What the hell is this? Spain’s Jerez has taken the issue of track limits into its own hands by deploying crazy curbs

The Jerez circuit, host to the Spanish GP of the MotoGP series, is shocking the motorcycling world. Its management decided to place brutally sharp kerbs on the exits of the corners just two months before the arrival of the World Superbike Championship. Simon Patterson reported on Twitter about the work currently underway at the circuit.

Track limits have been, are and will be a point of heated debate amongst all motorsport fans. Whether or not they base their opinions on constructively critical grounds, it is clear that it is impossible to find a completely objective solution to satisfy all parties 100%.

Each racing circuit approaches the issue in its own way. Sometimes these are steps enforced by the various federations with regard to the development of safety and standards in motorsport. Sometimes it is in response to an unfortunate or controversial event.

And then there is the circuit in the south of Spain, which is known throughout the racing community as Jerez. Especially for spectators of the World Championship of Road Motorcycles, this track marks the traditional start of the European season there. For this year, the Superbike championship will head here at the end of October for its final round of the season.

However, a tweet from MotoGP journalist Simon Patterson regarding the Jerez circuit suggests that the series’ riders will not, diplomatically speaking, be too excited when they arrive there in two months’ time.

The Jerez management probably read the various fan solutions on social media and said, ” enough with the track limits!” They then proceeded to take steps which, however, leave reason standing. Instead of the conventional starting points, namely planting strips of grass and duck tape, walls, or asphalt run-off zones, Jerez implemented insanely high and saw-toothed curbs on the exits of the corners.

On the one hand, if these “sawhorses” eventually see the light of day, no one will dare come within a foot of these mountains of concrete. Immediately, any transgressions of track limits would be laid to waste.

On the other hand, however, such kerbs are extremely dangerous for machines and riders of all motorcycling categories, especially motorcycles. They will shake the guts out of car racers ten times a lap at most, but they might keep going. However, for bikers, a first trip on them could end very seriously.

In this way, Jerez risks damaging not only its local reputation, but also its reputation with the entire motorcycling world. Especially as it is the site of two of the biggest and most famous two-wheeled championships.

So now one can only hope that this is just a test or some form of temporary solution for which there is a justifiable purpose. After all, it is inconceivable that circuit officials would knowingly approve these upcoming curbs for racing purposes.

Source: Twitter