Video: Think MotoGP is Good? Wait Until You See the Irish Road Races
Whereas in the Isle of Man, the races are man against the clock, in the Irish Road Racing series, they have massed starts and ever more insanely narrow country roads to race on.
The Irish Road Racing Series is More Insane than the Isle of Man TT
The Isle of Man TT races are rightly hailed as the ones that sort the men out from the boys. Up to six laps of the 37.75 mile course at an average of 135mph is enough to fry anyone’s brain. Even when viewed via on-board cameras from the comfort of your armchair, it remains one of the scariest things you will ever watch.
Until, that is, you watch the Irish Road Races. Unlike the TT, where riders set off at ten-second intervals and largely race on their own against the clock, the Irish road races feature massed starts and hectic racing along roads even narrower than those of the Isle of Man, but with similar speeds. On board action from these races is heart-stopping and certainly not for those of a nervous disposition.
It is, however, one of the most thrilling spectacles in motorcycle racing you’ll ever see and makes those riders who race MotoGP look like risk-averse pansies. It seems all wrong that road racers make so much less money than GP riders, when the skill required is enough to make GP riders look on in awe at the spectacle.
Oh, and unlike the TT, the Irish road racers aren’t averse to riding in the wet or, at least, on a wet but drying track, which is infinitely worse.
It almost seems laughable that they wear race leathers, as if they are going to make any difference in the event of a crash. A suit of armour would be more appropriate!
So, sit back and be prepared to have your heart in your mouth for 12 minutes