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Motorbike road races. Should they be banned?

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  • 18-07-2009 9:43pm
    #1
    AckwelFoley
    Registered Users Posts: 12,556 ✭✭✭✭


    Firstly, i really dislike proposing the ban of anything, however this sport is one that seems to take too many young lives..

    Last week beside me in Walderstown a young man was killed in a practice race and again today a brother of a guy i know was killed today in Kells in a practice race in preparation for the race tomorrow.

    The thing about this sport is that, there is no room for error in this country becase of the ditches, walls, trees, and telephone polls, where as with track races you can spin off and NOT hit a wall..

    The difficulty i see is that there doesnt seem to be any logical way to make road races safer.. so is it wrong to suggest it be banned? I understand that they enter thse competitions on their own free will and they are adults and make their own decisions, but the % of deaths in relation to the amount of races make it one of the most if not the most lethal sports in the country.

    I really feel sorry for the familys and of course the riders..


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Comments

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    #2
    CreepingDeath
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,016 ✭✭✭CreepingDeath


    Maybe they should just ban ditches, walls, trees and telephone poles instead.


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    #3
    KamiKazi
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 6,201 ✭✭✭KamiKazi


    The racers know the dangers a lot more than you do, yet they still enter at their own will. Live and let live, and all that.


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    #4
    TPD
    Registered Users Posts: 7,814 ✭✭✭TPD


    Unless the spectator death toll is as high as the riders, don't ban it. It's only the people that are OK with the risks that will race. May be tough on the family etc. but thats something the racer should think about before racing.


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    #5
    iseethelight
    Closed Accounts Posts: 547 ✭✭✭iseethelight


    Simply no. The people taking part know the risks they run. They love the sport and I've yet to hear the family of a fallen rider asking for road races to be banned.


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    #6
    PCPhoto
    Registered Users Posts: 6,584 ✭✭✭PCPhoto


    I'm not a fan of bikes .....but .....


    as was mentioned earlier .... the bikers involved know the risks and know what is likely to happen if they crash..... as do the spectators (even they know theres a chance a bike or rider could crash into them) .....so live and let live !!

    Bike road races - let them race!!


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    #7
    My name is URL
    Registered Users Posts: 25,067 ✭✭✭✭My name is URL


    No way!

    The guys know the risks and still are willing to do it.

    People become soldiers too, and politicians :pac:


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    #8
    DubMedic
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,249 ✭✭✭DubMedic


    snyper wrote: »
    Firstly, i really take too many young riders..
    Snyper :eek:.

    .


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    #9
    CourierCollie
    Registered Users Posts: 663 ✭✭✭CourierCollie


    Yeah on some level I'd like to see it stopped. But I really think banning it would only lead to races being held without the marshals and the medical support which currently exists.
    I chose not to go and spectate anymore, a few years ago. However I wouldn't like to see my aversion enforced by law.


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    #10
    KamiKazi
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 6,201 ✭✭✭KamiKazi


    DubMedic wrote: »
    Snyper :eek:.

    .

    If you're gonna misquote someone at least be funny.


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    #11
    DubMedic
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,249 ✭✭✭DubMedic


    KamiKazi wrote: »
    If you're gonna misquote someone at least be funny.
    Who said I was trying to be funny?.

    .


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    #12
    CreepingDeath
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,016 ✭✭✭CreepingDeath


    snyper wrote: »
    Firstly, i really dislike proposing the ban of anything, however this sport is one that seems to take too many young lives.

    More young people die from driving on public roads than road races.


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    #13
    orourkeda
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17,918 ✭✭✭✭orourkeda


    If someone is stupid enough to get up on a bike and risk their life, let them. Just dont come back whingeing when it happens


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    #14
    jape
    Closed Accounts Posts: 396 ✭✭jape


    snyper wrote: »
    Firstly, i really dislike proposing the ban of anything, however this sport is one that seems to take too many young lives..

    Last week beside me in Walderstown a young man was killed in a practice race and again today a brother of a guy i know was killed today in Kells in a practice race in preparation for the race tomorrow.

    The thing about this sport is that, there is no room for error in this country becase of the ditches, walls, trees, and telephone polls, where as with track races you can spin off and NOT hit a wall..

    The difficulty i see is that there doesnt seem to be any logical way to make road races safer.. so is it wrong to suggest it be banned? I understand that they enter thse competitions on their own free will and they are adults and make their own decisions, but the % of deaths in relation to the amount of races make it one of the most if not the most lethal sports in the country.

    I really feel sorry for the familys and of course the riders..

    They're only nordies..


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    #15
    CourierCollie
    Registered Users Posts: 663 ✭✭✭CourierCollie


    CreepingDeath wrote: »
    More young people die from driving on public roads than road races.
    Yeah more people die from old age too.


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    #16
    SoWatchaWant
    Registered Users Posts: 1,213 ✭✭✭SoWatchaWant


    snyper wrote: »
    Firstly, i really dislike proposing the ban of anything, however this sport is one that seems to take too many young lives..

    Last week beside me in Walderstown a young man was killed in a practice race and again today a brother of a guy i know was killed today in Kells in a practice race in preparation for the race tomorrow.

    The thing about this sport is that, there is no room for error in this country becase of the ditches, walls, trees, and telephone polls, where as with track races you can spin off and NOT hit a wall..

    The difficulty i see is that there doesnt seem to be any logical way to make road races safer.. so is it wrong to suggest it be banned? I understand that they enter thse competitions on their own free will and they are adults and make their own decisions, but the % of deaths in relation to the amount of races make it one of the most if not the most lethal sports in the country.

    I really feel sorry for the familys and of course the riders..

    Correct me if I'm wrong, but does it need to be banned? Speeding is illegal, and they'd be arrested before they hurt themselves, providing they're caught in the act. Why does it need to be banned on top of that? The deciding factor is really whether a Garda is around or not... no?


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    #17
    CourierCollie
    Registered Users Posts: 663 ✭✭✭CourierCollie


    orourkeda wrote: »
    If someone is stupid enough to get up on a bike and risk their life, let them. Just dont come back whingeing when it happens
    I'm sure people are dying to come back from the graveyard to whinge.


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    #18
    ShooterSF
    Registered Users Posts: 8,824 ✭✭✭ShooterSF


    orourkeda wrote: »
    If someone is stupid enough to get up on a bike and risk their life, let them. Just dont come back whingeing when it happens

    The way I see it if they find someway to come back they have earned the right to complain :D


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    #19
    CourierCollie
    Registered Users Posts: 663 ✭✭✭CourierCollie


    SoWatchaWant wrote: »
    Correct me if I'm wrong, but does it need to be banned? Speeding is illegal, and they'd be arrested before they hurt themselves, providing they're caught in the act. Why does it need to be banned on top of that? The deciding factor is really whether a Garda is around or not... no?
    Did you read the OP before quoting it?


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    #20
    GBX
    Registered Users Posts: 11,929 ✭✭✭✭GBX


    jape wrote: »
    They're only nordies..
    What an ignorant post. :rolleyes:

    A lot of bike racers come from up north, and quite a few race from Down south too.


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    #21
    Run_to_da_hills
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,009 ✭✭✭✭Run_to_da_hills


    Absolutly not, the riders all know the risks involved and will take the chance. You may as well ban rock climbing.

    OP put it to a poll.


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    #22
    KTRIC
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,463 ✭✭✭KTRIC


    Road racing is a part of the bike culture in Ireland. My cousin is one of the bike racers and lost a friend recently.

    These guys know what they're doing as do most bikers when they turn the key.


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    #23
    Abi
    Closed Accounts Posts: 22,058 ✭✭✭✭Abi


    PCPhoto wrote: »
    as was mentioned earlier .... the bikers involved know the risks and know what is likely to happen if they crash

    Their families also have to come to accept it in a way too. I knew Martin Finnegan, his family and my own are good friends. Amongst many others, he left behind a wife and daughter.

    I sit on the fence on this one. A dangerous sport yes, but he was passionate about racing. I don't think he would have wanted to die any other way.


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    #24
    KTRIC
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,463 ✭✭✭KTRIC


    Abigayle wrote: »
    I don't think he would have wanted to die any other way.


    I don't know if this is shared by other bikers but if I was going to choose a way to go out it would be on my bike. This is the place I'm happiest and I'm sure its the same with a lot of other bikers.


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    #25
    CourierCollie
    Registered Users Posts: 663 ✭✭✭CourierCollie


    Run_to_da_hills wrote: »
    Absolutly not, the riders all know the risks involved and will take the chance. You may as well ban rock climbing.

    OP put it to a poll.
    KTRIC wrote: »
    Road racing is a part of the bike culture in Ireland. My cousin is one of the bike racers and lost a friend recently.

    These guys know what they're doing as do most bikers when they turn the key.
    I know where you're coming from, but I'm still curious. While I wouldn't support a ban, I' rather it didn't exist. Lets face it, on a small planet, road racing only continues here and in the IOM.


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    #26
    Coriolanus
    Registered Users Posts: 4,879 ✭✭✭Coriolanus


    Yes. Ban it and anything that causes bystanders to be killed ever.

    For the love of god, we can walk can't we?! What need do we have for buses in Dublin, or trains to Cork.


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    #27
    MikeC101
    Registered Users Posts: 1,707 ✭✭✭MikeC101


    No.

    As several other posters have said the racers know better than anyone the dangers and still choose to do it.

    I'm also fairly certain a higher percentage of people on motorbikes are killed just using the roads normally, than of those involved in road racing.

    Still, it's a lot more dangerous than racing on a track, due to the absence of run offs etc, and presence of trees / posts etc..


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    #28
    CourierCollie
    Registered Users Posts: 663 ✭✭✭CourierCollie


    KTRIC wrote: »
    I don't know if this is shared by other bikers but if I was going to choose a way to go out it would be on my bike. This is the place I'm happiest and I'm sure its the same with a lot of other bikers.

    Mmm, no I always imagined going out assassinating an American Prresident, or maybe an ex Taoisigh. But that would be just me.


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    #29
    Run_to_da_hills
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,009 ✭✭✭✭Run_to_da_hills


    I have been a good fan of road racing for a long time, been to the Isle of Man TT, Skerries, Athey, Ulster Grand Prix and the Northwest 200, I saw Joe Dunlop race at his last season before he got killed and attended his funeral. The turnout at his funeral in itself was a testament to road racing and its support. It is also a huge business with spin offs and bringing revenue to where ever they are held.


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    #30
    CourierCollie
    Registered Users Posts: 663 ✭✭✭CourierCollie


    Run_to_da_hills wrote: »
    It is also a huge business with spin offs and bringing revenue to where ever they are held.
    MMmm, part of the thing I like about it is that it's not huge business. Nobody would get involved dreaming of huge profits ( unlike say boxing).


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    #31
    EvilMonkey
    Registered Users Posts: 1,823 ✭✭✭EvilMonkey


    No it shouldn't be baned, in fact everything possible should be done to protect it.


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