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http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20100516/ARTICLES/100519570/1350?Title=Motorcyclist-killed-during-race-at-Infineon&tc=ar (http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20100516/ARTICLES/100519570/1350?Title=Motorcyclist-killed-during-race-at-Infineon&tc=ar)

Read the last few lines, "“We go several years where we don’t have any (fatal accidents),” Cardinale [Infineon spokesman] said. “And then some years, unfortunately, we’ll have two.”

Wow. I didn't see the setup for the flat track. But why is it American track owners are so accepting and just don't step up and make the tracks safer? Especially in California where they're open year round.

And is Russ Wikle OK? That crash looked bad.

Regarding Wikle, apparently he'll be able to ride in 4 weeks:
http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=40498 (http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=40498)

The flattracker Alves apparently got jumped on by one or both bikes.

Tracks can be made safer, but money to do it is usually the problem.

see: willow, T8.

Infineon is particularly difficult to make changes to as it's built into hill and up against roads.  Not a lot of room to add run-off.  Also, specifically because it's used year-round and booked solid, any down time is really costly.  That said, the road racing course has been made much safer than it has been in the past and everyone has donated a gagillion dollars to getting as much airfence up as possible.  I think the AMA rents the airfence from the AFM for AMA events.  They've made changes to the track to remove some of the big danger zones (new turn 1 so that you don't hit the bridge and the chicane in Turn 9 -- which actually makes for better racing).

I've never seen the flat track course there and have no idea what it looks like.

I've been at Sears when someone died.  Guy had a heart attack on track and managed to get to the exit.   On his way in the offshoot, he passed out and went right into a wall.  He lauched and caught his head on fence, snapping his neck.  I've also been at Thunderhill when someone died, and that's a pretty safe track with a shit TON of run off.  The guy went off in T1 at triple digit speeds and someone just keep going up a steep hill.  And kept going and kept going.  Finally, he ran outta room and hit a ditch.   :-\   Sometimes, shit just happens whether the track is safe or not.

My point exactly. And unlike Infineon, there's room to add safe runoff. I just think it's about greed.

mm, maybe.  i bet the willow guys don't have lots of cash lying around.  and moving/re-routing a ditch-culvert-thing can't be a small a$k.

that said, the runoff leading up to that could be a lot friendlier.  for a WFO corner, you'd want friendly gravel.  not the wild west.  i am not a fan of barreling through that thing for this very reason.

vaguely related, new RRW has a 1000cc shoot-out with photos taken at Chuckwalla.  can't really see all the runoff but that place looks NICE.

Heard it's a nice track.

Twice as far away as BF Egypt...  :P

I had to Google Map that place.  Gawd, can you imagine how hot it's gonna be there in Aug/Sept/Oct?  I used to climb in JT during the summer and it was routinely near 120.  The rubber on our shoes would just slide on the rock.  Pretty unerving when you're hanging by your fingertips.  Imagine what a tire on a track would be like.  That track'll get bumpy fast too with super hot days and super cold nights.  

yeah, i anticipate that place having a useful season of, like, a few months/year

they're actually closed for a few months in the summer.

My bud was just there. He was behind a slower/ newer friend videotaping. He said the wind blew up some sand that decreased visibility to 1% - reminiscent of that scene in The Mummy. Dude in front stopped, he was committed and passed on the right completely blind. Worked out OK, but I'm dying to see the vid. Will post if I get it.