Steve Swanson
Hi Luciano,
You description doesn't match how I saw this 3/4 race play out, but I
don't think there was anything the officials could have done about it.
The 3/4 field was all-together, maybe strung out, through the turns when
the 1/2/3 field came up. There was a call to neutralize and the field
slowed. Two large fields passing in the corners is not a pretty sight, nor
is passing a field when it's on its bell lap. As the end of the 1/2/3 field
finally got through, the 3/4 field had split, either through people tagging
onto the back of the 1/2/3 field or disagreement about how fast a
neutralized field should ride. At that point, the back half of the field
decided to ride very slowly and expect another bell. Many of us knew that
if we actually tried to finish on that lap, we would have caught the end of
the 1/2/3 field and it would have been a huge mess. Unfortunately, the lead
3/4 pack didn't seem to have the same idea, rode faster, and didn't hear or
didn't respond to our shouts to neutralize. By the time we had returned to
the finish, the lead pack was too far ahead to be caught by the trailing
pack, so we finished as two groups.
I don't think anything unfair happened. It would have been nice if the
3/4 field had gone fast enough to not be overtaken. It would have been nice
if the 3/4 field hadn't gotten the bell and then been overtaken. It would
have been nice if the 3/4 neutralization had been more orderly.
Still, we had some good racing, there was minimal dangerous riding, and it
was dry.
Steve (#317)
On Wed, Apr 20, 2011 at 12:01 PM, Luciano bailey wrote:
> Great racing last night by all fields awesome turnout . Fast paced
> exciting and best of all it was dry. For the 3-4 field to clarify referee
> perspective of the last two laps. Course awareness with multiple fields is
> always required with the slower field always being aware they are being
> chased. A valiant 10 lap run came to an end with two to go as the field
> moved past the finish the field looked confused about there gap resulting in
> the 1-2 field not being allowed to pass on the frontside. Out of site the
> field obviously split throught the turns and back stretch the front 15- 20
> riders crawled towards the finish to replay the one to go bell. This was
> ample time for the field to have regrouped they did not so lead riders were
> not penalized because of their obvious attempts to let the field regroup.
> Two things that can help this process always, A) 3-4 field don't get caught
> it is possible it happens all the time. B) stay aware of the gap and be
> prepared to neutralize. We will always do our best to create fairness in
> races. Thanks again to all that came out and a special big ups to the hard
> working junior riders out there building the future of racing here in the
> northwest. Luciano
>
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>
>