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Tape Touching - New Regulation


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At Plymouth last night we were advised that if a rider now touches the tapes with his helmet he is no longer excluded. A "warning"is issued instead. Thus ref Mick Posslewhite ordered a re-run of heat 12 without penalising Richard Andrews. An exclusion (disqualifiaction sorry) only applies if it's the bike that infringes.

Wondering what the thinking is behind this?

Edited by Mike.Butler
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Let riders do what they want regarding moving, rolling or jumping at the start. If they touch the tapes they get excluded. Would stop the did he didn't he move scenario. When a rider moves forward the ref just waits until they roll back and then let's the tapes go.

Or have a system that releases the tapes at a random time after the green light is pressed. Then upto the ref to just see if anyone touches the tapes.

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I'm guessing it because if your helmet touches the tapes you didn't necessarily jump the start, not the case if the bike does.

 

So why are they being warned then is the question I would ask?

 

If they don't touch the tapes (with their wheel/bike), let it go.

Edited by BWitcher
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I suppose it's to not penalise riders who have bigger helmets, lol!

 

Seriously, the rule change I'd like to see is a race is only pulled back for tape touching or a first bend incident, if a rider is moving and gets a flier then that should be just part of the skill involved in making a good start.

 

Meetings would be a lot smoother and referees wouldn't be under unfair scrutiny when a rider doesn't move but makes a perfect start and is pulled back or when a rider is barely moving, but still moving a fraction before the tapes go up and the race isn't stopped.

 

Keep it simple.

Agree entirely, why penalise a rider who's done his gardening effectively.

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At Plymouth last night we were advised that if a rider now touches the tapes with his helmet he is no longer excluded. A "warning"is issued instead. Thus ref Mick Posslewhite ordered a re-run of heat 12 without penalising Richard Andrews. An exclusion (disqualifiaction sorry) only applies if it's the bike that infringes.

Wondering what the thinking is behind this?

Giraffe's taking up speedway ???,,, lol

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SORRY know I am all for letting it go unless the tapes are broken and flyers should be accepted as part of the sport I once knew , I know I am in a majority of one but it is a free society we live in after all

Oh no your not. Myself and Stuart Robson would be on your side too. :t::approve: :approve:

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SORRY know I am all for letting it go unless the tapes are broken and flyers should be accepted as part of the sport I once knew , I know I am in a majority of one but it is a free society we live in after all

i think you might be surprised at how many share your view. Great memories of Mauger bending the tapes at Custom House with the ref trying to catch him out. Added to the excitement unlike the joke of the unsatisfactory start that prompts all riders to return to the pits wasting another ten minutes and turning a once exciting sport to a real bore sometimes.
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At Plymouth last night we were advised that if a rider now touches the tapes with his helmet he is no longer excluded. A "warning"is issued instead. Thus ref Mick Posslewhite ordered a re-run of heat 12 without penalising Richard Andrews. An exclusion (disqualifiaction sorry) only applies if it's the bike that infringes.

Wondering what the thinking is behind this?

Quite how it was anything to do with Andrews remains unclear to me, he was left at the line with his head pulled back by the tapes when every one else had gone.

To be truthful, the whole thing hinges on a referee's determination not to be made a monkey of by a rider anticipating the start, if the tapes catch his peak he has successfully passed his bike under a rising tape that has already been released by the referee.. What is the problem apart from damage to a referee's ego?

What next, riders not to move until the tapes reach the top of the poles?

Speedway becomes like Europe, bound by red tape and regulation!

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