I was at the local track this weekend and there were a bunch of riders there. I was approaching a table top and a smaller rider, probably on an 85cc decides to hit the jump right along side me. I was far to the right and this kid decided to go even further to the right, almost off the track. As soon as I launched, I saw him, and our bars were easily between 6-12 inches apart through the air. I was so freaked that I pulled off the track immediately to gather myself. I watched the kid ride around for a few laps to see if he was a decent rider. He was pretty good. There was a race coming up so I can only assume that this kid is practicing close encounters and ways around the track. I have had a few of these types of incidents where people make it a point to go on the outside, around an outside rider to pass. Pass on the right when a rider is already just about as far right as they can be? What gives?

I thought about confronting the parent, by I am sure you all know how these "moto dads" can be.

Before my big jump crash, I had no problems getting close to people over jumps. Now that I've been knocked out of the air by another rider, I do think twice about getting that close. The main reason I don't get too close has to do with them making mistakes and me running into them, just like what happened to a good friend of mine. People who are practicing riding hard, they will ignore the more conventional wisdom of "slowing down" when getting close to other riders. But having been in the groove before, the last thing you wanna do is slow down, so I understand where he is coming from. I also know where your coming from, its scary to have someone practically touch your bars in the air, that can be pretty unnerving, especially over a big jump. Either way though, when you become a better rider, those sort things won't bother you as much. Yes I'm still apprehensive about getting close to people, I tend to be in front or behind them to the side, rather then right next to them.

How big was the jump? He didn't take you out and held his line, you had no reason to confront a parent. Jumping side by side with people is a part of riding on the track. If people are going to be jumping next to or past you, and it freaks you out then you need to be more aware of the people coming up behind you. Once you leave the lip you can't change your trajectory much. The only way to prevent it is take a line enough to the outside so that no one can jump out side you. I'm not sure how wide the face was, but it sounds like you would have been better off hitting it in the middle of the face allowing more room to your outside. But the thing is even with more room, he could have jumped just as close to you. If it happens again, take a mental note, another break to regain composure if you have to, and be aware if he catches up to you again and just let him go by. Your best bet is avoid jumping at the same times as people you consider to ride dangerously..

Edited by Die_trying, 21 January 2012 - 10:02 AM.

The jump was probably a 40-60 foot table. You are correct that there was no reason to confront the parent. That is why I didn't. I am the type to let another rider pass me quite easily if I hear them behind me. I am pretty comfortable jumping with other riders, just not so close that one small mistake can take us both down. I held my line like I always do. I usually pick a side to jump, giving faster riders much more room to jump past safely.

Sounds like you're being a responsible and respectful rider. You can only control you, so just do what you can to make the situation as safe as possible. Keep your cool. If you panic, that just makes it more likely to end badly for both of you. Taking a break was a good idea on your part.

This can freak me out as well.  I just hold my line and hope they do the same.  One of my riding buddies has been helping me with this, I try to pace him or he will pass me just as we are leaving the ground.  He is  a great rider and completely trust him, my wife actually took a picture of me and my buddy launching  a really large double out of a ravine at Lakewood.  Personally, I think he is nuts jumping that close to me.

I am pretty new to riding with a lot of faster riders.  I took a jump, a high speed table top about 60 feet.  The way the track was it was coming out of a sweeping left hand turn so the inside line was the fastest.  I knew faster riders were coming so I took a generous line in the middle of the face.  While I'm in the air some a-hole bumps into me.  I can have a quick temper and it took all I could muster not to go up and tell this dbag that if he ever got that close to me again, him and I would have some real problems.  I can understand that contact happens etc, but colliding with me in mid air seems a little bit much.  He was a typical idiot.  Rode loose, thought he was some player.  Fat.  Got off his bike, put on his shades and cap and posted up next to the track for the babes to check him out.  My viewpoint is risk your life, don't risk mine.  I'm pretty sure you could bring a solid case against someone who puts you in undue harms way.  Had I gone down and been paralyzed, he would have gotten a letter from my lawyer and lived off food stamps for the rest of his life.  Good riders don't do this sort of thing.  They value their own safety too much to do so.  As well, if these sorts of riders come to understand that they are liable for any injury they inflict while on the track, they would be a little more hesitant to attempt a pass in mid air with no room.  I understand I am new so I don't get out there when there are faster riders.  So this probably solves the problem.  I just go ride when everyone is gone.

Edited by Jarrad, 31 January 2012 - 06:11 PM.

During practice I try to avoid situations like this at all costs.  They say don't look behind, that faster riders will find their way past.  I always am aware of when someone is gaining on me, and help them pass by giving them the preferred line(s).  My friend was getting passed by this kid that cut accross the track over a double that he assumed my friend wasn't jumping, so th the kid could make the inside line through the next corner; they collided, and my friend broke his leg and quit MX forever.  I would double to the outside in a situation like this to let the faster rider go.

if hes that close just be nice and pull a tear off for him before i go out i usually scope out to see who the good riders are so if a sitiation like this does come up when we take a jump close together i feel confident with them that close just keep an eye out for the faster riders if u wanna aviod those situations good thing you came away clean

Was this during a race? If so, well, that's racing... If not, I realize MX is a bit more rough and tumble than on road circuits but I don't understand the mentality of letting these things slide or having to watch out for the guy making a pass during practice or open track days.  Hold your line, put the responsibility of a safe pass on the rider doing the passing. If their actions are truly setchy and put you in harms way seek them out in person or point them out to a track marshal.

Back when I had the (on-road) trackday bug I would let some things slide but if someone was truly making the track dangerous for others I would have a talk with them. Not a chest puffed out confrontation, a simple chat. On the flip side if I inadvertantly pulled a scetchy pass on someone because I miscalculated their next move or pressed a situation too hard from being caught up in the moment I would seek them out and appologize in the pits. Almost always the interaction was a positive one. In fact I've made a few friends that started with this type of conversation.

Motorsports are dangerous. We don't need to turn them into cannonball runs, or worse, have some sue happy numskull manage to win a lawsuit and get a track closed down.  If your track is like the wild-wild west have a chat with the owner/organizer and ask them to be a bit more proactive.