Nurburgring bans bikes

[Ming]

Just seen on the UKGSER site that there are now no motorcycles allowed on the Ring on public days, only as part of an organised trackday, which is presumably way more expensive and limited. You can still take your Honda Jazz on it having just passed your test, but bikes ain't allowed to play with the 4 wheelers any more.

Best stick to the wonderful roads around there and let the dick swingers alone

[Jug]

Yup, it's on the tracks website.
https://nuerburgring.de/news/sicherheit ... ufgestellt

[layne]

Yes on MCN too.
That will be the end of bikes on the ring.
No free riding either.
And what if it is rains on any of those 4 days.
They tried it back along with a few dedicated bike days and it was a disaster. Rained and no one went out.

[billinom8s]

Health and safety at Work?

[DaveH]

I've never had a problem at the 'Ring ... on two wheels or four ... but then I'm just one of millions of customers, and I can certainly understand the potential danger. As we all know, lines and speed through corners is generally very different for cars and bikes, especially at pace, and I'm sure this can come as a surprise to many car drivers at the 'Ring simply because they really aren't that familiar with bikes. In short, I guess bikes and cars on track at the same time don't really mix well ... where else do you see it (?) ... shame the 'Ring authorities haven't opted for having some bike-specific Touristenfahrten sessions instead though

[Jug]

Or even just a time slot system where they pause for a few minutes to let the cars clear some separation and then let some bikes out, and then revert back again after a set time or when the bike queue has cleared.

[DaveH]

Inside information from someone on the Ducati forum:

“Normally the Motorrad and Doc Scholl track days are sold out anyway. Motorrad often only have one dedicated English speaking instructor. Doc Scholl has about 4 so any brits that want to get on the courses are catered for but as said numbers are limited on either course. Sadly it is of no use to the people touring through the region or even some heading there on dedicated trips to the Eifel that want to put in a lap or two just to tick the box.
having worked there for 12 years as an instructor I have my personal views on this whole thing. They have not wanted bikes for a good few years, they have tolerated the situation until they made the decision. The decision was I believe made last season. The last dedicated bike parking area was ripped out and replaced with car spaces immediately last season came to an end in early November. I have also heard from a contact that confirms this, so why wait till a few weeks before season starts to announce it is beyond me. But having worked with them I am not surprised! I also have a suspicion that there was also another factor in the decision to ban bikes. This I suspect was that the new Ai safety lights/warning system does not recognise bikes sufficiently to work. Also the cameras employed on this Ai system are all front of vehicle facing, so if there is an element of anpr then it’s useless. Either that or it needs to pick up the silhouette of the vehicle and a bike is easily lost amongst the sea of cars.
among the biker fraternity out there and pretty much elsewhere it was acknowledged that this ban was only a matter of time, but it’s the zero consultation and lack of alternative that galls people.
Safety from now on in tf will not improve as they still push way too many cars on track. Which in itself is a recipe for enhanced incidents. Yes bikes could on some occasions create a long closure through either investigation or medical needs, but this is no different to the car world. I’ve worked on days there where there have been in excess of 6 hours of downtime on tf and also trackdays when there have been zero bikes present or involved. People still die in cars whether as driver or passengers. Statistics are non existent to the public but I personally believe that cutting out the bikes will whittle their own stats down a bit but as most people acknowledge “no one dies on the ring” they die in helicopter, icu’s and medical centres. I’ve known both 2 & 4 wheel friends and colleagues who have died there. Sadly this will continue irrespective of there being no bikes. so at some point they are going to have to reduce car numbers and there’s a few ways they can do this, many will not be happy but it will come OR tf will be shut down due to either political or environmental reasons.
nurburgring could replace all tf car sessions with a trackday format. There is nothing to stop them setting up a division to do this to mirror what 3rd party operators do at present.
If tf disappeared all the tech and infrastructure would still be critical for racing, testing, industry, and trackdays.”

[Robbo87]

I did the ring for the one and only time back in 2002. Didn't enjoy it much but I was in the area and it ticked a box I suppose. The local roads, especially in the Eifell region, were a far better proposition - and free .

[layne]

I really enjoyed it. Even the buzz in the carpark.

I got down to 8:23 on my second trip there.

Third visit didn't go well. I was aiming to get into the 7 minute bracket. Unfortunately a BMW left antifreeze all around the last 3 corners. 2 bakes (including me) and 2 cars off and about 30 cars sideways before it was scrubbed off.

[menzies3032]

Well think this is Red5’s Germany trips knacked for a while then. The ring is one of his favourite trips.