I killed a man once. Back in the late 80's during an open class proddy race at Donnington Park.
I'd been chasing his tail for 13 of the 15 lap race, we had 2 laps to go & in racing circles it's called 'mugging'. The bikes were well matched with mine having just a slight power advantage on the straights, more than equalised in the corners 'cos he had always proved himself to be much braver than Dork in the corners.
I made my intentions known at McLean's & pulled alongside him before braking early & diving inside him at Coppice. I took him along Starkey's straight, just about where the bridge used to be. All I had to do now was ride wide & block him from regaining the lead.
He braked late, far too late for the Esses & to this day I say he would never have made that corner, he came from the outside & cut straight across me but Dork did not want to be beaten, Dork tucked it in a little harder & Dork's front wheel glanced across his rear wheel & we both went down.
In racing circles this is what's called a racing incident. I'm told the official inquiry by the clerk of the course could reach no conclusion over blame.
Dork was just about as badly hurt as it is possible to survive. The circuit Doctor was there within 3mins & that Doctor restarted Dorks heart & stabilised Dork before moving onto the other rider. With nothing to see & nothing to do here the Doc' came back to Dork to prepare him for the trip to where he would spend the next 13 weeks in a coma.
I knew that other rider from school, we weren't exactly the bestest of mates back then but we found each other through our mutual love of fast motorcycles & the shared belief that we didn't want to die in front of a TV screen like our Dad's.
He was due to be the best man at my wedding 2 weeks later. They buried him while I was asleep & I'm told his mum came to me & sat by my bed, held my hand & prayed for me alongside my mum. She has never blamed me but it was many years before I could look her in the eye.
Put me in front of your jury of 12 good men honest & true.
Only God can judge me.
