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Lone Wolf and being close to the edge

Simon Andrews' passing is a stark reminder of the dangers of racing on public roads. And with hundreds of riders making their way to the Isle of Man for the most famous - some would say infamous - race in the world it is this sort of tragic event which make us all think about this form of racing.

The TT lost its world championship status some 40 years ago because the FIM did not want any competitor to feel obliged to race there in pursuit of championship points. It followed the death of Italian Gilberto Parlotti and a declaration by fellow countryman Giacomo Agostini that he would never race there again.

The loss of championship status gave other high profile riders reason not to attend. Phil Read came back; Barry Sheene swore never to go there again after one unsuccessful attempt; Mike Hailwood famously returned ten years after retiring from the sport. He had a love/hate relationship with the TT, not being too keen on the time it took, the dawn practice sessions, the weather and the danger. But being a biker to his boots, he recognised its importance and was drawn to the romantic appeal of the Island - hence his triumphant return in 1978.

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There can be no argument that racing between concrete kerbs, stone walls and lamp posts at speeds of up to 200mph is sport at its most extreme. Rider error or machine failure can result in the most severe penalty. And it is difficult for race organisers to do much about it. The loss by the TT of championship status heralded the clear separation between road racing and track racing, the former seemingly condemned to oblivion with the latter prospering as traditional tracks, already short, were made shorter and safer.

To this dismay of the traditionalists, great circuits like Nurburgring and Spa were emasculated and racing started to look like a version of Scalextric - which is what it has become. But it pandered to the great god television and those who wanted, inarguably, to reduce the death rate.

There were those, however, who viewed artificially created circuits with their huge run-off areas as boring and many riders, particularly from Ireland and the UK, did not take to it much either. Many years passed, however, before road racing started to regain its lost status and popularity, helped, ironically, by television and new technology which made the live showing of events like the TT or Ulster GP possible. It also allowed pictures to be shown round the world to an audience, ever-curious about this mad form of racing, to see it for themselves.

But the danger remains. Organisers have gone to great lengths in their efforts to protect both riders and spectators but the "street furniture" remains and the attraction for fans is being close to the action. Bikes out of control at 180mph pose a huge risk as spectators in the stand at Bray Hill discovered last year.

What is the argument for supporting events like the TT or the North West 200 which claimed the life of Simon Andrews. There can only be one and it is an old one. These bold, brave people are adventurers of the sort who tackle the north face of the Eiger or trek to the South Pole or indulge in other high risk activities.

They know the risks but they are stored in a different compartment. They like being close to the edge, the buzz it brings. When not doing it they find the rest the boring. It is a way of life. And that's how it should be. But we should still try to make it safer.

RACERS OR RACERS?

in days of yore there used to be racers. Not road racers or track racers. Just racers. And there was no argument as to who was the best or the greatest. They competed on equal terms at Dundrod or Assen or Montjuich Park in Barcelona.

Now we can have interesting arguments as to whether Valentino Rossi could win the TT, could he lap at 133mph and is he greater that John McGuinness? We will never know of course but British Superbike star Josh Brookes' invasion of the road racing club last year and his success at last week's North West will be creating a lot of debate in the pubs and bars of Douglas this week.

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It is something that not many top line "scratchers" attempt these days, not forgetting the efforts of Michael Rutter, equally adept at both, Stuart Easton or others. The last big-time road and track riders, which resulted in one of the most titanic TT battles of all time, were Carl Fogarty and Steve Hislop.

It is Brookes' second year on the Island. Many are tipping him to be in the top three some time in the week. All we can say to Josh is: Remember it took the great Mike Hailwood three years to reach the number three spot.

MICK WOOLLETT

When men were men and women were..? No, I'll start again. When motor cycle race reporters left the press box and wandered round the paddock, notebook in hand, looking for stories; when there were two weekly magazines and a newspaper; when kph had to be translated into mph by a physical multiple of .621, no calculators; there existed a great newshound by the name of Mick Woollett.

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Those were the days, fifties and sixties, when those weeklies carried a couple of pages of news and gossip, the best known called "Paddock Gossip", and there was great rivalry between the hacks to get the scoops or, simply, the tit bits.

Sadly, Mick died recently at the age of 84, He didn't start our as a journo. In fact, he became involved in racing as a sidecar passenger for Cyril Smith and later Edgar Strub in the mid-fifties when the Continental Circus was at its peak. At that time a weekly newspaper, Motor Cycle News, started up and in between races Mick phoned in news and results from far flung circuits in Europe before becoming a full-time reporter and photographer. Later he became sports editor of Motor Cycle and then Editor of Motor Cycle Weekly while also becoming a prolific author of books such as "Mike Hailwood: A Motorcycle Racing Legend."

In those great days, PR people didn't exist, riders - even the greatest - talked freely to the few reporters who followed the Grands Prix and the paddock was a friendly place where everyone lived. Happy days.

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