I’m someone who is borderline OCD when it comes to diligence in the attempt at lessening the chances for a failure. A failure of any kind. That could refer to personal injury, mechanical failure, loss of any kind… so when I hear that not only did another Pro rider get injured on a practice day at Glen Helen but coincidentally the other 450 rider on the team who just prior to the start of the Nationals saw his year cut short, I’m a little on edge and incredibly baffled.
Lets start at the first most incredible component of this perfect storm, a Pro caliber Motocross track mixing Joe Schmoe with elite Factory Pro’s. It is unreal that this combination exists, let alone is a commonality at Glen Helen. Imagine ANY other sport where Pro’s n Joe’s mix it up together in practice sessions. Let’s go hit the local Basketball court and rain down three’s with Steph Curry. Maybe hit up a well manicured Baseball Diamond to jack homers with Mike Trout. I have plans next week to head to Michigan International Speedway and throw a cinder block on the accelerator as I make Kurt Busche my bitch through turn 3. HOW INSANE DOES THIS ALL SOUND?!
Not only should this not be permissible, it could be the next level of VIP program for JT to institute. We’re talking mega-money here to ride with the Pro’s…. Or you can just do it now by showing up on a Thursday at Glen Helen and paying your practice fee. Ridiculous.
What’s worse? Oh yeah, there’s no flagging crew incorporated into this bastard of an idea! I’m not kidding, this is insane and typing it out now, it really sounds like it should be illegal. The fact that there’s no flagging crew doing their best to keep all the riders safe is bad, really bad… but the most unconscionable thing is that the Team’s who these elite riders are employed by, just go along with it and hope that things work out. How could they with so many facets pointing toward the inevitable failure? It’s just another example of small-time thinking in this sport that leaves us with disastrous results and asking ourselves, “How?” How dare anyone pretend to have any unsatisfied curiosity regarding Factory Husqvarna’s entire 450 roster on the sidelines after learning of the facts surrounding the incidents.
The faux pas of the Glen Helen practice days are just one example of multiple similarly amateurish handlings within the confines of our sport and it is honestly the easiest to both predict and correct, yet here we are. Can someone, ANYONE throw their balls on the crossbar and start to correct these glaring inadequacies in Motocross and Supercross?!