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

[MELK-MAN]

Totally agree Jen and Robby. I gave them the benefit of the doubt when i first went down there to discuss what happened. I had one side of the story from pretty much everyone else that said he simply never moved, and never raised his hand. But his buddy was insisting he did, and that the grid marshal should have stopped anyway because he and the rider to his side were in reverse grid spots.. STUPID STUPID STUPID. That was what i was thinking in my head when he said that along with some other stuff, and i said so but in a more diplomatic manner. It was clear pretty soon that there was no hope for his buddy, that was ignorant AND stupid on this matter. The rider SORT of stated to me he raised his had, but he didn't push that fact much and i soon had my doubts.. After rider accounts, ON BOARD VIDEO and now the word of officials at the wall, we have the truth..

KEEP YOURSELF AND OTHERS SAFE OUT THERE. Show up for riders meetings, ask questions to experienced racers and officials. As King Kenny Robers said.. (in regard to roadracing)  "you can end up seriously DEAD"..

[Xian_13]

it was the same rider, but in his defense on that matter (from what he and his buddy said) the brakes were locked up. This is what had led to his crash earlier on Friday. They said the master cyl was faulty.. he tried to push the bike, but no go so he just laid the bike down.

That would explain it, sort of.

The question I had, is this not covered in the licensing school?
In the midwest, they run the school on the Saturday of all events..
When are the schools for the south?

Whatever the case, I hope others can learn for these riders.

-X

[hamurobby]

I was directly across from him at the start, at pit wall. He did raise his hand, like he was saying im okay and ready, about 10 inches above his left handlebar. NEVER waived, just lifted up, then down. I was standing directly across from him watching this. I then looked at his right hand, which was not wrapped around the throttle ready to start. His thumb was on the starter button as they all launched... After the crash (es) I jumped over the wall and went directly to him and grabbed the bike from him which was in the (race line). I told him to get into the grass and tried to get his bike out of the way because I wanted to clear the race line just in case the expert grid came through turn 9 before the red flag. Safety first for all the other racers. I want to say I learned alot from watching this. If I am to be a grid marshal or part of anything to do with ccs, I want to make it as safe and fun for everyone as possible, just as a racer would want. I do want to add, though, if you are a racer gridded behind the front rows, be prepared for anything. I have been at the back of AM grids, and I have had to avoid all kinds of mishaps. DO NOT align yourself behind someone in the row in front of you. ALWAYS LEAVE YOURSELF AN OUT, MEANING, GIVE YOURSELF A LINE TO TAKE. DO not assume all is well on a start or in the first turn or two. At Daytona, I was mid pack on a start, and we went into turn one and I looked to my left and there was a bike going to t-bone me. I stood the bike up and braked and he missed me and hit my #1 competitor in the rear wheel. I won the race because I was AWARE of my surroundings.  DONT BE A VICTIM of other peoples mistakes. And what ever you do, do not make anyone suffer from yours! (right Greg!) lol (t8 at homestead) :)

[MELK-MAN]

still owe you one from T8 Robby.. didn't that Carona i gave you square us up ?? LOL !

[MELK-MAN]

That would explain it, sort of.

The question I had, is this not covered in the licensing school?
In the midwest, they run the school on the Saturday of all events..
When are the schools for the south?

Whatever the case, I hope others can learn for these riders.

-X

same. You have a license school prior to the event just like up there where you are. This rider was NOT a brand new rider. Am rider?? sure.. but not brand new. And they discuss grid issues in the RIDERS MEETING every event.. this guy is just clueless in my opinion , and really should go back to track days for a bit as i suggested to him at least for awhile..  (but fell on deaf ears).

[hamurobby]

Of course! and that was me being stupid, and not seeing PJ Jacobson on the 250 stalling in front of you. (in mwgp). I owe some other guys who followed me in there who missed me a few Coronas. I still have The helmet that has a tire mark on it from that crash from Grub (Matt) and Alex Minnaci, who both missed me by inches on both sides as we all ran off....it was hairy good times...  ::)

[hamurobby]

To think for one minute when you "graduate" from racing school you are completely prepared and ready to race and make all the right decisions is foolish at best. There are so many dynamics in racing nothing can prepare you for every scenario. Caution and experience is the only path to success in this sport. Even at best, you can only hope things will work out well, because we do not do this because it is a Disney adventure, it is quite daring at the least.

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

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 clipped flyboy on the start. 2 other lw guys in front of me swerved one way, I had to go the other. Hanging off and still clipped his bike with my elbow. Next 2 laps was basically thinking to myself "why the hell am I out here?". 8yrs off from racing and the first race back, clipped someone on the start. Was pretty rattled for a bit. Not an 20 yr old kid anymore.   Flyboy, I thought I clipped your arm and was hoping like hell I didnt break it or anything. Too bad I didnt have my gopro turned on for that race. I keep forgetting to turn the silly thing on half the time.

[Kadius]

Hey everyone, that's my video that Greg posted (with my permission, of course). I'm the guy that clipped the stalled rider. Very unnerving incident and I suppose I was the luckiest out of all those involved on the start of that race as I was able to continue racing after that. The other rider that hit the stalled rider was ok physically. He was pitted near me and seemed to be in generally good spirits as he packed up his bike. I hope the rider I hit was ok as I never got around to seeing him after the incident. Perhaps I should have.


After reading a few posts in here and a lot of good points made, I reviewed my video to see if there was something I could have done different in that situation, but I had no visibility of that bike at all until the last split second. Not trying to push any fault of mine off of me, but I just don't think I had time to react any differently as I was coming up on that other rider that avoided the stalled rider very fast.

[MELK-MAN]

I don't think you could have done anything Jason, as circumstances were set in motion after it was certain his bike was not moving when the green flag flew. I pointed out earlier, had that stalled rider put his hands up..waiving.. the bike blocking your view would have swerved right away, as he would have KNOWN the stalled guy was not going to go. This would have given you TWO ROWS of distance to take evasive action, not a few yards.

[supercarl]

Question....HYPOTHETICALLY let's say I accidently leave my bike in neutral at the start of the race only to realize it after the green flag drops (MAYYY have done this from the back row my first amateur weekend  ::)  lol). Is it better to start waiving frantically and hope for the best or drop the bike in gear really fast and try to get the start off?
I did the later and almost flipped the thing in a wheelie cause I dumped the clutch so fast. Luckily I was in the back row so it wasnt an issue, but I feel like this might be good to know for future reference.

[MELK-MAN]

Question....HYPOTHETICALLY let's say I accidently leave my bike in neutral at the start of the race only to realize it after the green flag drops (MAYYY have done this from the back row my first amateur weekend  ::)  lol). Is it better to start waiving frantically and hope for the best or drop the bike in gear really fast and try to get the start off?
I did the later and almost flipped the thing in a wheelie cause I dumped the clutch so fast. Luckily I was in the back row so it wasnt an issue, but I feel like this might be good to know for future reference.

it really depends on the situation.. and glad for yours it worked out mostly ok. This is where it comes down to preparation and focusing on the race start.
I don't think you would have time to think about what to do actually, and if the bike didn't go.. would you really have time to say "ok, it's in neutral, get it in gear".. You MIGHT be better served to already have in your mind that if you ever have any issue, to throw your hands up. That said, I am not sure what i would do if in that situation. I just might try to jam it in gear and feed the clutch as i am confident in my machinery, and would know that it had to be in neutral if i am not moving.. but who knows. I was in that situation in December at Homestead.. I got caught a little off guard but did get the bike into gear BEFORE the start, but wasn't totally prepared, thus bogged a bit when the flag did go. Fernando silva came from the inside row downward and clipped the back wheel of my bike while Nico F. got a great launch from row 2. I got hit from the right side and it broke the muffler hanger and hit my front brake lever folding it straight up. Fernando crashed but we really don't know why he veerred left in the first place.. luckily nobody ran him over but it was scary. In ten years of racing that was the first time i ever even mildly botched a start .. it happens.

You HAVE to have a steady routine that you just go through without having to think much. I drop my bike into first when the 2 board goes up, then with 3 fingers feed the clutch out a tad to ensure it's in gear. I won't put it into neutral unless Jennifer or Tim abort the start. Then i do my routine again.. I keep TWO feet on the ground and hold the bike footpegs behind my boots, but many start with one foot on a peg. In MX dirt bike racin, i see guys hold the bike with the front brake. I don't think thats a great idea, and i don't personally know anyone that does it in roadracing.