Ye, I saw that on Facebook and shared it. It's spreading through the biker community like wild fire. The guy absolutely nails it and I fully agree with him. I love motorbikes, I love riding fast and I will continue to do so indefinitely. Nothing else gives me the same buzz, especially on track and i can't wait to start racing. I'm an adult, I know the risks, I accept them, I ride.
I think the author of that put the point across really well. My other half can not understand why I love biking so much, even though I have tried to explain it on numerous occasions. We all know it is risky pastime but it is our right to choose what we do or do not do. As long as I physically can I will ride a bike and dread the day that it ever ends. I feel more alive on a bike than anything else I do. I particularly admire people like Simon who carry on racing even though they have had horrible crashes, that takes so much guts and determination. One day we might even have to fight to be 'allowed' to ride a bike at all, let alone race one.
It was weird / odd that around 45 minutes from witnessing the accident which claimed Simon's life we were stood in the same spot feeling / smelling / sensing the dramatic spectacle that is road racing in its raw intensity. We spoke about how if it had never started, road racing would never, ever be allowed to start now - but nobody makes those guys line up on the grid and they all know the risks the sport brings. I have watched a few clips back from the phone GoPro and will post some up in a while to try and portray the sport for those who have never witnessed it to get a sense of it.
You're not wrong there Al! If someone suggested setting up a Road Racing series from a standing start today (assuming it didn't exist at all in any form) it would be rejected instantly on safety grounds!
Saw it on twitter, and agreed with it. For those who go on about road racing, I wonder what they think of the likes of boxing. Try and knock another guys lights out, but don't dare race on the streets. Obviously not close to being the same sport, but one is barbaric and violent with the intention to hurt. The other is the thrill of a lifetime.
Heres another opinion. just to point out that bill o hara is a member of the joeys bar mcc with me. Think he comes across well Comment: Bikers hit back at call for North West 200 ban - Belfast Newsletter
Sometimes some of the things we love are dangerous - does that mean we should stop? Maybe. Sometimes. But we should be the ones to make that decision, not anyone else.
Gonna have a little rant so here goes - I blame a majority of problems that humanity face on the media especially in this country as the media seems to have control to do what it wants when it wants. The problem however is not the wolf but the sheep that follow it. Given that we live in a democracy where free thinking, opinions and so on are encouraged there seems to be so much narrow mindedness to the point where whatever is said by somebody on that shiny box in your living room must be the abject truth no questions asked. Don't take risks says the media people don't like it and suddenly people think oh god you're right it is wrong to take risks just meekly following like the good little sheep they are rather than being wolves themselves and saying hang on a minute F U and your dictatorial attitude how dare you tell me what to think I can decide for myself thanks very much. Hence the term Politically correct is actually complete bollocks it is what the media wants you to think is correct not what is actually correct. Bottom line is you have the freedom to make up your own minds and make your own decisions because at the end of the day your choices are half chance and so are everybody elses. Think for a moment if you will if those magnificent men and their flying machines had actually agreed with people when they were told no don't do that its too dangerous and you could die, we would never have had aviation and the world right now would be a very disjointed place. The point I am emphasising here is that often in all walks of life the greatest gains are made by taking the greatest risks it is effectively a gamble and all gambling really comes down to is what is an acceptable loss? You plot out the worst case scenario and then decide for yourself if you can live with it if you can then there is your acceptable loss. So if the boys and girls want to race on the roads it is THEIR decision NOBODY elses they are weighing up the risks involved and are accepting them in order to make gains be that victories, lap times, even additional developments that may filter down into production bikes in the future and save lives. Therefore unless people who whinge and moan about this are prepared to zip up in some leathers get on a bike and race alongside them in between the hedges then they have NO right to tell these people what they can and can't do. But you'll often find behind any frenzy is the media hence why I impart in closing that I am not accusing or saying that any of you are sheep I am merely encouraging you to be wolves if you are not already and enjoy the freedom of choice and most of all enjoy your life because although people say life is short when you think about it actually it is isn't it's the longest thing any of us will do so make damn sure you enjoy every minute of it.
Just a wee follow up from Bill O'Hara to fionola meredith of the belfast telegraph. Below is a copy of an email I sent off to Fionola Meredith regarding her article on banning the Northwest 200. Can I suggest that other like minded people do the same....her email address is [email protected] I am writing, as I'm sure many have done before and will in the future as you posted your e-mail address on your website, to show my total and utter contempt for your article in the Belfast Telegraph regarding banning the Northwest 200. You published it at a time when 2 riders, one of which I'm sure you know has now since passed away, and the entire motorcycle racing family is totally disgusted. Not only did you show no compassion for the 2 critically injured riders or their families, but you insulted so many people who have lost friends and family to the sport. You stated on the Nolan show that you had never been to the Northwest 200 so what gave you the right to make such a comment? We love the sport and the men and women who compete also love what they do. Who are you to tell them what they can and can't do? The Northwest 200 brings in excess of 80,000 people to the event and £9m to the NI economy, £4.1m of which comes to the North Coast. The government funding this year amounted to just over £70k....a long way from the £5m it cost to host the Giro d'Italia, a one off event that was over and forgotten about in a couple of days. The Northwest may I also add is about so much more than the racing now as it is a week long festival with something to do for the whole family and an event I have enjoyed with my family since attending my first one in 1979. I use my Facebook page predominantly for keeping in touch with my motorcycle family and for keeping up to date with races and results and my news feed, and I'm sure that of many others since your article was published, is just one long list of people showing their anger and disgust at your article. If you had actually done even a little research, you would have found that the biking community in Ireland are the nicest bunch of people you could ever meet; we regularly do charity rideouts, we run events for local hospices, animal shelters....indeed for any organization that just needs that little bit of help. You talk of riders being selfless......let me tell you of one rider, sadly not with us any more, one William Joseph Dunlop MBE OBE. 5 times world champion and the most decent down to earth individual to ever grace any race paddock. This is a man who used to load up his race van and head off, on his own, to Romania to distribute gifts and aid to Romanian orphanages. Selfless? I think not. You have opened a can of worms Fionola and this article is going to stick in the throats of road race fans and riders alike for some considerable time. Bikers in this country are not a minority....we will have our voices heard and we will not be subjected to waffle and nonsense like that published in your article and I for one would call on you to make a public apology to all those who you have hurt by your mis-informed comments. Yours in anticipation, Bill O'Hara
