In the last couple of months we have seen some terrible accidents take place in motorcycle road racing. A rider died during practice for the TT and another suffered life-threatening injuries during the races themselves. Last weekend a double fatality marred the World Superbike races at Laguna Seca in the USA.
As usual, the mainstream media’s fear and loathing instinct kicked in with lurid stories about crazy racers “dicing with death” at the Isle of Man and news of other serious accidents (including a potentially bad one involving Australia’s Levi Day at Brands Hatch last weekend) has also been prominent in the specialist press and social media.
What has gone wrong? is being asked again. The fact is that nothing has gone wrong. Racing IS a dangerous pastime and accidents do happen. In terms of competitor involvement there are thousands of men and women and kids road racing every weekend all over the world so the increasing numbers increase the possibility of fatal accidents occurring.
Added to this is the cyclical nature of motorcycle racing accidents. For reasons which are completely unclear and unpredictable (obviously) these types of occurrences appear to happen in groups rather than individually. The grouping is somewhat a function of the seasons with the bulk of road racing accidents happening in the northern summer when and where most of the racing is taking place. There is nothing that can be done to change this aspect.
But the increasing number of people racing IS a factor as mentioned above as is the increasing speed of modern bikes and the increasing inability of existing circuits to cope with that speed. Motorcycle road racing is an increasingly fragile sport when it comes to money. The tobacco companies who spent money like water in past decades have long since left the building leaving organisers and teams finding it increasingly (there’s that word again) unable to find companies who are willing to spend the sort of money that is needed in order to keep the show afloat. This year’s Australian MotoGp round is being sponsored by PRAMAC, an Italian company that has NO retail presence in Australia at all.
But it is the circuits themselves that also suffer from the financial constraints. Despite trying to cover their costs by dramatically increasing hiring fees and track occupation times, most are not operating profitably. And, with ends not even MEETING, there is no money available to carry out much-needed safety modifications to their infrastructure. Yes, motorcycle racing is dangerous, but faster bike + outmoded circuit design is always going to = increased danger.
The fact is that there is simply no way, no matter how much money you spend, you can make motorcycle road racing safe. And, you shouldn’t. If it was perfectly safe it wouldn’t be the thrill and the challenge that it is.
So, how do we stop people being killed and seriously injured? Answer? We can’t and we won’t. Because of its inherent danger, that risk is always going to be there. And lest people think that I am aping the media fear and loathing, let me note that this dilemma is one with which all organisers of motorsports are grappling, witness the tragic death of Jules Bianchi this week.
The high cost of racing is not just a monetary one. But, as long as riders are prepared to put on a set of leathers and go out there, it is one that is going to be paid, again and again. In my years of involvement in the game, I have seen it far too often, from unknown and unheralded club racers to household names of the sport, and it hurts every time.
But, despite the uniformed proposing all sorts of solutions, the bottom line is that there isn’t one. It is an integral part of the game and we can only stand on the sideline, cross our fingers when the green light goes on and hope.
RIP to those, who, in pursuit of their passion, have paid the highest price for it.