[954Stealth]

I know I've made a bunch of threads in the past couple of days but this is a big weekend for motorsports with lots of events going on all over the US and Europe.


In addition to everything else happening, the 2014 Isle of Man TT will run this weekend. The Isle of Man has been host to a huge number of events this week. Riders and racers and fans from all over the world are converging on the little island for this legendary race. Just to name a few of the big names: John McGuiness, Ian Hutchinson, Bruce Anstey, James Hillier, Gary Johnson and Michael Rutter while Conor Cummins, Guy Martin, William Dunlop and Dean Harrison, michael Dunlop




MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi, the 9 time World Champion, has hailed the TT as 'unbelievable' in a foreword in MCN's TT supplement.

The Italian Racer, who visited the TT Races in 2009, also describes the track as 'fantastic' and talks about the 'incredible experience' of following Giacomo Agostini on a lap of the course and how he only truly understood the passion once he had visited the event.

Cameron Donald:


IOMTT:

There is nothing on Earth quite like the Isle of Man TT Races. No other motorcycle race is held on such a challenging track as the 37-mile plus Mountain Course with its seemingly never-ending series of bends, bumps, jumps, stone walls, manhole covers and telegraph poles.

The skill, bravery and concentration levels required are immense, with speeds approaching 200mph, and, while difficult to learn and even harder to come first, the rewards for winning on the world famous course are like no other.

No other motorsport event can boast more than 100 years of such illustrious history, rich in tradition and legends, and to have your name inscribed on a TT trophy is to sit with the gods.

TT racing captures the imagination in a way no other race can and its sheer spectacle and uniqueness ensures thousands of fans flock to the Island every May and June for their annual fix.

No other motorsport event attracts people in great numbers for an entire period of two weeks except the world famous TT Races, where fans can revel in the Island’s special mix of incredible racing and world class entertainment – and all set amongst the beautiful scenery of the Isle of Man.




We talk about BMW not wanting to participate in a whole lot lately but they will be there in the form of Michael Dunlop atop a BMW S 1000 RR.






I'm not sure who will be broadcasting this event in the USA but I found a page streaming this weekend:
http://www.speedmonkey.co.uk/2014/05...e-streams.html

[954Stealth]

[P7X]

[954Stealth]

Awesome video!

[954Stealth]

Over 30,000 people will visit the Isle of Man this week.

Here's a few thousand bikes getting ready for the "Ramsey Sprint"

[954Stealth]

Here is Michael Dunlop last year on a full lap. The camera is mounted on Anstey's bike

[954Stealth]

BMW and Michael Dunlop fastest at Isle of Man on his factory-backed BMW S1000RR




"Dunlop secured his first 'big bike' win on the 37.73-mile Mountain Course in the equivalent race in 2013, but switches from Honda to BMW this year.

"This is the event I build my whole year around," said the 23-year-old.

"I never go to the TT thinking it's going to be my year but I want to win."

"It's nice to go out and race against the clock, do my own thing and just enjoy myself. A Superbike win is the one I always wanted and I achieved that last year, beating everyone fair and square."

Dunlop's participation appeared to be in doubt only a few weeks ago when he underwent surgery on an arm injury sustained in a British Superbike qualifying crash at Brands Hatch."

[RllyDrvrIX]

OMG that's nuts.

Who's broadcasting this in the US?

[954Stealth]

Originally Posted by RllyDrvrIX

OMG that's nuts.

Who's broadcasting this in the US?

It should be on Velocity Channel

[RllyDrvrIX]

Originally Posted by 954Stealth

It should be on Velocity Channel

DVR set, thank you

[Kwando]

Can't believe how fast they're going through Isle of Man..no room for error.

[954Stealth]

Bikes & A Beat: the Tourist Trophy

[GeeRam]

Great Superbike race yesterday.

Shame the Morcambe Missile is carrying an injury, and Guy yet again came oh so close.
Awesome lap record by Ansty though at the end - first rider to break the 132mph lap mark......

[954Stealth]

Dunlop on the BMW killed it!!!

[954Stealth]

Karl Harris just died a few moments ago while racing at TT...so sad. Bob Price lost his life on Monday on the Isle.


BBC news excerpt:

Three-time British Supersport champion, Karl Harris, was killed during the Superstock race on Tuesday afternoon.

The 34-year-old from Sheffield crashed in an area known as Joey's Corner, during the final lap of the 37.5 mile (60 km) Mountain circuit.

Clerk of the TT course Gary Thompson said: "Karl was one of the great characters in the race paddock."

He added: "His infectious enthusiasm and sense of humour lit up many race meetings - he was a hugely talented racer and will be sorely missed".

Mr Harris is the second rider to die in as many days at this year's event, following the death of Bob Price in Monday's Supersport race.


http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe...f-man-27684730

[camnhoj]

Awfull news , rip road warriors .

[P7X]

The average is 2+ riders die a year.... hopefully there's not a 3rd.

[954Stealth]

Dunlop took a selfie at 180mph

[954Stealth]

It's crazy side car day on the Isle

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by Wittstock

What a needless waste of life. This race should be cancelled. Having two riders killed in as many days is completely unacceptable. This is 2014, there are tremendous safety standards in all other areas of motorsports. There hasn’t been a fatality in F1 since 2002. I realize motorcycle racing is completely different and the Isle of Mann is rooted in a long tradition, but this venue is just fraught with peril and should really be phased out.

While I agree in some respects, these guys know full well that a motorcycle has no safety equipment and that this course is exceedingly dangerous. Even on the streets, the fatality rate on a motorcycle is 35x higher than that of a car.

On the other hand, the Nurburgring was the closest F1 track to the IOM and they pulled that race decades ago because they couldn't efficiently marshall the entire track, nor could they supply enough safety crew to keep it safe.

I see both sides of the argument but if the racers are willing to race, let them race.

[PaddyMcGrath]

Originally Posted by Wittstock

What a needless waste of life. This race should be cancelled. Having two riders killed in as many days is completely unacceptable. This is 2014, there are tremendous safety standards in all other areas of motorsports. There hasn’t been a fatality in F1 since 2002. I realize motorcycle racing is completely different and the Isle of Mann is rooted in a long tradition, but this venue is just fraught with peril and should really be phased out.

You have no idea how much road racing means to these riders. It's their life. Their sponsorship deals are often negotiated around how much will be made available for their families if they don't don't survive. They know the risks better than anyone else and they still choose to race.

If you're not comfortable with that, that's your problem.

[Gle8]

Originally Posted by PaddyMcGrath

You have no idea how much road racing means to these riders. It's their life. Their sponsorship deals are often negotiated around how much will be made available for their families if they don't don't survive. They know the risks better than anyone else and they still choose to race.

If you're not comfortable with that, that's your problem.

Indeed. These riders don't race the TT for the money, or corporate sponsorships. They race it because they love it. Because they want to.

Many racers over the years have refused to race it, and that's fine. It's their choice. And no one thinks less of them for doing so. They weigh the risks and opt not to do it.

But those that do race it are a rare breed. I respect the hell out of them. True athletes at the very pinnacle of their sport.

If you take away choice, you take away the very thing that makes us human. You can't have greatness without risk, just as you can't have have great joy without great sorrow.