Hampton Downs: is there an issue?

[MSTRS:Me]

So this is the first death at HD? At a place that motorcyclists have been warning about? That, right there, should be enough for the track owners to make some changes at that point to reduce the risk. Whether the track owners are negligent, in not addressing this before, is a matter of conjecture. But if they do nothing, now, then they will be.
Like all such events, there is no one thing to be pointed at, as the cause. And of all the myriad factors that could/were involved, the only one that can be changed is 'point of impact'.

[Robert Taylor]

So this is the first death at HD? At a place that motorcyclists have been warning about? That, right there, should be enough for the track owners to make some changes at that point to reduce the risk. Whether the track owners are negligent, in not addressing this before, is a matter of conjecture. But if they do nothing, now, then they will be.
Like all such events, there is no one thing to be pointed at, as the cause. And of all the myriad factors that could/were involved, the only one that can be changed is 'point of impact'.

When you say ''myriad factors involved'' I believe more than point of impact can be changed.

There is an issue with the finish line as proven by Craig Shirriffs and James Smith during the Nationals. Can anyone confirm if that has been sorted?

Yes that bump is a challenge but Im against all the blame being accorded to the track owners. One fatality is one fatality too many but have there been multiple injuries and fatalities as a result of that bump?

The thought Id like to instil or rather the question to raise is how many accidents are caused by machine setup that is a little ''wanting''??

It is indeed totally correct that myriad factors would have been involved.

[DMack]

I can confirm that the start finish line issue has not been addressed fully - amcc F1's 3 weeks ago I had it pinned to pass another rider on the line, then ended up playing sand castles at the beach on turn 1...., easy to reflect back on and think doh we know about the issue what was i thinking, but should we have to slow before the line - i think not. Other than that i love HD. My 2c worth.

[c4.]

Great day today.
i think the track is NOT a villain
ride at your own ' managed risk '
Or don't.
up to you.
mho
c4

[Robert Taylor]

I can confirm that the start finish line issue has not been addressed fully - amcc F1's 3 weeks ago I had it pinned to pass another rider on the line, then ended up playing sand castles at the beach on turn 1...., easy to reflect back on and think doh we know about the issue what was i thinking, but should we have to slow before the line - i think not. Other than that i love HD. My 2c worth.

Fully in agreeance there Damien. It was emphatically proven 8 months ago that the finish line is in the wrong place.

Why has HD management appear to have done nothing about it????

[Bykmad]

The start line has been moved back by 50 metres. This is plainly evident by the sand blast marks on the circuit.

[Kickaha]

Fully in agreeance there Damien. It was emphatically proven 8 months ago that the finish line is in the wrong place.

Do the cars have the same issue?

Even on the sidecar where our speed is slower than the Superbikes we can't cross the finish line at full throttle and make T1

[PirateJafa]

The start line has been moved back by 50 metres. This is plainly evident by the sand blast marks on the circuit.

I thought that was from the last time the sidecars went around?

[Cr1MiNaL]

I thought that was from the last time the sidecars went around?

No AMCC clearly moved the start finish back half way. The start / finish line is not the issue. That has been rectified, I speak from personal experience. The issue or debate here is about the hump just before the front straight. I love the feeling of flying over it but I didn't realise the consequences were that severe if you got it wrong going round there. It's just like Puke. Not that it's going to stop me, I just feel with all the diggers and equiptment there already, now would be a good time as any to even it out before the next round - which happens to be exactly a month away today, were having some great weather.

[CHOPPA]

No AMCC clearly moved the start finish back half way. The start / finish line is not the issue. That has been rectified, I speak from personal experience. .

Maybe at your speed but it clearly wasnt at Damiens....

[Devil]

The start/finish line thing is entirely up to who is running the event. There is another line that can be used. If you dont like what your club is doing, tell them.

There's many tracks around the world that start in one position, then have the finish line back a short distance.

[Kickaha]

The start/finish line thing is entirely up to who is running the event. There is another line that can be used. If you dont like what your club is doing, tell them.

There's many tracks around the world that start in one position, then have the finish line back a short distance.

How does that work with the transponder system?

Won't the loop be under the start/finish that is used now?

[suzuki21]

My condolences go out to Tims family.

An expert analysis of the setup of the bike will I think tell the story of why as I heard the bike got into quite a tankslapper. Its all about setting the bike up for the demands the circuit places upon it. If the setup of the bike was in some way deficient then that would explian rather a lot

An analysis will only show so much. One mans good setup will be really fucked up for someone else, so who decides if it is bad? If his steering dampener is nearly wound right off is that bad for everyone? Was the slapper caused by holding the bars too tight for example.

[Biggles08]

An analysis will only show so much. One mans good setup will be really fucked up for someone else, so who decides if it is bad? If his steering dampener is nearly wound right off is that bad for everyone? Was the slapper caused by holding the bars too tight for example.

I think he was referring to front suspension set up Suzuki21

[Robert Taylor]

An analysis will only show so much. One mans good setup will be really fucked up for someone else, so who decides if it is bad? If his steering dampener is nearly wound right off is that bad for everyone? Was the slapper caused by holding the bars too tight for example.

The bike didnt have a steering damper. If the setting is seriously f...ed up on any bike then its no good for anyone.