2 wave aborted start question

[Dean Dufrene]

Hypothetical scenerio.

Let's say there is a two wave start, expert and novice.

The experts go away just fine, except a rider stalls. The starter does not see this rider who stalled and goes through the starting procedure for the novice wave. As soon as the light goes off it comes on. Two riders take off only to be waved by the starter to stop. Being young riders they stop in confusement. As they have seen the light come back on but know it went off also. They then turn around on the grid and go to head back to there starting position only to have the race then start while they are going against a hot track. (race started)

A.) what should the riders have done? My advice to my rider was once you see the light go off continue on and do not stop. To me that is a race start. We are talking about expensive motorcycles and starts burn up clutches, plus the dangers of riders behind you running into you. Not to mention you are likely to have to start well after the rest of the riders even though you were on the front row. Which could cost you tire money, contingency money, and championship points.

B.) What is the correct scenerio for the race at this point?

again hypothetical scnerio. Just curious as to what the correct actions of the riders and the officals should be.

In case it ever happens ;)

[Ryan Max Johnson]

Ah, so that's what happened. I only saw the animated aftermath;).

[Danny Dominguez]

What did the starter do with the board?? The board in your hypothetical scenerio was lowered, which has been gone over in riders meetings as an aborted start..Riders have been instructed to watch the board along with the lights and the procedures... So here it is again "2min board, 1min board, sideways then lights go off is a start"..."if its aborted the board in any position will be lowered and the lights WILL go off, this is not a start"

[Kasey Lewis]

What did the starter do with the board?? The board in your hypothetical scenerio was lowered, which has been gone over in riders meetings as an aborted start..Riders have been instructed to watch the board along with the lights and the procedures... So here it is again "2min board, 1min board, sideways then lights go off is a start"..."if its aborted the board in any position will be lowered and the lights WILL go off, this is not a start"

I was at row 20 and had no clue what was going on, but I saw the board go down and figured there was a problem. That pesky riders meeting, it should be made mandatory..........

[Danny Dominguez]

There you go...the 2 riders in the scenerio jumped the start...sorry Dean

[Dean Dufrene]

Danny thanks for that elaboration. So in my hypothetical scenerio two riders who "jumped" the start were then waved and stopped on the grid, which was then restarted while they were going against the flow of traffic. Any 'light' to be shed on this?

[Thomas Delaney]

The lights never turned off. The starter dropped the board and signaled to the stalled rider to get out of the way. But the lights were never turned off. Two riders in the row ahead of me left while the lights were still lit. They were not waved or signaled to stop. The starter pointed to the light showing that it was still red after the two riders jumped. What made them jump is when the starter dropped the board and signaled to the rider to move. One jumped and the other followed.

While they were coming back I was waiting to see if they were going to get back in their grid position and then all of sudden riders were flying by me while I was sitting there. I felt dumb.

[Sean Gurevich]

On a sidenote, I think I heard and it was demonstrated by Ryan as so at the MSRH riders meeting that the abort can only occur at the 2 board. Once the 1 board is shown, the race will start. Aborting from the 1 board is problematic as I've participated in starts where the board just started moving to sideways when the lights went out. Race aborts shouldn't operate on a hair trigger. If the abort can occur on a 1 board then the lights shouldn't go out any sooner than the board going completely sideways.

PS: Sounds like Walter now knows whose names to call at the next rider's meeting. ;)

[Dennis King]

rtfrb

[Chris Coffey]

In my races the 1 board droping and the lights going off happened at the same time.

In the event of an aborted start the best thing to do is to not turn off the lights. In a start with a flag you wouldnt abort the race by waving the flag. Lights going off is the same as waving the flag.

After I see the 2 board all I see is the light. Nothing else. That light goes off I am gonna go. Same with the flag. Once I see that 2 board all I am watching is that flag.