Well, the annual Isle of Man TT races are over for another year and, once again, fatalities have marred the event. New Zealand’s Paul Dobbs and Austria’s Martin Loicht both died in separate accidents during the Supersport 2 race, while Guy Martin was very lucky not to be the third fatality when his bike caught fire and crashed as well.
In the history of the TT, over 200 riders, officials and spectators have died during TT week. As speeds escalate and the circuit becomes less and less able to sustain the speed of modern motorcycles, one wonders for how much longer can the organisers sustain the tradition and ignore the tragedy.
Every year the issue is raised and every year the TT apologists trot out the same pat answers. “Because there are over 200 entrants each event, the likelihood of deaths is increased.” “Riders don’t HAVE to ride; it’s their choice not to if they think it’s too dangerous.” “We’re working with the local Isle of Man government to make the track safer.” etc, etc, etc.
And, as the event fades into memory, the issue gets forgotten and buried until the next June when it rears its ugly head again.
Here’s some sobering reading. Look at this table and see just how many deaths there has actually been and remember that every one of those men were husbands, brothers, sons, dads. Every death has left a family, and in some cases a nation, bereaved. Look at the number of Australians, for heaven’s sake. Our 1961 World Champion, Tom Phillis is one of them.
Barry Sheene refused to race at the Island and was labelled a coward because of it. He boycotted the event on safety grounds. How anybody could call him a coward is quite beyond me.
At this distance we can’t do anything but deplore this unconscionable loss of precious lives. It is to be hoped that something IS done, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.