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| TT Decision - The
Reaction
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In all the euphoria surrounding the TT cancellation
the most important aspect of the event seems to have been missed - the riders
and sponsors. We caught up with some of the current riders and sponsors to find
out their views on the cancellation.
John Shand
Team Boss and entrant
We wish to announce that we
respect the wishes of the Isle of Man Parliament in cancelling the TT. We know
full well that this was not taken lightly given the investment in the event by
both competitors and spectators alike. In addition we sincerely trust there is
no backlash against the decision and that all motorcyclists from all countries
can show mature behaviour over the choice the Island's people have made.
Those of us who have made some sort of financial loss in the process,
must face it and look to the future. We shall be now preparing for the next TT
in 2002 with renewed vigour. Our team are pure TT fans and we can be found on
the starting line as long as we are able make it.
Glen
English
TT star and Manx Grand Prix Winner
Basically, I
think it is the right decision really. I'm all for it to be honest with you
because if we were all to go over there and have a great time, and even for
someone that wins, to get home and se pictures in the paper of all the animals
being slaughtered, it would be a bit rough really.
It's only a race.
Don't get me wrong, it is a shame and there are sponsors like Martin
Bullock who have put great expense into it, and I feel for them, but you have
to do whatever is best for the Island.
Mike Kelly
Sponsor of many riders including Ian Lougher and Nigel Bish
Obviously we're disappointed that the TT has been cancelled completely,
particularly as we had a good line-up of riders and were all prepared
bike-wise. However, as John Shand says, Shit Happens, and one has to be
philosophical about these things; it's not the end of the world.
On
reflection, it's probably the right decision, although it could have been made
sooner. We'll be talking to the riders over the next couple of days to see what
can be salvaged from the situation for this season, and starting to plan our TT
2002.
Ian Lougher
TT winner and professional Road
Racer
Well it's my livelihood you know. It's only been recently
when I have been thinking to myself about the TT, The North West etc, etc, how
much they actually mean to you especially when you can't go there and do them.
It's not just a financial thing; it's down to how much I actually like
doing them. It's nice to have the opportunity to say no I'm not going (laughs)
but you don't really realise what you have until it's not there really. I have
some meetings to ride at, including some in Europe but the TT and North West
really is my livelihood.
Barry Wood
Local star
and Manx Grand Prix winner
I'm very happy this has happened.
Obviously it has always been unthinkable that the TT wouldn't be on, but my
thoughts have always been towards the fact that no one has consulted the riders
concerning this.
There are a lot of riders who haven't sat on a bike
since last year, and they would be expected to go out there at the Governments
call, and try and be up to pace very quickly with no road racing taking place
anywhere else so far. I think this would have been very, very dangerous, and
with the accidents we had last year, I for one am relived I don't have to go
and do that.
Everyone seems to have been so obsessed with money and
politics that the riders were forgotten and we are the people who are spending
through the nose and putting our lives at risk as we entertain the public.
Obviously, I'm sad it's off and the Classic races too, but I think it
was the right decision. It might be worse for others too, because I have the
Manx to look to now, where as others don't.
Martin
Bullock
Local sponsor for Milky Quayle
I totally agree
with the decision. The Government could only run the TT with the goodwill of
everyone, which includes the farmers, and because there is so much farmland
adjoining the circuit, they simply can't run it. They have had no choice.
Obviously we are very disappointed because we felt that this year we
were better prepared than last year for the TT. Milky is riding so well and
with the machinery we have got this year we were expecting some really good
results, but there's always next year. This doesn't help Milky, but for the
team we have the Manx Grand Prix to concentrate on now, and we will be putting
our maximum effort into that.
My sympathy is with the Government,
because they had to make a decision that nobody wanted to make. Let's just hope
the situation sorts itself out in the UK, and we can get the Manx in.
Ryan Farquhar
Senior Manx Grand Prix winner
I'm gutted. You know that the TT was my aim for this year, and it's
been bad enough with the North West, Cookstown and Tandragee being called off
but if we had got the TT and say the Southern 100 in; maybe it wouldn't have
been so bad. I've trained so hard through the year and now I don't know if I
can be motivated enough to continue with it. I said to Karen just now that we
might just get a couple of bottles of wine in. It's bad form but it's the same
for everybody.
Seamus Greene
Manx Grand Prix
winner
It's an awful situation to be in now, and I know a lot of
the fans and many of the people that use your message board are going to be
gutted.
The riders are gutted as well because it's the highlight of the
year and for some the highlight of their life. For me, I've given up work this
year to go racing and my big aims were the North West, the TT and the Manx so
at least I still have the Manx left and I was only going to do one TT race
anyway, but it's a real big shame.
People like Ian Lougher, Adrian
Archibald and Richard Britton who have a lot of money riding on it and have a
lot of machinery; I really feel for them.
Richard Britton
North West 200 winner and current TT star
I was really
pissed off with the North West being off and all the wee Road Races being off,
so by that time I was almost feeling like I couldn't be bothered going to the
TT because we haven't had any road practice in.
I understand that the
farmers don't want foot and mouth there, but people are still going and it only
takes one person to carry it. It could even be there before the TT. I'm
disappointed for my sponsor, Patsy, because he has put so much money into the
year for me.
Winston McAdoo
Sponsor of Ryan
Farquhar
Devastated. Truthfully, I can't believe it. The TT was
supposed to be the highlight of our year. I can't get it into my head. It seems
to be a bit of a contradiction with the Manx Government inviting people still
to travel to the Island during that period. They can still bring it with them.
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