I don't know why they still require you to tape up the headlights. The main reason was that the older bikes had head & tail light lensesmade of glass and the tape held the sharp glasspieces together instead of all over the trackin the event of a crash. All the bikes now have plastic headlights so that is reallyno longer a concern. Heck the whole body is plastic.

 

Broken plastic is just as sharp, but I see your point speed. Plastic normally does not shatter as bad as glass.

 

Yeah, I guess that's true; the plastic headlight lenses are thinner and can be as sharp but so can cracked and/ or broken plasticfairings. I guess that is why most race stuff is fiberglass besides the weight advantage. Even though they crack or brake, the glass fibers still keep them held together without the sharp edges.