Ducati Sporting Club UK > General > Idle Chat > So, where is safer, on the road or track?

[skidlids]

After 27 years uninterupted riding on the roads and 7 years of racing all the broken bones have come from the road accidents with no serious injuries from the track, but as we all no well it only takes one serious crash on either the road or track to end our riding enjoyment for good.
I know this well and when the two are combined at the TT things are even worse. But I enjoy them both so will continue with both. If I wanted safe the garage and workshop would be void of bikes and I would get myself a more comfy sofa and a plasma screen TV

[nathanhu]

i focus all my time to the track now as its a safer bet( for me that is) :P

[Ian 748]

I’ve never ridden on the track but would assume it’s safer in some respects. Rainey/ Kato ect may disagree though.

[Loz]

In my experience, track days are less expensive if you get it wrong than when on the road.
As long as you approach them both with due regard to your abilities and the prevailing conditions, track riding is much safer. I've had two years of trackdays now, and twenty-three on the road.
That said, I enjoy doing both.

[keith888]

I tend to agree that on balance track days are safer. I am, however, not convinced about "the less expensive if you bin it" argument. If some t**t takes you out when riding on the road and you end up badly injured with a wrecked bike then you should get at least some financial recompense even if they were uninsured. I hate to think what would happen if I ended up unable to work after a bad track day smash. The 3 kids, wife and various vehicles are not cheap to run....

Keith

[Rob B]

As long as you approach them both with due regard to your abilities and the prevailing conditions, track riding is much safer.

Loz, nail on head hit hard......

I think a few people go to the track just to push their limits; getting the knee down, topping the bike out etc. etc. And I wonder how may ever ride that hard for 5 mins on the road, let alone a 20 or 30 min session..... I think they are most at risk, to themselves and others, not so the regular track fiends who have even practiced getting off at silly speeds a few times.

Rgds Rob

[nathanhu]

yep what Loz said..
bang on..

[MJS]

Have to say, I think the track is safer, but it does all depend on how you approach it, and by the same token, how you approach road riding dictates how safe that is.
As for speeds being higher on track - is that really so? Most tracks haven't got a straight long enough to really wind up a Ducati, it just feels fast 'cos there's a corner coming.. I'd hazard a guess that many people have been faster on the road than they have on a track..

[Loz]

Originally posted by Urban996
Have to say, I think the track is safer, but it does all depend on how you approach it, and by the same token, how you approach road riding dictates how safe that is.
As for speeds being higher on track - is that really so? Most tracks haven't got a straight long enough to really wind up a Ducati, it just feels fast 'cos there's a corner coming.. I'd hazard a guess that many people have been faster on the road than they have on a track..

Urban, you're right there, the possibilities for maxing out are greater on the road than on most tracks I've seen or been on, at least on a standard road bike.

As for which is cheaper to crash on (Keith's comments), I can only go on my own experience. Insurance is a non-issue for me, I cannot afford to claim on it anyway!

[andyb]

What about Silverstone GP.hanger straight, i recon on +160 down there?
Would you be bold enough to do that on a road?