Anonymous
Unregistered
|
|
13-03-2006, 08:17 PM |
|
David Griffiths
Member
Posts: 132
Threads: 19
Joined: Mar 2006
Reputation:
0
|
Jan, I don't think you have any worries as far as the TT is concerned. The entry for 2006 is likely to be the strongest for many years. Most of the established stars will be back again this year along with a tremendous crop of talented newcomers, and the racing will be fast, close and very competitive. The only issue I have with the TT now is the lack of variety on offer since the small-bike classes were dropped. It's all very 'samy' now with the same riders on the same couple of bikes for a fortnight, but there is no doubting the very high quality of the riders.
The big problem is going to be the MGP. which as things stand at present doesn't have a future. If the 'TT Course Licence' rules are enforced this year, and continue to be enforced even more stringently next year (6 meetings needing to be completed in the year), then this year's MGP will probably be the last one. I know this is repeating things that have already been said a million times before, but the MGP by its very nature is a 'holiday race'. It is an amateur event, there is no prize fund, no expenses, and when you include the time taken to travel to and from the island, competitors have to take the best part of 3 weeks out of their working (and family) year to compete at their own expense. For the majority, that simply doesn't leave any time, holiday or money to do more than one or two other meetings in the year at best.
So unless our good friends at the ACU back down (which I still believe they will have to soon), don't plan to come to the MGP after 2006!
|
|
13-03-2006, 11:07 PM |
|
Tomcat
Member
Posts: 229
Threads: 10
Joined: Mar 2006
Reputation:
0
|
While the ACU's commitment to the TT is questionable (they handed it over to the MMCC and scheduled a round of BSB to run in the middle of it) many Islanders are still undoubtedly committed to the TT, as evidenced by the Dept of Tourism's decision to give away free entries this year. Not a surprise I guess, it's still a major cash cow for the Island.
The commitment of all parties to the Manx is a different matter I believe. The ACU see it as an irrelevant embarassment that makes them little money can can generate unfavourable injury statstics, as in 2005 sadly. On the Island itself the financial sector (and those individuals who depend on them for a lot of their business) would like to see the racing stopped altogether, starting with the weakest/less profitable event, to protect their peaceful tax haven idyll.
The Manx has been the "holiday racer's event" for many years, and has run very well in the past in that way. Unfortunately the powers that run our sport on and off the Island have decided there is no place for amateurs in their scheme of things and racing must be run as a business that profits them, or not at all. So, along with paying increased costs for entries, ferries and the new licence we get the kick in the teeth of seeing the TT subsidised and not the MGP. Every year we seem to have fewer practice sessions and lately even the committee can't be bothered to attend the prizegiving.
It's a sad end to a once glorious event but if the organisers want to kill it by a thousand cuts then kill it they will. Enter this year I would suggest, as I believe there will not be enough entries next year to run the event.
|
|
15-03-2006, 10:38 AM |
|
thewitch
Unregistered
|
Come on, now Shaun...don't hold back...say what you really feel!
Well said.
|
|
16-03-2006, 08:17 PM |
|
hayley
Member
Posts: 66
Threads: 19
Joined: Dec 2005
Reputation:
0
|
|
16-03-2006, 08:28 PM |
|
thewitch
Unregistered
|
Sorry, DLUCIE, and Charlie. I have deleted DLUCIE's posting and Charlie's response as this was reviving a thread I already said was closed. Please do not make personal attacks on individuals.
To clarify a point, for the last time. Paul Phillips is not the rider's representative, he is working for the Tourist Board, promoting the TT, and recruiting riders.
(Pity the ACU seem to be rejecting as many as Paul finds.)
|
|
16-03-2006, 09:10 PM |
|
thewitch
Unregistered
|
To expand on Stella's point, I am sure that riders, new or experienced in the TT races, would value racing against previous winners, and would learn and benefit from them.
|
|
16-03-2006, 09:15 PM |
|
charlie hulse
Senior Member
Posts: 279
Threads: 40
Joined: Dec 2005
Reputation:
0
|
Apologies Helen caught me at a bad time. I nearly said what I really thought !! :roll:
It was just total exasperation and ever-so-slightly p***** off.
BTW you can stick your night out now censoring me..........
..............Just joking :oops:
Youth is wasted on the under forties !
|
|
16-03-2006, 09:53 PM |
|
Shaun Harris
Senior Member
Posts: 361
Threads: 48
Joined: Nov 2005
Reputation:
0
|
Don't shoot my mate
Please please please, do not turn this into an opportunity to challenge Paul Phillip's, Paul is and I hope for others going to be involved in the TT for a long time to come, this is nothing to do with him!
Paul does a brilliant job with the riders, and I would take any attacks/ challenges on Paul personelly, and if this does happen I will not help/support/back up any one involved in doing this.
Please keep it between us and the ACU
I blew it by not meeting there new requirements, but trully believe this new license to be illegal! and it does need a good fight.
How about a past winner standing outside the ACU office talking with the press about the ACU safety idea's, man, that would blow there credit out of the water.
As it stands I am already dead, there is no way my posts will not get back to them, and with what I have said and the suggestions I have made, how can they back down now?
|
|
16-03-2006, 10:45 PM |
|
|