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Fast Motorcycles Don't Kill People. People Kill People
Speed had nothing to do with kato's death. So why is the FIM against it?
by dean adams
Wednesday, June 04, 2003

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Latest FIM Press Release

Previous FIM Press Release

Former World Champion Kevin Schwatz on Kato's Suzuka crash

Dr. Costa: Kato may never leave the hospital

HRC's statement on Kato's death

It's important to remember that President Zerbi of the FIM is an elected official. He may not be elected in the sense that Americans might recognize—the world's motorcyclists don't elect him per se—but he is elected none-the-less. And that makes him a politician, and it's always a good idea to keep your eye on politicians.

The FIM put out a press release again this week that is as important for what it says as it is for what it does not say. And how it is not said.

They're up in arms over in Geneva because of Kato's death at Suzuka and now Zerbi seems ready to take action. The latest FIM press release states in regards to possible rule changes in GP:

"As suggested by the President, some adjustments may be needed concerning the power, high speed and technology of the Grand Prix prototypes in relation to safety aspects, but without holding back the technical evolution."

This all started with Kato's unfortunate death at Suzuka. When news of Kato's death was splashed across the TV screens in Europe and Japan, Zerbi seems to have felt the need to inject himself and the FIM in the situation, presumably for some much-needed stability.

What he is stabilizing is unknown, but Zerbi is doing an absolute cracking job of confusing the issues.

Zerbi is mulling over rule changes to make MotoGP bikes less fast because—he seems to feel—that fast bikes are unsafe.

Let's examine the facts, shall we? Kato suffered fatal injuries when his bike hit a wall, or when the woefully under-trained corner workers at Suzuka picked up his limp body and carelessly tossed him on a stretcher in order to get it and his bike out of the way so as to not stop the race. The speed of Kato's Honda V-5 really had little to do with his death, other than that the motorcycle he was riding was capable of traveling at a high rate of speed.

Zerbi's reaction must be insulting for every person involved in GP racing. Instead of making post-incident statements about the need to improve race track safety or the need to train corner workers on how to move and transport injured riders, or lecturing the rights holder to the GP races on the subject of stopping races when a rider is seriously injured—no matter what the TV feed dictates—all very valid subjects, he comes out swinging against fast bikes.

Frankly, it's a reaction you'd expect from an elderly grandmother who doesn't understand racing, the kind that just "knows" that speed kills.

ENDS

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