Joined Jun 2016
642 Posts | 244+
Santa Cruz, Cal
Wasn't that AFTER he was allow to ride again? The man had a concussion in my opinion, and never should have been allowed to ride. He could have hurt Redding or killed/paralyzed himself with another bump on the noodle. This is not like a broken thumb, at all. Ask a boxer..... Well, only if they can understand you.
Joined Sep 2016
894 Posts | 557+
Queensland Australia
Did the track doctors have to give Petrucci clearance to ride, or do they just advise and the rider can choose as he wishes?
Joined Jun 2016
642 Posts | 244+
Santa Cruz, Cal
They are suppose to have clearance authority for general safety and rider safety. A concussion certainly applies to both. A rider can't tell if he has a bruised brain, unless he is severely dizzy or nauseated. Even then, I have seen people try to walk and fall flat on their face after a head injury.
EMTs here in the States have authority. You can scream all you want that you are okay, but if they think your are not okay because of your mental condition/injury, you are going to the hospital. I must assume the track doctors can do the same. That is why riders are taken to the emergency center, even when they are walking and look okay.
The race meetings that I have worked have been similar.
After a fall if the rider is transported off the track by ambulance or medical car, they must get a clearance before they are allowed back on track.
Additionally, the people who do the recovery of the bikes can also recommend that medical check any rider over whom they may be bringing back with them.
Any rider can decide to go to the clerk of the course and request permission to ride even if not cleared by in my experience I have never seen a rider allowed to ride where clearance was not provided (in some rare cases where doctors were in attendance or riding, they have been asked for second opinions)
Joined Sep 2016
894 Posts | 557+
Queensland Australia
I would imagine MotoGP have some type of medical 'checks and balances' system. If someone is clearly effected by injury and dangerous on the track persisting they are OK to ride surly there is someone who can stop them?
If Petrucci had that incident with someone other than his team mate I think more noise would have been made about it.
The issue however is that he was allowed to ride again in practice after the incident and it is these laps that he struggles to recall.
Thus an argument could be said that 'if he was considered healthy enough on Saturday, then by extension he is healthy enough on Sunday' plus you have the aspect that if medical clearance was required to return to the track on Saturday and he passed, then no further checks are required.
The larger issue is not so much what happened on Sunday but that he was allowed back onto the track on Saturday afternoon
Joined Aug 2016
113 Posts | 72+
Ljubljana
basically this is just a recap of what we have been saying here. Shame only 1000 people will see it. Sadly it did go by quite unnoticed. I was reading some comments on a page that covers motogp back home and there was only one guy who knew about the problem and he was mocked as being a know-it-all. It might just be the case here, people don't like reading news in a foreign language it it's not absolutely necesary.
Funny that you mention mocked as some of the comments at the place where I found it are along those lines, including 'yea I would normally be open to comparing the precedent from other sports, but this is MOTORCYCLE RACING. It is very different from football and there is a much higher risk. The fans and riders all love the risk and it is one of the reasons the IOM TT is so particularly interesting to people. Living life on razors edge is one of the alluring parts of moto racing and I would love it if this guy would shut his ....... mouth. No clue what he's talking about.
But at the same time it has started the discussion (the forum where I found this is a good split of experienced fans versus new to the sport.
IMO only but whilst it is not new news here this place is actually somewhat of a rarity in that the majority of regular contributors (and some of the rare contributors) are well versed in motorcycle racing and the wider sport as well as being long term well educated (in the sport)
Joined Aug 2016
113 Posts | 72+
Ljubljana
Cal Crutchlow of course found some humor in the situation. I won't comment since we all know him but it was funny to see this video again. If I remember it right it was Dani who won this. The only one who didn't cheat 
I added the original video just for fun.
I added the original video just for fun.
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Cal Crutchlow of course found some humor in the situation. I won't comment since we all know him but it was funny to see this video again. If I remember it right it was Dani who won this. The only one who didn't cheat
I added the original video just for fun.
Finally Dani found a bike that fits his size! (sorry, couldn't resist...)
:nospam: <- that one is aimed at me
