Is motorcycle racing on a track (esp. at high speeds) safer than riding around town?

Question

I've always wanted a bike for the adrenaline rush/fun factor but I'm very concerned about safety. If I buy one, I would start on a 250cc bike, take the MSF beginner/expert courses, and purchase the safest available gear despite cost. I'm guessing that racing on a track would safer than, say, commuting with it daily so I would limit riding it at tracks only (and also getting to and from the track). Am I going about this the right way? Any other advice?

Answer 1

You will find trackdays tiring (if you’re doing it right). Because of that you might want to consider using a van to get to and from the track (and just in case you bin the bike); not that a van will be any safer if you are tired, but you will have a chance to have a short nap before driving it.

Although trackdays will improve some of your riding skills, they won't improve those of other road users or some of your road-riding skills – you are approaching this in the correct way, just make sure you get a mix of road and track and that you can switch between the two.

Answer 2

Racing on a track is far safer than the road.

On the track you are going faster, but everyone is going the same direction.

Not only that, but on a track you don't have to worry about people in cars, vans, etc who act as if you are invisible.

Not only that, you don't have to worry about mundane things like man hole covers, rubbish, pedestrians or what is behind the next corner. You can drive along and not have to constantly worry if the person in front might do something unexpected like indicate to go one direction and then head the other.

Also on a track, people are happy if they over take you as that is the whole point. One of the problems on the road is if you have a driver in a hurry who drives right behind you which forces you to go faster then you feel comfortable with.

I would love to have a go on a track, but there are none where I live. I think that it is a great way to improve your ability on a bike.

I think you are totally right.

Answer 3

of course it's safer... you're wearing more specialized gear, everyone is moving in the same direction (nearly completely cuts out head on or t-bone collisions which are especially bad on a bike) and there's always a few medics around for when you hurt yourself.... they just have to ge tto whereever you are on the track.... in real life, usually you have to wait for the ambulance to fight traffic and get to you....  

Answer 4

Depends on who's in town.

Answer 5

Of course it is safer. First of all, because in a racetrack you WON´T ever race without full gear on, in the street it´s less likely to wear a full suit or race boots for example.. Second, if you fall, all you will hit (if you hit anything) are old tires.. the land along the turns and chicanes is flat and covered with sand or gravel which will slow you down so you will only slide and nothing serious will happen to you. Third, in the street you can (and I would say, WILL) collide with a big, metal heavy bulky thing (i.e. car) that will cause serious injury with or without gear, in the racetrack you can´t hit something as big and heavy as a car... Think about this:; how many accidented motorcyclists in the races you see standing up after a fall/crash, and how many do you see after a street crash (hint, almost none in the street; almost all in the track).

Answer 6

About 20 times safer nothing but bikes and they all know how to ride

Some nascar drivers wont even drive on a freeway they say its not safe

Answer 7

you can fall down on the track just as easy as

you can on the street. the advantage on the

track is that everyone go's the same direction.