AMA Schedule Busting (Mild AMA Spoiler)

Does anyone else find it supremely frustrating that Speed continues to
carry the AMA live when the AMA can't seem to finish a race on
schedule to save it's life? When was the last time you saw a WSB or
MotoGP race red flagged? Once again, live coverage of an AMA race
busts the following TV race schedule due to a red flag. A red flag
that looked completely unnecessary to me when viewed in the context of
other series' (WSB, MotoGP) handling of similar situations (***).
Normally I extend my Tivo recording schedule following live AMA
coverage anticipating such over runs, but I was out of town this
weekend and didn't have time or forethought to get to it. The
result? I miss the last half of the MotoGP race.

Yours in frustration,

-Dirt-

***: Did anyone else get the feeling that Matt was play-acting for
effect because he knew they'd throw the red if he hammed it up? He
sure looked OK on TV in the pits afterwards and sure rode OK on the re-
start.

 

Dirt is frustrated:

Yea, no joke. First he looks like he's got a broken femur, then
seconds later he's jogging back to the pits. Not quite on the
level of throwing himself back onto the track but for sure good
acting.


Go fast. Take chances.
Mike S.

 

Blame it on the AMA, not Speed. I'm with you, I'm embarrassed over how poorly
the AMA manages professional roadracing in the US.

 

Yep. My dad got fried by this, too.

 

Nope, it wasn't that bad but he got what he wanted and was able to
re-enter the race and get back some good points. Golden Globe performance.

That depends on the track, there are quite a few tracks where the
cornerworkers from the local amateur roadracing club supplies the
cornerworkers. I know that's true at both Laguna Seca and Sears Pt. At
those events, race control consists of the local usual crew from the
club as well as a representative(s) from the sanctioning body, whether
it's the AMA of FIM. Depending on the event. The communicators/workers
at those events have had it drilled in their heads that they must ask to
have the session/race stopped. Don't say "I need a red flag", that keeps
another turn that may only have heard the "red flag" part and thrown a
red flag at the corner, inadvertently. "Red Flag" term is only said by
Race Control.

There are well in excess of 300 cornerworkers for the GP at Laguna. Most
from the US and Canada but also from quite a few other countries. Last
year there more than 30 flag stations around the track. The flaggers are
all on portable radios with race control so that the flaggers know to
have the appropriate flags to have displayed. The radio communication
also helps with displaying blue flags for passing.
--
Mick aka MotoMania
motomick at sbcgobal dot net

"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving
safely in a pretty and well preserved body -- but rather to skid in
broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
-- WOW, WHAT A RIDE!!" - Author : Unknown