customhouseregular Posted August 24, 2015 Report Share Posted August 24, 2015 Lee Richardson 2012 Ricky Ashworth 2013 Lewis Kerr 2015 Darcy Ward 2015 ...and that's just 4 names that immediately come to mind. I have come to the conclusion that modern speedway is inherently more dangerous than that of yesteryear. This may sound odd coming from a 67 year old who witnessed injuries and fatalities in the 1960's, but I am firmly of the opinion that speedway has crossed the threshold of acceptable risk. There have always been injuries, some serious and tragically some fatal but it seems to me the serious injuries are becoming more frequent. I can understand and accept a F1 driver risking his life at 200 mph to earn £10m. a year, though Jules Bianchi recently paid the price for chasing that dream. I hear today a British Indycar driver is in a coma and critical following a crash yesterday in America. But they consider the risks acceptable in relation to the rewards. Speedway riders do not earn 7-figure incomes. They do not earn 6-figure incomes and I doubt any rider enjoys a lavish lifestyle. So why do they do it?. Why do people race speedway for a living when the risk is so high and the rewards so poor?. I am also questioning whether I wish to continue enjoying our sport now I am finding the risk level is unacceptable. Add Rory Schlein to the above...5 desperately serious incidents in 3 years. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Star Lady Posted August 24, 2015 Report Share Posted August 24, 2015 I seriously doubt that any F1 participant went into the sport for the rewards. They go into it because of the excitement, the buzz, the I'm beating the risk factor. The same goes for any high risk activity....mountaineering, rallying etc. speedway is no different,. Injuries are terrible, horrible, awful consequences of all high risk activities, it's something we all have to accept. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawkins20 Posted August 24, 2015 Report Share Posted August 24, 2015 Matija Duh (2013) died at the age of 23 in Argentina. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
customhouseregular Posted August 24, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2015 Sadly this only strengthens my argument. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawkins20 Posted August 24, 2015 Report Share Posted August 24, 2015 What is really sad that we cant see any attempt trying to make it safer, unlike the formula 1. Last season 90% of the riders said that the muffler was dangerous and yet they rode the whole season with them, which is crazy... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marko Posted August 24, 2015 Report Share Posted August 24, 2015 IMO the risk is unacceptable but it has become accepted, too many horror crashes too many injuries, enough is enough, something has to be done. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OveFundinFan Posted August 24, 2015 Report Share Posted August 24, 2015 Why, for example, do riders still risk their lives in the Isle of Man TT? Every year there is at least one fatality, "at least one" is one too many, and sadly some years thee is more then one fatality. Many of those killed are not high money earners, in fact it is probably costing them a small fortune each year just to compete at the level they at. What drives them on? Its an inner feeling that they want to compete. They know the risks, its just that the "inner" man is driving them on. I cant understand why they do it, probably because whilst I love motorcycle competition, road racing has not been one of my favourite sports. I can though have a guess what drives a speedway rider on. It would be hard for anyone to explain, but its "in the blood" and whilst the danger is always there most riders "blank" it out for the majority of the time. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Wackie Posted August 24, 2015 Popular Post Report Share Posted August 24, 2015 Speedway riders are riding 500cc machines with no brakes in close proximity of each other, they know the risks and they accept them. There's been plenty of bad injuries or worse in the speedway in years gone by and unfortunately there'll be more in the future - it's the nature of the sport. One thing though, you rarely if ever hear a rider who has suffered a serious career ending or life changing injury blame the sport. Most of them would love nothing more than to swing their leg over a bike and do it all again. 17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IainB Posted August 24, 2015 Report Share Posted August 24, 2015 It's dangerous, always has been, always will be. This doesn't however mean that everything that can be done for safety shouldn't be done. Perhaps the biggest innovation in the last 15 years has been the air fence... yet this still lifts when a rider hits it today the same as it did on day one and nothing has ever been done about this fundamental design flaw. Also these air bags need to be installed down the straights, all it needs is for a solid membrane (a thin solid plastic barrier) to be placed between the bags and the riders so as not to "suck them in", this way they could still bounce against the fence and the airbags still absorb the impact. I can't believe the finest minds in the sport have let either go unfixed 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted August 24, 2015 Report Share Posted August 24, 2015 Speedway riders are riding 500cc machines with no brakes in close proximity of each other, they know the risks and they accept them. There's been plenty of bad injuries or worse in the speedway in years gone by and unfortunately there'll be more in the future - it's the nature of the sport. One thing though, you rarely if ever hear a rider who has suffered a serious career ending or life changing injury blame the sport. Most of them would love nothing more than to swing their leg over a bike and do it all again. I remember after Ales Drymls crash. We were all waiting for the news he'd passed away, nobody would say it but we all expected it. Thats how bad his situation was. However, he recovered and rode again. Todd Wiltshire at one time was told he'd not ride again but he ignored that and went on to ride again. Thats just two riders I can think of who had really nasty injuries and went on to ride again. If it was that dangerous they'd not got back on a bike. Darcys crash was him crashing into the rider in front of him, you'll never stop that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phillipsr Posted August 24, 2015 Report Share Posted August 24, 2015 It's dangerous, always has been, always will be. This doesn't however mean that everything that can be done for safety shouldn't be done. Perhaps the biggest innovation in the last 15 years has been the air fence... yet this still lifts when a rider hits it today the same as it did on day one and nothing has ever been done about this fundamental design flaw. Also these air bags need to be installed down the straights, all it needs is for a solid membrane (a thin solid plastic barrier) to be placed between the bags and the riders so as not to "suck them in", this way they could still bounce against the fence and the airbags still absorb the impact. I can't believe the finest minds in the sport have let either go unfixed I would suspect its more to do with cost than anything (Not saying thats right just pointing it out) Clubs would fold if this was forced and while i dont think price should be an argument against safety No speedway is the safest speedway, There has to be a balance and i think Air fences are that balance 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WembleyLion Posted August 24, 2015 Report Share Posted August 24, 2015 My first meeting at Ipswich in August 1970 had a sedate heat one race time of 75.4 courtesy of Ron Bagley. I know the track has changed a bit in 45 years but not hugely and they could now do five laps in the time it took Ron to do four! I do wonder how much quicker it will be possible to go at some tracks! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keepturningleft Posted August 24, 2015 Report Share Posted August 24, 2015 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing/justin-wilson-crash-video-british-former-f1-driver-in-coma-and-in-critical-condition-after-freak-accident-during-pocono-indycar-race-10468784.html Another motor sport, another awful Darcy Ward type situation. It would be useful to comision someone with the stats and information, and with time on their hands, to go through the records over the years and determine once and for all whether speedway really is more dangerous now than in years gone by so we can put this never ending debate to bed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawkins20 Posted August 24, 2015 Report Share Posted August 24, 2015 It's dangerous, always has been, always will be. This doesn't however mean that everything that can be done for safety shouldn't be done. Perhaps the biggest innovation in the last 15 years has been the air fence... yet this still lifts when a rider hits it today the same as it did on day one and nothing has ever been done about this fundamental design flaw. Also these air bags need to be installed down the straights, all it needs is for a solid membrane (a thin solid plastic barrier) to be placed between the bags and the riders so as not to "suck them in", this way they could still bounce against the fence and the airbags still absorb the impact. I can't believe the finest minds in the sport have let either go unfixed Spot on. Lot of crashes happens with one rider chasing and clipping the rider in front then losing control. They usually get away with bruises if it happens going into the corner or in the middle of the corner thanks to air fences. A year ago Balinski had a similar accident like Ward his luck was that he flew over the fence. Lee crashed almost at the exact same spot as Ward. We can say that speedway riders accept this risks, but the lack of improvement in safety is unacceptable, speedway is way behind other technical sports regarding of safety measures. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Master 88 Posted August 24, 2015 Report Share Posted August 24, 2015 If you race you understand the risks but when you have raced there is no feeling in the world going into a corner flat out and feel the bike sliding beneath you, its a feeling you cant get riding on the road. I have lost many friends over the years but as always there family would agree don't stop racing, Maybe its the dangers that attract, For me its legal, and its fun and its a fantastic way to enjoy yourself, is it to dangerous no, is it to fast Maybe, but no one has put a gun to a riders head and make him do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blazeaway Posted August 24, 2015 Report Share Posted August 24, 2015 Personally I think speedway is percieved to be more dangerous than years ago simply due to the instant information we can access these days. Say 25 years ago most wouldn't have even heard about Darcy's injury yet. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E I Addio Posted August 24, 2015 Report Share Posted August 24, 2015 Speedway riders do not earn 7-figure incomes. They do not earn 6-figure incomes and I doubt any rider enjoys a lavish lifestyle. So why do they do it?. Why do people race speedway for a living when the risk is so high and the rewards so poor?. I am also questioning whether I wish to continue enjoying our sport now I am finding the risk level is unacceptable.s. Plenty of people compete in various disciplines of motorcycling and other dangerous sports for that matter for no financial rewards at all. In fact in costs them a lot of money to compete. Others join the army and volunteer to go on dangerous missions in war zones or bomb disposal for less money than they could earn driving a train on the London Underground. I had several years of motor,cycle competition, and like most of my mates finished I up in hospital eventually. At the time I thought it was the most fulfilling thing in life, and to some extent I still do, but one day something snaps in your brain, your confidence goes and the desire is not there anymore. Looking back now I think in some ways I must have been mad to take risks that could have had life changing consequeces, and no way would I do it now, but having said that, it gave me a sense of independence, self confidence and particularly self discipline that I am sure I wouldn't have gained doing anything else so on balance I am glad I did and benefitted by it but being being older and wiser I wouldn't do it again, if that makes sense. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostwalker Posted August 24, 2015 Report Share Posted August 24, 2015 Personally I think speedway is percieved to be more dangerous than years ago simply due to the instant information we can access these days. Say 25 years ago most wouldn't have even heard about Darcy's injury yet. Agreed. I also don't think that nothing is done to improve safety. I think while there is allot that can be done, it likely isn't as easy as some seems to think. Neither is there a fix that solves/covers all problems. I.e. Iainb's solution for plastic cladding for the airfences. It might prevent some accidents but it might also cause other severe accidents after which means that they are not a viable solution. If you want plastic cladding on the airfences, then you need to firmly attach them to the airfences in some way and that attaching method might also prove to be a safety risk. The point is that thee is no universal solution that can prevent all kinds of injuries. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teaboy279 Posted August 24, 2015 Report Share Posted August 24, 2015 (edited) Personally I think speedway is percieved to be more dangerous than years ago simply due to the instant information we can access these days. Say 25 years ago most wouldn't have even heard about Darcy's injury yet.Spot on If you made Speedway "safe" you would not get riders interested in it, it's the buzz that attracts riders. You tell old riders that it is more dangerous nowadays they would fall over with laughter. My dad lost plenty of friends to the sport in his career. Seen people comment about fences, we ll I would suggest Darcy's impact with the track was harder then the fence. Airfence up the straight is nonsense and far more dangerous, when they trialed it before how many riders found their bikes stopped dead mid straight when they caught the fence but their bodies continued at 60mph. Edited August 24, 2015 by teaboy279 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted August 24, 2015 Report Share Posted August 24, 2015 A youngster of 15 years old died in a road race in Germany over the weekend.Rider in front made a mistake and fell and the kid had no chance to avoid him and crashed and unfortunately two others hit him.It was the third death so far this year at the track in Ochsersleben.Was also someone in a German grasstrack or sidecar meeting killed at the weekend http://www.augsburger-allgemeine.de/sport/Tod-mit-15-Jugendlicher-stirbt-bei-Motorradrennen-id35236172.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.