Posted By Paul J Williams I would be greatful if any of you can provide me with advice on practical safe operating procedures for motocross practice tracks. I am particularly interested in ways of preventing injuries caused by collisions, ie a rider takes a jump closely followed by another rider, the first rider falls on landing and the second rider who is already airborne (therefore totally under the control of gravity) cannot avoid landing on the fallen rider. In these circumstances, the efforts of the marshalls to warn the second rider are in vain as he is already committed.

Posted By Iain W Paul, I used to do motocross in my younger days and to be honest your question is a difficult one to answer. As with most sports the competitors are deciding to take part in the sport and apart from wearing the protective body armour there is no other real option for the scenario you suggest. Even this will only protect someone to a certain degree. As you quite rightly said, the marshall at that point cannot do anything. Unfortunately I think it's a case of you pay your money you take your chances. The risks are evident. From past experience I know when I came off, I was off that track faster than a bolt of lightning , and hoped that my bike wasn't landed on by another rider. I fortunately never recieved any serious injuries though. oH and my bike always came out without too much damage. I obviously wasn't trying hard enough to win !! Hope you get some more positive help with this but it is a tricky one Iain