Sounds like everyone thinks they are Rocky here. If your faster then find a way around with out all the DRAMA.

I raced the O-38 am for several years. Now I ride the O-45 int. Theirs one thing you learn riding at that race time is how to get out of the way. The pro expert riders in the sportsman class are very patient with the slower riders unless you continue to block them and then they will give you a lesson of hard knocks. You don't really have to slow down for the faster rider. Just quit trying to stay if front of them. Just give them a little room to go around. It doesn't take much for the faster rider to get by and it wont effect your race at all, unless they have to force the pass then you may loose time picking yourself up. On the other hand the faster rider has to keep in mind that they need to give inexperienced rider a little room when passing. They may not have the skill to hold their line or to see the same passing zones. Just my 1/2 cent on the subject. (putting your hands on another rider is unacceptable in my opinion)

Here's some video of my first lap at Corsicana http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY1Vp3SOhw8
Go to minute 13:00 when I come up on a couple guys in another class. You'll see proper etiquette by the guys I'm coming up on. I only have to rev once or twice and they hear me and move over.

What I've come to understand is not everyone can hear me. Maybe because I'm on a 2 stroke. I learned that when I came up on guy I know at Legacy Farms in the woods and I was revving and yelling and it took longer than I would have liked for him to realize I was there. Afterward he said he never heard me. I certainly believe him because he's a good guy and knows I usually catch at some point during the race. That incident helped me realize that not every guy who doesn't immediately move over is doing it on purpose.

I've had a race or two where I passed the entire class in front of me and for the most part even the guys leading their own race moved over pretty quick. I've had a few notable cases where a guy just wouldn't move over and in those cases I eventually have to force the issue, but I'd never try to take someone out. It's not like I want to crash either.

I'm sure this is probably a bigger issue in the amateur/novice race groups because an intermediate class is mixed in with them and a lot of the racers are inexperienced, hyped up and in race mode. There's never going to be a perfect answer when faster riders from one class are coming up on slower riders from another, but if all the new racers starting out are educated and reminded of this issue things should go fairly smooth for the most part.

This is my first year racing cross country so I've sure had to learn the ropes. This year I'm the passer and next year when I move up I'll have to learn how to pull over for faster guys coming through.

That's my 2 cents anyway.

Hey Soul.....you have it spot on brotha! The kawi you passed at 13 was a good rider that I battled with most of the race. As a matter of fact....I am the next guy that you pass at 13:40! We had no issues either. I didn't really slow much, just moved over and you even yelled "thanks". Rider courtesy at its best.

There are two sides to this story and we have only heard one side of it. The last I checked, none of us are making a living out of racing. I know we all understand track etiquette. In the heat of the race, it may be difficult to measure what is adequate warning when you come up on a slower rider. In any case, is it ever OK to run into the back of slower rider or push them off the track? We all have to get up the next day and go to work or school. No one wins if someone gets hurt because they can't get out of the way fast enough. Let cooler heads dictate our actions. We are doing this for fun. Take a deep breath everybody.

YEA! How dare y'all pull up behind me when I'm sweeping rev your engines yell behind you and expect me to pull over!! Can't y'all see that orange vest!! I'm trying to Cruz around and y'all want me to move, bunch of ungrateful racers!!!!
JK ! Whew I fell better now..

I'm sorry Roy.........but dang I can only go that slow for a little while. Next time just move!

ya'll this is nitro; "ya'll otta be on Opra"!I AINT NEVER !! Make it simple: when I come up on a slower racer I always give them 3 chances , I hawler "NITRO" to let them know im there, that should be enough! if a good spot to get over appears and they DONT get over ,I hawler a 2nd time to let them know they messed up . if you ever hear me a 3rd time, that means it's about to get ugly!!! if you really know me, you would know that's not how I like to roll. so just keep your head in the race and remember the race is not just in front, but behind too! I've ben racing 40 years and I've heard it all. it's a very dangerious sport, and you know what say "IF your scared, GO TO CHURCH" I go to church and I ain't scared . (-:

Nitro - Ive heard you come up on me in practice a few times over the past two years.. Honestly, it was all I could do to get out of your way in time.. The third "holler" was often in the same set of trees and only seconds after your first "holler"... I will gladly drive my moto into the ditch or off a cliff to get out of your way because quite frankly - I am scared of you and I fear the "love tap" - you are "Mad Max" incarnate.
You da man - deep respect.

I think if I ever actually get to pass anyone I'm going to scream Nitro every time.