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So WORCS, be disappointed in me, but yes, this is the kind of thing I spend some of my time thinking about. I imagine you would too if you had been standing there and saw (and heard) the carnage. And who didn't just cringe when Langston made his little end at Budds Creek? Here's a guy that's been out for two and a half years with injuries and illness, and then he gets hurt in the sighting lap? Same goes for Townley, who had issues with the exact same jump at Budds.
Shouldn't safety always be a priority?
DC
MX Sports
I've very supportive of the obstacle itself but I think it should be labeled w/ chalk or flags or something.
The rolling lime dispensers they use on ball fields would work well. Put about 4 or 5 lines of lime across the track. They will get worn off, but there will be enough left on the track{or the sides of track} to make an impression in the riders mind. Every moto you just run some new lines across the track.
The Shop
I never heard, but why was Dr. Bodnar in that situation anyway? Why was a mule on the race track in that spot? Almost sounds like a self fulfilling prophecy since he installed seat belts because he knew something was going to happen.
From a racing standpoint it will make ZERO difference if there is a slight slope on the drop off.
Is your point that jumping the Leap is more dangerous? That's done during the course of RACING. He's not changing the racing. He's trying to make it safer for when they aren't at full tilt.
If you've ever worked on a track you would know that shit happens in between races.
On the other hand...if the leap was a takeoff with a 50' drop away and a flat wall on the LANDING, it would be dangerous and need to be changed. That's not the case.
But, why were you arguing this?
I'll wait patiently for the list.
Like someone else mentioned, it's not during the races at sleed that they can be a problem, but in accidental situation like this. A water truck operator, medic, team mule (what if that had been Mitch Payton in a mule with no protective roll bar?) or other equipment traveling at a very slow rate of speed is the problem here.
And Mr. Albertson, that is also a great suggestion.
DC
MX Sports
My disappointment is centered around the fact that many safety issues go unaddressed and yet this one which is centered around obstacles that are not difficult or dangerous seems to have gotten your undivided attention. How about addressing things like huge jumps like LaRoccos Leap, that a 250F shouldn't be doing, yet you know some young buck is going to come along and go for it out of bravdo and the stupidity of youth. When he shorts it and looks up at the medic and says, dude I can't feel my legs. Then what? How about the internal injuries that this sport endures because the top Pro's aren't required to wear any sort of core protection? Why not have Doc form a committee of other Dr.'s and address that problem? Or simply how about addressing ANY open gap jump on your race courses as being dangerous? Everyone knows it isn't any more difficult to jump a 60 ft gap than it is to jump a 60ft table yet the price for coming up 4ft short on a gap jump can be horrifically high. Why is the gap there, to look more spectacular for the "fans" of course... DC the list could go on and on.
To answer your direct question: as a matter of fact I do spend time thinking about the safety of riders. I have to, its part of my responsibilities too. Would I be angry and scared if I saw what happened to Doc? Hell ya! I also would have let the mud dry and let him settle down and then go over and ask him what the hell are you doing driving on the track with the mule? Because that is the real issue. What if Doc had driven down Mt. St. Helen in the mule gotten sideways in the mud and flipped his way down to the bottom? Would you grade the hill or take it out? With regards to Langston and the other parade lap incidents, why not eliminate parade laps? Maybe you should replace them with a parade lap walk... Just kinda borders on overkill doesn't it? Particularly when the real answer is to pay attention and understand what you do can bite you. Hard.
I understand you have genuine compassion and feeling about the riders in the series. You hate to see them injured at all, I get it. I feel the same way. I just would prefer that if issues are going to be addressed the real one's are.
The issue is when people are NOT racing but are on the track for other reasons and aren't necessarily paying attention to what they are doing or where they are. Unlike other types of jumps, a dropoff isn't visible as you approach it. Depending on the lighting conditions, it can look just like smooth track ahead.
Chalking lines on the dirt like a basepath is the most obvious, simple way to mark the danger between motos. It does mean you have to have one of the little line marker deals at each jump and a guy who will run across the track a couple of times with it as soon as every practice or moto is over.
Simple solution. Pay fucking attention. You are making excuses for people fucking up. If someone ran into a tent pole because they weren't paying attention would you remove all the tents or cover the poles in foam?
You are saying the ABSOLUTE stupidest shit. I tried to find out what would spark someone to say such stupid shit...but, you got all sassy like a little bitch.
How's this...they are changing the fucking jump you piece of shit. Don't like it? Fuck off. You are not needed.
Bottom line I don't care if they change it or not, there will still be someone that screws up and gets hurt doing something else. Is that the type of guy you are?
all the revver is tyring to say is that the problem was a mule was on the track and that these are professional motocross racers and should know the track bump for bump race speed or not.
don't forget Jimmy Button guys...parade lap! but there have been whoops ever since...
i do agree with safety but there has to be a line drawn to be able to do your job. i deal with it at my own job. for safety statistics sake whenever someone gets hurt doing something the task or tool is smothered with red tape preventing you from being able to do your job and sooner or later we will be getting paid to show up cause we won't be able to do anything for the sake of getting hurt.
i also agree that there are bigger fish to fry addressing bigger problems such as do or die gaps on a race course...
bag away! i'm done
Pit Row
WORCSRacer wrote: "EXAMINE THE FACTS Doc Bodnar IGNORED several radio warning calls, that he admits to hearing, about drop off and drove off it anyway. Doc is a great guy and obviously smart but this was stupid on his part and he admits it. I am certain he isn't complaining that they are to dangerous. Langston's get off a week ago had exactly the same cause he brainfarted forgot it was there and then wadded. oops. Both of these were stupid mistakes. As close to stupid as the crashes is DC coming on here and apologizing and looking for a way to make something that isn't dangerous "safer". DC you want to make the sport safer? Worry about 4th gear tapped 120' footers that have a wheelchair waiting for you if you screw it up. That would be worth your time, this isn't."
WORCSRacer, I think you are being a bit HARSH in your response. I did not IGNORE "several" radio warning calls, I was already moving down the hill and I didn't even realize Eddie was talking to me (there are always several conversations going on the same channel at once). I was talking to a Team Manager and the ONE short message wasn't even picked up by my brain until my front wheels were already on the way down.
I was trying to get to the bottom of the track (where Alessi had his fall previously) in between practices, down the track where I had gone many times previously (the drop-off wasn't there the day before!), as there were vehicles in the normal path. I had already surveyed the track, as not to run over any deep rider lines (see photo) and yes, I was trying to get to my spot quickly as not to delay practice. Was it an accident? Yes. Was it done because I IGNORED a warning? Give me a break! I made a mistake in a part of the track that was recently changed and I wasn't aware.
I have only the UTMOST respect for Davey Coombs and MX Sports, as they have been aggressively pursuing ways to make the tracks safer EVERY WEEK! I applaud them for their efforts, and as these posts demonstrate, he is not afraid to look at the issues and correct them. MX Sports should be proud of their hard work and dedication, and believe me, there are many more issues that will undoubtedly come up in racing that will need re-evaluation as the season progresses, and they will handle them with the same openness and honesty that they have shown in the past. Fix things and move on, that always works for me!
I have never attempted to go down Mt. St. Helen's, but I am sure it would be a rush! I have gone down Shoei Hill to attend to riders and luckily have never crashed before. All of us working on an active track know the risks of getting injured by a wayward bike and rider (especially flaggers) but we take the risk every week (ask Jake Weimer) and look for ways to always improve. And yes, we are human and make mistakes. Luckily, I learned from mine and didn't find myself on the disabled list.
Doc Bodnar
Most of the bullshit is just attacks on D.C. and the typical grandstanding of I got an ear and will bend it because I can brag about it to my cronies.
PS: DC, any chance of MX Sports taking over the operation of SX any time soon?
First and foremost I am so glad you're OK. Great call on the seat-belts too. Safety is and should be DC and anyone involved with MX Sports priority. You guys do a fantastic job. I'm sorry if I was too harsh on you I know its not that you're "stupid" but you have to admit things get foggy with excitement and adrenaline pumping, it was a mistake plain and simple. I doubt you'd ever make it again.
The real question for me through all of this is why the "drop off" when there are so many other issues that (IMO) need to be addressed as a more clear and present danger to the safety of the riders and the sport. i.e. development or research to better protect riders from internal injuries, huge gap jumps... I'd like to know what you think.
Thanks again for all your hard work and professionalism.
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