How could the BBC get it so wrong?

[esme]

Bridge that's what we are all here for, you may be tough enough but you still need a shoulder and an ear. At least your daughter has you to talk things over with, hard as it is she will be stonger and tougher too. Big hugs to you again x

[bridge]

What news was it on Lucy? I'm surprised as most of the deaths in racing don't usually make the news. Maybe this one did because he was so young. I know this sounds awful, but if it's a news station I can pick up, I would like to see what they say.

[Stella]

So very sorry to hear your news Bridge. Big hugs for you all honey.

[nikki]

I saw the story on teletext this morning too.

I'm so very very sorry Bridge. It does seem like a lot for your daughter to deal but if she still feels that its a sport that she wants to be involved with then I guess it would be difficult to stop her. Not easy and I really feel for you. Parenting is a tough old job.

Thinking of you all. xx

[dianne]

Oh no, how dreadful. I remember you posting about your son losing a friend not so long ago. Poor lad and his poor family and friends.

My heart goes out to all of you xx

[guest 9]

This is terrible news. I am so sorry for the boys family and friends. But i must say that i am at a loss as to why people allow their chldren to participate in such a dangerous sport.

[bridge]

Thanks Diane, Yes, my son has now lost 3 friends (two were very close) and another couple of people we used to say hello to as we passed in the paddock, but they weren't really friends as such. He also lost his best friend in a road accident. But, he's older (24 tomorrow) and he knows what can happen in this sport and still wants to take part. He's got an old head on young shoulders.

My daughter has now lost two friends this year, but Chris was particularly close (he was her first little boyfriend) and it's hit her hard. She's not as tough as my son and is only there as a spectator and to support her brother really. I don't think she ever expected a racer's death to affect her. Unfortunately, it has!!

[bridge]

Guest 9 - Unfortunately, if we didn't allow our children to take part, then we would never have any champions. I was lucky (if you can call it that) in that my son was 21 when he started racing and I really didn't have a say in it. I pointed out the dangers obviously, but it had to be his choice. After he lost his first friend I sat him down and told him that he could walk away right now and nobody would think any less of him. He still chose to go out and race just half an hour afterwards.

Would I let him race if he were younger? I really don't know. I do know that I might be thinking "What if he's the next champion and I'm stopping him fulfilling his dream?". That might have haunted me for life. My son used to be a Gymnast and was very good. He started late in life and was told, umpteen times, that if I had sent him when he was younger he would have made Olympic level without any doubt. He did make it to National level, but he was just too old to continue really. That still haunts me now. I see it as MY fault he didn't make it to the top and that's hard to live with sometimes. So, in answer to your question, I really don't have an answer.

[jennyb]

I truly believe that you shouldn't hold yourself back in life because of "what ifs". My Mum died when I was only 3, she was 27, same age I am now. I have pushed to do as much as I can, as soon as I can, because I am all too aware that you have to live each day for the moment. If I were to have an accident and get paralysed tomorrow, do I want to live the rest of my life thinking "If only I'd done such-and-such whilst I had the chance" - No. I want to know that I have lived my life to the full and achieved as much as I could.

Bridge, I think your son has to make his own choices in life, and you shouldn't hold him back through your worries about his safety. You have to let him fly free and live his dream. Everyone worries about their loved ones, but lets face it, people die on the way to work every day, so does that mean we should stop leaving the house? My husband flies light aircraft as a hobby, and I worry every time he flies, but I trust him to be sensible and am really happy that he has the opportunity to live his dream, he truly loves his time in the air. Who am I to stop him doing that?

[Ann NF]

Thinking of all of you who are involved, especially the boy`s family. Devastating for them and hard for your daughter too. Take care. Annx

[Lucymj not logged]

Hi Bridge. I am not entirely sure as at lunchtimes i tend to flick between itv and bbc news. I think it was bbc though. probably in the midlands regional bit? XXX

[bridge]

Thanks Lucy, I watched the 10 o'clock news but didn't see anything although I was told it was on at 6 but I missed it.

[jess]

So sorry to hear this terrible news, my thoughts are with everyone effected.
xx

[gillmcg]

It's a dangerous world out there - my local A&E Dept are always moaning about horses and motorbikes! We've lost a number of close friends to the racetrack, particularly the Isle of Man but they were mostly in their late twenties, thirties which doesn't seem so bad somehow. I was so glad that my son didn't want to race before he was old enough to make his own decisions. My OH always wanted him to and even bought him a race bike at 16 but Rik really didn't take to it and preferred his bmx and dirt bikes to road racing. This season has been his first (he's 21) and he's been down the road a few times - luckily not injured, but if he is, it will have been his choice not mine or OH's. I'm not sure I think under16s racing such powerful machines is such a great idea - do they REALLY understand what the consequences could be? They just don't have any fear at that age......... In Europe it seems to be different - they have a few years on a moped/scooter getting some experience in before they hit the track - hence Valentino Rossi's supremacy now.

Hope she can find a way to come to terms with it Bridge.

[bridge]

Hi Gill,

I've been keeping an eye on Rik's results (well, the first half of the season anyway) and he seemed to be doing really well. Bet Chris was chuffed (and you of course).

As you know, all racers lose friends to racing at some point in time, but it's just the young ones that really get to me, especially when you know them personally.