Ideally, still on your ride, tire-side down.
But as with all things in life, not every race ends as intended. Crashing out, not to mention mechanical failures, tire malfunctions, and the occasional electrical short, can end a race much sooner than expected.
A serious downer. No pun intended (sort of).
Except racers are a competitive bunch. Simply because the race on the track ended with a bird's eye view of the handlebars, it doesn't mean its over, Far from it.
From the time the rider and motorcycle hit the deck and take the scenic route back to the paddocks via the Meat Cart, it is a new kind of race: get the bike functioning and back on the track before the next round.
First, of course, the rider must ascertain if he (or she!) can still ride. Here, it much preferred to carry the Xaus gene, which affords the lucky rider a near-miraculous ability to jump back up after crashing unharmed.
The same cannot always be said for the bike, as Reuben Xaus' track mishaps have spawned a new verb:
"He xaused his bike."
The Xaus gene is especially important if the rider has a propensity for wrecking (see: Stoner, Casey, and Desmosedici).
Assuming the rider is okay, the concern is the bike. Engine? Forks? Frame? This is the big stuff.
After that, you channel your inner McGyver. This is especially true if you have neglected to pack a Crash Kit, with all the little things that tend to fall or break off on impact: foot pegs; levers; pedals; fluid reservoirs.
An entire clip-on?
Just the minor, but surprisingly necessary, moto pieces.
If you're lucky, another rider will have a spare piece. It may not match what you have, but a spare washer or two will help hold things together.
Sometimes, it takes more than a spare washer. An unusual use of tools and an unusually large amount of epoxy, may be in order.
And never leave home without zip ties.
Or duct tape: the new ghetto chrome.
With a bit of luck, the bike will hold together during a quick test ride:
And at 140mph!
Always an adventure- Cheers!
Thanks to Scott for providing an excellent demonstration on how to wreck a motorcycle and fix it. Must have been a good job, since the repaired bike led him to the podium for two of his three races the very next day.