Is there too much pressure in MotoGP?

[MisterTommyH]

I know it's very soon after this mornings incidents, but I wondered if anyone can help me out with some questions (mods, please move if this isn't in the right place - thought it best to keep it away from the marco thread).

We all know that motorbikes are potentially dangerous, and racing them is even more so, but even before today I was wondering what has changed recently to cause the spate of bad crashes and injury.

I've only been following for just over a year, but I can't see if there is any link or whether it is just a period of bad luck for the sport.

In the past two/three races everything seems to have been taking it's toll on the racers.

Spies has had a number of bad crashes/injuries, Lorenzo is out after losing his fingertip, I'm sure one of the Pramacs is out too. Hopper couldn't finish the weekend (I know that started elsewhere, but came to a head in MotoGP), Bradley has had a couple of bad off's and missed races and Marques also seems to be struggling.

I know it's the extreme of the sport, and forces / demands on the riders are more extreme than anywhere else, but it doesn't seem like this is 'normal' for MotoGP.

So whats changed? Is it end of season tiredness, pressure in the standings, pressure from sponsors, or just bad luck?

Bad luck.

In MotoGP I think there's a tyre issue. There was quite a bit written about it around Silverstone when both Cal and Colin had broken colarbones in quick succession. The Bridgestones, when they work, really work. However they're supposed to be very tricky when they're not fully warmed up.

Whether this had an input into yesterday's tradegy is an unknown that I cannot answer. Will leave that to the official investigation.

Moto 2 - Smith and Marquez - that was an appalling marshalling **** up. They were both unaware they were heading into a section of wet track due to a lack of warning flags. Marquez at PI - hot headed kid being stupid...

Spies and Lorenzo - both just nasty crashes that did damage. Philip Island is FAST, it's always going to hurt. Spies landed badly and bust ribs (VERY painful for those who haven't done it). Lorenzo, just had his finger in the wrong place at the wrong time. There's quite a few racers missing bits of fingers....

[fizzwheel]

They are paid alot of money, if they cant take the pressure to bring home results / pressure from sponsors etc etc, then they are'nt worth of a Moto GP ride IMHO.

Riders should be being looked after by the teams and being coached and skilled in mind management to help them deal with this kind of thing.

[flymo]

crashes are not at all new in this sport, go along to any club race meeting and you'll see what I mean. Its motorcycle racing not flower arranging.

[Sid Squid]

Originally Posted by Tommy H

Is there too much pressure in MotoGP?

No.

If there's been a spell when fewer than the normal level of injuries occurred, (and I'm not convinced there has), then this is not the norm, (not that anyone should be complacent about it of course), so if anything this is a return to the mean.

Racing a motorcycle - perhaps particularly at the pinnacle of the sport - is inherently risky, and the risks carry with them serious consequences, that's just the nature of the sport.

Having watched motorcycle racing for many decades, (and been involved in a small way on occasion too), I can say without hesitation that now is the safest time - ever - to be in top level motorcycle racing.

But the risk never reduces to nil.

[gruntygiggles]

Originally Posted by Tommy H

Is there too much pressure in MotoGP?

No. You could take away all the money, all the fame, all the glory and it wouldn't matter a jot. Put a group of superbly talented riders on a track together and they will all want to give 100% and ride the very best they can in order to beat all the other riders out there.

It is a desire that is already within them, it cannot be put there, so no matter what you do to any sport, you will always have the "players" giving all of themselves. It's not something you can learn, it is something you are born with and only those who are the most determined and competitive get to the top.

It is just a part of life that there are times that are beset by tragedy and times that are not. It hasn't been good for sport recently, but it is not always this way. It's not pressure, it's just how life goes round.

[carelesschucca]

Originally Posted by LankyIanB

In MotoGP I think there's a tyre issue. There was quite a bit written about it around Silverstone when both Cal and Colin had broken colarbones in quick succession. The Bridgestones, when they work, really work. However they're supposed to be very tricky when they're not fully warmed up.

I don't think you can't blame the tyres for this happening, the riders were on the 2nd lap the tyres would pretty much have been up to temp. Marco was being Marco (which is why we loved his racing) he was pushing as hard as he could in his battle with Alvaro.

Simoncelli was a proper old school racer who didn't mind a bit of elbows. He wasn't knocked off or taken out but killed in a direct impact with 2 others. The only way to stop this kind of accident happening again is to stop all motorcycle racing. It will happen again.

You either accept that this is the price or ban it.

Guys race firstly because it is something that they love to do. There is pressure of course,racing for wins,trying to secure a ride for the following season,trying to get screen time for your sponsors etc.

To be at the leading edge you have to push the envelope and unfortunately falls and injuries are part of the game. Deaths though,when we consider the number of riders taking to tracks all around the world every weekend are mercifully very few. That though does not dilute the pain of those directly connected with the victim or the sadness felt by the likes of us the casual fan.