Walls and Speeding Motorcycles Do Not Mix

I am a racing traditionalist. I love flat track racing; in fact, I wish flat track and road racing were still combined to make an overall Grand National Champion. Unfortunately, it’s come to the point that if flat track racing is to survive there needs to be a complete safety overhaul for tracks that host professional flat track races.

One thing that obviously needs to be eliminated are tracks that have outside walls right next to the racing line.

And I know what you are thinking, that rules out almost every track that American Flat Track races on.

I understand that but hear me out.

Long ago road racing found that the best way to keep riders safe is to create runoff room, or an area where bike and rider can exit the track and not contact a barrier. Many tracks had to do major redesigns to keep up with new standards. Those that did not modernize were left to the annuls of history.

Flat tracks should be redesigned so fans and grandstands are relocated to the inside of the track, leaving the outside open with runoff room or at the very least adequate space and air fencing before any barrier.

Existing tracks in some cases could be used, but the inside of the track might need to be extended inward, and the outside edge of the track would also be moved away from walls and or fences.

Perhaps AFT could have tracks and promoters make the needed changes over the period of several years so the upfront expense would not come all at once. That is how Sonoma Raceway improved, one section at a time until after four or five years the track was considerably safer than it had been before.

I’m afraid unless the sport gets away from walls (literally) we will continue to see tragedy. — Larry Lawrence