Track marshal Kristýna waves the flag and picks up motorcycles after falls on the circuit
I’ve been going to the circuit with my dad more or less since I was a kid, and it’s literally over the hill from my home, so I’m close to racing not only emotionally, but also from a distance. This year is my ninth season on the circuit, and during this relatively long time, the original brigade has become a hobby and a matter of the heart.
How many races do you actively participate in during the season as a marshal?
The entire season at the autodrome is fully occupied by agency driving, car testing or motorcycle schools, outside of races accessible to the public, so there are enough shifts for everyone. Due to my current job, however, I only work on weekends and sometimes I even take a vacation to wave.
Mirai, Deer, Baker and more. The Vranovská stop of the Přehrady festival was fun on the beach
So I’m wondering – are you the only woman in the team of marshals at the Brno circuit?
It probably wasn’t so common before, but as time goes by there are more and more of us, so hopefully the gentlemen will bite. 😉
In case one of the readers is interested in your story and also wants to become a track marshal, what are the key prerequisites and personality traits that a good track marshal should have?
I should definitely have a positive attitude to this adrenaline environment and motorsport in general, I should be in good physical condition and definitely also able to work with people, because you spend a lot of time with them during the services.
What does the selection procedure itself look like for this and the subsequent training before the first positions in sharp races?
At the beginning of the year, a meeting is regularly held for newly registered participants, each of the newcomers receives an overview of the track marshal. In this update, flag signaling is explained in detail and the duties of a line marshal are described in detail, including the determination of the station at which the person will serve in the upcoming event. for flags, courses of action, general responsibilities and tasks of commissioners, rules of first aid or fire protection. The entire training is then concluded with a written test. Every rookie of the season who successfully passes the test will only try out the first two services, let’s say, in a rough way. If, even after these initial services, his interest persists, he accepts the orange outfit and goes into sharp operation.
My first party or how the djembe made me dance in Krumlov
What do you think is the most demanding thing about the marshal’s job, and conversely, what do you like most about it?
If we are talking about motorbikes, then from a physical point of view it is definitely the most demanding to clean up a crashed motorbike, which is also immobile. When I intervene, I always think mainly about the rider’s well-being. And what do I like most about my job? Well, the riders! 🙂 And then, of course, racing machines and fresh air with the smell of gasoline.
There are a number of positions for the marshals, from where they supervise the safety of the competitors on the track. Do you have one stable location or do the locations and the rangers serving on them rotate during different events? Which of these habitats is your favorite?
In total, there are 22 stations at the Brno Autodrome, each of which has its own permanent conductors, including a leader who plans services according to their reported requirements. But if it is needed somewhere and if we want, we can also have the service at another station. I like my station number 10 the most, which is in the middle of the circuit for the audience favorite “Céčka”. By the way, you can see behind the scenes of my work “on the top ten” in the form of photos and posts from the track on my Instagram profile @_bIKIKI.
Trip tip: The Hundertwasser House and Butterfly Pavilion are also worth a visit in Vienna
As we mentioned above, there are usually several commissioners at one station. Are the tasks of the individual rangers at the site in the event of a critical situation accident precisely or otherwise divided? What exactly are you responsible for?
There are usually two to three conductors at the stations, and then it just depends on each of the teams what system they will create. Here at the “ten”, we always agree with our colleagues and alternate individual activities. We are divided into “wavers” and “runners”. The waver is in charge of flag signaling and primary reporting, while the runner runs to the crashed motorcycle or car and helps the rider, provides him with first aid, or extinguishes the fire. However, every situation is different and the main priority is that the entire intervention takes place with the least possible consequences for both the rider, his machine and the race track. I’m mostly a “runner” because I like the adrenaline rush right on the track.
Uherčický castle returns to its splendor. A special prospect is approaching the restoration on Saturday
How many track riders are deployed during races (agency rides) on the Masaryk circuit?
There are usually 55 commissioners for motorbikes, and approximately half as many for car races.
In the ranks of your colleagues, there are also many senior line marshals who have been dedicated to this work for many years. Is there anything you learned from them that you would like to learn from them?
They gave me some technical tips and advice about motorbikes that I didn’t know before. A person learns many things only during the intervention itself. I think that in my long years I can pass on my knowledge. 🙂
You will certainly not be bored during the services at the autodrome. Do you have any truly memorable experiences from your circuit career so far?
There are many experiences, both pleasant and unpleasant. But the biggest thing for me was definitely the personal meeting with the legendary Valentino Rossi.
When the audience dances to Kára. The picturesque area of Znojmo came to life with Šramlfest
Do you know some of the competitors (for example from the MotoGP days and personally)?
I personally met many riders – either in the depot or during their crash. From MotoGP, for example, the named Valentino Rossi, but also Maverick Vinales, Jack Miller, Pol Espargaro, Marc Márquez, Danilo Petrucci, Andrea Dovizioso, then of course our Kája Abraham and many others… From superbikes, I could also name Niky Hayden, Jonathan Rea or Tom Sykes.
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Many events are held at the Brno race track throughout the year – both for fans of motorcycle racing and for car enthusiasts. How are you doing? Do you prefer to be on the handlebars or are you more drawn to steering wheels?
I like both cars and motorcycles. Every sport has its own. Motorcycles are undoubtedly dangerous, so you are more anxious during the races. In the case of cars, for example, “wheel-to-wheel” style fights are rough. I like you very much.
Which of the Brno races are your favourites? Do you watch motorsport outside the Brno circuit?
From our program, I like the motorcycle Spring Prize Brno, the factory racing championship Ferrari Challenge and certainly also the attractive final of the Czech Drift Series, which is traditionally held in Brno in the fall. I often watch MotoGP, WSBK and FIM EWC on TV.
Many of your colleagues go to “wave” various races abroad, whether for MotoGP or Formula 1 races. Have you also had the opportunity to visit a foreign company?
I’ve only been to Germany twice so far, at the WSBK at the Lausitzring and at the TCR cars in Oschersleben.
And if you’re not on the circuit, what else do you do, either at work or in your free time?
During the week, I work in a design company, and in my free time, which I don’t have much during the season, I’m mostly on my bike, by the water or in the city with friends.
Vaclav Wolf