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Something came to mind. Does anyone know what class his son was racing? I have been under the impression when you race and get paid, a different insurance policy is required. Anyone have any info on this? I'm under the impression this was a 2nd moto incident. Is there any way Rich could have missed the claimed negligent part of the track if indeed it was? And yes, no more EKS brand goggles for me after many years of use.
250C and 250C JR 12-17 when he got hurt.
Thanks, I had no idea which class. Did I hear correctly that he even said he missed the brakes and crashed?
Gonna have to ask @mxxcdez, he is the expert on the situation. Apparently rider error and it’s subsequent consequences are superseded by the “gross negligence” of having berms on your motorcross track.
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1) Who here has raced a dirt bike?
2) Who here has been on a track and thought "If I go over this berm, I'm screwed".
I can honestly name most tracks I've been on for various reasons (extreme drop off, water, trees, mini dads, etc). My point? If I fuck up and go over that berm, that was MY fault. If I'm a minor then it was my PARENTS fault.
I wasn't there, so I can't say. Enough experts have weighed in here to say there is only one side. As they say, I don't have a dog in the fight, and like a few others in this thread I was only trying to look at the situation and the sides objectively and then subjectively through the lens of a fellow father and if my son sustained these massive injuries.
Unfortunately, it turned one-sided on my side, too, since I don't feel there is a justifiable reason to blackball a father for doing something they felt was right for that specific situation, especially when it appears there was support on their side, too. It seems to me that his industry peers would advocate for him to go in another direction or drop it altogether if they didn't think it was justified or that it would ruin his career, don't you think? Since the industry is such a so-called tight family, they could have easily said don't do this, suck it up, or let's start a go-fund-me? Did the track offer this as an industry courtesy? I have no idea.
In my opinion, it was so long ago, too, that it was not directly responsible for LACR's current closure, and I'm not saying it didn't help the cause. Since then, new litigation has been brought on by others with LACR and other tracks in recent months and years for other issues. Some may be frivolous, and some may not be, I don't know. We have all been hurt with a minor or a major injury and have all proceeded accordingly to correct or live with these injuries and decisions. That's on each of us individually and our risk tolerance. I'm not one to virtue signal that "I would never sue," I pray that I never have to make that decision if something terrible were to happen, not at the fault of mine or others. I'm sure someone here will pick a few words out of this and flame me for this statement, too, and thumbs down without reading, but that's OK.
The thing we can all agree on is that the passion is real in our sport and that is good, the negativity is not. Also, I'm only answering because I've riled up enough people here that are expecting an answer everytime I get insulted or tagged. Maybe, I'll try my hand at a Deegan post later and make it positive. I would much rather spend my energy rapping about how awesome the racing is but I only see 8/10 negative posts about that too.
I've been as diplomatic and courteous as I can be, because as at times you've seemed reasonable. But your calm responses are no longer hiding your complete inability to listen and acknowledge any opinion other than your own. This last and lengthy post is a perfect example of taking "you're all wrong and I'm right" and expanding it into multiple paragraphs.
Each one of your points has legitimate evidence to shoot it down. Rich's own statement contradicts some of your main points.
If all you see is the negative, and can't wrap your brain around us (as in nearly everyone but you) wanting Rich held accountable for being a pathetic narcissist in this as a POSITIVE, then GTFO.
Also there is still the fact you appeared on this site right around the time this story broke, and have spent like 99% of your activity on this site defending Rich or adding nonsense to other track and lawsuit related posts.
So Rich, Rick, or whoever you really are, maybe take a look around and realize when you're in a room with hundreds of other people who actually never agree on anything, yet they "all" agree on this....maybe you're the one who should do some more actual research and be open to the fact you're just plain wrong.
Go ahead and say something else about me being the thread keeper or some other deflection nonsense 🍻
Thanks Nathaniel for being diplomatic. Also, why don't you ever answer the questions I ask? They are rarely answered by you and others and only replied with you're wrong and I'm right as well, along with other obsenities and insults. As you maybe trying to do, I'm just replying with perspective as are a few others.
Answer this for me:
"It seems to me that his industry peers would advocate for him to go in another direction or drop it altogether if they didn't think it was justified or that it would ruin his career, don't you think? Since the industry is such a so-called tight family, they could have easily said don't do this, suck it up, or let's start a go-fund-me? Did the track offer this as an industry courtesy? I have no idea."
Because your question is the answer. Tight families take care of people they deem to be in the circle. Rich had enough credibility to garner that support apparently, which to me is also disturbing.
Anyone willing to look at this objectively, even YOU at times, can see this lawsuit was not an acceptable response to the incident or even the injuries, as his kid is leading what appears to be a totally unrestricted life.
So again, even you claim you wouldn't have sued, but you're giving Rich (or yourself, RICH, lol) the benefit of the doubt. Why? Because it's Rich Taylor, who was somewhat mx royalty before this whole thing.
I refuse to believe anyone can think the way you do on this matter. It’s such a bad take. Not worth arguing with you over.
If you think it's a 1 sided discussion, why not share the other side of the story?
Rich appears to have a lot of support in the media because they are taking money from him for advertising!
Fair answer. I do think the sides taken is risky all-around given the potential magnitude. That's what doesn't add up for who is right and wrong. Shit situation.
Its because media guys who sell advertising are there for the money and what they sell is irrelevant, its the commission check that they are after. Now the company they work for should set guidelines but they wont turn away money.
How much settlement did Rich get?
Good question.
Based on being dumb enough to sue a track when he makes his living from the industry, Rich is also probably stupid enough to let his son race without insurance.
*If any of you ride/race without insurance and are offended by what I said....sorry, not sorry.
Bout tree fiddy.
With Rich Taylors lawsuit and the last one they combined to create the current situation. There are only two companies in Ca that write policies for MX tracks and I believe one might be pulling out.
Motocross is an inherently dangerous sport. Every time you head to the track things can go wrong and you end up taking a trip to the hospital. Unfortunately LACR has lost their insurance due to the cost to keep the insurance. Why did their cost go up? Well all of us in the moto community know why. We can point fingers at the track or said individuals who decided to sue LACR. Really just depends on who you’re friends with. I personally know that every obstacle on any given track is a challenge. Some more challenging than others. Tracks have built obstacles that I refuse to negotiate or I believe is too dangerous. I just simply avoid the obstacle and if I can’t avoid it, I load up and go home and bitch about on social media like all of us like to do these days. However what I won’t do is make a riding error on the track that sends me into an obstacle that I’m no longer able to negotiate safely, injure myself and blame the track for having an unsafe obstacle 🤦🏽♂️. This can be argued from different points of views and that’s mine! The track didn’t have a tractor, water truck or some other piece of equipment on the track that a rider struck. The track is built on the side of a hill! There will be walls, ledges, steep embankments and other hazards that come with a track built on a hill side. This is all common sense. If you choose to ride knowing this, you have accepted the risks. You know that risk you said you accept when the nice lady at the gate had you sign the waiver stating you know and accept the risks!
Again, this is just my opinion on the matter.
Pit Row
Any word about the condition of Rich Taylor’s son?
The son has been back riding and racing for years now.
I believe his son Zach is the one who got hurt, this is his son Rich. Zach is a pretty avid mountain bike rider and is also doing just fine.
Wouldn’t let them step foot near my track. Last thing I would need is someone who thinks my track needs to meet their expectations. Don’t like it? Don’t pay and don’t ride it. That’s life.
As soon as I see that last name on a sign up sheet or an X brand t shirt/hat I’m concerned with who they are.
Fuck those Mf””s !
For the love of God, tell me that pic of them is not recent.. If it is, explains alot.
At least it's not one of them driving alone in a car, but I get your meaning!
I’m glad his son is okay. These are the injuries that Rich said he had:
“…broke 28 bones,
including his pelvis,
back,
sacrum,
both arms,
both legs,
ankles,
feet,
ribs,
punctured lung,
tore his internals, which caused severe bleeding and required blood transfusions.
In the days, months, and years following the crash, my son had to undergo many surgeries and will continue to have lifelong internal issues.”
I wonder if Rick Ryan received any compensation, since it was Rick Ryan who persuaded him to sue, and Rick’s sworn statement sealed the fate of LACR?
I have been around this sport for 45 years, racing all over the place, and I have to say that compared to most sports, this sport takes a very lackadasial approach to safety at the amateur racing level. For instance, no flaggers on practice days is a standard thing, or having pros on a 450 on the track at the same time as an amateur kid on an 85. I once went to a big amateur track that had unattended practice tracks set up and I couldn't even tell which way the track went, so I left. I didn't want to go head on with a kid over a blind jump. A $1.50 paper arrow would have solved that issue.
The AMA probably should have much more stringent safety standards and applied them universally. Sure, it's a PITA for track owners and makes things cost more- but so do lawsuits. If you open a gym or a swimming pool I am sure there are universal safety standards that people have to adhere to. It's been pretty much Wild West in motocross, and in a sport as dangerous as this, a lot more could be done.
I looked back through the pages, but does anyone have an actual link to the court case, or how it’s labeled (eg Rich Taylor v Los Angeles County Raceway, or Rich Taylor’s middle initial)?
I have a friend that rides without insurance and it blows my freaking mind. Even with insurance a decent injury can set you back a long time financially.
My brother broke his femur and it would have cost him $1500 LESS if he didn't have insurance.
Post a reply to: Statement from Rich Taylor (LACR Lawsuit)