stupid hurts.. this is what NOT TO DO when your bike dies on the grid! ! !

[roadracer162]

Thing isyou find out when the bike doesn't move at the green and it's already too late at that point...this is almost a worst case scenario...unless you are really lucky and see/have a neutral indicator led a split second ahead of tiem...then wave...otherwise it's over before you have a chance to do anything about it

btw absolute worst case in my mind...bike launches in first and you miss second and get neutral...did that once and ty bruce for missing me lol (on a lightweight first don't last too long lol)

...and it is why I believe it should be instinctive to put a hand up if it all possible instead of trying to make a correction. Could it be avoided? Well yeah, but mistakes or missed shifts happen sometimes. Having it as instinct instead of a thought process cuts down on reaction time. We can't be trusted to always make the correct choice, so to me the best choice is warn everyone as soon as possible that there is a problem.

[apriliaman]

I usually have it in gear on the 3 board.I launch my bike from around 3k even the Sv and sometimes I do real good and other times not.

[roadracer162]

I usually have it in gear on the 3 board.I launch my bike from around 3k even the Sv and sometimes I do real good and other times not.

Definitely the test and tune night at the local drag strip can be very helpful, but shit happens sometimes on the road race course.

[twilkinson3]

...and it is why I believe it should be instinctive to put a hand up if it all possible instead of trying to make a correction. Could it be avoided? Well yeah, but mistakes or missed shifts happen sometimes. Having it as instinct instead of a thought process cuts down on reaction time. We can't be trusted to always make the correct choice, so to me the best choice is warn everyone as soon as possible that there is a problem.

Totally agree on that point Mark

On the subject of SV launches....north of 5k south of 7.5k on the tach, 2 feet down behind the pegs drag style chest over tank whole hand on the clutch...rest of the race I'm a 2 finger clutch guy

[Jwhite316]

Greg, last season during my first race weekend I stalled my bike on the front row of the rookies cup race. All I could remember was Rick Brewer saying if that happened to wave your arms like crazy and stay where you are. I did both and can tell you it was the longest 20 seconds of my life sitting there with bikes ripping by on both sides. I ended up getting sideswiped by one rider which spun my right clip-on forward. The spun clipon put the front brake on and after everyone was gone I ended up dropping my bike right in the middle of the track trying to get the bike off track. The biggest blow was to my ego, I felt terrible putting a bunch of guys in that position. Rick's words during our licensing clinic probably saved my life and someone else's that day. I'll never forget that lesson.

I remember this quite vividly, I took the school the day before the rookies cup race and I saw that you had stalled on the grid.  I came within a couple feet of you, needless to say I had to change my underwear for the next race! Rick did a great job of explaining the importance of throwing your arms up, you are much more visible and also you have less of a chance of having your arms getting torn off!  Its much easier to avoid something that is not moving as opposed to a bike that is moving.  Glad you made it through ok!