Interesting to read the opinion of someone racing at the very pointy end of the sport (and some rather interesting views from people racing from armchairs - like me).
I feel there are some very good points for things like MIPS (or equivalent) being compulsory and Dyneema sheets so the fabric doesn’t get abraided away in a crash. Plus the shitty, and differing, state of some barriers.
Lots of the things mentioned would be zero or minimal cost and would improve racing and viewing, no one wants to see Gee’s arse after he’s slid down the road again! Plus if it trickles down to amateur kit I’d like to keep my skin if I crash.
Another thought if you’re a parent and your minion is just getting into racing seeing the effects of crashing mitigated would be good, I’m not sure if I had a kid and saw some of the barriers exploding I’d be entirely happy with letting them race. But I’m not and I guess driven junior racers would do their best to race regardless so might be a moot point.
One of the comments referenced Group B rallying and that is a brilliant example I feel where safety was totally neglected, sitting on fuel tanks in a Delta S4 who on earth thought that was wise, then after too many deaths of racers and spectators things improved and it’s not lost any of it’s excitement.