Posts
287
Joined
7/22/2011
Location
Tampa, FL
US
Thor34103
11/21/2019 11:44am
11/21/2019 11:44am
Edited Date/Time
11/24/2019 9:02pm
Instead of the NASCAR model where spotters are used, MX and SX could use radios as an alternative to pit boards. Having the coverage only in the vicinity of the mechanics would be a 21st century upgrade to the present archaic 20th century pit boards.
Good idea or unnecessary?
Good idea or unnecessary?
Id be interested to hear how it went. I must have missed it.
The Shop
Strikes me that looking straight ahead while receiving a 2 second update from your mechanic would be safer than current system.
It was chaos. Final 450 motor, John Short lost control coming through the corner and came over the railings, hit a tv screen and almost nailed Will Christien and myself. I doubt many rider where looking at their pitboard while trying to negotiate their way safely round the corner.
Without doubt, they need to look at the mechanic stations...they cannot have them on entries or exits of corners.
Fine to run radio comms but I see the pitboard as the primary sauce of comms going ahead.
What critical thing is a mechanic really going to tell his rider, I mean, if you are leading keep up the good work, if you are not, then get your ass in gear.
Why is it a good thing that a rider can be told to cruise in third place because he has the overall wrapped up at a triple crown?
All individual radios are going to do is give another advantage to teams with a budget and multiple spotters.
Let the promoters broadcast to riders. they can give safety alerts, top five running order, and laps remaining. Anything else is clutter
It's tough to unlearn something you've been taught as a kid. That glance at the pit board is a learned skill just like anything else.
In order for pro-riders to adopt it, they would need to implement at the amateur level first.
Have mercy on mini-kids when mini-dads can scream at them thru a headset. I'll let you decide if that's a good idea or not.
Most mechanics areas are in acceleration zones.
I think a lot of folks thought because it was being used there it was cleared for the 2020 season and beyond. I haven't heard of any change there...at least yet.
I completely agree with JustMX's point that the current mechanics area does make the sport look rinky dink or being as polite as possible. there has to be a better way than the current system. Let's make changes before a cartwheeling bike does serious damage to a mechanic or TV crew member.
I personally would prefer transponder based communication, a.k.a. when your rider crosses a marker entering/leaving the pit area the communication is allowed/ended. If your transponder is fudged than you have time to contemplate the poor quality of electronics that comes from forced labor in china for next 30 or so minutes.
If you just go by distance it can cause some funky midlap transfers depending on the layout of track.
"Without doubt, they need to look at the mechanic stations...they cannot have them on entries or exits of corners"
By comparison, look at the MXGP mechanics. They all have their own booth or pit stop area located down a long straight. No disrespect intended to the US series but I do believe this is one area where the US series is lacking. Be it pit boards or radio comms, the pull- in / signaling area needs to be on straights. Furthermore, some may prefer radio comms but a pit board can show in detail the important info without a long dialogue via comms.
We get a small a area where convenient. We looking at 40 pit boards plus the bigger teams have 5 + guys down there with Mules / side x sides...
I do believe there is room for big improvement in this regard. Maybe DC can chime in here?
Post a reply to: Radio communications in mechanics area only