| Author | Message | ||
     Rodrob |
Normally I am very happy with the way Motoyard runs their track days, but I have to say that today was very different. The guy who ran me off the track after the exit of turn six, at Willow Springs had absolutely no business being on the track with A riders. Not only did he park it in the corners, but he had no idea of how or why to hold a line. As I started to pass him on the outside with at least 8 feet of clearance coming down the hill out of turn six, he glanced at me and immediately moved to the left, closing the gap between us. As I was under acceleration and leaned over at over 100mph, my only option was to move to the left as well. My front tire dropped into the rut at the edge of the track which launched me off the bike. Luckily I landed on the side of the bike and I literally rode it as it slid down the track. My right foot however, was pinned under the bike which cause a very painful injury to my ankle. As you can see, there is at least $2500 damage to the bike as the frame has to be replaced. The hole that I plugged with JB weld to get home, was leaking fuel everywhere. Just luck that I didn't burst into flames siding down the track. I tell you all of this to illuminate the importance of having "Marshals" on the track who are paying attention, especially in the first couple of sessions, to make sure that riders are riding in the appropriate group and not creating an unnecessarily dangerous condition. This guy should have been pulled off on his first lap and moved to the C group where he belonged. So be careful out there at track days and if you encounter a rider in a group beyond their ability, stay the f@#$ away from them and ask the organizers to move them to the correct group. Thanks to Taylor Made Racing for saving my stator housing. Now, where was it I can find those Uly frame sliders?  | ||
| Dannybuell |
Are you OK? | ||
| Rodrob |
As I said, my ankle hurts like hell. Don't think it's broken, just a bad sprain. Hopefully no severe ligament or tendon damage. Thanks for asking. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Did the pod not protect the frame? Frustrating when people move up before they know what they are doing... | ||
| Rodrob |
One of the drawbacks of the Gen2 Flexiglass Race Farings, is that they offer no frame protection because they are much narrower; the price for aerodynamics. | ||
| Rt_performance |
wow man glad it wasn't worse. That sounds and looks like a nasty wreck. with as much damage as it looks might be cheaper to buy another 1125 and us it for parts | ||
| Sprintst |
Nobody wins being in the wrong group easy to blame this guy, but imagine being in over your head Still, sounds like he should have just pulled off and let people by Good to hear you didn't get hurt, the bike can be fixe (Message edited by sprintst on September 17, 2011) | ||
| Smoke |
damn Rob, that sucks! ebay for parts or maybe a salvage bike to get you back up. heal quick! tim | ||
| Mark_1 |
Sorry to hear that Rob.. hope you are ok Mark | ||
| Stirz007 |
I think "B" group is the scariest. "A" group wannabe's and "C" group ego guys. I try to run "A" depending on track configuration and head count, but I'm a little slower and don't want to get in the way, so sometimes I'll run "B". I've had more close calls in "B" group than "A" for sure. I had two crashes this year and one was definitely due to a guy who didn't belong in the group - he just had to pass by late breaking into a turn on the inside line, overshot, and pushed me all the way off track (I was on outside line), ending in a spectacular cartwheel on my part. I was the second guy he did this to in the same session - fortunately, they pulled him off after the session. Unfortunately, I had already wadded up with $500 in damage. Bummer - glad you were able to limp away. | ||
| Philp |
Sorry this happened and I hope you and the bike mend well. Most track day sponsors here (Houston area) will not let riders move into L3/Grp A without an evaluation. It should be that way everywhere. | ||
| Albert666 |
i agree with stirz i'm ok ish fast enough in group 1 as we call it over here (slowest) but i have reservations about moving up into group 2 as this always seems to be where the most incidents are, i'm never gonna be fast enough for group 3 so maybe i'll just stay in 1, although i have to say the track day company i use don't mess about, its very well organised and marshalled, you screw up or ride dangerously you get black flagged and a talking to, you do it again, you go home, simple as, they always have around 6 instructors riding around in any session as well to keep an eye on things, and most events a decent well known racer giving instruction too, for a price of course | ||
| Rodrob |
I don't believe Motoyard requires any kind of approval to ride in Group A (fastest), which I think is a huge mistake. If you have not ridden in Group A previously, some proof of capability should be required. If none can be provided, then there should be an audition round. Many racers come out to the Friday before race weekend track days, so there are very fast guys in the group. I came up on this guy so fast the first time that I almost did a stoppie to keep from running up his tailpipe and I'm not the fastest guy out there by any means. I kept my distance behind him through turns 3, 4a-b, 5 and 6 before starting the pass down th back straight. While I don't fault him for being an inexperienced rider, I do fault him for entering a group that is very clearly labeled as "Very fast paced, for experienced track riders/racers only". What was he thinking? Only after I started lapping the B group guys did I move up to A. | ||
| Al_lighton |
That sucks, Rob..sorry to hear it. Uly pucks here: http://www.americansportbike.com/shoponline/ccp0-p rodshow/17125.html It's one thing to be in a group that is faster than you, it's totally another to not know it and ride accordingly. I've ridden in the A group before (Inside Pass days, only slots open and generally more access to the 1125 bikes), but really have no business being in A, I'm a mid B guy at best. But if you know you're slower than the field, you give up the race line and hold it. There's no excuse for not holding an outside line that can be passed easily if you're a backmarker. The control riders should have booted that guy back. But I do agree with what others have written. I felt much safer as the backmarker in A while riding accordingly (even at the Infineon Inside Pass day, where 90% of the A riders were AFM guys on their numbered race bikes, and they were WAY faster than me) than I often do in B. The wannabe A riders in B can be very scary, especially if they're dicing it up with some similar wannabe A buds. It's THOSE guys that I wish the control riders would do more talking to. You can often tell who's gonna crash LONG before they do, it's their job to talk to those guys before it happens. Al | ||
| Nm5150 |
I just bought a pair of frame pucks from Al at American Sportbike and the service was great.Bout 45 mins. after I placed my order on line I got a call and it was Al asking me if I had an 1125R because if I did I had just ordered the wrong frame pucks.So I just told him to send me the right ones and all of my stuff I needed after my crash last week end was here in time for this week end.After I later ordered a fairing bracket he even shot me an e-mail that said he figured I rigged something up to make my track day this week because I didn't order second day air and he wanted to be sure I didn't need it here before the week end.If I need it and Al has it that is where I will buy it.That is the best service I have had in a long time!BTW my ankle got a little twisted in my low side too.I bought a pair of ankle braces at Dick's Sporting Goods that will fit in my boots and have plastic supports on each side.I will know how they work after tomorrow.My pods did a good job but I still bent a handle bar and both clutch and brake lever and fairing bracket.I plan on running in the B group tomorrow as I took the road racing school last week end and we were running so much faster that the C group they moved us up.We went out with the C group at first because there were not as many riders but we were lapping them about 4 or 5 times a session so we changed after lunch.Then I had my ass handed to me in the curves in the rain by a 12 year old on a 125 2 stroke Honda race bike with racing rain tires on it!He was the only other one taking the race school that day and I let him know that was most cool.I could have passed him in the straights but he was going faster in the curves in the rain so I just hung out behind him the rest of that session and got him back when it dried up.I was running street tires.What a blast! | ||
| Nitto12ss |
Dam man that sucks, guess I wont be seeing you at streets on the 26th. | ||
| Rodrob |
Depends on the ankle. I'll have the bike back together next week. Ankle will probably be a few weeks. At 58, healing fast is a thing of the past.  (Message edited by Rodrob on September 18, 2011) | ||
| Dannybuell |
Have you raced your entire adult life? Is this the first accident in recent years? | ||
| Rodrob |
This is my second season racing. I bought my 1125r in 09 and it is my first sportbike. I have a V-rod that I bought in 06 which was my first motorcycle. I had ridden dirt bikes every now and then in my early 20's. I've had several crashes over the last 2 seasons. A couple of which were equipment failures, the rest were rider error. All lowsides. Broke my hand and got lots of rash in the first crash. Thanks to changing to a Motoport Kevlar suit, I have had 0 injuries since then, until now. If I were not wearing Sidi boots, I'm sure may ankle would be much worse. The outer plastic/metal guards of the boot are completely ground down, but not through. If you want to see more of my story, go to - http://www.crotchrocket.tv/ |
