Originally Posted By: hatt
The IOM is a lot safer than climbing Everest.
Trying to minimize the danger of one sport, by trying to compare it to something even more dangerous, is a bit like hitting yourself on the head with a hammer, because it feels good when you stop. I get loving riding and racing motorcycles. I've always had at least one in my garage from 1970 until 1997. In that time I rode tens of thousands of miles without an injury.
With that said, I always rode in the absolute safest manner possible. Over the least traveled roadways I could find, taking every precaution possible to minimize the danger involved. As anyone who rides knows, the greatest danger a street rider faces is getting hit by other vehicles. The danger of serious injury is far greater with motorcycle racing. That is assuming one wants to use the word "safe", and motorcycle racing in the same sentence.
No one in their right mind would respect, or for that matter, want to be around anyone who handled a firearm in anything but the absolute safest manner possible. It wouldn't be tolerated on any range anywhere. To do so would be stupid and foolish. Simply because that person is doing nothing but increasing the danger, without any reward by doing so. Why would racing motorcycles be any different?
The fact of the matter is The Isle Of Man is the most dangerous motorcycle race in the world. There are far "safer" venues to race on. All IOM accomplishes is increasing the risk without ANY reward. That's foolish to anyone who applies common sense. And I'm certainly not the only one who thinks this way. One of the greatest motorcycle racers of all time, 7 time Moto GP World Champion Valentino Rossi has said much the same.
http://www.visordown.com/news/general/rossi-iom-tt-is-too-dangerous
With that said, for those who wish to take these types of foolish risks, there should be nothing stopping them. We all place values on life differently. I've found the older I get, the more I value it.
