Top Gear / Isle of Mann

[Ghost Lemur]

I don't know how the IOMTT guys live with themselves.

I do.

No one is forced to partisipate, nor be a spectator. They do it knowing full well the risks involved.

The only way to make it safer is to remove that which makes it such a great event.

If people were uncomfortable with the risks they wouldn't attend/take part. The only one's up-in-arms are the moral-minority who are forever thinking they somehow have the right to dictate to the rest of the world what is ok and what is too risky/harmful/immoral/whatever/etc.

If the risks too much don't go. But don't interfere and spoil everyone elses fun.

Edit: Looks like everythings been eliquently sumed up by other

or put less politely.... e;fb

[Motu]

I don't think Clarkson is as much against bikes as he is on the show - he does this to stir up comment...works really well I reckon...we wants debate,feeds the fire - he's a tosser,but I like the show,gives the cars heaps,physicaly and verbaly.

Phill Read was called a pansy when he refused to ride IOM,he took a lot of flack for that stand,but they went his way in the end and took it off the international circuit.It should stay,but everyone who rides it has to know the dangers.

[eliot-ness]

Yeah, I was surprised when I came out of retirement to help with the KR Motard thing at Taupo last year - no scrutineering. When I volunteered to do it, they told me it was a liability thing, if we declared the bikes OK, it would our fault if summat happened...

Having said that, I sent about 10 bikes back from the dummy grid, no catch bottles, nuthin' wired up, one guy leaked coolant (glycol) all over the dummy grid and a couple of einsteins still had their sides stands on (the KTM ones that stick up and back, just to make 'em even more lethal), sheesh....

Hi Oscar. Under the present "Somebody must be held accountable" rule I'm not surprised. A good mate of mine runs an organisation called "Straightliners" in the U.K. 750 members and dedicated to sprint racing on stock or modified road bikes. He runs a couple of meetings on the IOM T.T. week. a guy was killed when he lost control in the braking area. Sad, yeah. but he was 60, using his own bike, and knew the risks. Jan. 05 Said mate is at work. The cops come in, and he's arrested for manslaughter. Taken back to the Island and jailed pending court appearance. Allowed out on bail after one week he realises this is bloody serious and employs a well known lawyer at 250 pounds an hour. Hearing put off twice so far and he's still paying big money. Seems that as clerk of the course he's liable for everything that goes wrong. Same law applies here. As mentioned in previous posts IOM has an accident/fatality record second to none, How the hell can they be so two faced when most of the officials at the TT are unpaid volunteers. If this guy loses his case TT racing could be over.
Re Clarkson/Car vs Bike. Saw a clip a month ago on same show. Porsche 4wd versus Yamaha R1 Rider and driver both championship winners iin their own field. At first corner Porsche not in the frame. Second corner Porsche drives round bike on the outside. Bike once again leaves car for dead only to be passed again on next corners. Same thing right to the last bend. Unfortunately the finish line was just after the corner so Porsche won by 1/200ths of a second. Didn't believe it was possible. Still wearing black armband. I think that particular track was Snetterton. U.K.
P.S. Don't believe everything you hear from Clarkson. He's a bloody effective stirrer where bikes are concerned but I know he's not only ridden bikes but as
recently as two years ago test rode a Ducati and remarked "I didn't know anything could accelerate so fast." He may be an idiot but, Hey, who wouldn't be when you get paid a fortune for wrecking somebody else's new car ????

[Biff]

I love Jeremey Clarkson, he's a breath of fresh air in that he's outrageous, opinionated, takes the mickey out of everything (with the possible exception of Biff - coz he's just way too cool) and completely irreverent. He's a showman and is it in for entertainment value.

At least his show isn't boring - more power to entertaining TV

I fully agree. The guy is an absolute arsehole, yet he's great entertainment.

Irrespective of his opinions on bikes - any guy that wears pink shirts, jeans, cowboy boots and dons a curly perm for a hairdo must be a grade a grade A sausage jockey IMHO.

[John]

I fully agree. The guy is an absolute arsehole, yet he's great entertainment.

Irrespective of his opinions on bikes - any guy that wears pink shirts, jeans, cowboy boots and dons a curly perm for a hairdo must be a grade a grade A sausage jockey IMHO.

You make it sound so normal re:sausage jockey!

[250learna]

Jeremy hates bikes and caravans. Loves cars. Thats how it is, he is too old to change. He can buy any supercar he chooses making him quick. I respect him even tho i disagree on the bike issue
Let him be, enjoy top gear and all the primo cars he trashes, and just ignore the odd comment bout bikes, because it realy is a great show

[Al]

I enjoy watching his show, the man is a car fanatic... I am sure that this reaction from us is the reaction he loves!
To each their own, look at the threads here slanging cage drivers.........
I also think he is an arsehole for his motorcycle views, but I do not miss TOP GEAR
Go figure

Al

[denill]

Off the subject a bit:
But read a book of Clarkson's awhile back. Consisting of short stories. I think the were extracts from a BBC show he does.
He takes an unholy view of many subjects that he takes the piss out of and a bloody good read with a laugh a page. (Well I thought it was a good read?)

Cheers
Bill

[James Deuce]

For those of you what find Clarkson amusing.

http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/sec...,12529,00.html

I do, but I have to count to 10 and then force myself to be calm when he bags bikes.

[crazylittleshit]

Just saw some shorts for Top Gear Sunday at 7.30pm on Prime.

They are talking about a track that has claimed 200 lives and Clarkson is abusing bike riders again.

Hey I may have got this totally wrong ...

Its called envy I bet a 20k bike ripped a hole in one of his 200k cars and know he has a vendetta

[GSVR]

Looked up this site after the show http://www.nurburgring.org.uk/

Lots of bikes doing laps.

Ducati rider leaving in ambo.

[Two Smoker]

I want to race at the IOMTT, and i can say if i died from crashing there, i wouldnt hold anyone accountable!!! It would be my choice to race there...

Thats a crock of shit that the clerk has been charged... hope he gets off, and keep us updated

[Sensei]

Phillp Island would be my choice

[James Deuce]

Watched Top Gear tonight. The sound bite chosen for the advert was out of context, and deliberately feeding into the "Clarkson hates bikes myth."

He was shown chatting to a bunch of bikers. No aggro or attitude evidenced. He was actually quite stressed when he made the comment about the bikes, and to be honest the guys on the bikes were being reasonably cautious and the bikes looked like Sports Tourers.

[John]

Watched Top Gear tonight. The sound bite chosen for the advert was out of context, and deliberately feeding into the "Clarkson hates bikes myth."

He was shown chatting to a bunch of bikers. No aggro or attitude evidenced. He was actually quite stressed when he made the comment about the bikes, and to be honest the guys on the bikes were being reasonably cautious and the bikes looked like Sports Tourers.

Yup I was really impressed with his attitude - I noticed a deep down respect for them comming from clarkson myself, as Jim said the bikers were definately not all pushing themselves that day, well the track was wet I suposed, sad to see that 748(?) wrecked..

I'm glad I saw that episode showed him in a new light, have alot more respect for him now.