Is racing getting too fast?

[Baltobuell]

It sounds stupid but on the Roadracing World website there is a story about Jimmy Moore sliding 230 yards before going into the woods hitting a tree and getting busted up pretty good. 230 yards is a looooong way. Not many tracks have that kind of runoff. Every year, bikes get better, tires get better and times improve. Going faster is the whole point, but at what point do chacaines need to be added.
 OK I'm a sissy, but if I wanted a land speed record I'd hit Bonneville. 180 to the #1 brake mark and hopeing is balls not racing. Too many talented fast professional career racers are getting tore up or worse.
 OK now for some gas on the fire. When Nascar gets too fast, they find a way to slow things down. But their drivers live to drive for 15/20 years.

[Eddie#200]

I dunno... if you fall off your bike in turn #1 at BIR or Road America you tumble a long way.  It doesn't matter if it's a new bike or vintage.  I'm guessing the top end my KZ1000 had was good enough to tumble me several hundred yards.

[Dawn]

This did occur at turn 1 at BIR.

Here is a link to the story:

http://venus.13x.com/roadracingworld/scripts/NewsInsert.asp?insert=6525

Dawn

[Jeff]

ouch...

Road A wouldn't be so much of a problem due to the pea-gravel.  That stuff is like velcro for just about any object.

Apparently this doesn't exist at BIR...

FWIW, I went down TOP speed at BHF on the straight in the wet.  I touched pavement with body at the start/finish line, and ended up in the swamp at turn 1.  I slid for what felt like an eternity.  I didn't sustain any injuries other than a sprained finger.  My slide was probably a good bit +100 yards.  I couldn't imagine doubling that and then some...

[dwilson]

Bike's definitely keep getting faster, but I'm not sure that they're getting around the track much faster.  A KZ or an H2 is still *really* fast and they ran 30 years ago.  I guess we need air fences or ejection seats...

[dave333]

ejection seats with a parachute?  like a fighter jet?

[motomadness]

Don't forget it also rained (wet grass) at BIR, so if he hit the grass at any considerable speed, he probably wouldn't stop until he hit something.

[MELK-MAN]

i like the idea of chicanes. It does keep speeds a little safer and helps level the field (horsepower) a tad as well.

[tigerblade]

Any track changes should be approved by a group of riders though.  The new chicane at Road Atlanta only caused problems in different areas instead of solving anything.

[dwilson]

Dave33, think 50mm anti-aircraft shell under the seat, parachute on your back & a tether cord to set it all off.  Just don't forget to disconnect the tether when getting off the bike :o...

[Baltobuell]

 A bunch of racers with big explosives, now there is an idea.  :o
 Seriously, if at Summit, they cut the straight at the crossover (about half way), would it be less challenging? or even safer? It might be worse.
 We don't run moto GP and we don't turn in like those guys, but a sick bird flying over Collin Edwards turn in point could kill the guy. It just doesn't seem right that luck plays such a big part in survival. I guess I'm looking at it wierd, but in the US, spectators want to see the race and smaller tracks would help with that. More spectators= lower entry fees. Would the grandstands at Daytona be filled if they only saw 1 corner in Nascar?

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

Would the grandstands at Daytona be filled if they only saw 1 corner in Nascar?

Nope. ;D

[MightyDuc Racing]

It's been fast for a long time.  The TZ750's were incredibly fast, ask Henry.  Too fast?  This is racing, not golf.  However, if the safety levels at the tracks get too bad because of run-off, etc, that's different.  Guys crash at Bonneville at 200+ mph and come away virtually unscathed quite often because they don't hit anything solid.  It's an incredibly tough question to truly answer.  I personally am very happy riding my 140-150mph race bike, but know that I need to be on a faster bike if I ever hope to make a living doing this.  These are the choices we as racers, and all of the pros have to make.

[Wemmer#930]

I have to agree with 'MightyDuc Racing'.
This is racing. Motorcycle Racing not Nascar. You can't even compair the 2. Motorcycle racing is all about going fast and then when you've gone fast you turn it up a notch and go faster. In Nascar you go fast and they come up with restrictions to keep you from going faster. The hole point of racing is for the awesome rush you get from going fast and then being able to say that you beat "so 'n' so's" time.
Peronaly I like the long sweepers (Heartland Park in Topeeka, KS).
My 2 cents.

[Baltobuell]

 You're right, no doubt. I'm just thinking more spectators and less carnage might improve the sport. A huge amount of people quit after a serious accident. A huge amount quit after seeing a friend have a serious accident. To come and watch sucks since you can't see, so they end up going to the drags for something to do.
 As far as runoffs, most tracks don't have 230 feet so Mr Moore was lucky.
 The whole thought would get laughed out of Europe, they still run the Isle of whats an airfence man. Serious lunacy, but I'm sure it's a rush.

[K3 Chris Onwiler]

I was standing there at a race bul$#itting with some friends about the Isle of Mann.  I said that I'd never race there for a million dollars.  At this point, my teammate Dave yells over, "Hey K3, Suzuki just called.  They want you to run the Isle of Mann."  I said, "Excuse me guys, I've got to take this call..." ;D

[MightyDuc Racing]

I plan on getting there to watch someday, that's for sure.  I would probably race there given the opportunity, but I doubt I'd run as hard as those maniacs...lol.  I'd rather race the Macau GP if I had a choice.  I'd rather attend as a spectator the TT, though.

[Litespeed]

I started racing 125's this year instead of my 600 or RC51 because it was more fun.  I am also finding that I can run pretty close lap times without the high speeds on the straight away.  Also, if I do fall off the bike I would much rather worry about a 150 lb object chasing me instead of a 400+ lb one.  I think everyone should get a 125 so they can feel as safe as I do  ;D.  Oh yeah, I am hoping to race the Isle of Mann eventually and think the 125 would be the perfect bike there too...

[MightyDuc Racing]

On the other hand...corner speeds tend to be much higher on a 125, and most of the crashes take place in a corner.  Thus the crashes on a 125 are usually at a higher speed...am I right?