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| Molly Calls for Prize Money
Rollover
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Seven-times sidecar TT winner Dave Molyneux said top
riders should be given the chance to win the money they could have won this
year but for the cancellation of racing. But he doesn't believe the prize
money, about £750,000 in total, should be shared out among all the riders
because most would never have had a chance of winning the cash.
Dave,
who stands to lose £40,000 from the TT's cancellation, said: 'It is
obvious I believe the money should be rolled over as I am biased, although I
don't think the prize money for next year should necessarily be
doubled.
'The top riders and their sponsors are the one who lose out.
The money is allocated as a prize fund and that's what it should be. It's not a
hand-out and should be earned.' He said that, on a smaller scale, a similar
thing happened in 1998 when the first sidecar race was cancelled.
'The
prize money was rolled over for the next race,' he explained. 'I then picked up
£10,000 and I was hung drawn and quartered as the other guys felt the
money should have been divided between every rider.' But Tourism and Leisure
Minister David Cretney believes rolling over the prize money will attract
riders who have no TT experience to next year's races. He said: 'I am not a
supporter of doubling the money for next year. We may improve the perceived
quality of the field but we may get people who are just in it for the
money.
'We have deliberately encouraged new road racers to take two or
three years to get used to it. 'Clearly we will be looking into this in due
course but it is not the priority. I am focused on the activities for this
year's festival and the hotel compensation issue.'
But Dave, of Regaby,
disagrees with this view. He said: 'It is up to the discretion of the
Auto-Cycle Union to accept these people. It is obvious if a rider has just come
for the money.
'The ACU can afford to turn them away and it is all
about common sense.'
Onchan MHK and TT commentator Geoff Cannell
doesn't believe the prize money should be rolled over but does feel next year's
pot should be increased. 'Some of it could be added to next year,' he said,
'but the prize money is part of a TT fund. We must be careful not to get people
who come over just for the money.'
He also believes the starting money
normally handed out to competitors should be invested into making the most of
the 'festival' of events which will take the place of races.
He said:
'In regard to the top riders, perhaps they could be given some money to come to
the Island and act as public relations agents and carry out exercises such as
pit stops, demonstrations, meeting the fans, forums and book
signings.
'I suggest a portion of the starting money should be given to
each competitor, perhaps 50 per cent, for their trouble in preparing for the
races.'
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