only spend $60 a month there and the other times I will switch it up at other tracks.
I wouldn’t even consider taking my kids there at night with that pace.
I feel horrible for the little guy and hope he is recovering. A whole lot of adults failed him...
Well said!
Best wishes to the kid, those are tough injuries.
Inexcusable all the way around.
Track shouldn't allow it, parents shouldn't allow it, big bike rider should always be aware of their surroundings and what's ahead of them. Unless a kid pulls out onto the track and you land on them there's never an excuse for this.
Just because you go to the circus doesn't mean you have to be a clown.
Was out there riding at LACR on Saturday when this unfortunate accident took place. As motocrossers, we never like seeing this sort of thing for anyone let alone a little guy but, LACR runs such a great track and the staff there have been in the game for a very very long time. Those of you that ride there know that Anthony and Don are always concerned with saftey and the OG Jack is there as well too. They for sure run separate kids practices on the vet track but yes, there is almost always young riders out on the regular practices as well. A lot of the kids haul ass! But just wanted to state that this track is one of the best in Southern California and they do their absolute best to keep everyone safe. Everyone who rides motocross knows, the sport we love is dangerous and sometimes shit happens. Best wishes to the little guy Paul. He left a nice heartfelt message on their instagram page. Glad he will end up making a full recovery and then he'll be back on the bike again..just like all of us that have crashed and been hurt several times...we typically get back on the horse. Why? Cause we just love to ride....Cheers!
~JB~
www.motoxxx.com
It just makes absolutely no sense.
Hope the young lad is doing better
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