I'm dismayed by this one !!. This is doing nobody any favours. C'mon Walker get your pen out will ya and back the sport up in its hour of need
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/roadracingrsquos-future-called-into-question-by-coroner-14715021.html

I havn't read the paper yet just seen the headings, but in JW defence he has a column headed something like 'Why no one has the right to stop speed heros'
Lets hope the story is as good as the heading.

You wont get much help out off him, the man hasnt a clue about road racing in Ireland.

Road racing will be watched very closely this year,and if anything goes wrong then these journalists and media personnel will make as big a storey as they can out of it.
This is why there will probably be decisions to be made this year that will not please everyone, but if the sport of road racing is to continue then there probably is no alternative.

Not sitting on the fence with this one.

“Most roadracing fans never feel danger in the air” that’s true Jimmy but reading the two pages in the Tele I feel there is danger in the printed media. As for the “factfile” section !!!!my heart just sank.

JW journalistic article could have been a lot better. If your happy reading “Road racing heroes have been part of the Ulster psyche since the 1920s and our road racers have gone on to become some of the worlds greatest sportsmen and road racing is there because riders want it etc etc so be it but these worn out punch lines should be kept for a “Forward” to one of these coffee table style books.

I am really starting to see the softly softly approach coming in from the anti brigade. Its creeping slowly and quietly in at a certain angle, filling out the column inches and people are reading and being influenced by it. C’mon Walker up yer game the horses can wait !!

Savooooooo Savoooooo you tell it the way you see it. You are going to get some slagging for it later.

I'm going to make one comment on this thread as this type of article really winds me up...

If you take into account how many innocent parties are injured or killed on the roads around the UK every year, pedestrians, drivers or passengers, and you applied the logic that Mr Leckey is spouting on about, would cars, bikes and all other types of transport be in doubt?

Why is it that roadracing is made out to be such a life threatening sport? I guarantee there are more people killed every year through climbing ladders etc, than are lost or injured in any type of bike racing.

Its about time those involved in the sport stood up for the sport and themselves, and stopped these so called 'experts' painting such a bleak picture of something they either can't stand or don't understand!

don't know how it is in your parts of the world but the sport with the most severe injuries and the most deaths in sweden is - horseback riding.

to be fair the statistics is limping a bit if you compare with motorcycling, but it's interesting anyway as it's a subject that often gets forgotten.

i agree someone needs to try and protect the sport. i also agree what mr lecky said about the organisers, it is great that they are keeping the sport running, but at the end off the day they are amateurs, and they need someone who can decide on circuit safety who has knowledge of the worlds best circuits, eg surface, run off, airbags, viewing areas. if you think about all the man made chicanes there has been they all atract accidents.

Try reading the the coroner's letter,without the intertwined bits put in by the Telegraph.
I don't think this a man that wants road racing banned.He just wants it made safer. The riders and a fair number of spectators know it is dangerous but a lot do not seem to realise how dangerous it can be. This is where education is needed not money.
Other things can be fixed with money and I think it is a good opportunity for clubs to push for more money and help. This would include legisaltion to remove all BT and NIE poles and putting in underground services, removal of high kerbs, erecting removal fencing and sign posts etc, a charge put on spectators and all monies ploughed back into safety. These are all things that are in the power of the Minister.


While other sports and activities may incur more injuries and deaths, it is not for us to point the finger, we don't like it when others do it to our sport.