Club faces six-figure fine over wheelie accident
Court hears how racer lost leg after competitor wheelies into him
DERBY PHOENIX motorcycle club faces having to pay a six-figure compensation settlement to a biker who lost a leg in an accident at one of its events.
Tony Norman, 30, of Essex, suffered devastating injuries when he was struck by another competitor who had just pulled a wheelie at Lincolnshire's Cadwell Park circuit.
Race organisers, Derby Phoenix Motorcycle Club, was yesterday refused permission by London's Civil Appeal Court to appeal against an earlier court ruling that said, had marshals been in place to point competitors down a cut-through at the race, the accident would have been avoided.
Mr Norman, who had ridden competitively since the age of 16, had to have his leg amputated below the knee after he was hit by leading rider Michael Goodings on August 10 2003. The Appeal Court heard that the event had been stopped three times because of oil on the track and competitors waiting on the grid had been told to head back to the paddock for an early lunch.
Mr Norman went off first and, as he moved to turn right into a cut-through, about 180 yards from the grid leading to the paddock, Mr Goodings' bike struck him. The Club's counsel argued that it was not responsible for the tragedy.
Anthony Barker QC said the accident would never have happened had it not been for the recklessness of Mr Goodings, from Doncaster, who he said "pulled a wheelie" at over 60mph. Lord Justice Tuckey and Lord Justice Rimer refused Derby Phoenix Motorcycle Club permission to appeal against an earlier county court ruling, which means it is now fully liable to compensate Mr Norman. The Club was initially ruled liable to damages by Judge Inglis at Birmingham Crown Court in April this year.
David Smith, chairman of Derby Phoenix Motorcycle Club, said:
"The Club's future will not be affected by this as we are fully covered by insurance."
Discuss this story
Blooming shame (would you stronger language but prob would get banned  ) that he's had to have half of his leg amputated because of some muppet but what is the one of or the most important things that your taught from CBT level? Life saver over your right shoulder before you move off or turn right. So I'm not dissing Mr Norman's riding skills seeming as he's been riding a lot longer than I have (I've only just started a couple of months ago) but I personally believe that the accident would have been avoided purely for the fact he would have seem the dubass pulling a wheelie and therefore wouldn't have turned right but Mr Norman isn't totally to blame. Any way that's all I'm saying
Posted: 16/10/2008 at 23:45
That's trouble with club racing sometimes, you get some fucking clowns who think it's alright to tool about on slowdown laps/warm up laps cos there is a crowd...basically it's small dick syndrome and now some poor fucker have to live with that. The rider responsibly should have had his race licence taken off him and banned for 5 years from competitive riding. In the actual race it's a different matter everybodies mind set is geared towards the race, on slowdown / warm up laps the case is not so, some people are adjusting stuff, some are trying to warm tyres and others are behaving irresponsibly, as in this case. I raced at club level for 6 years and saw some absolutely clueless fuckers out on track (i.e turning the wrong way up pit lane in a live practice session) ended up nearly cutting this daft cunt in half if he'd had moved any slower, people running off track and then deciding it's ok to just rejoin without looking first. Some clubs i wouldn't even entertain riding with again as they haven't a clue about fairness or discipline.
Posted: 16/10/2008 at 23:56
I was DP's official Start line steward for 4 years. The amount of bollocking's i gave out on the grid for pissing about was unreal. DP are a very professional club and always deal with assholes in the correct manner. There was a lot of shit surrounding this incident, and a lot of people blaming each other. I hope it doesnt affect the future of DP as there a great club and have some great talent.
Posted: 17/10/2008 at 08:37
DP are responsible for the Marshals. The courts were saying the marshals neglect caused the accident as they werent diverting the riders the correct way, or something like that. Either way, the rules say, no wheelies, full stop. If Mick hadn't been pissing around he'd have seen the guy turning. Theres a lot to it, a lot more than is said here, and a lot more than i'm going to say.
Posted: 17/10/2008 at 10:24
Marv As you know that was the season Matt Horne won the Championship, that accident caused a whole heap of shit! He was lucky to be allowed to ride again AFAIK Hope the bloke who was injured gets paid a wedge, although in my opinion it should not be the club that picks up the bill, it should be the rider or their insurance company who does. DP are responsible for the Marshals. The courts were saying the marshals neglect caused the accident as they werent diverting the riders the correct way, or something like that. Either way, the rules say, no wheelies, full stop. If Mick hadn't been pissing around he'd have seen the guy turning. Theres a lot to it, a lot more than is said here, and a lot more than i'm going to say.
Posted: 17/10/2008 at 13:47
It seems fairly cut and dried to me (with six seasons of club racing). Pull a minger and hit someone and you're the bloke who has to fork out. If I was DP I'd be pretty well cheesed off that the nobber who actually did it escaped serious penalty. "No, your honour, the DP marshalls made me do it. The way that fat marshall looked at me - his raised eyebrows definitely carried the unambiguous message 'Go on, son, through the gears - for me." Bag o'shite.
Posted: 17/10/2008 at 14:45
OK everyone...I was there...here's the deal. 600's sitting on the start line marshalls told to tell the riders to make there way back to paddock, via the cut through by the mountain/medic centre first guys did just that. Tony was turning into that cut through as instructed. fuck all to do with shoulder checks..he was in the front of the group. Mick Goodings pulled a wheelie off the startline area ( remember its under a red flag!..and riders have had instruction of where to go!) put the front down with no time to stop..clouted tony on his leg. leg was mashed between frame and Micks bike. in my mind Mick Goodings is to blame. shouldn't have been on his back wheel at all...never mind under red flag conditions. hows about THIS then...I spoke to tony about a year after the incident. and at that time, Mick Goodings was yet to call, visit in hospital or even send a message that he was sorry. in my view thats just plain rude. In fact he was out racing the next weekend/fortnight! how can a fellow competitor not even give a shit about someone he's hurt...so much so that he lost his leg. Its a poor state of play when a guy who has recieved injuries never even gets a 'sorry' card. and has to seek funds from the club rather than the rider. But I guess this is the only route possible toTony as a civil case would go nowhere. Tony deserves the cash,...but from Goodings...not the club. but thats life these days. the good guys get hurt, the arseoles get away with it.
Posted: 17/10/2008 at 14:52
One aims to please. Unlike this misguided missile (twunt) who aimed for the knees.
Posted: 17/10/2008 at 16:14
Gotta have eyes in ya ass, you never know whats coming. I think the nobber who thought he was at a stunt riders meeting should be footing the compo, or at least a contribution to the increase in premium that DP will get on their insurance.
Posted: 17/10/2008 at 18:50
hows about THIS then...I spoke to tony about a year after the incident. and at that time, Mick Goodings was yet to call, visit in hospital or even send a message that he was sorry. in my view thats just plain rude. In fact he was out racing the next weekend/fortnight!
if that's true,thats fucking digusting 
Posted: 17/10/2008 at 19:17
everybodys pointing the finger at mick but your telling me that regulars at trackdays and race meetings have never pulled quick wheelie he probably won't be the last but people get away with it it is so sorry to hear tonys injurys though
Posted: 17/10/2008 at 21:11
If the insurance company forks out, then it will be every club who faces a massive hike in premiums next year. They aren't charities and if one prick like this costs clubs this way, then a lot may fold, as the increase may be quite high
Posted: 17/10/2008 at 23:38
but Pete..this was a RACE day...under rad flag rules...the prick should have been going walking pace like everyone else... He's a prick...ruined a guys life....ruined thousands of racers future budgets...ruined DPMCC's reputation... and has got away with it. I also seem to remember the club trying to ban him,...but he kicked up such a fuss with the ACU that he was allowed to ride..DPMCC weren't even allowed to throw him out. However they could refuse club membership the following year How he's gotten away without a serious kicking from someone is beyond me. ( not condoning violence,...just an observation) Lets just say that on that last day of the championship there were a shit load of people urging Matt Horne on to win it...which he did.
Posted: 18/10/2008 at 20:21
It was a stupid thing to do on a red flag situation. He's not the only one to do it and certainly won't be the last. All i really want to say is.. look at BSB, World SBK, MotoGP.. on the slow down lap, they wheelie at god knows what speed at exactly the same time as another rider decided he'll stop and do a burnout or stoppie! i've seen it happen before and it won't be the last. And before anyone says.. they are professionals.. nobody, no matter how professional they are, knows when another person is going to wheelie, or stop.
I think this person who pulled this stunt should get a ban.. but i really can't see him being welcome in many paddocks anymore. It was an accident, a silly one, but i could be pretty sure he didn't aim to do this.
And just a quick one to finish.. We pay insurance as part of our entry fee's. This is the insurance that covers your silly actions and the actions of others on a very dangerous race circuit. This guy deserves every penny he gets, i can't imagine the trauma he's been through. But at the same time, it is the insurance company that should pay out, not the rider himself, he pays his insurance. Next time you have an accident on the road (and i wish that upon nobody).. if you pull out on someone or take a corner a little too fast and hit someone, should you be paying out your own pocket for all the damage? or should the insurance company, that you pay, for instances like this cover it? I think i know the answer. Thanks for reading this. Take care.
Posted: 22/10/2008 at 23:26
And just a quick one to finish.. We pay insurance as part of our entry fee's. This is the insurance that covers your silly actions and the actions of others on a very dangerous race circuit.
So are you saying that because you have paid your entry fee, you have the right to act/ride like a complete twat without fear of reprisal, or because someone else picks up the bill or takes responsibility for the riders actions? To me that is a complete crock of shit, anyone who races under that guise is a self centred prick who should not be allowed on circuit in the first place. You have a duty of care to your competitors, and the Law should refelct thi. IMO The club should not have had to pick up the bill, it is impossible to enforce / force someone to do something simply by waving a flag, you can only act after the incident through means of bans, fines etc. Ultimitely the marshalls were not riding the bike, so shouldn't be blamed, the rider has to take full responsibility for their actions.
Posted: 23/10/2008 at 12:55
I'm yet to see a proffesional rider pull a wheelie under red flag conditions... accidents happen...but under a red flag... its just stupidity.
Posted: 23/10/2008 at 14:37
MrH speaks some sense! We pay insurance to cover us during accidents and mistakes - however bad the mistake is it was not intentional - it was an accident that could have been avoided - but the club is not paying the fine, the insurance company is - and thats why we have insurance. We have all fucked up at some point and been lucky, both these peoples luck ran out, sad but true. Nothing makes this right but no-one is saying insurance gives you a free licence to ride like a prick - but it is there to cover accidents - which is what is happening here. As for racing a week later, after causing the accident - good on him, why not! Should you have a period of 'mourning' after an accident? Is there an acceptable abount of races to miss to make it ok? No! Racing is competative and when i raced i would have done enything to get to the next race - nothing else mattered! Not calling, apologising, contacting, etc - thats bad - on an unthinkable level - maybe he was told to stay away by his lawyer? Maybe he is just a bastard - i dont know. My point is the insurance should pay out - there could be a reason why he didnt get in touch to apologise? And the club should have banned him for 5 years or similar - his race licence should have been revoked. But the courts blame the club for poor marshaling - so i guess they cant do that much when legally they are proven to be in the wrong (weather you or i agree is a different matter)
Posted: 23/10/2008 at 15:35
Both of you.. read what i wrote again..
i never said anything about a professional rider pulling a wheelie under red flag conditions.. i said 'slow down lap'. This is just as dangerous time to be doing it. And i said i'd seen it happen.. yes, a rider stopping to do a burnout, whilst another rider wasn't paying attention and slammed straight in to him. It was a superstock race to be exact. And no ernie, i never said anything of the sort. The right to ride like a twat because you've paid your entry? Don't be so stupid. We're talking about who's paying out... its NOT the club.. its the insurance company. And this is the exact reason for why we all have insurance. Because there's always a dickhead! I've learnt that these forums seem to put across a completely different opinion depending on how the reader interprets it. Whether its a red flag situation, a warm up lap, a slow down lap.. there should be heavy consiquences for people arsing around and putting other people's lives at risk!
Posted: 23/10/2008 at 15:41
to read all these comments put on by people that dont even know the real facts and riders involved makes me realise how small minded people can be. i have attended race meetings for years, seen many things and got to know many many riders, both involved in this included. I was also present on this day and want to set a few things straight ! as for not giving a shit about t.normans injuries what a load of bollocks! goodings enquired constantly about this at the hospital and was told he had broken leg and will be fine. then there's the 'wheelie' yes the wheel left the floor on reaction of pulling back throttle it was straight back down so to say he hit norman with wheel in air is wrong and had any one stopped to actually think about this if his wheel was in air do you not think it would have been bottom of engine to hit leg at same time of wheel taking head off !! as we know that DIDN'T happen. it was also months after that anyone heard how bad norman's leg actually was hence racing the weekend after! at the end of the day many riders have had collisions and broken bones but you dont see the riders who collided with them and walked away unhurt lying low when there is no inkling of how bad this actually was. norman also wasn't the first of the grid so for you actually saying you saw everything you would have seen the riders before him to go straight on as goodings also thought he should have been as well as riders behind him in statements reckoned they were going straight on too! like the statements from the trial say - had there been enough marshalls on track everyone would have been a lot clearer on there route back to paddock and im sure the courts heard much more evidence and FACTS than you lot have! Goodings gets off scott free ? yeah right. this insurance that apparently covers you for this DOESN'T! he lost his house and it also broke down his family. what did the club lose?
Posted: 09/11/2008 at 15:11
To all of you members who are slagging Mick Goodings off for the incident at cadwell park. I attended Cadwell Park on the said date and was watching the racing from the so called cut in the tyre wall. i saw the accident happen and if Mr Norman had followed all the other riders who were in front of him and not turn right across the race track this accident would not have happend. The instructions from the Derby Phoenix club marshalls were not made clear to the riders as no one seemed to know where they were going. In any case if Marshalls had been stood across the track with RED flags pointing the riders in the right direction this would not have happend, but due to insufficent Marshalls being on duty this wasnt the case. THE BLAME for this accident lies entirely with the DERBY PHOENIX MOTORCYCLE CLUB not Mr Goodings or Mr Norman who were the victims of INCOMPETENT MARSHALLING on the said day. So i say to the prick RADIOBLOKE if you dont know what your talking about shut the fuck up until you Know the facts
Posted: 09/11/2008 at 17:11
To all of you members who are slagging Mick Goodings off for the incident at cadwell park. I attended Cadwell Park on the said date and was watching the racing from the so called cut in the tyre wall. i saw the accident happen and if Mr Norman had followed all the other riders who were in front of him and not turn right across the race track this accident would not have happend. The instructions from the Derby Phoenix club marshalls were not made clear to the riders as no one seemed to know where they were going. In any case if Marshalls had been stood across the track with RED flags pointing the riders in the right direction this would not have happend, but due to insufficent Marshalls being on duty this wasnt the case. THE BLAME for this accident lies entirely with the DERBY PHOENIX MOTORCYCLE CLUB not Mr Goodings or Mr Norman who were the victims of INCOMPETENT MARSHALLING on the said day. So i say to the prick RADIOBLOKE if you dont know what your talking about shut the fuck up until you Know the facts
was mr goodings pulling a wheelie ?
Posted: 09/11/2008 at 17:15
I like shouty blokes they're shouty
Posted: 09/11/2008 at 17:52
NO he did not pull a wheelie! There is a big difference in pulling a wheelie to front wheel lifting for split second due to acceleration. Goodings has rode competetively since 16 years old and has incredible experience in handling bike, he's also never been a show off type either, over the years he has won many many races and never do you see him pulling wheelie's over finish line like most do so why would he do it off start line especially under the circumstances ? This was just a way for the club to try and 'pass the buck' people in the paddock that day would have noticed that all marshalls and officials quickly went and locked themselves in office allowing no riders/spectators in so they could file a 'report' more like get a consistant story together quickly!
Posted: 09/11/2008 at 18:09
See more comments...
|
|
