I have a dilema.

[russo]

OK so as everyone knows I crashed for the umpteenth time in june and suffered my 4th concussion in 8 years. Not a fact I am proud of just stating facts.

My dilema comes in whether or not to continue racing. I think I would still do trackdays and work to improve my lap times but not sure I should continue racing. This last concussion was actually pretty mild for the speed and hitting the barrier on the inside of the track.

But now I am having new effects from this one. I have not told the wife, so neither should you, but I struggle more to find the correct word when speaking and lose my train of thought more frequently since the crash. I am sure she has noticed but has not said anything because she loves me and might be a little blind but I have noticed it. I know it takes a while to recover from a concussion (2 or more years) but can I really afford to have another one?

I love racing and being on the track. the commrodary, the adrenaline rush, pushing your bike to the limit, feeling comfortable when the bike is bucking and fighting you every step of the way. I love these feelings as well as a perfect lap, amazing passes, braking so hard the rear tire floats inches from the ground as you scrub speed going into a turn. I could go on forever.

So what do I do? I have a race in a few weeks I really want to attend but I am leary because of my concussion. I feel physically fine although a little out of shape but that is just laziness. I am completely off my meds and no dizzy spells like last time. Just the minor mental issues with losing train of thought mid sentence and searching for the correct words.

What was I saying? Oh yeah so what do i do about my, my, my, oh yeah my memory loss and searching for the right, you know that thing with the letters in a specific order to represent a meaning found in a dictonary. Anyway you know what I mean, what to do?

So to make things easy I will post a poll with a couple options, let me know what you think. choose the closest one then post what you mean if it does not exactly represent your thoughts

[PFFOG]

Russo, Russo, Russo...........just stop falling down!!!!

Take time and evaluate down the road. You are too young to be a vegetable the rest of your life. And some how work on removing the competitiveness from the equation.


I have only gone down once on the street in 1978, and have ridden over 100,000 on the bike, and once on the track, in 2003, and have done 50+ track days. You can have a lot of fun, without pushing the envelope all the time. Don't make me use the "S" word.

[Willybeen]

I voted take some time off, make sure it gets better.... maybe then you'll have clearer thoughts...

What happens when you have children? etc etc...

Be safe... pick up a gs and run vintage. (even then you still run some risks) Hell you got pitched off the motard numerous times lol)

[russo]

Richard I was "SMOOTH" i just turned in to early last time because I was off previous lines and outside was blocked by another rider. kinda got pushed to far inside on the kink on the front straight.

I was looking forward to a great year of racing and it got cut short again. I am highly competitive with myself, not just others, so doing a trackday I would have to go without a lap timer but I would still end up dicing it up with others. Maybe I stick to intermediate and have fun running through slower riders. Who knows. keep the comments coming.

will, provided I can stop crashing (high siding that is) i will keep racing when I have children. Just want to remember their names, birthdays, you know the trivial stuff.

[MURPHMONSTER]

Russo,These decision's are made between you and your wife. Not with a poll on the sportriders site! If you need help makeing this decision then there is something wrong! Raceing is just for fun. there is no money,fame or glory.

For me ,I'd take my wife and daughter over any bike rideing. Motorcycles are just nuts and bolts! Your wifes and future childrens love will last forever!!!!

Slow it down.Do some trackdays,relax!!

Shannon

[tjanels]

Just a suggestion..but I think considering LW class if you decide to continue racing would be smart. The mw and hw classes tend to attract the more competitive guys anyways...so you can run LW and be comptetitve without having to run at the ragged edge. Also with less HP you are much less prone to highsiding.

Other advantages to running LW....tire bill is much cheaper, higher corner speeds (which is the fun part of track riding anyways, isn't it?), more satisfying to pass a guy on a MW when you are on a bike with 40% less power

[99zx6r]

Originally Posted by Willybeen

I voted take some time off, make sure it gets better.... maybe then you'll have clearer thoughts...

What happens when you have children? etc etc...

Be safe... pick up a gs and run vintage. (even then you still run some risks) Hell you got pitched off the motard numerous times lol)

I think if he has kids in the next 2 years they'll come out dizzy. Like Murph said. this is a decision that should be made between you & your wife. Good luck.

[squirrelman]

Take up sailboat racing.........

[MMsilverFZ1]

Originally Posted by squirrelman

Take up sailboat racing.........

you still have to duck when the boom swings by.

Mike, good luck with what ever you decide.
I do like what Richard said, take it from the Jedi master himself.



MM

[Big Jeff]

Dude.. Talk it over with the wife. Only you and her can come up with a decision.

My 2 cents. I would seriously hate to see you become a vegatable. It seems you are already at the point of seriously hurting yourself. That number of concussions in that many years is in no way good. I've seen you dump your motard on "Track Day Riding". It may be time to think of another sport, shall I suggest Autocross or Automobile track day riding. I am sure "Mr. Chiles" would love to have a bud to go racing with. Stick with 2up motorcycle cruising. I really don't want to see have to see Kristen spoon feed you jello and baby food.

Jeff