Horrendous Year for Road Racing already

PBBoxer · Post by **PBBoxer** » Thu May 15, 2008 10:38 pm

First Big Finn

Now Robert Dunlop dies in NW200 Practice

What an absolutely disatrous start to the year

Rest in peace

exoticices · Post by **exoticices** » Fri May 16, 2008 8:13 am

I'm a big 'roads' fan and the two losses this year are terrible. I presume his lads were practicing at the NW too? Terrible for the family. I remember Robert having his big crash with the collapsed wheel in 94(?) at the TT, how lucky he was to survive that, and how he came back to race again. And the sight of him in paddocks with his black leather hat, what a lovely man, what a talent. Terribly sad. Thoughts to his family and friends.

Lars1974 · Post by **Lars1974** » Fri May 16, 2008 9:02 am

Yes, its really sad news.
i always rate road racer as the ultimate bike racers...but its a dangerous sport...

RIP!

stoney · Post by **stoney** » Fri May 16, 2008 9:26 am

Thats really sad news. Looks like the Nick Sanders kiss of death then. He interviewed Robert and Martin F on his Biker Britain series.

Me-109 · Post by **Me-109** » Fri May 16, 2008 11:28 am

Astonishing when you think of the experience of both riders. There really is no room for error (or mechanicals) when you are on the roads (racing or otherwise).

It's a wise man hangs up his wheels from road racing while he can, I'm sure.

PBBoxer · Post by **PBBoxer** » Fri May 16, 2008 6:47 pm

Dunlop's bike apparently siezed at approx 160 mph and spat him off. He was then clipped by another rider and died some hours later in hosptial (2200hrs).

Nick Sanders? Bloody hell Stoney you can be abstract.

GeordieBoy · Post by **GeordieBoy** » Sat May 17, 2008 7:14 pm

Had the pleasure of watching both men race at the Cookstown 100 in Northern Ireland just three weeks ago - absolutely awesome to watch & a tragic loss to racing.

Perhaps the bikes are getting too powerful for the roads? Joey Dunlop suggested the same himself 30 years ago! The other racers must be looking round the paddock & wondering who's next

Hope this isn't a cue for the Health & Safety brigade to start legislating against road racing though...

PBBoxer · Post by **PBBoxer** » Sat May 17, 2008 7:18 pm

It's nowt to do with power when a bike siezes is it mate.

And Finnegan crashed the 600 after winnibg the superbike race.

Today's NW200 was a brilliant day of racing, but the saddest fact is that there've been crashes since the sport started.

It's just terribly sad whenever it happens

harry3014 · Post by **harry3014** » Sat May 17, 2008 7:25 pm

sad news

RIP

GeordieBoy · Post by **GeordieBoy** » Sun May 18, 2008 4:20 pm

PBBoxer wrote:It's nowt to do with power when a bike siezes is it mate.
And Finnegan crashed the 600 after winnibg the superbike race.

Good point well made Paul, but Dunlop's 250 was doing in excess of 160mph on a narrow country road with hard road furniture when it seized, and Finnegan was just as much at risk on his 600 as his superbike, as they achieve similar speeds on real roads. Not advocating power cuts, just worried they might be on the cards...

I think when you get to those sorts of speeds in those conditions the human brain struggles to process the information being thrown at it & you end up riding on instinct. The slightest mistake / mechanical defect can have fatal consequences. Road racing's always been a high risk pursuit, but I think it's truer now than it's ever been.

Riding on a circuit is far easier, yet GP bikes have been reduced in capacity due to power concerns. Many circuit riders refuse to race on the roads because they're scared to - road racers are at the absolute pinnacle of motor racing IMO.

Anyway mate, which member of the fleet are you taking over to the TT this year? You bringing the motor home again? Just a short trip for me this year (29/5-2/6), but I'll keep an eye out for you. We're staying in Glen Mona again - just hope the weather's better this year

PBBoxer · Post by **PBBoxer** » Sun May 18, 2008 6:31 pm

I think we're just going from saturday early morning of frist race day to the wed night.
Think Im taking teh 1200s to be honest but there's a chance I'll take teh cbr

GeordieBoy · Post by **GeordieBoy** » Mon May 19, 2008 4:12 pm

Decisions, decisions

Think the 'S' would edge it for me - not as quick on the mountain straights but an absolute riot through the bends & great for upsetting the Gixxer brigade

Think it's nice to be on something a bit different / quirky too (even though the 'bird's quite a rare beast itself).

Maybe see you there mate,
Mark