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The riders are doing it mostly for the thrill and the recognition within their community. Like most of us the vast majority spend to pursue it and won’t make a dime.
The difference between this and Everest is tha climbers die alone and unobserved. TT riders die in view of the public and on film. That’s going to get a lot of negative attention from those who don’t get it. Eventually they will shut it down. I mean, I ride and have for 40+ years and I don’t get it. That level of risk is beyond me.
in addition the whole argument is flawed. To accuse the TT of being barbaric is to say it's savagely cruel. I find it somewhat odd that people from a sport where barely cognizant children are often victims of seriously life changing injuries (and worse) are accusing a sport where fully consenting adults compete is barbaric.
Absolutely zero self-awareness. To a lot of people dirtbikes are "barbaric, unnecessary and too dangerous"
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If you can answer that you can understand TT riders. The only difference between you and them is they are a 10 on the risk scale, and you're a 9
Thanks for your responses I guess 🤷♂️😂 Have a good week 👍
If you get ‘enough’ from it (whatever it is) to offset the risk, then you’ll do it.
Climbing Everest is dangerous- for me, I have zero interest in it, so I won’t take that risk.
Cycling on the road is dangerous- for me I get a big kick out of being fit & the endorphins I feel so I do it every day.
Risk Vs. reward.
In ‘99 I broke my femur- I was riding less than a year later- at that time, the reward outweighed the risk.
Of course its dangerous,but so is MX and SX,Quad racing,truck racing,NASCAR etc etc. But this is part of its attraction surely?
The whole event has a relaxed,almost festival vibe.
I walked the pits numerous times chatting to riders who were all happy,relaxed and having fun between races.
Families walked round rubbing shoulders with the current stars and stars of the past.
I met Richard Rawlings in the pits
It really is an amazing place to be
I was lucky enough to get onto the start line for a couple of races,watching the riders chatting to team ,mates,rivals,friends and family,even getting interviewed and being so relaxed,then to watch them set off heading down Bray Hill at 180mph (check it on youtube)
Something that was amazing to witness
I was also there when it was red flagged and riders didnt come home sadly.
The family of one rider said they wanted everyone to keep racing and doing what they love
But each and every rider on that start line was there through their own choice and wanted to be doing it,even knowing the risks
Some work all year to be able to afford it,building their own bikes,some are on Factory bikes
The riders love it
The fans love it
I will 100% be back next year,its the best non MX event Ive been to,been 4 times now
Long may it continue
I will await the downvotes.
Honestly, the lack of self-awareness from some dirt bikers blows my mind (and you've got a PASTRANA profile pic too....). Using the term manslaughter while blind to the risks involved in your own sport, which could easily be argued are FAR worse when you consider the age ranges of those at risk. In the TT there's zero risk to children riders, MX however...
Multi time champion Joey Dunlop smoking while sitting on a fuel drum:
SEVEN-TIME MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi has expressed the view that the Isle of Man TT is too dangerous.
Rossi made the comments in an in-depth interview with Top Gear magazine, in which he told the interviewer that his biggest fear is being injured. He said: 'I did a lap of the Isle of Man, and I understand why people love this because it’s f**king awesome – it’s unbelievable, great. But, unfortunately, it’s too dangerous. Sometimes, riders are crazy.'
'The Isle of Man is very difficult. If you make a mistake, maybe it’s the last mistake.'
But he didn't say ban it. Loudon/Laconia/NH Motor Speedway (whatever you want to call it) was boycotted by Mladin and other pro riders one year due to lack of safety and it is no longer on the AMA/Moto America schedule, but the IOM is its own thing. I have some friends who go spectate every few years and say there is nothing like it.
Again, crazy for outsiders but this is their life, their choice (and who else better than Michael Dunlop understands the risks), don't tell them what they should do.
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That said, we race on street circuits on the SM stuff, with walls and all sorts, and i dont even think about it, and while its not even close to the same, its iffy enough for those that watch, to think we are nuts.
If i was going to do anything, i would stop sidecars, they are bad enough on short circuits, and there are no small sidecar crashes, my freind from work fell out of the chair in 2015 and was off work for over a year , and his legs are shot to bits... he would go back if he could phsyically do it.
Its the ultimate 'personal choice' .
We race street races here too , but none with the speed that the uk has. The Irish road races like the northwest and the ulster gp are just as crazy. Maybe even more so with mass starts
10 th is £1,200
20th is £300
Total prize found for this race is £58,000.
Sidecars, prize money per race
1st £9,000
9 th £1,000
20 th £300
Total for 8 races £273,100.
£18,000 =. $22,000
£9,000 = $11,000
Leading :-
1st lap is £200
2nd £300
3rd £500
4th £1,000
5th £2,000
6th & final lap the most important £14,000
With many races shortened this would change
How many people have died in ama sx? I can only think of one. I suppose you could argue that the Baja1000 is the closest parallel.
The reason people go at the TT is because of the availability bias. If we spread those deaths over a year at small road racing events no one would be saying anything.
My particular gripe is seeing dirt bike riders using language like 'barbaric' and the like as if motocross and dirtbike racing isn't dangerous. It isn't dangerous compared to the TT, but compared to almost ALL other forms of motorsport it's off the scale dangerous. and infinitely more dangerous to under-16s because motocross allow them to compete.
https://www.autosport.com/roadracing/news/the-moral-complexities-of-the…
I guess I’m over the glorification of it all. Like oh they died doing what they loved, father and son. No that freakin sucks and is silly way to die.
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