COLLECTIVE SIGH OF RELIEF
News that the injuries to 11 spectators involved in the horrific accident at Bray Hill on the first lap of Friday's Senior TT were not 'life threatening' was greeted with an audible sigh of relief by those still thronging the area behind the grandstand. Not only those in the Isle of Man, among them riders and officials, but fans around the world who were holding their breath when the story first broke on national news media.
Their concern was, of course, with those hit by bits of flying motorbike but also with the event itself which still attracts attention on the basis of its dangers. Mostly it is to riders, which is defendable when compared to other extreme pursuits (climbing for example), but spectators are a different matter altogether as Irish racing has found out.
That the TT, for once, had been extraordinarily lucky in escaping so lightly as a mangled racing machine smashed into a temporary grandstand full of spectators was an obvious conclusion. But the story will not end there.
It is accepted that the 37.73-mile Mountain circuit is unforgiving and the week had started badly with the death of Japanese rider Yoshinari Matsushita. Then followed days of sensational racing lead by Ireland's Michael Dunlop and veteran John McGuiness, winner of the crash-delayed Senior TT - his 20th victory.
Those exploits were largely ignored by the general media but stories and pictures from Bray Hill made the main news bulletins. As the good news emerged, interest wained. 'TT crash - no one killed' does not build audience figures.
The TT can never be made safe and, indeed, its attraction is as a form of extreme sport in an increasingly risk-averse world bored with Scalextrix-like circuits, characterless riders and world championships owned by financial engineers motivated by the prospect of a quick buck. Great television coverage by North One and ITV4 has gone a long way to restoring its reputation as the greatest race in the world as well as the most dangerous.
Sponsorship is now measured in millions rather than thousands and with live TV on the cards for next year (who mentioned BT Sport?) its momentum continues. Nevertheless, an accident which could have had disastrous consequences cannot be ignored and greater scrutiny of spectator areas is inevitable. It should be measured, not knee jerk, and for this we can rely on clerk of the course Gary Thompson who, so far, has done a good job.
SUPERBIKE SPLIT
It looks like Dorna, having been handed control of both world championships, are warming to their task. Having been the puppy dog of the all powerful manufacturers, mostly Japanese, the Spanish marketing company is now proposing formula for World Superbikes which is not only welcomely radical but has split the manufacturers down the middle.
Perhaps not surprisingly Aprillia, Kawasaki and BMW aren't too keen on the drastic cost controls being proposed. They like things as they are - they're winning. The non-winners like Honda and Ducati are, surprise, surprise, all for it.
Dorna, revelling in their newly acquired monopolistic powers, are likely to force the changes through on the basis that a grid of 19 is not enough; 300,000 Euros is enough to lease production racer; and you don't need those expensive brakes and suspension units. Oh, and by the way, if you really want to produce proper racing machines then come to MotoGP where we need more manufacturers anyway.
Whether all this is good news or not is a matter of opinion although dictatorship is usually only welcomed by those control freaks who possess it. What may be of more concern to us in the UK is whether we will actually see any World Superbike racing next year. Both host circuits, Donington and Silverstone, are losing money in staging these events and won't being doing it again unless the fee paid to Dorna for bring the circus to town is drastically reduced.
Indeed, as we have reported before, MotoGP ran up a whacking loss for the debt-ridden Northamptonshire circuit last year so is not likely to be welcomed back when the contract ends. Certainly not for the same amount as they somewhat foolishly volunteered in prising the event away from Donington some years ago.
All this must have had Jonathan Palmer, boss of MSVR (Brands Hatch etc), rubbing his hands. He has always refused to pay these large amounts so the potential impasse between the current incumbents may present an opportunity. The only difficulty is that the FIM insists on having MotoGP standard course safety which would mean Mr Palmer shelling out millions to modify the Kent circuit. Unlikely.
Although he did spend quite a lot on that track in Norfolk...
