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MNRon · 03-12-2001, 08:29 AM

You know, whether you like Russell to hate him, I hope that he recovers. The way he got hit, I'm glad is was "just" his arm and leg. I don't want to see anyone get hurt while racing. Get well Scott!!

stevegrab · 03-12-2001, 08:32 AM

Yeah, that was one scary looking crash (enhanced by the proximity of the TV cameras). This was a shame, as I think Scott really wanted to do well this year. Now he'll probably retire, or face a long hard road back into competitive road racing.

Good luck Scott, get well soon.

Jackson · 03-12-2001, 08:36 AM

Why does the AMA allow so many riders to pertisipate in the Datona 200? It seems ridiculously dangerous to have so many riders with widely diferent skill levels on the track at the same time.

blip · 03-12-2001, 08:46 AM

Because the AMA isn't a true sancioning body in the sense you're thinking of. No one could show up in the stands, and the AMA gets paid.

Why? Because they get all the "back gate" fees, plus a promotor fee. Back gate fees are rider/crew entries, anyone wanting to race or be associated with a team, that money goes to the AMA. So, the more people they pack on the grid, the more money they make.

Conversely, when their show doesn't air on TV when/where it's supposed to be (like here in LA, it was supposed to be on ESPN at 2:30 but wasn't, though maybe it was a misprinting error beyond their control), or when no one shows up to watch, which is pretty much always the case, the AMA doesn't lose out.

Note, too, if memory serves, the AMA releases total gate numbers as attendence. So if you buy a ticked, go in Friday, leave, come back Saturday and Sunday, you get counted three times.

Millencolin · 03-12-2001, 09:07 AM

Even though i'm not really a fan of his, I really feel terrible for Russel. After wasting away his career on the hopeless VR1000 Harley, he finally gets back on a real bike and has real hopes of doing well and re-establishing himself in AMA SBK. Then his hopes are smashed in the very first race of the season. He must feel terrible. I hope he can maintain a positive attitude and come through this.

kman · 03-12-2001, 09:17 AM

Blip is right about the multiple counting. Its common practice for the race promoters too (which is usually the race track). Speedvision does it and will sometimes include everyone in the paddock, track workers and volunteers.

There are some major differences between how a PACE/F-USA/SFX race is put on versus an AMA event. PACE acts the sacntioning body and the promoter (to my knowledge anyway). It doesn't hurt that their parent company owns tons of radio stations to promote their events.

Since PACE is also a promoter it is in their best interests to not only have a full grid (which is the AMA's primary concer) but also to have a large gate.

The AMA tends to rely on the tracks to act as the promoters. They seem to do very poor jobs, since their bread and butter is auto racing they don't seem to worry too much about roadracing IMO. Speedvision is the promoter for Road Atlanta and Laguna, both great events. Willow Springs also had a non-track promoter last year.

There have been some whisperings that the AMA should fall back to a sanctioning body and allow PACE to promote most of the AMA races.

kman · 03-12-2001, 09:21 AM

I hope that Scott recovers fully and quickly.

Scott was paid very well to "waste away his career on the hopeless VR1000 Harley."

Apparently Harley didn't live up to their end of the deal making a competitive bike and Scott lost his drive. Which was too bad and it made him look bad, especially while Pascal consitently place in the top ten and even got the VR1000 on the podium.

Guy · 03-12-2001, 09:30 AM

I hated to see this....this changes the excitment that this year promised to deliver. It looks like a Suzuki runaway....good luck Gobie! I hope they can keep Aron Slight in the AMA!

Getting back to the crash....it could have been avoided, Scott should have never put his arm down and started to move to the right off the track....big mistake, anybody roadracing take note. Keep your arm(s) up high if stalled on the start and wait for the corner workers to get you out of trouble. Tragic.

Very best wishes Scott, get well soon!

Larry_supersport · 03-12-2001, 09:37 AM

Jackson, I fully aggree with your outlook on this. There should be a size limit to the number of racers on the track at once. And if you are a non-season rider there should be stricter prerequisites as well as a substatial race resume if you are not a team rider.

lightnin · 03-12-2001, 09:48 AM

The only limit is a "112% of pole" time limit, which meant that a 2:01 could ride when the pole was 1:48... preposterous...

2:01 is 7 seconds off what the 600's were turning, about what the best of the ProThunder slugs went.

03-12-2001, 08:29 AM	#1
MNRon Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 5	Re: Scott Russell Update You know, whether you like Russell to hate him, I hope that he recovers. The way he got hit, I'm glad is was "just" his arm and leg. I don't want to see anyone get hurt while racing. Get well Scott!!

03-12-2001, 08:32 AM	#2
stevegrab Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 368	Re: Scott Russell Update Yeah, that was one scary looking crash (enhanced by the proximity of the TV cameras). This was a shame, as I think Scott really wanted to do well this year. Now he'll probably retire, or face a long hard road back into competitive road racing. Good luck Scott, get well soon.

03-12-2001, 08:36 AM	#3
Jackson Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 3	Re: Scott Russell Update Why does the AMA allow so many riders to pertisipate in the Datona 200? It seems ridiculously dangerous to have so many riders with widely diferent skill levels on the track at the same time.

03-12-2001, 08:46 AM	#4
blip Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 160	Re: Scott Russell Update Because the AMA isn't a true sancioning body in the sense you're thinking of. No one could show up in the stands, and the AMA gets paid. Why? Because they get all the "back gate" fees, plus a promotor fee. Back gate fees are rider/crew entries, anyone wanting to race or be associated with a team, that money goes to the AMA. So, the more people they pack on the grid, the more money they make. Conversely, when their show doesn't air on TV when/where it's supposed to be (like here in LA, it was supposed to be on ESPN at 2:30 but wasn't, though maybe it was a misprinting error beyond their control), or when no one shows up to watch, which is pretty much always the case, the AMA doesn't lose out. Note, too, if memory serves, the AMA releases total gate numbers as attendence. So if you buy a ticked, go in Friday, leave, come back Saturday and Sunday, you get counted three times.

03-12-2001, 09:07 AM	#5
Millencolin Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 11	Re: Scott Russell Update Even though i'm not really a fan of his, I really feel terrible for Russel. After wasting away his career on the hopeless VR1000 Harley, he finally gets back on a real bike and has real hopes of doing well and re-establishing himself in AMA SBK. Then his hopes are smashed in the very first race of the season. He must feel terrible. I hope he can maintain a positive attitude and come through this.

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03-12-2001, 09:17 AM	#6
kman Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 29	Re: Scott Russell Update Blip is right about the multiple counting. Its common practice for the race promoters too (which is usually the race track). Speedvision does it and will sometimes include everyone in the paddock, track workers and volunteers. There are some major differences between how a PACE/F-USA/SFX race is put on versus an AMA event. PACE acts the sacntioning body and the promoter (to my knowledge anyway). It doesn't hurt that their parent company owns tons of radio stations to promote their events. Since PACE is also a promoter it is in their best interests to not only have a full grid (which is the AMA's primary concer) but also to have a large gate. The AMA tends to rely on the tracks to act as the promoters. They seem to do very poor jobs, since their bread and butter is auto racing they don't seem to worry too much about roadracing IMO. Speedvision is the promoter for Road Atlanta and Laguna, both great events. Willow Springs also had a non-track promoter last year. There have been some whisperings that the AMA should fall back to a sanctioning body and allow PACE to promote most of the AMA races.

03-12-2001, 09:21 AM	#7
kman Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 29	Re: Scott Russell Update I hope that Scott recovers fully and quickly. Scott was paid very well to "waste away his career on the hopeless VR1000 Harley." Apparently Harley didn't live up to their end of the deal making a competitive bike and Scott lost his drive. Which was too bad and it made him look bad, especially while Pascal consitently place in the top ten and even got the VR1000 on the podium.

03-12-2001, 09:30 AM	#8
Guy Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 3	Re: This is really sad deal... I hated to see this....this changes the excitment that this year promised to deliver. It looks like a Suzuki runaway....good luck Gobie! I hope they can keep Aron Slight in the AMA! Getting back to the crash....it could have been avoided, Scott should have never put his arm down and started to move to the right off the track....big mistake, anybody roadracing take note. Keep your arm(s) up high if stalled on the start and wait for the corner workers to get you out of trouble. Tragic. Very best wishes Scott, get well soon!

03-12-2001, 09:37 AM	#9
Larry_supersport Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 11	Re: Scott Russell Update Jackson, I fully aggree with your outlook on this. There should be a size limit to the number of racers on the track at once. And if you are a non-season rider there should be stricter prerequisites as well as a substatial race resume if you are not a team rider.

03-12-2001, 09:48 AM	#10
lightnin Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 7	Re: Scott Russell Update The only limit is a "112% of pole" time limit, which meant that a 2:01 could ride when the pole was 1:48... preposterous... 2:01 is 7 seconds off what the 600's were turning, about what the best of the ProThunder slugs went.