I can picture you now at the Colosseum in Rome urging on the gladiators to kill each other.
You are near to a quotation:
The late George Macdonald Frazer (author of the Flashman books) was an Isle of Man Resident.
A few years ago he made a famous statement on the subject, in which he described the spectacle as similar to that in the Colosseum, where the gladiators engaged in combat.
He described the principal difference as being that the gladiators did it against their will, but not only was road racing voluntary, but the participants paid vast sums of money to compete, and kill themselves to entertain the crowds.
He said, that, on that basis, he was prepared to watch.
On a personal basis, I have been to the Isle of Man races many times.
I do not go for the races, and indeed I find it boring, never having watched a full race through without falling asleep.
I go for the atmosphere, to meet friends & see the bikes.
When I was a teenager, many of my friends were going road racing, and encouraging me to do so. I had no interest, but also realised that if i tried it I would like it, so never even set leg over one of their bikes..
It took many years, but all of the friends who went road racing are now dead as a result.
Of those who go road racing, the top 25% are going to kill themselves - eventually. Most of the rest are just out for a cheap track day, and good luck to them.
Think about a crash in a road race.
The rider's angle of divergence from his chosen path is probably quite narrow. If he misses the first obstacle, E.G: a lamp-post,, he must hit the next one.
Opinions on whether it should be permitted or not:
I don't have any. I think anyone trying to get a result is mad, but then again, Darwin rules.
Myke