Track officials at the N\u00fcrburgring announced on Thursday that motorcycles would be banned from participating in tourist laps on the Nordschleife, an unprecedented move in the storied history of the open circuit.<\/p>\n The sanctioning body of the German track said that safety continues to be the utmost priority and that some difficult decisions had to be made after intense analysis of the interactions between cars and motorcycles on the 12.94-mile loop, as revealed in a Facebook post. These decisions were made with consideration to the weather as well, seeing as the annual opening day for motorcyclists, known as the Anlassen, <\/a> at the N\u00fcrburgring was rapidly approaching.<\/p>\n “The different driving dynamics of two- and four-wheelers pose a risk of misunderstandings \u2014 especially for motorcyclists. To make the driving experience safer for everyone, cars and motorcycles will be strictly separated in the future. At the same time, we have restructured and expanded our offer for motorcyclists,” the announcement reads.<\/p>\n The ban on motorcyclists only applies to open track sessions, known as tourist laps. These track days are open to the paying public in whatever vehicle suits their needs, so long as certain exhaust noise and safety regulations are met, and have long been a pillar of the N\u00fcrburgring’s egalitarian motorsports history. However, tourist laps have turned tragic numerous times: a notable crash occurred back in 2021 during a tourist session, leaving one ‘Ring regular dead<\/a> and seven others in the hospital, while two Goodyear employees died during a private manufacturer test day back in 2023.<\/p>\n This risky dynamic is only heightened by the presence of motorcyclists. Video evidence from track regulars like YouTuber Misha Charoudin<\/a> displays consistent close calls with two-wheel riders on the Nordschleife. Last year, Road & Track<\/em> covered a particularly close call on the loop between fast-moving Porsches and a Ducati rider<\/a>, another indication that these sorts of near-misses are common. The greater maneuverability of a motorcycle versus a car is often tempered by traction levels and rider bravery, leaving riders in vulnerable positions across the nearly 13-mile track.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n