Someone need to come down south and go through OGRE's class (look ahead, and pay attention). The rules in Advance is 6 full feeeet, and always play nice, it's a track day not a race, relax and have fun
Hind sight is 20/20. Bet if he could do it over he would. No one got hurt, that is the important part of this. Second, having a person who should not be in the class is the worst decision of the day, to slow a rider screws up the works for everyone. IMO, an intermediate rider should be bumped DOWN and given some one on one coaching to help him move up. Better than putting him over there head and endanger the entire A group. "What do I know"
Sure, the speed difference would be similar, but that was a 100+ horsepower machine in the fastest possible group. It should be waaaaaay faster than a 250 or motard. I'm not trying to point fingers, but maybe signing up for "A" at a new track because you can run "A" somewhere else might be a bad idea. The same goes for I.
One way or the other that was quite a stunt pulled from everybody involved. I like the fact that there is no passing rule in A! Great practice for anyone that races or is going to race. Close passes can take some getting used to. Clearly the grass pass was not the original plan so just take it easy on the instructor. Im sure he did not feel too happy about it. However I think I will try that line next time out there....:woot: (JK)
Couple things. This WAS NOT an STT day. Fox Powersports can fill there groups however they want. Second since this has been brought up a couple times here's the rules from the Stt website. Advanced Group Intended for the club racer or very accomplished track rider. You will gain valuable track time preparing for your next race, or just enjoy further refinement of your riding skills. The pace is fast and there are no restrictions on safe passing. Riders in this group must be comfortable passing and being passed in very close proximity to other riders and at high speeds. PLEASE NOTE: Riders in this group must wear a back protector.
I agree with this. My first time at Grattan I signed up for I group. The morning sessions were fine but once the pace started to pick up I realized that I didn't belong there so I asked if I could bump down to get more familiar with the track at a slower pace. This is one of the most difficult tracks I've ridden so I wasn't comfortable and felt a loss of confidence. Last weekend was redemption! I had the track down and was getting faster and felt 100% confident being out there in I group. It was a great time!
Haven't read all the comments but I agree with some of the people that replied here. It looks like it was most likely an evasive maneuver. The guy filming was going much slower than the people around him including that instructor, and then shut the door on him in that kink and the guy had nowhere to go but off into the grass and cut the corner. It was either that or rear-ending the guy. I see that move as a great success, and great reaction. It's not like he did it on person to cut a couple tenths off his time! I had a similar thing happen to me a couple of years ago at Road America in Kettle Bottoms as you flick it left. I was going to pass a guy on the inside there and I probably had a good 15-20 mph on him and all of a sudden he moved way over to the left and blocked my line. I ended up slamming on the brakes and came within a couple of feet of rear-ending him, but I seriously considered for a brief moment to go off in the grass and do the same as this guy did....my guess is he was much closer to the camera guy, than I was to the guy at RA and he didn't have that option. Also, it's the A group. Nobody hit anyone, nobody crash. Just chill out and move on with your life and focus on the next turn up ahead. If this would've been in Novice or Intermediate and that guy wasn't an instructor, an accident would've most likely happened. And as a joke I have to say this....nowhere in the STT passing rules, as far as I recall, does it mention that you can't pass in the grass ....just says clean and courteous passing for A group!
Last time I asked him to change the rubber on my CRF150 he said, and I quote: "I would love to change ONLY dirt bike tires every day!" op:
I don't see that much of a problem with the video in the A group. Close passing/riding is a lot of fun a long as you are used to it and don't get spooked. The camera bike was a little off the pace of the others, but not so much that I would say he didn't belong in that group if he felt comfortable. Real "A" riders shouldn't have a problem getting around. The whole "issue" I see is that there was a GROUP trying to pass another GROUP. This is always where things get tricky. The guy in the back of the "fast" group was trying to stay with the others, his adrenaline is probably pumping pretty good because of the "race" and went for a pass when he probably would have otherwise waited. Combine that with the chaos that comes from 8 bikes passing through a chicane on different line, and you have close calls like this. I say good job on avoiding a crash on both parties, but would remind the CR to take it easy next time. And remind the camera bike that when people are coming through like they did, always leave a little door open between you and then edge of the track. Although he had the "right" to that section of track, he shouldn't have come all the way over to the left under those circumstances. Learning experience for all.
As Eric said, the rider making the pass - it's always their responsibility to make the pass safely. With that said, it is called the advanced group for a reason. Some take that term too lightly.
Steve - you should really work on your BP. You're not getting off the bike at all, and you need to get your feet up. Also, you should look where you want to go. Your turning left but your eyes are focused off to the right. Really, it's an accident waiting to happen. :bounce:
That's because I'm done being serious about this thread. Someone was enticing me with a bunch of :getdown:bananas:getdown: outside corner 3. Didn't you know, Sam lost his mind last year and fixed the bathrooms now he's planting fruit trees.:jester:
Sure it's the straightest line, but he really did "cut the corner" by exiting the track surface. I believe that means the pass is nullified. Sorry. :nod:
Agreed, lol! It would have DQ'd him unless contact was made, then we would say "well, that's racing." :first: