Local lad, so I've followed his career since the Piranha racing R6 days when a lad I went to school with was his engine tuner. I'm absolutely gutted. R.I.P. Simon
Its a video that you'll only watch once. Just watched a tear jerking interview with his parents on BBC NI.
It sounds morbid but it would be, and I can't really use or find the right word.... Curious is the only one I can think of (and I don't think that is the right word) ....to see if it was his mistake, or the conditions, or something that was beyond his control as it looked to be on a straight.... Had the kerb not been there his chances of survival would have been a lot better. Again, incredibly sad as he really seemed like a genuinely nice guy. Read about this about 2 hours ago and haven't stopped thinking about it.
When you look back at the long list of great names that have died road racing it makes you wonder why so many people sign on to race each year, knowing the chances of dying are sky high. That's the difference between racers and normal joes I guess; for some it's an incredible buzz and for others it's pure madness. I would campaign to protect anyones' right to race, but for me personally the risks in road racing are too high for me to get involved in, or even to watch. RIP Simon. Sorry you had to leave so soon.
That's the question thou. Do they race for fun, for money or a bit of both. Yes, those down the bottom of the field do it because they love it (despite or probably because of the dangers) but at the front of the field, its their job. There's not enough money in short track, just look at BSB. Only a very small percentage get an actual wage from the team. Road racing is by far the most dangerous form, but everybody know that, which is probably why its so popular
Does money really have anything to do with it? If you're really interested in money, you wouldn't have anything to do with motorcycle racing at all. I suspect its attraction is in its being the purest form of racing. A bike is transport to get from A to B in the real world. It's a useful thing. The purest form of racing is to undertake that journey as fast as possible, not just perform endless laps of a circuit going nowhere. I suspect that many road racers like the whole danger aspect too - or at least it's something that doesn't worry them unduly - or they wouldn't do it.
As an avid follower of the roads for many years I admire these racers more than any, the news about Simon Andrews was very sad to hear, but the rest of the teams and racers will rock up to the TT next week and start racing round there and they won't be going any slower as a result of this. I was talking to my wife about the TT and she watched a bit of the North West and called for an immediate ban on road racing ! I think you either get it or you don't.
I get it, I totally get it. I've an enormous amount of respect for all the pure roads guys - all racers in fact. I just think the prize doesn't warrant the risk, and I guess that's why I'm not a racer.
I can answer that on my part as I spent 18 years as a Sidecar Passenger and got to FIM Non Championship International Level, competing at the TT, Southern 100, Scarborough, Dundrod and UK short circuits. Being one of the 'also rans' I did it, along with the driver for pure enjoyment and certainly not the money. I dare not even try to add up what is cost me over those years but it was a pretty penny. That's not to say I did not get some good results, top 30 at TT hen Sidecar field was 80+, 6th at Southern 100, 2nd at Dundrod. It was all about going, having fun and doing something some people only dream of. I have lost many friends over the years, some connected to the team I rode with but nothing would stop me putting on my helmet and racing. Don't get me wrong, I was scarred at times and physically sick before the TT but once you set off, all that is forgotten. I had 3 what you would consider 'accidents' in that time, two of which required Airmed to hospital and all three involved stays in hospital. The last one in 2005 was the one that called time on me racing. I was 34 by then and whilst the crash itself did not put me off, the recovery time was getting longer and longer so I decided to walk away. However, despite all of this, I would not change a single moment.
