Good post - there is a lot of ignorance of motorcycles in this thread. A low sider is very survivable and like you said, racers do it all the time at very high speeds. A high sider like from a tank slapper is a lot more dangerous as the rider is thrown directly into the road. Matt Mladin had one of those three years ago and missed the rest of the season.
The biggest danger in riding are automobile drivers that pull out in front of bikes.
Jimmie Moore got off at Brainerd at 180+ in '03 and would have been fine, but he hit the only tree on that part of the track before he slowed down and it broke his arm. We were both working out at the same gym in '03 and we (Jimmie, the gym owner and I) rode together as he was rehabing.
We have some super back roads here in Oregon. ;)
What did you think of Matt's performance at Pike's Peak; about half way through the race his rear tire went away, he stopped put on another tire and finished fourth and he still leads in the championship ~ that cat can ride!
Yep ~ ya gotta watch those larger vehicles that share the road ~ I always pretend that I'm invisible, so I'm never surprised by what a four or more wheeled vehicle does ~ when you think that everyone sees you is when you get smoked.
Used to be a fact, reason # 1 for motorcycle accidents, cars making right turns in front of 'em. I think now its different. Everyday some expletive on the cellphone tries to kill me. Daily!