World’s Most Effective Speed Trap

A total of $8,200 in speeding fines were issued in Australia in a single weekend earlier this month to 41 motorcycle riders.

That doesn’t sound so remarkable until you learn the 41 riders were World Superbike and Supersport racers and the highly effective speed trap is located along pit lane on the Phillip Island Circuit in Victoria, Australia.

Item 14 in section 1.22 of the official 2009 WSBK rulebook says a $200 fine will be issued to riders who exceed the 60 km/h (37.2 mph) speed limit in pit lane during race practice.

The FIM, the series’ governing body used to place race marshals with radar guns at the end of pit lane to record speeds but this year, they switched to an automated system using six photocell detection systems placed along pit lane. The photocells divide pit lane into six sections and calculates riders’ speeds as they go through.

The 41 speeding violations occurred in the final section as riders accelerated onto the track during practice. If a pit lane violation occurred during a race, the offending rider would be penalized with a ride through.

By Dennis Chung