How not to ride at the track - Hampton Rider Skills Day

**Big Dave** · 21st January 2014, 19:13

Originally Posted by nodrog

then we wouldn't exist bro!

Notta root.

**Hoon** · 22nd January 2014, 11:05

Originally Posted by argada

Analyzing the video footage after the fact (safely behind your computer screen), you can "easily" see how the triumph could have avoided an accident.

He was braking - which unfortunately put himself in collision path with the down-ed bike and rider, and the grass seemed a better option than potentially running over another rider. If he maintained his speed - things would have been fine. BUT lets be honest here - if a bike goes down right in front of you, it'll be hard not to brake. Most people don't encounter this type of sh!t every day you know!

First watch I thought the same too but after looking closer I think we are being a little harsh. The front wreck was shepherding him to the outside of the track and was already blocking his intended line. To avoid he would've had to go dangerously off line to the left (a suicide line in itself) and expecting anyone to keep the gas on in that situation with the approaching grass/wall and wreck on your right squeezing you even closer is a big ask. Even if you did get passed you are still faced with a just as difficult snap right turn at speed to stay on the track.

Yes watching the video we can see that there might be enough space to squeeze around and still make the turn but the rider doesn't have the luxury of foresight nor time to decide. I'd say that anyone WITHOUT the balls and experience of a National level racer would have similarly come unstuck in that situation.

What I quickly learned from racing is that in survival situations like this you either go 100% or you slow 100%, there's no in between. The worst thing you can do is back off/coast to see what happens as this quickly narrows down your options and likelihood of them succeeding. Once the rider backed off, the "making it around" option was off the table. Alternatively if he e-braked instead, he would've opened more options - including losing the front and ending up in the wall anyway

I was impressed with how the rider still continued to downshift as he was skipping across the grass. My clutch hand would've been locked just as tight as my sphincter

**FROSTY:Me** · 22nd January 2014, 12:38

My breakdown of the crash is that I saw one rider dropping down to the right to the line they chose.it was a small shift that moved the bike to the right
Then another rider carrying a heck of a lot more speed thinking he had a tonne of space suddenly finds he has "none".
That rider then had a lot of options. For the life of me I just don't understand why he diddn't dip right as the guy in front did -and he was several meters behind and with that much extra speed he could have been up onto his propper line well before the end of pit lane.
The third rider I have no idea at all how he crashed-there was a couple of meters between him,his freind and the grass then more space before the pit wall.
It looks like a-He freaked out out crash to me.

My feeling is that the riders brief was spelled out wrong. Theres 3.0m of useable track there for emergency use ONLY -FFS use it in an emergency.

**5150** · 22nd January 2014, 13:35

Originally Posted by Crasherfromwayback

If only someone had given out free condoms to the squids parents.

If only his old man settled for a blowjob...

**Crasherfromwayback** · 22nd January 2014, 16:12

Originally Posted by 5150

If only his old man settled for a blowjob...

Looks like his son turned out to be a blowhard.

**Grubber** · 22nd January 2014, 17:20

Originally Posted by Crasherfromwayback

Looks like his son turned out to be a blowhard.

Pete!!! Did you really say that! To be fair i think he was a bit of a blowarse! Why would ya do something like that if you weren't.

**Crasherfromwayback** · 22nd January 2014, 17:37

Originally Posted by Grubber

Pete!!! Did you really say that! To be fair i think he was a bit of a blowarse! Why would ya do something like that if you weren't.

Well it was certainly the riding of a total wanker for sure.

**5150** · 22nd January 2014, 18:21

To be fair to the offending chap, his leathers were probably too tight, so he left his brain in the pit paddock......

**Dave-** · 23rd January 2014, 23:13

Originally Posted by HenryDorsetCase

depends on the track day and the organisers and what group you are in. If there are three C being "fastest/most comfortable on track" then you can pass anywhere, B being "intermediate" then its passing on the straights and outsides and "A" being newbs then its passing on the straights only. Sometimes there is a separate group for MNZ race licence holders as well because they can tend to intimidate the road riders a bit. Plus (trust me on this) its REALLY expensive to deck your road bike on a track day.

If you're on track with other road bikes, it can be classed as training, thereby you're decreasing your chances of having an accident, therefore insurance companies are more likely to pay out.

As soon as a 'race bike' enters the track, all bets are off and you're on your own now. So I'm told. Grain of salt applies

My take on the situation is the guy on the blue bike fucked up big time. But the Italian tractor has no recourse. If you go to a track you accept all of the risks. It would be sporting of the blue bike guy to help fix the Italian, but no guarantees.

**Headbanger** · 24th January 2014, 00:54

Only thing he done wrong is fall off after knocking that other fucker out of his way.

Probably wasn't going fast enough.

Faster is safer, as we all know.