ck1racerx
PR Addict
We all know that this is a dangerous sport. Each and every time you throw your leg over a motocross bike, you run the risk of serious injury. Does moto have a higher risk then other sports? Maybe, (I don't want to do the numbers on that). ALL sports have some sort of risk and every sport I can think of has had Superstars, and field fillers sustain serious and or fatal injuries. What should be most alarming to the motocross community is the lack of response on future prevention.
Football is constantly changing rules, testing and updating equipment and beating around ideas such as completely eliminating kick-offs just for the safety of the athletes.
Baseball has changed the rules for catcher collisions and "suggesting" pitchers wear helmets.
Nascar has mandated head restraints, created tested and implemented soft walls, created flaps on cars to keep them on the ground during a crash, added roof hatch for driver extraction and tons of other things to protect its athletes and fans.
Motocross has done... well I'm sure they have done something... Right?
Bikes have gotten more powerful, overall speeds have increased, every track in the world has multiple obstacles designed for increased challenge, yet nothing has been done to PREVENT injuries.
Sure, someone created knee braces, neck braces, chest protectors, and a litany of other "safety" equipment but not one single organization has made ANYTHING mandatory since helmets.
We as riders or parents of riders are given a nearly infinite amount of options when it comes to selecting equipment. The market is saturated with different companies offering basically the same goods at various prices. How do we make the selections? Is it based on test results? Experience? Word of mouth? or the all mighty dollar? Go out to your garage and look at your bike. Did you pay $150 for the graphics? Now look at your helmet.... Did that $150 make you a better rider or protect your well being?
I would really like to see an organization such as the AMA step up and say enough is enough. Start testing equipment and give approvals for competition. Change the rules mandating neck braces, knee braces, QUALITY helmets (Not the China made crap) and other PPE. Yes, we know, some don't like neck braces. Get over it. If your equipment does not pass an inspection, you are not allowed to race.
I would also like to see a safety "inspector" for the facilities holding events as well. Someone with the power to stop or cancel races if safety changes are not made.
Compared to other sports, motocross makes up a tiny parentage of athletes. When injuries happen it is felt on a much wider scale then most other sports. What needs to happen before improvements are made? Injuries are expensive. Not working on preventing injury is the expense we can no longer afford.
Football is constantly changing rules, testing and updating equipment and beating around ideas such as completely eliminating kick-offs just for the safety of the athletes.
Baseball has changed the rules for catcher collisions and "suggesting" pitchers wear helmets.
Nascar has mandated head restraints, created tested and implemented soft walls, created flaps on cars to keep them on the ground during a crash, added roof hatch for driver extraction and tons of other things to protect its athletes and fans.
Motocross has done... well I'm sure they have done something... Right?
Bikes have gotten more powerful, overall speeds have increased, every track in the world has multiple obstacles designed for increased challenge, yet nothing has been done to PREVENT injuries.
Sure, someone created knee braces, neck braces, chest protectors, and a litany of other "safety" equipment but not one single organization has made ANYTHING mandatory since helmets.
We as riders or parents of riders are given a nearly infinite amount of options when it comes to selecting equipment. The market is saturated with different companies offering basically the same goods at various prices. How do we make the selections? Is it based on test results? Experience? Word of mouth? or the all mighty dollar? Go out to your garage and look at your bike. Did you pay $150 for the graphics? Now look at your helmet.... Did that $150 make you a better rider or protect your well being?
I would really like to see an organization such as the AMA step up and say enough is enough. Start testing equipment and give approvals for competition. Change the rules mandating neck braces, knee braces, QUALITY helmets (Not the China made crap) and other PPE. Yes, we know, some don't like neck braces. Get over it. If your equipment does not pass an inspection, you are not allowed to race.
I would also like to see a safety "inspector" for the facilities holding events as well. Someone with the power to stop or cancel races if safety changes are not made.
Compared to other sports, motocross makes up a tiny parentage of athletes. When injuries happen it is felt on a much wider scale then most other sports. What needs to happen before improvements are made? Injuries are expensive. Not working on preventing injury is the expense we can no longer afford.