I.o.m. Tragedy - Again

[Khandro]

Mark Purslow killed in Isle of Man TT crash aged 29.
Isle of Man TT is one of motorsport's most dangerous meetings with more than 250 fatalities since 1907. Brave (yes) Foolish (?)

I've met people who travel from Switzerland & Germany to watch these exiting events each year & yet it seems to be largely ignored in the UK, that is until something like this happens.

[ichkeria]

Not ignored where I come from Khandro: road racing is in the blood for many. The North West 200 is an annual attraction - and an actual race unlike the TT.
Which is I must agree slightly insane :-)

[davebro]

As they always say - he died doing what he loved!

[barry1010]

Certainly not ignored in my circle. I know several people who have raced in the TT and been a spectator myself.
Guy Martin has raced in it a few times

[douglas9401]

Been a couple of times, it's a great event but can be a difficult watch.

These riders have a special kind of confidence in their abilities.

[Ellipsis]

> these exiting events

Indeed ...

[Khandro]

I mean ignored by the media; it seems to be an opportunity missed. The French have their 24 Heures du Mans, but I don't recall ever seeing much about the Manx TT on UK TV.
206 mph is I believe the record top speed, - man that's shifting!

[TantP]

Very sad, he was not even racing it was in the qualifiers.
The highlights of the races are on the ITV 4 every night

[ToraToraTora]

The IOM is not safe, it takes courage and skill, The average speed, average, not top, is 134.45mph. If you crash it's pot luck what you hit, buildings dry stone walls, etc. Big names wont touch it, I think the last top GP rider to ride the TT was Lord Bazza himself. RIP to Mark, you had the bottle to do it.

[barry1010]

You can watch it live on TV for the first time this year - £15 for full coverage of the whole event

[Canary42]

/// these exiting events ///

Freudian slip/typo ?

[Khandro]

I suppose as a spectacle it's more akin to cycling's time-trial racing as opposed to road-racing (or 'massed-start' as we called it in my BLRC days).

Do riders ever overtake one another, i.e. catch up to the person who left prior to them?

[Canary42]

Ooops, sorry ellipsis, I missed your earlier comment.

[ToraToraTora]

khandro "Do riders ever overtake one another, i.e. catch up to the person who left prior to them? " - yes, they start 10s apart and it's very common for them to catch each other but they don't really "race" like they would on a track. The course is the opponent here.

[sandyRoe]

It's a dangerous sport even for the very best of the riders. Three members of the Dunlop family have been killed in recent times following their passion.

[Deskdiary]

I’ve been a couple of times.

I’m a keen motorcyclist, and have been riding bikes longer than I’ve been driving cars - over 30 years - but even with all that experience I would only describe myself as competent, so to see these riders doing what they do leaves me in awe. The skill and bravery is astonishing - the top bikes have well over 200bhp…I had to get rid of a 140bhp bike because it was just too bloody scary!

TBH, I’m surprised this event, as great as it is, still goes on, as there’s pretty guaranteed a death every year - but they love what they do, and they know the risks.

If you’re interested, watch a documentary called Road - it focusses on the Dunlop riders.

[Khandro]

DD; 200 bhp on two wheels with zero protection is a sobering thought. F1 drivers have so much protection they can often be seen to crash at high speeds, near demolish the car, & walk away.

[mushroom25]

i did some work on the IOM a few years ago with a partner company who are responsible for helping set up the course - covering road sign poles and lamp posts, placing barriers, erecting course signs, etc. their manager took me round the course in his BMW. we were doing legal road speeds and did the lap in just over an hour. it's sobering to learn that the bikes do it in 17 minutes. and this is on a course over public roads, with slippery line markings, adverse cambers, manhole covers, drain grids, not to mention dry stone walls, bus stop shelters, road edge markers and fence posts. the week before I was there a Japanese rider hit a road sign after getting a tank slapper on after hitting a patch of wet. the whole exercise is crazy, and those that take it on must need a particular mindset.

[Khandro]

Mushroom; The more I read about it the more extraordinary seems this event, I thought it was always male dominated, but I see there have been several women at it too.

//and those that take it on must need a particular mindset.//

Yeah!

[Smowball]

Very young. So sad x

[piggynose]

TT, yes its insane! but addictive!
I went in ´82, ´83 + ´84
pleased to say i saw the great Joey Dunlop doing what he does best!
I heard one story somewhere. There were all the other riders going to the gym, eating healthy, not drinking, early to bed, Joey was the exact opposite, no gym, ate anything, drank to the early hours, and not fruit juice!!
And hed arrive to the race at the last minute, raring to go!
I met his brother at a bike show about 95, he was ordering straight vodkas, as if they were going out of fashion! i think he also died not long after.
Its kind of ironic how Joey died, didnt he race somewhere for the 1st time, i think it was Estonia, and he didnt know the course. Well at least he died enjoying what he did best!!
Not to mention mad sunday!