I,ve been around both Amature & National Motocross since 1969. The injury rate has remained the same through the years in proportion to the amount of riders involved. You just hear about it more because of a much higer visibility with the press. I agree that the tracks could do more with the safety issues, but will they. Until they get experienced riders to help design their tracks things will remain a problem. My son broke both ankles at Ponca City in 1990, on a table top jump. Two other riders did the same thing on the same day. It wasn't the table top that was the problem, it was the angle of pitch that launches you. If the pitch is wrong, so is the landing. It doesn't matter if it's a table top, a double jump, or a triple jump. The distance is the same.

AMA needs to develop a consistant, safe standard as to the pitch, spacing of jumps, and runout areas. They also need a standard as to the amount of distance to run at a jump. Some jumps are too close to a corner to allow you to set-up for the jump. Some jumps have too much running room, so they over jump their landing. A good set up for track design is to use both experienced Mini riders, and experienced "A" riders who have had lots of Mini racing experience. Pro riders tend to ride over their heads most of the time, so they tend to build tracks that are also over their heads. Their ego tends to get in the way of common sense. Many track owners have never raced motocross, so their concept of correct pitch is wrong. And if they have raced, it hasn't been for years, so their concept is still wrong.

AMA needs set standards which are strictly enforced. Riders will always get hurt, after all this is racing. But we have had just as many injuries in hockey. If you're going to ride, you're going to crash at some point in time. If you don't like a track, don't race! There are thousands of riders racing across the country on any given Sunday. The numbers of serious injuries is small compared to the amount of people doing our sport.

I have been working at race tracks around Minn. for over 20 years, and we have a problem getting good, experienced flaggers. AMA also needs to address the flagger issue. These people are often put out there with a yellow flag with no instructions. You want good people to work, pay them a decent wage. How do you keep good experienced flaggers, when you expect them to stand in the sun for 10 hours for $25 ? Tracks can get and keep good people if they pay them well. But many of them don't do that. They work with club members and kids that didn't want to work that day anyway. Many of the tracks DO NOT give proper flagging instructions to their people. "Here, stand here with this flag and when someone falls, stick it out!!"

AMA does need jump standards, flagger standards, and something other than a "Letter" to the track with a slap on the hand. Many of the same people that own the tracks also inspect them. Of course "Their" track is always acceptable.

Don't blame the AMA for everything. Many track owners know the issues, but they will never change their design standards unless they are forced to. People do complain, but many clubs & owners refuse to listen. It might mean less cash in their hands. Not all tracks are unsafe, and I commend the ones that do care. You can tell these tracks because they have less ambulance runs! After all, you don't have to sign up if you don't like the conditions.

Keep our sport safe and UP THE STANDARDS!

But don't ban the sport!!

Chip Donaho

Questions or Comments: Email Chip