Garrett Marchbanks: "I am so frustrated and upset that this happened. I just want to race, this is my career. I came over that jump at full speed, with no indication there was not one, not two but three guys laying on the downside of the jump. I have to score points to make it into SMX and now that is in jeopardy."
From ClubMX: "Marchbanks was transported to a local medic to get a fair amount of stitches around his thumb. It is the same thumb that he recently had repaired and now it is re-aggravated. We will announce his return to racing when more information is available."
noo ! damn it
So lack of flaggers?? Not a good look for the sport on a Press Day.....
Probably shouldn't put professional racers on a track for picture day unless you've got enough flaggers to give them a chance in hell of staying safe......
This right here 100% is why we need a riders union!!! Uncalled for. Hey DC is ama or yourself going to pay his medical bills? Or reimburse his entry fee and licensure fee? Maybe wave all future fees for next year or so. Poor flagging and safety is what caused this not the rider.
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There was a flagger, right before the roller, just not in the right position to alert the riders.
There was a flagger right before that roller, just not in a good position or being alert. The track had a ton of flaggers.
DC personally took that flaggers flag and watched that section himself the remaining part of the day.
I stepped out on track in the corner before the incident to flag riders down, right about the time you see the riders running up the backside of the roller.
Too little too late…
Common display of gross incompetence by the managing powers of this sport.
It’s unfortunate that the promoters/sanctioning bodies in US pro motorcycle racing only seem to focus on money and sponsors when “growing the sport,” while simultaneously allowing races to run like it’s 1970. Volunteer flaggers, etc, should have stayed in the same period as dual-shock bikes with 6” travel.
Wow! Thats not what ya want.
It looked like Garrets body folded in half.
Flagging is not difficult. But this is crazy unfortunate and truthfully should not happen especially on press day. If they aren’t going to properly train the flaggers it does zero good. Always respect DC, but shit needs to change. I understand it is a volunteer gig but it would seem necessary for the promoter to provide the flaggers. Nasty crash for Marchbanks and just shit luck. Imagine the uproar if that was Jett the defending champion.
man what a shit show, if i were Marchbanks or his team i'd be raising hell
Why the hell was he not positioned at the top of that instead??
This is way worse than the GP flagging incident, but for something we have been doing for 6+ decades, it would seem that we should have the bugs worked out of it...
Press day appears to have been a total disaster! We lost two top riders yesterday and we haven't even raced yet!
Really unfortunate situation. I hope Marchbanks heals quickly.
Sucks when the situation was avoidable. It's disappointing that the only thingbstopping having a traveling safety crew for flagging is money.
I feel gutted for Garrett! All the work & prep up in smoke. But, from watching that video he is extremely lucky to walk away without a broken neck or back. That was a scary crash
Pit Row
SMX: We have a million dollars up for grabs, it's about time we take care of the riders and pay them what they’re worth.
Also SMX: Hey Kyle from 711 graveyard shift, you wanna come flag on press day?
SMX: It includes free entry, your lunch, and a cool T-shirt !
It's flagging not algebra for Pete's sake! Fans have tolerated this bafoonery for years 🥴
If his thumb is the worst of it I'd say he got real lucky...that was scary ugly.
I won't try to make excuses but I wasn't there so I don't know "how it went down". I do know that when I knee jerk, grab my pitchfork and join the mob...I almost always have to eat crow.
There is certainly a way to train or have dedicated flaggers that travel the circuit but then everyone would bitch because that would certainly mean higher ticket prices or reduced rider payouts.
If you've got any ideas about how to get smarter volunteers or a way to pay for professional flaggers let's hear it. "Just make DC or the AMA pay for it" ain't gonna happen and you know it.
What a disastrous press day.
You could tell that girl had no idea what to do. Probably not her fault….but the fault of whoever put a flag in her hand. Pro riders probably should not have to give flagging instructions to a flagger at the top of a blind jump while they safety block traffic. Now we have lost a key rider that is fighting for his career. You can’t make that up to him. At least we only had 9 whoops in SX……. 🤮
Agree here , and when most of us will go to practice tracks with out flaggers we are just as much to blame
Easy, pay flaggers with profit and pocket less. Seems like the bottom line is more important than keeping the guys putting on the show safe.
But by all means, let's find a way to use less dirt (otherwise known as money) in supercross by building less whoops in the name of "safety"
Just because you're saying "find a way to pay" doesn't mean the money isn't there. Someone needs to make the decision where that money goes. They aren't putting up a GoFundMe for diesel fuel for the rigs, that's obviously a cost of operation they budget for, same as they should do for "PROFESSIONAL" flaggers.
Who was the other? I haven’t caught all the news.
We lost Hampshire and Marchbanks.
Oh, and Craig's dignity (he was wearing the onesie).
Why is it the fans responsibility to come up with a plan? It's up to the AMA and the rest to do that.
Other pro sports have Unions so things get handled in more appropriate ways.
Together we stand divided we fall...
Does a whole lot of good now doesn't it?
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