Dangerous riding on road circuits

[hopmeh47]

I didn't really know how to title this thread, but I wanted to comment on the subject as an issue of principle, rather than add to the current hotly debated incident at the North West.
I can't for the life of me understand why the relevant officials in charge of a meeting don't step in more and warn riders they deem to be indulging in dubious riding practices.
I know of one well known clerk of the course down south who warned a rider a coupe of years ago to mend his ways, "or else", and believe me he really meant "or else". Surely the rules permit stewards to penalise or indeed exclude riders who behave in unacceptable ways whilst competing. Road racing is not short circuit racing. It is dangerous enough, and already results in far too many fatalities without the additional possibility of them being caused by irresponsible riding. I sincerely hope that this issue is taken seriously by those in authority before something terrible happens. It needs to be nipped in the bud now !!

[raymie]

Well said

[Hanle]

yeah north east have so much dangerous road tracks to drifting, drifting is so much dangerous job to do but its very interesting and fun full. i am also agree with post saying

[Derek]

Who is qualified to judge these 'dangerous riding' incidents?

have they current relevant experience of competing for the win on a high powered race bike in a road race?

and can we be sure these judges will be impartial at all times?

will the judges have full view of every part of every circuit? or will they base their judgements on the reports of others (who also might not be impartial)?

[lew600fazer]

Derek, not sure if you saw the stunt Alastair Seeley pulled on William Dunlop last Saturday, you would not have needed to be an expert, he should have been black flagged, if that is what they do.
Lew

[two stroke do]

Have to agree with Derek on this one.There would need to be tv footage of every part of the course,to really have a say into if foul play was in use.What i would call dangerous riding could well differ for everyone else.

[Saintfieldr6]

I can understand the sentiment but it wouldn't work in practice. In any event, these things tend to self regulate. Roadracing is such a close family that anyone who is genuinely rash and irresponsible on a regular basis will soon be shunned and made to feel unwelcome in no uncertain terms. It appears that on the whole the riders have enormous respect and trust for one another. There are obviously exceptions and I accept that you do not need a rash move to repeated more than once for it to have disastrous consequences but I think any attempts to referee roadracing is a non starter for me.

[raymie]

I can understand the sentiment but it wouldn't work in practice. In any event, these things tend to self regulate. Roadracing is such a close family that anyone who is genuinely rash and irresponsible on a regular basis will soon be shunned and made to feel unwelcome in no uncertain terms. It appears that on the whole the riders have enormous respect and trust for one another. There are obviously exceptions and I accept that you do not need a rash move to repeated more than once for it to have disastrous consequences but I think any attempts to referee roadracing is a non starter for me.

Totally agree Saintfieldr6 all the road racers have respect for each other and no way could you start to referee road racing.

[hopmeh47]

Having started this thread I want to thank all who have responded to my comments - even those who fundamentally disagree with me. That's what forums are all about after all.
I would have to concede that it would be difficult to monitor instances of dangerous riding, although I don't necessarily accept that in order to be qualified to judge, one needs to have current experience of competing on a high-powered bike. I once gave evidence in a court case involving someone charged with dangerous car driving, and the magistrate was quite happy to accept it even though at the time I had never driven any vehicle in my life.
There surely must be many who marshal at road races who would be qualified to judge. But, yes you're quite right. The question of impartiality could be a problem - probably would be a problem.
I too have no wish to see road racing "refereed", as I wholeheartedly agree that in general those who race on roads have the utmost respect for each other, and that the problem of dangerous riding is normally not a big issue. However, maybe it is an issue at an event like the NW200 which attracts riders who don't normally race on the roads, and whose attitude as a result could be significantly different. Enough said. I'm not suggesting for one moment that such riders be refereed, but that, where necessary, a timely word in their ear about their behaviour from the race director / clerk of course would be infinitely preferable to having a serious accident.

[ihavenotdecidedyet]

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong but I think they have a system in the Macau road race where riders who seem dangerous or crash too often don't get invited back, it may be a load of pub twaddle but thats what some bloke said.