Not the Outcome Carlin Dunne Would Have Wanted We reported on the tragic demise of Ducati racer and King of the Mountain Carlin Dunne’s dea...
Not the Outcome Carlin Dunne Would Have Wanted
We reported on the tragic demise of Ducati racer and King of the Mountain Carlin Dunne’s death at Pikes Peak International Hillclimb when it first occurred. It’s a tragic end to one of the motorcycling’s greatest racers. His death stoked rumors that the officials in charge of the race would exclude motorcycles in the future. Unfortunately, that has become reality.
In a statement by the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb’s board of directors, it says that motorcycles will be excluded from the competition in 2020. This is not a final decision for all races in the future. The board of directors will conduct some studies and analysis and decide how to move forward. “It’s just time to take a hard look at every aspect of the race, including the motorcycle program, and determine whether or not the event may change,” said Tom Osborne, Chairman.
The Wrong Decision
Off the cuff, this seems like the opposite of what Dunne would have wanted. It also seems like a way to remove motorcycles from the race while still giving riders and fans hope that it will return. It’s a move few will be happy with. However, it makes sense to do some analysis of the route in the wake of Dunne’s death. Additional safety measures are never a bad idea as long as they don’t impede on the competition too much. In this case, they’re definitely warranted.
With that said, excluding motorcycles in the meantime is the wrong move. The racers know what they’re getting into. It’s a dangerous sport to sprint up the mountain in any vehicle as fast as you can. Part of the point of the even is the danger.
The board of directors also would seem to have plenty of time to come up with a few added safety precautions. Excluding motorcycles from the competition is the easiest and quickest solution. It’s also the worst solution. Hopefully, the board of directors conducts its analysis and finds a way for motorcycles to return after the 2020 race.
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