Interesting thread on track day addicts about a major incident a few days ago, several riders injured on the sighting lap. Reading all the comments, including from people who were there, it appears riders were having a chat while following the van showing the circuit, dropped back then gave it full berries to catch up ending in a concertina crash. Anyone else found that weekends at Almeria, when a lot of Spanish riders turn up, that the general riding is poor? Lots of vertical knee down shenanigans and just piss poor track ability while waiting for their friends to catch up. Wonder if that was the case here?
Just reading it. Wow. Plenty in hospital, no contact at all from FE, van doing sighting laps, riders 4 breast visors up chatting following the van, fireballs, broken bones, head injuries. It’s got the bleeding lot!
Ah. Not visible unless you do Facebook. Was interested as thought the standard of marshalling at Cartanega was pretty poor. Our sighting laps were proper though.
I've done plenty of sighting laps at almeria following the van, it's not a problem as you are supposed to be checking out the marshal posts and track surface. Not trying to warm your tyres by weaving around like a 4 legged spider
Never, in all the years I’ve ridden at Almeria, have I done sighting laps behind a van. It used to be common for Spanish riders to turn up on spec and be allowed on track by some but not all, track day providers. Not used FE for years since finding a one man band independent who used to run 2 but now only a single 4 day, open pit lane for a small group of 40 to 45 regular, mixed ability riders. Plenty of track time available over 4 days to ride in your comfort zone. Not cheap but no Spanish hooligans Andy
I did an event with FE a few years back at Almeria. Two Spanish riders turned up on the day and were kicked out after a few hours for riding dangerously and apparently it wasn't the first time it had happened.
Can't see that the van is a problem. It's sighting laps, not warm up. If you can't follow a van for 2 laps, you shouldn't be on track or road on a bike
Spanish riders were always ok during my many visits. However, we were always warned to watch our gear and valuables when they were expected...
Clearly now the ‘Sheriff’ ain’t in town it’s changed and the valuables have turned out to be your bikes on the track.
I remember doing that excruciating shite following a car with FE on a sighting lap and IIRC we had to do it again after lunch. Nonsense. Track sense don’t so sighting laps…
Yeah heard about this from another forum with two slightly different views already, and this is a slightly different spin on it too now so not going to speculate. The one common factor in all versions is that the riders involved were not doing the sighting laps as they should of and ended up causing the incident as a result - as others have said, if it was a bike/car/van/helicopter/superman doing the sighting laps it wouldnt of mattered. This annoys me all the time, the amount of people that drop back and give it beans, try and chat with there mates or overtake on sighting laps despite it being made clear every briefing or track day not to. We all know its part of the day, hate them or not how hard is it to do as your asked/expected for two laps before your set off for the rest of the day? However, no one deserves some of the reported injuries, so I wish them all a speedy recovery and hope we dont hear of this kind of thing again. This isnt tiddlywinks, we know the risks when we sign the waiver forms, but not nice to hear of these incidents
sounds horrid, tbh I am not sure whether to do any Euro days with the current organisers or not... I hope everyone pulls through pretty quick, remember many won't have insurance worth the paper it's written on for personal injury. When we were in Cartagena in Nov, there was a 'school trip' to come look at the trackday (bit weird I know) and we had kids just rifling through our kit, trying to just sit on bikes, playing around with them, standing in the way when we went to go out, was just so different to out here, seems personal space isn't a thing in general. That's not to say our current crop of 10-15yr olds are any better, just haven't experienced a similar thing in the UK.
I’ve always found the Spanish a lot more receptive to children. They’re not grumpy bastards, like us, with kids. In fact they seem more tolerant than us in general. They’re much cooler with cyclists, elderly people etc.
My experience with FE at Almeria was wholly positive. Everyone was sensible and safe. Tbh, I am probably too polite on track but as its not a race meh.
FE are definitely a professional outfit. I’ve done loads of events with them and by and large they’ve been great. But like many people, I’ve had negative encounters with that man there. But if he’s not there, all is fine and dandy
Can't blame the organisers if it's caused by idiots chatting visor up on the straight, which most people I've read comments from that were there seem to be saying. As for insurance, most people seem to be using assureton now, which covered all my medical bills after my off at andalucia (next door to Almeria). They were a bit slow ,but covered all medical. Still waiting for a refund for my repatriation though
