Road racing is dangerous but fabulous, says Patricia Weston
Racing between the hedges - man and machine pitted, at serious speed, against unforgiving tarmac and rugged roadside. A heady mix that creates a beautiful and dangerous sport.
It is a sport that has dealt death to many racers. David Jefferies was the most recent casualty of the road racing circuit, losing his life in the Isle of Man TT last June. "That was a freak accident which happened during a practice session, not a race," according to Paul Philips, editor of realroadracing.com.
Racers accept they can go out on a racing machine but go home in a box. One prominent rider, when asked about the dangers for this article, refused to comment. They develop a protective thick skin that heals the wound left by the tragedy of death. Perhaps that's so they don't succumb to a fear that might leave them paralysed and unable to race.
"The riders don't really want to think about dying, because this could cause a distraction. Some don't go to (their colleague's) funerals because they'd rather block it out," according to Philips.
Billy Nutt, who organisers the North West 200 and Ulster GP races, can see the beginning of a decline in road racing: "Road racing is more dangerous now than it was 30 years ago. The use of bales doesn't decrease the danger; they are just a cosmetic exercise. Covering a lamppost with a bale of hay is not much use. In the last 10 years there have been about 30 young men killed. It's a tragic sport. I love road racing but there are too many deaths, too many young men being killed."
He adds: "One of the downsides of the sport is attending events and seeing so many widows and orphaned children. The racers know the risks, but they don't realise the consequences. They don't want to deal with the death. One of the reasons racers love the sport is the sheer danger and excitement."
As an organiser for more than 30 years, a potential downside to the sport that Billy sees is that sooner or later a rider could lose control and cause serious loss of life or injury to others. "The technology of the bikes today is so advanced that they are now far faster. If a rider loses control and crashes into a crowd of spectators the sport is finished because the insurance would run into millions.
"They are already struggling with insurance costs at the moment," he says.
Significantly, he adds: "A big problem with the circuits nowadays is that they haven't moved on. The roads used are B class, not A class, they are bumpier and in bad condition, which makes it more dangerous." Paul Philips of realroadracing.com says: "There are problems in pure road racing, but it's definitely not in decline. It's the safest nowadays that it's ever been."
He adds: "Organisers are continually making the circuits safer, as in filling in ditches, restricting the amount of riders in the grid and changing the rules so that practice and racing are on separate days. The sport is now stronger in the south of Ireland than ever before. This is also because the races are held during the summer.
"It's an extreme sport but there are no more getting killed nowadays then there were 20 or 30 years ago and lots of improvements have been made since then."
Road racing organiser Billy Nutt has seen many young racers dropping out of road racing because of the dangers involved. He would like to encourage riders to move on to safer circuits and would like to see existing circuits upgraded to improve safety and make the sport more family friendly.
According to Paul Philips talented young bikers are still coming through the racing circuit, however, and he cites racers Martin Finnegan, Guy Martin and 18-year-old William Dunlop.
Government funding is currently being allocation for motorcycling. So far motorcycling organisation Motorcycling Ireland (MCI) has received €79,000 towards improving safety standards for the sport.
Last August Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism John O'Donoghue launched a new strategic plan for MCI. The plan, to be implemented up to the year 2005, aims to improve motorcycling as a sport in Ireland. "We will push to implement the plan for a better and safer sport," says Sean Bissett, the organisation's president.
According to Kells road races' organiser Aileen Ferguson: "Foam bales were purchased with the State's funding and imported from Japan for use on the road racing circuit. The bales are made of a foam that can absorb the impact if a rider crashes. Also, safety bollards were purchased to improve the safety of the circuits and cut out sharp bends."
Paul Philips adds: "It's never going to be completely safe and any rider would say that the sheer thrill and buzz is all the greater because of the danger."