I was the B captain at Main yesterday. The individual in question had be counseled by several CR's (including me) following previous sessions. After this incident, three different rider's who witnessed this incident came to me (separately) and described what happened. Their stories were consistant. The rider in question attempted a pass in the corner and caused the accident. Geoff Doyer came to me, he had also been given same info as me. He told me the offending rider was done for the day. I completely agreed with his decision, and if he had not come to me, I would have gone to him with the same recommendation.
I had a conversation with the rider, BobbyG was present for duration. I'm not going to repeat the discussion here, it was in my opinion a private matter. If the offending rider wants to comment, that's his right.
I know for a fact that Geoff went over passing and safety rules during the general rider's meeting. I went over them again in the B group morning meeting. I restated them again at the lunch meeting. There should have be absolutely no question in anyones mind in the B group as to when and when you could pass.
Here's how I see it. Track days are designed to give people the opportunity to explore their personal limits in a NON-COMPETATIVE envionment. I know this may be hard to believe, but not everyone wants to be the next Rossi. Some of us just get a kick out of flogging a sportbike as hard as we want to in a controlled environment. Some of us just like hanging out and helping others get the most out of their track day experience. If you want to be competative, go racing. If you want to push past your limits, go racing. f you want to make out of control passes or take other un-necesary chances, go racing. If what you want is COMPETITION, go racing.
I really don't care how fast someone is or isn't, because at a track day, it doesn't matter. I don't give a shit about lap times. I don't care if your riding a stock 250 Ninja, or a fully race prepped Ducati 1098R, my job is to help YOU, the members enjoy a safe and fun day at the track. The last thing I want to see happen is you wad up you bike, and potentially get hurt, or worse end up dead. As we saw yesterday with our friends, Brian Johnson, and Jeff Pitzer, shit can go wrong in a hurry and bad things can happen. I'm just glad that this incident was not worse for the rider's who crashed as a result of a bad decision.
During my 3 hour ride home last night I kept wondering if there was something I could have done that may have prevented this incident form occuring. We all know hindsight is 20/20 and I'm not really the type who second guesses himself. I don't like being a dick. I don't like sitting people out a session. I really don't like sending people home. It's ashame it had to come to that yesterday. I'd like to think when I, or another CR tells someone thier riding over thier hear, or not following the rules, they need to slow it done, etc, they will fucking listen. I've beeing riding motorcycles for over 37 years. I've been an MSF/Rider's Edge rider coach. I've been doing track days for over 5 years. I've been a CR for 3. I don't talk because I like to hear myself speak. I do this for one reason, it's the satisfaction I get from helping others enjoy a sport I've loved since I was a kid. It's that simple.
I make this promise to our members. I will do my best to make your day at the race track a good one. And if someone doesn't want to play by the rules, if they don't want listen, if they are out of control, I will do my best to correct that behavior. And if they choose not to correct the behavior, I will make sure their day is done.
Everyone makes mistakes, everyone has errors in judgement, bad things will still happen. Keep your ego in check and show respect to yourself and your fellow rider's. Do YOUR best to make not only your day a good one, but to make EVERYONE'S day a good one.