I've been close to all kinds of motorsport for a long time now and I think it's true to say that the dynamics of a high speed car crash will be rather different to that of a bike.  Something weighing 150kg doing 140mph may bounce off an obstacle but something weighing 1200kg doing the same speed may go right through whatever it hits.

I accept that as sponsors, if the organisers can raise a few quid by separating VIPs from there money by sending them out in the course cars for laps they would be doing anyway then fair enough.  I sincerely hope though that we see no more of these 'record attempts'.

Unfortunately money seems to over-ride safety these days.  Example: When North One first started covering the TT I was shooting a race from Parliament Square.  As a stills photographer I'm not allowed any further out than the end of the recticel barriers where the marshals congregate, which is fair enough.  Halfway through the race a camera crews shows up and sets up a large broadcast camera and tripod in what would be the escape lane up Parliament St.  The DSM naturally ordered them to move and they said they had permission to be there.  A phone call to race control confirmed that they did.  So - how is it unsafe for me to be there (and any competitor that might want to use the escape road) but safe for them?  As a matter of interest I saw a crew set up there camera in front of the safety barriers at the Creg this year - right at the spot where Rafael Paschaolin hit them earlier in the week.  I'm not allowed to be there, so why are they?