The Start

I dont know about anyone else, but when the 5 second board gets shown, they either take another what feels like ten minutes to drop the gate, or they drop it straight away.
I admit they do a good job getting it setup etc...
but today in the second C Group race, they dropped it near enough at the same time as the 5 second board was shown, and it really caught me of guard, completely ruining the race for me.
Not to sound too much of a squiny but can they not count ????

Apart from this, had a great days racing, perfect weather.
Cheers jamie and co for another great event.

Not sure if I am 100% correct but I am led to believe that when the 5 second board is shown the gate can drop within 5 seconds of this point which is why everyone revs their machine from then onwards.

it does indeed. I can see were he coming from tho. I kinda got used to the fact it drops like a second after the 5 second board is shown. it will catch me out one day

Exactly that, the gate can drop any time in the 5 seconds.
It means that the start is fair and done more on peoples reaction time!!

Ok thanks, I didn't realise this.
Il let them off. This time, lol!!

was some one on the line

I want to stop any rumours before they begin so thought I would post my comments here on the forum.

I normally assist with the peg system at the start. At Binstead, Jamie needed someone to push the pedal on the start gate and asked if I wanted to do it so I said yes. I had no problems during the day apart from getting showered in mud and had to get Nigel and another rider to sort out the chain as the gates wouldn't go down in one of the C group races.

In the last A race, one of the riders approached me and asked why Olly Mayhew, my husband was holding back at the gate insinuating I was giving him an unfair advantage by letting him know when the gate would drop. I was shocked by this and assured the rider in question that this was not the case.

Once all the riders were at the gate for the start I took it upon myself to ask Jamie if he would press the pedal for this race to silence any doubters. Jamie held the start for a long time and the outcome proved the point that there was no cheating going on as Olly got the holeshot.

After the race another rider asked Jamie how far back from the gate he could start to which Jamie replied "you can start from the pits if you want".

I had a great day and really enjoyed doing the start but it was a shame that my husband and I were accused of cheating. Congratulations to all the riders and see you at Swanmore where I could be on the start again

P.S. good to see Ian Brown back from injury

ANGELA i think you do a cracking job on the start you've always got a smile on your face when your there getting covered in mud keep it up your doing a great job

Angela,

What a load of balls, Olly will get the whole shot with Jame or my gold fish doing the gate. He is on fire with racing at the moment and i know that cheating is the last thing that would intreast him. I would not worry about the few. Without people like you we would not be racing week in and week out.

Many Thanks for your help.


But i wont be asking you to pick out my peg again

Its because of riders or anyone for that matter making comments like this, that people end up deciding not to help anymore, and as results the club struggle to hold the events.
Without the volunteers who give up their time in all conditions, we would not have a club.
Keep up the good work, we can't do it without you.

Yeah thanks to everyone who helps out. We as riders forget sometimes the amount of help given by people for the love of the sport. Thanks

Thanks Angela for your time, like everyone before me has already said........by the way peg 13 wasn't lucky for me!!!!!!

dont worry about it angela i used 2 get the same when my dad did the start some people just dont like getting beat

Thanks Tony.

Olly,

how the fu** do you miss the gate at the start cos you are out of the start like a shot.

Which part of the gates do you watch to get a really fast reaction time.

Now that would be telling
Been working on my starts for a while now and so far have been lucky.
Roll in, engine driving and hard on the brakes and then dump the clutch, release the brakes and lift the front wheel as the gate starts to drop. Been real close to catching the gate a few times as it's been still dropping as I've lifted the front wheel over it.

Tryed that on the last race last year. Cracked my balls on the tank and broke the start gate!

i know

good starts 2 day olly unlike my last race bike cut out just as i got over gate

Cheers Tony, hooked up great out of the gate with a new Golden Tyre on the back

I saw you Olly in the 2nd A race first bend , going round it speedway style. If you had gone down you would off taken me and a few others

That was a really close one, thought it was all over but clipped the back of Paul Cannon's bike which actually helped me save it.

Do I get credit for your 1st overall then?

Although I do get the holeshot, it seems to me that for the heats and the shootout races the gate gets held for 3 seconds after the board turns but in the A group it goes instantly. Is there a reason for this or can it be held longer to give a fairer start. This would mean that its more about judgement and timing rather than just going when the board turns. Also they used to pull riders forward on the gate to stop thebike lengths run ups people are having.

Paul

the starters do a good job but did like it when jamie done the start 4 last race at binstead as he did hold the gate longer think paul has a good idear that we should all b pull up 2 gate