A South Australian surgeon is asking for an investigation into the frequency and severity of Australia’s motorsport crashes.
Key factors:
- A Mount Gambier surgeon is asking for extra knowledge to be collected and analysed from accidents at McNamara Park Raceway
- A lately injured rider says the observe is his favorite in Australia, regardless of being ‘difficult’
- Racing our bodies acknowledge the inherent danger within the sport however say observe security is continually reviewed
Barney McCusker has labored as an orthopaedic surgeon in Mount Gambier for 35 years.
He mentioned he repeatedly handled riders who had crashed on the native observe, McNamara Park Raceway.
“Many people [at the hospital] have noticed various fairly critical accidents popping out of McNamara Park,” Dr McCusker mentioned.
“This could be simply the truth that it is a excessive power exercise, which has intrinsic risks, and it could be truly fairly regular.
“We could also be overreacting to the variety of accidents we’re seeing from McNamara Park.”
However Dr McCusker mentioned he believed extra knowledge in regards to the accidents must be collected and analysed.
“To take a look at the severity of those accidents, to have a look at the variety of these accidents, to have a look at the variety of riders and to see: is there one thing about this park, or is it simply regular … in comparison with different parks round Australia?
“The reply shall be within the figures, and it will be within the evaluation of these figures.”
Dr McCusker mentioned he had his “suspicions” in regards to the security of the observe.
“Whereas after they come off at this park, they’ve truly had critical accidents.
“Is likely to be simply dangerous luck … Maybe the figures will point out that that is truly fairly a protected observe [but] that’s but to be decided.”
‘Difficult’ and ‘good enjoyable’
South Australian rider Paul van der Heiden has been racing since 2007, and isn’t any stranger to Australia’s tracks or competitors crashes.
He broke two ribs and his left scapula, or shoulder blade, in a crash at McNamara Park in April.
“I truly received knocked unconscious once I got here off the bike, I hit the bottom that tough,” he mentioned.
“I might have walked away from this crash, however the bike hit me – after I finished transferring, the bike saved coming and ended up in my again.”
However Mr van der Heiden was not deterred, saying “you’ll be able to crash anyplace”.
“I simply love driving bikes,” he mentioned.
“There’s the joys of the pace and the braking laborious, accelerating laborious, after which the problem of perfecting the observe.”
He mentioned he was excited to race at McNamara Park once more quickly.
“It’s extremely difficult, very attention-grabbing, and loads of enjoyable.
“The Bend [Motorsport Park] and Phillip Island [Circuit], they’re miles large and really clean.
“Whereas Mac Park, it is bumpy, it is undulating, it is twisting and turning.
“The extra problem that there’s, the extra you get out of it whenever you beat that problem, whenever you meet that problem.”
Beneath fixed overview
President of the Mount Gambier Bike Membership Alex Trnovsky mentioned the observe was continually reviewed to enhance racers’ security.
“As a membership, we do every little thing we will to make sure the protection of our riders and spectators,” he mentioned.
“Lately, we have elevated loads of our runoff areas, in order that that makes it a bit safer.
“We additionally make sure that we’ve educated medical workers on web site for all occasions.
“We even have extra medical workers than what we technically want however we’ve determined to prioritise that, despite the fact that it prices the membership extra, simply to make issues as protected as they are often ought to an incident happen.”
Mr Trnovsky mentioned the chance was a part of the attract of the game.
“All types of motorsport are harmful, they’ve inherent dangers, however I feel everybody who participates is conscious of these dangers,” he mentioned.
“As a rider myself, it is a part of what makes it thrilling.
He mentioned all incidents had been reported to Motorcycling Australia.
“We additionally take a look at that knowledge to attempt to see if there’s hotspots – for those who like – out on the observe and that offers us an thought of the place we will attempt to enhance the structure of the circuit,” he mentioned.
“We get [Motorcycling Australia’s] tips, they usually have a observe inspector who comes down and we have labored intently with them to make it possible for our observe is of a nationwide customary.
“They might have knowledge of each crash at each observe, they usually use that to provide you with a few of their guidelines and laws as effectively.”
Motorcycling Australia chief govt Peter Doyle mentioned there was “nothing that stands out” about McNamara Park Raceway from a security perspective.
“Bike sport is on the acute facet relating to sport, and is taken into account a harmful leisure exercise,” he mentioned.
“Circuit security is continually below overview and dialogue and is continually evolving.
“Highway programs are reviewed yearly and considerations and critical incidents are investigated.”
