The International Isle of Man TT (Tourist Trophy) Races is a motorcycle event that has been traditionally run in a time-trial format on public roads closed for racing The event consists of one week of practice sessions last week of May followed by one week of racing first week of June.
Between 1907 and 2015 there have been 246 fatalities of which 141 were competitors during official practices or races.
The total number of fatalities for the 2016 is already five. Dean Martin, 58, died from injuries suffered in a crash during practice for the Pre-TT classic on May 28. Sidecar driver Dwight Beare, 27, and motorcyclist Paul Shoesmith, 50, were killed during the first day of the Races on Saturday. Andrew Soar, 32, of Loughborough, Leicestershire, died in an accident at Keppel Gate during the senior race. Sidecar driver Ian Bell, 58, of Bedlington, Northumberland, was killed in a crash at Ballaspur. He was racing with his son Carl, who is reportedly uninjured.
Man! No pun intended. If this was in any largish developed country it would been shut down long ago. I had no idea so many died at these events there.
Great. The hand wringers will have a field day this year for a push to end this race. There are much worse ways to go than while living your passion. These lads and ladies are a breed apart from closed circuit racers. Godspeed.
World’s most dangerous race. In the US, would have been shut down a long time ago.
RIP, brave riders. I don’t have the balls to ever try and run that circuit, but I respect that these folks died chasing a record, demon, thrill, whatever, that drove them to compete and die. Well, let’s shut it down, along with kayaking, free climbing, skydiving, eating food with bones, etc.
Men who were pursuing their dreams.
Ride on!
Very sad indeed.
It is also in the year Michael Dunlop set the fastest time ever – UNDER 17 minutes, twice, if my information is correct.
The fact is: the machines are getting uber powerful and the course remains (essentially) the same – something has to give and sadly it the lives of men (leaving behind broken families and friends).
It is a bit disconcerting to note that three of out the five were 50 years and older. Not a hundred years ago this was the age people began to plot retirement plans.
I honestly believe, if you are older than 45, you must be obliged to wear a neck brace and an airbag vest – even more so on the sidecar machines.
Though sad, unfortunate, painful to friends and family, injury, sometimes death, is a forgone conclusion in this race so maybe let’s talk about the interesting side of things, the racing, and not focus on this. News stories from the Isle thatare just about the deaths, nothing about lap times, new electric machines, the people in attendance, even the food (mushy peas!) is unfortunate.
RIP.
They died living their dreams.
Lose your dreams and you lose your mind.
It is sad that there are deaths during this famous event of freedom of men and machines.Common folk are permitted to attend and experience a peoples event. But as stated by Mark above, the story needs to be written on the positive side show caseing the life of the event and the accomplishments of those attending, A friend of mine died at the event in the late 80’s. It was his 5th excursion as a rider to the Isle on different classic motorcycles. He died eating a chicken dinner, bone lodged in his throat. How are you going to ban that or regulate that? Ride On, Live On, Cheer on!
It is in my mind the greatest sporting event in the world.And it is run at one of Gods beautiful places.
The same goverments that ban such events are always keen to send their citizens children off to war.
Often the children of the poorer classes. Let us choose how we want to live our lives.
You live more in five minutes on a bike like this going flat out than some people live in a lifetime.
Burt Munro
On with the Racing !!!
I’m an avid motorcycle rider , retired racer in my 60’s. Id rather die at speed than waste way from the many illnesses that I’m losing my friends too. Do what you love , to die with passion is to die with dignity. God Bless them and there families, but rejoice in the passionate life they led.
Average Superbike lap speed this year on the full 37.73 mile road course just reached 134mph!!!
Top straightaway speeds on the mountain of up around 190mph on the narrow 1 1/2 lane mountain roads. No run off area anywhere, and in town its just brick buildings, bridges and walls. Pure insanity. It takes years to learn the course, that’s why most fatalities are newer riders.
The most dangerous motorsport racing on earth. But the Isle of Man is essentially a separate island country, and they need the tourist revenue the races bring, damn the facilities. They also hold similar public road races in many cities in Ireland and Wales.
RE:
“…would been shut down long ago. ..”
How man people have died trying to climb Mt Everest…..???
Perhaps we should call for the UN to level it … in the name of humanity
Get a grip….
-nicker-