Went to see the World Superbikes at Brands yesterday. A young British lad called Craig Jones was killed during an amazing duel for the lead in one of the support races. It was horrible to see.
There's someone who's providing a fantastic spectacle, not earning a fortune. You compare that with the bunch of drones who "compete" in Formula One, too afraid to risk a pass just hoping to outrun your opponent while they're in the pits, paid in the millions. But then I thought about it, and I guess I'd have to say I'd prefer my sports bland over watching someone literally dying for the cause.
What do Lifers think?
0
Comments
In F1 at least, the death of Ayrton Senna was a watershed where this was concerned. Up to that point, all major moves to make the sport safer were resisted at all costs in favour of excitement. Very few remember, or talk about, the unfortunate Roland Ratzenburger who was killed the day before Senna. I think it's safe to say that if it had only been Ratzenburger who had lost his life, the sport would have changed far, far less.
It took the death of the sport's biggest star - arguably the biggest star in world sport - to change things and IMO, F1 did all the right things. No-one should need to lose their life to make sport exciting.
Interesting the parallel with the Senna/Ratzenburger situation. I wonder if Jones will turn out to be a Ratzenburger, because he wasn't in World Superbikes or MotoGP (the main series) his death might not have the profile to cause a big shakeup. I recall Ratzenburger was a test driver and I can remember watching the race - it barely got a mention at the time. On reflection, and wth Sunday in mind it's very sad that profile should be such an important part of the way things are remembered.
F1 did do the right things, I think that the relative dulness of the sport now is more to do with technical innovations and team attitude than making things safer (it has got safer though definitely). I don't know how they could make bike racing any safer, though, due to the nature of the sport - you're always going to be flying round a narrow track with no cover at 200mph, surrounded by 20 likeminded fruitloops.
I've watched a lot of races and it's the first time that I've seen a serious injury (not including broken bones, which seem to be par for the course for these nutters). It was a hell of a thing, the second he fell (and a lot of people fell on the day) I knew that he was gone - and everyone in the crowd did, it just went quiet really quick...
A completely different day to last year with JT's magnificent double.
RIP Jonesy.