I couldn't keep quiet any longer. Everyone here has complained about dirty drivers. Many of us have raced from the back. I enjoy it, and it's a challenge. And yes, I have to deal with dirty drivers, and have been known to retaliate if they are especially dirty. I think the ones that bother me the most, though, are those that force their way through on the inside, even though there is really no passing oppertunity. If racing from the back, I understand that the first half of the pack I pass may not be dirty, but they will probably brake early, take bad lines and generally be erratic. I deal the best I can. I usually hold my toungue, but lately I've been seeing posts, complaining about dirty drivers, and then I watch the video and I see the complainer running into the back of slower cars, sticking a nose in on the inside, and even aggressivly blocking after a big error, or a penalty slowdown. Just because somebody is slower doesn't give the right to knock them out of the way or force your way past. I'm far from perfect, but some things I never do are block after I go off (or serve a penalty) and am dozens of MPH slower than I should be. I try not to get into the back of anyone, and I don't stick a nose in and push people wide. I will cover the inside and make you take the long way around, but I won't weave and block.
I started racing from the back because it's fun. I watched a couple of race replays where
@Sven Jurgens was in my race, and starting at the back. I rode along and was amazed at how easy he made passing look, and how patient and clean he was. He raced from tye back, and made up double digit positions, yet got a clean race bonus in many (most even) of his races. I would say I was close to his absolute speed (best lap times) , but had nowhere near his racecraft. I've learned a lot since then about working traffic, in no small part to
@Sven Jurgens (thanks!). I haven't had a lot of laps, or races this week, but all my races so far have been from the back at Suzuka. My Q lap is a 49.5 right now, but I don't think I've done better than a 51 in a race. I've had a race where my best lap was a 56. That's the price you pay when dealing with traffic.
I guess my point is, before complaining, look at yourself. If someone is repeatedly blocking, and you give them a nudge so they go wide, and go by, I understand. But if you slam into someone that's just slower, force your way by, or swerve in front of traffic after a penalty or error to mess up their race, or get a speed boost, you're the dirty driver. Nobody, no matter how fast, is entitled to a position on track. Earn it fair, and respect those that may be slower, but are just trying to do their best.
Now, back to our regularly scheduled programing...
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Although in a previous race, another guy, who I know to be a good clean racer (anyone who's ever done a race A in the American region knows him), called him out post-race for his behavior.