I’m not disagreeing but what makes the Charlotte track worse than other ones in general or were you referring to the track conditions last night.
Did you notice the ambulances coming out regular,and all the wobbling slapping faceplants,Briar nearly highsiding into a cement wall at 80mph? Briar doesnt generally do such things. Sammy's bike got turned into a piece of yard art. Haybales and a big cement wall. Roadracers quit racing around these things long ago. Charlotte is another sprint car track,if something goes wrong they are super dangerous for bike racers. But its all AFT can afford. Maybe its just me,I hate seeing racers get hurt and I know they can be killed easily on a track like last nights.
I did, I agree also. I’ve always had a disdain for most the types of tracks AFT runs at while people usually shrug it off and say “that’s the way it’s is”.
I think it was the conditions of the surface in that section of the track. It was more than just slick and rutted. Several riders fell there. Briar almost went down at the same spot one lap prior. Mees seemed to take a different line to miss it. It appeared to be well past the apex on the drive out of either T2 or 4. Seems like they could have fixed that before the Supertwins took the grid.
They didnt wanna show any replays of what Sammy and his bike did. A little bit different angle for him or his bike and it could been worse most likely. If Briar had bounced and rolled into the cement wall he was right next to............ The sliding /grabbing/front end tucking/wobbling was all down to track surface. Red clay after rain that starts getting plowed up in big areas....... Like a cornfield as Briar's big brother put it. I saw lotsa guys nearly folding knees from skidshoes not skidding,or sliding out from under them. I get it the show must go on but what a bummer for the injured to end a season that way. Mikey Rush,broken leg,or knee,something.
Its how roadracing used to be. Kenny Roberts went to Europe and saw the insanity of 180mph areas with no run off,with cement walls,haybales. No regard for racers but racers will always race. He started a rider's union and things started changing. Flatrackers I would guess,dont have this option. Haybales can be good,sort of,for some impacts. Catching one going down a straightaway is a whole nuther deal. They're a 1960's sort of fix.
JFB did good! That was a big field of Hooligans. Somebody finally got a KTM to work and ran away from the field,it looked fast. Fast Hooligans turning Production Twin lap times. With that many bikes turning up and doing such fast lap times,whats next for Hooligans I wonder?
Not the first time a KTM 790 has won a Hooligan race. Been a number of wins by them so far. Hooligan is a bit like Class C racing. The frame and engine are about all that remains of the “stock” bike on them. Some of those bikes are serious race bike artwork. Still wish they would start a junior class for Hooligan. There are a lot of damn good smaller Twins begging to be raced
I would guess the cro moly KTM frame makes a better base. Once geometry is fiddled with , shock length and triple clamps and length of fork/fork being raised or lowered. 790 or 890 set up is closer to doing set up on a 450. Just because its a lighter good quality steel frame. And a narrow engine that makes over 100HP stock. But obviously a Sportster can still be made to go really good. The Triumph? Is an awfully wide engine and big overall bike. I gotta say,the 890 I have so far,does not feel like a dirtbike. Dirt road yeah its good for that. Its plenty big feeling at 470lbs.
There are some beat up guys this morning. I'm not seeing anything about Sammy or Briar online anywhere so far. AFT says nothing,just what a great season ender it was. That was not a good promotional race for Flattrack racing.
Pretty amazing how they got the last 2 Main events in bumping right up against track curfew of 11:00. Cory decided to take the smart way out and ride around in 6th,when he could have won most likely. Chad had the lead and did some big front end slides,and wobbles. And for what ever reason just let off and faded way back. There wasnt time left for another red flag. The Hooligans,to their credit kept it upright and finished their race. Scooter was thrilled to get a win.
I think that was Kolby Carlile - after he hit the bales and got thrown down his leg was under the bike... when he stopped rolling, his left foot didn't look quite right.
I see Ryan Varnes was on an Indian in super twins and pulled off a 6th. Not sure if he had much time on that bike either. Wonder what Ryan will do next year? And his dad Kevin pulled off a 2nd in Super Hooligans after winning both qualifiers.
