bigcatdiary Posted January 15, 2015 Report Share Posted January 15, 2015 It's the start marshals job to get the riders within the right distance of the tapes. Far to many start marshals pussy out of an argument with riders + almost all favour the home team and this is where most of the problems arise. It really isn't a difficult problem to correct it the officials do their jobs properly. Your view of riders taking any notice of start marshalls must be different to mine, as others have said most riders completely ignore them. As for referees we have such massive differences between ability, competence and consistency, it really is about time they graded referees accordingly, the idiots in charge of last years PL pairs and the Coventry sky match with all the exclusions being just 2 good examples. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teddy2706 Posted January 16, 2015 Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 The idea of the photocell behind the bikes as mentioned by Pete CC is perfectly reasonable, inexpensive and if interlocked to prevent the tapes release when the beam's broken is foolproof. It could be armed the second the start marshall indicates the riders are in position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebel1 Posted January 17, 2015 Report Share Posted January 17, 2015 Grading referees is not such a bad idea. In tug-of-war judges, after qualifying they become grade 3 status, this is after both theory and practical tests. They then are allowed to control lower level meetings (pulls) and are not eligible for consideration to grade 2 until they have controlled a set number of meetings. This usually takes at least 2 years. A panel of grade 1 judges make the decision to make them grade 2. Grade 2 judges can control intermediate level meetings (pulls). Only grade 1 judges can control all types of National competitions. England grade judges can control UK meetings and International meetings require an international qualified judge. This could be too much effort for this sport but would keep referees on the ball as Judges can be down graded and have to participate in refresher courses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul90210 Posted January 18, 2015 Report Share Posted January 18, 2015 I'd the tapes are prevented from releasing then clutches start burning out, so not such a clever or inexpensive idea after all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Meldrew Posted February 2, 2015 Report Share Posted February 2, 2015 In the NL matches that I have seen over the past two years I have noticed that the referees are more lenient with the NL riders especially in respect of the two minute rule and with some riders moving at the start after the green light has come on. To be fair to the referees I have noticed that where riders are clearly moving and get a flyer the referee has immediately stopped the race and warned that rider. Where a rider is moving but by his own actions gains no advantage and is usually last out of the gate the referee has let the race proceed and has not stopped it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianbuck Posted February 5, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2015 I also think that many referees are more lenient with National League riders - and longer-term I don't think this is helping them (the riders that is). It's just encouraging them to pick up a habit they will find difficult to break. The rules should be rigid regardless of the ability level of the competitors. Yes, sometimes excluding a rider does spoil a potentially good race, but a lot more scope for good races is created if the riders know exactly where they stand with the rules - and this isn't so at the moment. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike.Butler Posted February 6, 2015 Report Share Posted February 6, 2015 there's a difference between gardening and being unable to quite control the clutch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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