I used to be a regular ringer in the late 90's and early 00's but had a break before going back August last year for 4 days.
I will NEVER go round it again on a public day on a bike. Way to crowded, way too many people waiting to be a statistic and, boy, are the locals on a mission to hassle any one not up to 10 minute lap times.
Of the 4 days - fri to mon - I was there the track was never open for longer than an hour before a serious accident closed it - a lot of the accidents that occured were, like the one at the start of the post, due to the consequences of another - normally minor - accident. Personally believe the fatality statistics are far higher than guessed at in other posts - I know for a fact that the official stats are manipulated by recording only deaths that occur at the track. If someone is loaded into the air ambulance and is only "alive" because the paramedic is pounding the crap out of their chest and then dies en route, this will never appear as a death linked to the ring.
I would advise anyone who wants to do the ring to go in a car as a passenger with an experienced ringer - look for the ring track map stickers on the back window; they are more than happy to take passengers around - and learn the track (as far as is possible) in relative safety.
I will be back later this year - in a car (incidently don't go in anything less powerful than an MX5 or similar) but as I said NEVER AGAIN ON A BIKE....
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