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GuyB
9/22/2015 4:09pm
9/22/2015 4:09pm
Edited Date/Time
9/24/2015 1:13am
I loved 99% of the track last weekend. It made for awesome racing, and a great show, and a fitting finale to the MXGP season.
The other 1% was this area (which is at the exit of the corner in the photo above).
The plastic barricades were surrounding an underground irrigation pipe that was next to the track. Inside of those were metal posts that stuck up well above the barriers.
Ben Townley (in the photo below) was coming off the outside line. Riders who took the inside line in the corner before this were pushing wider and wider, and having to hook back to avoid the barricades.
I'm not sure how that passed a proper track inspection. Plastic barriers in and of themselves aren't great, but a rider getting impaled on one of those metal posts would be a truly horrible thing. Next year, can we please avoid this? Thanks.
The other 1% was this area (which is at the exit of the corner in the photo above).
The plastic barricades were surrounding an underground irrigation pipe that was next to the track. Inside of those were metal posts that stuck up well above the barriers.
Ben Townley (in the photo below) was coming off the outside line. Riders who took the inside line in the corner before this were pushing wider and wider, and having to hook back to avoid the barricades.
I'm not sure how that passed a proper track inspection. Plastic barriers in and of themselves aren't great, but a rider getting impaled on one of those metal posts would be a truly horrible thing. Next year, can we please avoid this? Thanks.
Infrastructure and Natural obstacles that're just waiting for one of our riders to get close enough to bite'em...& more often than not...we get lucky.
In the modern world of Hi-Speed/Hi Risk Moto, we need to eliminate these obstacles.
Steve, very stoked that you stepped up in this.
Thank you:
The Shop
Yes there are some tress that are close to the track in spots which are wrapped in foam and some in the woods have been removed for this very reason, but all the water spigots are well off the track with 1 hay bale covering them... as for fence posts, we used to have tires on every one of them until we were told to replace them with little plastic caps that cover the very top of the post.
We better get all those Red Bull structures that go over the track removed too as they are as close to the track as anything!
I fully understand where you're coming from and I've thought the same thing many times. But to eliminate all these obstacles, we would basically just need to run 2 SX series. Spectators that line the fences at all the nationals (as well as track crew, series crew, photographers etc) are at just as big of a risk as the riders so should they make everyone stand on the very outskirts of the track? (ala Miller Motorsports park). Again I totally get what you guys are saying, just wish there was an easy way to make it happen...
Sorry for the rant, when I see Washougal get thrown under the bus I get a little defensive..
1. Mechanics area scaffolding. Worlds more professional than 10 cheap ez ups like the US Nationals. Looks great on TV.
2. Wash bays. Much more professional than the muddy pits at the US Nationals.
Hopefully there are plans to up our game.
Lets just say contact occurs when riders attempt block passes exiting that turn and the outside rider gets shoved wide into the barricade. I'm sure you can imagine how many things could go wrong and the possibility of a rider being impaled, blinded, broken ribs/chance of further internal punctures, etc is VERY REAL . If a tragedy like that happened it would likely be the end of Glen Helen.
Pit Row
Personally, I think the sport is dangerous enough as is.
Simples!
It was a great weekend.
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