Tai Woffinden Crash in Krosno

[M.D]

18 minutes ago, gjcone44 said:

even google knows speedway bikes dont get drive of concrete, i suggest you all read my statement again, apologies' not accepted,  there is some rubbishe spoken on here. 

older generation will remember concrete start line soon got banned

blue groove where do they come from?

so you have been in speedway for so long and never heard a saying track was that slick its like riding on concrete.

It's not really important is it, this thread is about Tai.

[IainB]

There's (a positive) update on Sportowefakty... Woffinden has woken from his (induced) coma according to reports.

Edited Friday at 06:07 PM by IainB

[IainB]

https://x.com/SpeedwayGB/status/1908213116770324527?s=19

 

[Ray Stadia]

23 minutes ago, gjcone44 said:

even google knows speedway bikes dont get drive of concrete, i suggest you all read my statement again, apologies' not accepted,  there is some rubbishe spoken on here. 

older generation will remember concrete start line soon got banned

blue groove where do they come from?

so you have been in speedway for so long and never heard a saying track was that slick its like riding on concrete.

There is a big posting about onetime concrete starting grids, a posting by Gresham on the 15th May, 2016. Speedway tracks, apparently, used to have concrete starting grds, but were banned. 2 schools of thought were discussed as the reason. 1. due to a lip being created and the concrete grid could act as a take off ramp. 2. due to the change in surface grip, making things dangerous. Flipping at the start was also suggested. 

[RoundTheBoards]

1 hour ago, Ray Stadia said:

There is a big posting about onetime concrete starting grids, a posting by Gresham on the 15th May, 2016. Speedway tracks, apparently, used to have concrete starting grds, but were banned. 2 schools of thought were discussed as the reason. 1. due to a lip being created and the concrete grid could act as a take off ramp. 2. due to the change in surface grip, making things dangerous. Flipping at the start was also suggested. 

You're spot on.

In the early days of cinder tracks it was hard to produce a good starting area, as the back wheel spinning dug big ruts, worse than the ruts dug in modern shale tracks.   Also electric cables to operate the starting gate etc often ran under the track and needed protection.  In those glorious days before Health & Safety, the easiest solution was to concrete over the starts.

Again, as you say, this was dangerous due to a lip being created which would act as a take-off ramp, and dangers due to the increasing grip on change of surface.   (As previously discussed with riders hitting a concrete kerb and taking off - the coefficient of friction between a rubber tyre and concrete is much higher than that between rubber and shale).  Also, as anyone who has looped a bike will attest, landing on a shale track hurts a lot, but landing on concrete hurts a hell of a lot more.

As track preparation techniques improved, with better quality shale surfaces replacing cinders, concrete starting grids were banned.

 

[TheWellBehavedWorrall]

4 hours ago, IainB said:

https://x.com/SpeedwayGB/status/1908213116770324527?s=19

 

Amazing news. Delighted to hear that.

Glasgow win at Armadale and Woffinden has awaken from his coma. If Carlsberg did Fridays…

[arnieg]

11 hours ago, RoundTheBoards said:

... the easiest solution was to concrete over the starts.

Again, as you say, this was dangerous due to a lip being created which would act as a take-off ramp, and dangers due to the increasing grip on change of surface.   (As previously discussed with riders hitting a concrete kerb and taking off - the coefficient of friction between a rubber tyre and concrete is much higher than that between rubber and shale).  Also, as anyone who has looped a bike will attest, landing on a shale track hurts a lot, but landing on concrete hurts a hell of a lot more.

As track preparation techniques improved, with better quality shale surfaces replacing cinders, concrete starting grids were banned.

 

Although an intact one survives at California Country Park.

[1 valve]

7 minutes ago, JamesHarris said:

A very poor statement (I know I'm not going to make any friends saying that!). I could just imagine his missus standing on stage at the Oscars reading that one out. 

Look I hope Tai gets well and pulls through ok. I also respect his right to privacy. It looked a pretty horrific crash. That said unless he is paralysed or in a vegetative state just say what he has broken etc or say nothing. It would put an end to all the speculation and false rumours that have been put out there.   

What a very strange & insensitive comment. 
Clearly, as stated, the family have decided to let Tai decide when & what details are released regarding the injuries and treatments he has had to endure. 
In the meantime, his wife & mum have taken the opportunity to sincerely offer heartfelt thanks & recognition to the folk who in the immediate aftermath of the incident made all the right calls to save Tai from an outcome far more final than from what you think are newsworthy injuries. 
Those of us who share  concern over the health of one of speedways greatest riders have been please to read the message and will continue to abide by the request not to speculate any further in preference to waiting for further official updates to be released at a time whenTai and his family decide is appropriate.