did I jump the start? (video)

[jp233]

ok so I got meatballed at VIR in the USGPRU 250 race. I never saw the meatball flag and got docked a lap, costing me 5th (or maybe 6th, I dunno if a guy got by me right at the stripe) place, which would have brought me $150-175 in purse money, plus contingency etc.

I sure didn't see the meatball flag coming around on the first lap, and after that its pretty ridiculous to look up at the starter box at VIR when you are trying to make the kink on the front "straight".

IMHO the meatball flag should be displayed way further up hot pit wall, where you could see it exiting turn 17 and look for your number just in case.

a few people have told me that during the race the announcer made the mistake of saying the wrong number jumped the start,,,,,

seems to me CCS didn't know what the hell was going on and if anyone at all jumped the start.

here's the video. I'm in the middle of the second row, bright yellow helmet. I did get a pretty good flyer of a start but it looks to me like I WENT WITH EVERYONE ELSE, didn't jump it at all.

LOOKS TO ME LIKE I SURE AS HELL DIDNT JUMP THE START
 >:( >:( >:( >:( >:(



discuss.  :-X I'm pretty pissed off, I ran a hard frickin race for nothing as I officially got 13th place.

I am at a loss as to see why any official would say I, #233,  jumped the start.

[jchase]

pat, sure as hell looks like a good start to me!
        justin

[Super Dave]

Can't see much from that distance.  And I certainly can't see a flag...

But, what are you going to do?

There is no replay.

[fiptas]

Dude I feel your pain, I was docked a lap, not given a meatball or anything on the 4th restart of race #9 after battling from the back to 2nd... twice.  I didn't jump the start. I was right next to the tower and when his arm went, I went. Not sure what there system is, or if they require 3 people to confirm, but one thing is for sure they got it wrong several times this weekend. Personally I'm not in a points race and I know who I beat on the track and who I couldn't catch. That's all that matters to me, but I hope they get it sorted out because they ran a pretty tight event other than the start's.

[jp233]

Can't see a flag but did I jump before ANY other bike on the grid?

If anyone it was the person who stalled their bike, that one looked like it lurched forward before any other bike did.

What am I going to do? Stay pissed off for now because I don't believe I jumped the start.

What else am I going to do? Still let the whole world see.

What ELSE am I going to do? Once again be dissappointed with CCS.

[PJ721]

uh cant tell if you jumped..but at VIR the meatball flag and number board are at the base of the flagstand at ground level... not up in the starter box...and you can be meatballed for other things at the start...not in the right grid spot...too far up on the grid ect....doesnt matter what the announcer says..all you had to do is ask the race officals what it was for...they would've told you..

[nfcracin]

PJ721 may be right
 it looks like you  may have been gridded to far forward for beeing in the 2nd row

[jp233]

i went to timing and scoring after I found out i was meatballed.

Kevin himself said I jumped the start ,and didnt see the flag, and didnt come in.

as far as lining up, I lined up even with the guy on th left of me, I couldnt see the #2 cone since he was in the way of me seeing it. so I lined up with him, and started the race.

i seriously doubt the number board was there for the first lap around, or 2. like i said during the first few laps the announcer read the wrong number off over the loudspeaker, so I dont think it was displayed until a few laps into the race,

who the hell is looking for a meatball after 3-5 laps ?
 ???

[Chuck]

If you jumped the start so did half that field....but you can't see the flag to tell.

[PJ721]

who the hell is looking for a meatball after 3-5 laps ?
 ???

I thought we all did...you can get meatballed for other things during the race...cant you?

[jp233]

If you jumped the start so did half that field....but you can't see the flag to tell.

If I jumped the start, so did the WHOLE FUKKING FIELD. My point exactly.

And as for a meatball, if you are looking after 5 laps of the race gone by, then you aren't focusing enough on actually racing.

Per the rulebook the meatball flag is not protestable, and they only have to show it once. so if CCS screws up then the racer pays the price, period.

[TZ_Boy]

  The video doesn't lie.  The guy that stalled jumped the start.  The next person to move was on the front row in front of you, then the rest of the 1st and 2nd row moved.  You were lined up in front of the person to your right and the guy on your left got a crap start possibly making it look like you jumped the start when viewed from the side.  If you watch it frame by frame it is obvious you did not jump.

  It is still your responsibility to see the meatball.

  Are you coming to Autobahn for USGPRU?