Motocross Safety Campaign - What You Can Do

What you can do to help:

Whether you agree or disagree with me, I am doing something. What are you doing?

1. GIVE TRACKS FEEDBACK

Let tracks know when you think improvements should be made to ensure rider safety. Also, check out our list of Good Tracks & Bad Tracks (click here).

2. FILL IN DOUBLES AND TRIPLES

Everybody knows that missing and hitting the face of a double or triple results in harder forces to the rider's body because of the sudden impact. We were glad to see Hardrock Track in Florida turned doubles into tabletops.

3. CONTACT FACTORIES

Riders: The factories should be looking out for your safety and I do no think that they are. Most team riders are hurt every year, either at the race or on a practice track. Please contact the factories to pressure promoters and sanctioning bodies.

To contact Factories: click here

4. CONTACT MAGAZINE EDITORS

We see very little in print on safety but applaud Motocross Action for their article concerning concussions ("Should Ezra Lusk be Banned", June 1999).

We strongly feel that MX magazines could further the sport by supporting safety issues. We feel that the editors are the most influential people in the sport and can have the biggest impact on promoting rider safety. With the dangerous triple jumps, untrained 12 year old flaggers are a danger to riders. Express your opinion on this issue to the magazine editors.

To contact Editors: click here

5. ESTABLISH FLAGGER REGULATIONS

Flaggers need to be trained AND at least 18 years-old. Several accidents can be prevented by establishing these regulations.

6. DO SOMETHING ABOUT TREES THAT ARE NEAR TRACKS

We have heard of several deaths and injuries due to hitting trees that are too close to the tracks. There should be a rule that trees need to be at least 30 feet from the track.

7. PAINT A LINE TO DIVIDE JUMPS IN HALF

Tracks need either a painted line or cones to divide riders. Riders who are going to jump should take one side of the jump and riders who are not jumping need to take the other. The following excerpt was taken from the April 19, 2000 issue of Cycle News, page 15:

"When Preston cased that jump, I landed on him," Bentley added. "That scared me more than anything and then I couldn't get my balance or get the bike going because it was so slippery.

There have been several serious injuries due to riders being landed on. Dividing the jump in half could prevent these injuries from occurring.