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450s though, are a tough bike for anyone not in shape to control, and let's face it probably more than half of weekend warriors are out of shape and don't need to be on a 450 anyway.
With regard to MX requirements, Dave nailed it in his post above. There really are no strict requirements around the mandatory gear and the requirements for tracks are even less. My biggest concern is that, if we don't find a way to regulate ourselves, there are plenty of government and special interest groups that would be more than happy to "protect us from ourselves."
Our sport may ignore the injury data, but I'm fairly confident that someone, somewhere is tabulating this information.
The 4 stroke era has instilled a lot of confidence into those who shouldn't have any.
C riders are hitting jumps that 10 years ago only the A riders would do.
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simple as that....
I thikn the best example to date would be the TWMX comparison of the 250f against the 250 2-stroke with J-Law and T Bake. The 250 2-stroke, which was obviously our bike bike(minus the 500 of course) was barely seating out the 250f in lap times thus making our "Little-Bike" clearly as fast as our old "big bike". Now toss in the 450 and we're now moving along a little quick than we did in the past! Plus going just a quick on our "little bikes" as we were on our "big bikes" before. Our 125' were kinda slow and didn't have the decompression braking that causes a fair share of nasty, nasty highsides which knock quite a few people out bad.
http://newsblog.mayoclinic.org/2010/03/10/mayo-clinic-study-explores-se…
ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic researchers today presented findings about significant instances of hospitalization and surgery following motocross injuries to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons' 2010 Annual Meeting.
The presentation is based on a December 2009 article entitled "Motocross Morbidity: Economic Cost and Injury Distribution in Children," published in the December 2009 Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics. The retrospective study of 299 cases revealed nearly one-half of the patients required hospitalization, and an additional one-third required surgery.
"When reviewing these cases, we saw very high levels of hospitalization and surgery, and we believe this is just the tip of the iceberg when looking at motocross-related injuries," says Amy McIntosh, M.D., Mayo Clinic Department of Orthopedic Surgery. "In a situation where half of the patients are hospitalized and another third require surgical intervention, we know we have a problem on our hands. We need to learn more about this issue — to find out how many motocross athletes are suffering injury, why they are being injured, and what we can do to prevent the injuries."
Motocross is an organized sport that is growing in popularity nationwide. The study reviewed patients 17 years old or younger with injuries sustained while using off-road, two-wheeled motorcycles. The investigators reviewed type, severity and mechanism of injury as well as charges billed for medical care. Both recreational and competitive motocross activities were included. Of the 299 cases reviewed, hospital admission was required in 141 instances, 20 patients required intensive care unit admission, and surgery was performed in 91 cases. The average medical bill for these patients was $14,947.
"When football or hockey players suffer multiple losses of consciousness, there are 'return to play' guidelines in place. We don't yet see that in motocross," says Dr. McIntosh. "As more people, including kids, become involved with motocross, it's important for families to understand how to properly use safety equipment, and to understand the significant medical care costs if an injury occurs. We're not discouraging people from participating in motocross, but we want participants and families to do what they can to avoid injury," she adds.
The researchers will next conduct a prospective study to learn more about the prevalence of injuries, including those not requiring transport to a Level I Trauma Center, such as Mayo Clinic. Other study investigators include Anthony Stans, M.D.; William Shaughnessy, M.D.; Mark Dekutoski, M.D.; Michael Quinn; and Annalise Larson, M.D., all from Mayo Clinic.
Then you have to be able to prove that it's the best available.
In MX, that's very hard to do. There's no money for testing and testing will always be questionable.
Here is why i ask. -
I did some off road driving a year or so ago and they required a certain head and neck restraint system at the first round of the series. A lot of the guys had another kind but it was not allowed as they required this certain one (politics). As soon as it was mentioned about the possibilities of a lawsuit if a driver who originally wore the "other" head nad neck restraint was hurt with the now required one, they quickly changed their tune of what was required and what wasn't.
If you require a Leatt or other neck system, and someone who normally doesn't wear one breaks a collorbone in a crash are the track owners going to be liable for making you wear one? I guess that is kind of a special circumstance but that same argument could be for chestprotectors and other safety items.
That is one of the things I really hate about this great country of ours I truly love to live in. Common sense in the way of lawsuits.
The track in known for it's deep sand and larger jumps. Apparently the guy used to race the local "pro" class, he was on a crf250 at the time. he tried the biggest jump on the track which was about 100' on the first or second lap he was out, it's a really huge table top, like way bigger than it needs to be for 100'. The take off often gets rutted up and forms kickers on it and from what I heard the guy landed on his head, apparently he hit a kicker and was thrown over the bars. Needless to say it was a very sad tragedy since he was 35 years old and had a wife and kids.
I don't think it was anything other than human error, you can't really blame the bike or the track because you felt the need to hit a huge jump that was in less than stellar condition. I understand that if you\re not pushing it you wont get faster but there is a limit and when you're that age and have those responsibilities you should know your limits and not push it, especially if you have nothing to gain.
Here's a "translate / cut and paste" from a french site.
Originally posted by ORS on motocrossquebec.ca
"It's really uncool to listen ....
I know who has picked up on the track ... it was not a pretty
see. I know the guys at SRA have really done everything to save him ...
Yes, the guy had experience, but it happened early in his
day (like first or second round) and he was trying to enlighten the
large jump. He hit a kicker and then flies forward on his
motorcycle ... the criss kicker ...
So pilot error pure and simple. You can not Balmer SRA, he
would repeat the track and have always had a safe jump. The kicker, he
has always been and there will unfortunately always have.
Personnellent, I always had a phobia of kicker ... I just
understand why.
Note that if it affects us all at this level, because ca
not happen often and happily. There are car accidents all
day and we still contions to take our car!
We tend to feel invincible again on our machines ... I think
he must really respect our sport.
My condolence to his family and everyone who was present at SRA
Monday ..."
There is none of which for any other safety item in MX, not even Leatt
Chest protectors aren't even called "chest protectors" any longer, they are now "roost deflectors"
Pit Row
With regard to the Mayo Clinic study, mentioned above I found the following excerpt to be interesting:
"When football or hockey players suffer multiple losses of consciousness, there are 'return to play' guidelines in place. We don't yet see that in motocross," says Dr. McIntosh. "As more people, including kids, become involved with motocross, it's important for families to understand how to properly use safety equipment, and to understand the significant medical care costs if an injury occurs. We're not discouraging people from participating in motocross, but we want participants and families to do what they can to avoid injury," she adds.
The "return to play" guidelines are something else that needs to be addressed on a global level in MX. Broc Hepler and UPMC have done a fair amount of baseline testing and subsequent follow up following his concussions, and he has still not returned to racing. Makes you wonder what would be an acceptable "return to play" threshold.
I also feel comparing 5 years ago to now with racers especially Juniors is hard as they get faster and jump more every year. So to compare racers from 70/ 80 era to now is not a fair comparison.
Most of the same guys saying we jumped and got as much air back then etc etc are the same ones saying today's tracks are not REAL MX tracks more super X.
Watching the old SX and MX videos and comparing the riders to today is like saying the old footballers would still be stars today. Runners get faster, jumpers jump higher and longer. Just because it worked in the 70's doesn't make it right for today.
Honestly, everyone I see that gets really hurt, it always comes down to ruts, primarily on the faces of table tops. Also whoops hurt a lot of people.
I spend time w/ a family that trains and rides w/ the Masterpool family and I was told the jump he crashed on is a rutty, wet, and slippery table top most days. Those are the worst but if you are going to win you have to be willing to pin it thru those sections and take your chances.
Stay safe guys. I don't think about it when I ride but these injuries really scare me when I get on these forums or speak to friends. I don't want anyone to get hurt of get hurt (again) myself.
Post a reply to: terrible tragedies over the weekend