Injuries - the luck of some or is it Progress

[gco0307]

This is not intended to be a morbid topic in any way but I have not seen this discussion elsewhere and given that in my brief time here I find this to be easily the most even handed forum. Therefore I figure that it can be discussed without flaming or it being turned into a comparison between rider skills of any kind.

Throughout the last 20 or so years we have been priviledged to be able to watch some magnificent races as well as marvel at the true genius of a great number of riders. We have seen champions come and go with some sadly forced out before their time due to injury.

During this time there has been one constant, which is that the sport is vicious and bites people all to easily. We have seen champions bought to their knees by the viciousness only to limp away, remount the next race and do it all again. We have seen riders suffer some horrendous injuries but still go on to become World Champions, or even suffer these injuries as the World Champion.

It has seemed that every champion and rider has suffered their fair share yet all come back to do it again.

This year alone we have seen injuries that have forced riders out of race weekends (Lorenzo, Hopkins, Capirossi, Pedrosa) but just as in the past, these riders will return and eventually regain their faculties to be able to push as they were previously.

Now with that said, there is one exception to the circumstances I mention above and it is one that really strikes me as worthy of the discussion.

That is Valentino Rossi who has for a great number of years seemed immune from the injuries suffered by others (before and after) when he has fallen. This year alone we have seen ankles fractured by highsides, VR highsides and pretty much walks away, we have seen cuts from lowsides, VR just remounts.

It is not intended as a VR is lucky fest but I genuinely wonder and marvel at his ability to be able to avoid trouble (in terms of injury) and felt that it could make an interesting discussion point.

Do people think that today's riders are any less 'injury prone' or aret he circuits safer, maybe it is the bikes and power delivery, so figured why not discuss it.

Any takers.

[leopard]

I think Stoner is enrouting to the way Rossi is being there in term of preventing mistake that may lead to the big crash and seriously injured, and has rapid progress avoiding accident that may force him absent from races.

Both of them spent their first season in motogp with considerable crashes, but I can memorize neither of them seriously injured by the crash. As soon as they learned from experience in their next seasons they can resolve they ride how to avoid fatal accident and precisely proving that they deserve of result from what they have learned, we can barely see both of them seriously injured.

gco037 post "Do people think that today's riders are any less 'injury prone' or are the circuits safer, maybe it is the bikes and power delivery, so figured why not discuss it."

Track safety has obviously improved progressively over the years as has tyre technology, bike design (including the advent of traction control), rider's outfitting - leathers (including the "Quasi Moto hump"), helmets, medical knowledge and the availability of treatment facilities.

In the interests of winning and promoting their range of products, the bikes just keep getting faster and the increased pressures on riders to perform puts them at a progressively higher level of risk.

However, when you consider that the riders of yesteryear pushed the boundaries of sanity on very basic bikes with rock-hard rubber, on basic tracks with a little bit of black stuff on the surface and very little protection for riders apart from hay-bales and not-so-forgiving Armco railing, wearing "pudden lid" helmets and for bugger-all prizemoney, the level of risk seemed far greater than it is at present in MotoGP, WSBK etc. with the exception being the Isle on Man TT and other road racing events which are a different ball-game reserved for the hairy-chested, white-knuckled brigade who like dodging trees and wire fences.

As long as motorcyclists remain made of meat, bone and blood and their bums point toward the ground, they'll always be exposed to the same risks of injury as their forefathers despite the belief of some modern folk that they are invincible.

Gotta go...........time for my medication. :D

[gco0307]

gco037 post "Do people think that today's riders are any less 'injury prone' or are the circuits safer, maybe it is the bikes and power delivery, so figured why not discuss it."

Track safety has obviously improved progressively over the years as has tyre technology, bike design (including the advent of traction control), rider's outfitting - leathers (including the "Quasi Moto hump"), helmets, medical knowledge and the availability of treatment facilities.

In the interests of winning and promoting their range of products, the bikes just keep getting faster and the increased pressures on riders to perform puts them at a progressively higher level of risk.

However, when you consider that the riders of yesteryear pushed the boundaries of sanity on very basic bikes with rock-hard rubber, on basic tracks with a little bit of black stuff on the surface and very little protection for riders apart from hay-bales and not-so-forgiving Armco railing, wearing "pudden lid" helmets and for bugger-all prizemoney, the level of risk seemed far greater than it is at present in MotoGP, WSBK etc. with the exception being the Isle on Man TT and other road racing events which are a different ball-game reserved for the hairy-chested, white-knuckled brigade who like dodging trees and wire fences.

As long as motorcyclists remain made of meat, bone and blood and their bums point toward the ground, they'll always be exposed to the same risks of injury as their forefathers despite the belief of some modern folk that they are invincible.

Gotta go...........time for my medication. :D


I suppose what I was trying to get at (and did it poorly) is that VR has been somewhat lucky in his career to date as he hasn't suffered and injuries of the nature of others that has affected his career/year (from memory I think the wrist injury would be the worst). Given the nature of the sport you could say that this kind of run is unusual, particularly when compared to the injuries being suffered this year.

To put it into some kind of perspective and further explain.

When judging where a person resides within my own lists of greats, I always weigh up the adversity faced by sportsmen in the face of injury and how they recover from these type of setback.

VR is the first such that I can recall where he has not yet faced this type of adversity and I often wonder how he would have responded (do not want to see it though). Much as I now look forward to seeing Lorenzo come back from his latest setback (Have no such concerns with DP, and Hopkins, well .... ).

But what you say regarding improvements in rider equipment and track safety is so correct.

I work race meetings and just watching the difefrences between Oran Park, Wakefield Park, Eastern Creek and Phillip Island makes one realise just how big the kahunas of yesterdays riders must have been (not to mention true road racers).



Garry

[NinjaMaster]

I think some guys are just pretty resilient and bounce pretty well. Doohan didn't crash often by the end of his career but when he did, he shattered. Carlos Checa on the other hand crashed more than any rider I can remember and had a very long streak of consecutive race starts. So along with improved facilities and equipment, luck in how and where you land plays a big part.

[MrJan]

Didn't Rossi have a bad patch a few years back and had to ride injured at Assen? It would certainly appear that he is quite lucky but if we compare him to his team mate this season then it would appear to be partly about skill, Jorge has spent a lot of time in mid-air this year :D Out of interest did Stoner miss any races in his rookie year? He had a fair few tumbles, including that nasty one at Mugello (??).

Ultimately I think that some people are just built better than others, Vale apepars to be one such person who can jump right back up. It's the same in football (soccerball to half of you ;) ) and most other sports where some people are just more injury prone. See Michael Owen and Johnny Wilinson :)

As for general safety, I would go further than just saying that the sport is safer but also that medical advances and the use of physiotherapy has helped a great deal in getting racers fit again quickly. Also there is a very high standard of fitness ampngst modern motor sports anyway.

[Mach24]

This is just one of the reasons why I rate Vinchenzo Rossi at the top of my list.

I believe one of the reasons he has not suffered major injury is that he is not pushing as hard as the next bloke. He is truly a natural, he is doing what he was born to do.

In years gone by racers often 'played' for all but the final lap or two, in the modern era if you do not go flat stick from lights to flag, you lose.

So in a stupid way, its who can go fastest the slowest!

[NinjaMaster]

This is just one of the reasons why I rate Vinchenzo Rossi at the top of my list.

I believe one of the reasons he has not suffered major injury is that he is not pushing as hard as the next bloke. He is truly a natural, he is doing what he was born to do.

In years gone by racers often 'played' for all but the final lap or two, in the modern era if you do not go flat stick from lights to flag, you lose.

So in a stupid way, its who can go fastest the slowest!
I remember that was a great racer from yesteryear's philosophy - to win at the slowest possible speed. Can't remember who said it though.
Obviously the less you crash, the less likely you are to be injured but Rossi has had plenty of highsides and fast crashes over the years but his worst injury was a cracked collarbone. Rainey didn't crash much but ended with a broken back. A lot comes down to where and how they crash and wht they hit. And as Jan Yeo said, regardless the activity, some guys appear almost immune from injury whilst other are completely prone to it.

[leopard]

I think Laguna race Rossi pushed as hard as Phakisa 2004 :)

[Roby44]

All depends on your physical make up ..


Some people can trip over a crack in the foot path and break a leg or arm, others can have a serious accident in a car / bike and get no injuries at all.

I did work as Workers Compensation Clerk for awhile! :eek:


I rode my bike into the fence as a kid and cracked my wrist, my brother does worse stuff, wrecks cars... and doesn't get a scratch! :rolleyes:

[Roby44]

It was probably "a boy thing" though.... :rolleyes:

[ArmchairBikeFan]

I think part of it is that Valentino Rossi has the balance of a cat. He makes some amazing saves, and even when he falls off it's usually a case of falling off rather than being thrown off.

I never broke any bones as a kid. Always managed to land safely on my face. :)

[patnicholls]

I remember that was a great racer from yesteryear's philosophy - to win at the slowest possible speed. Can't remember who said it though.


I think it was Jackie Stewart who said that :)

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