Racing is in our Blood

Whether it's horses, athletes or motorbikes, as a race (no pun intended) we have a fascination with racing.

There's always a huge amount of excitement, adrenaline and anticipation to be experienced by the competitors and spectators alike, whether it's a cold, damp local meeting or a round of a World Championship.

But why, why do we do it? Anthropologists - you know, those people who study where we've come from and how we have developed (or not developed, as the case maybe) - they might possibly suggest that the need to race is a basic instinct of mankind: to flee from danger or to hunt for food. I'd suggest that the prehistoric ancestor of the modern-day motorcycle racer was the guy who taunted the sabre-toothed tiger whilst everybody else ran for their lives. They would do it just to get a kick from the adrenaline rush.

Have things changed? I don't think so, when you see riders trying to tame the 200mph machines that are trying to dislodge them, as they buck and weave their way around a race circuit.

If you looked at it logically, you'd ask why you would put yourself in a situation that could seriously harm and hurt you. The answer to this is easy: because when love and passion are involved in any aspect of our lives, logical thought seldom follows.That isn't to say that the riders aren't aware of the dangers - they are, and do their best to minimise the risks and protect themselves. But it's that passion, desire and occasional red mist that can create moments on the race track or road circuit that fans and spectators can hold onto for years to be recounted over and over again. That's why we, the spectators, love to watch our chosen sport: because we're waiting for that next memorable manoeuvre or a daring pass to be made, and because, just like the riders, racing is in our blood. By Fran Hollywood

Worth checking - Superbike news - MotoGP news