I agree with Shaun in that you can't lay blame at Ryan Farqhars door for doing his job. That said his crowing about beating the tuned bikes on a standard bike is misleading and un-necessary, it is far from a 'standard bike' it is a homolgated special.

I always liked the idea of a regal spec racing because it was supposed to limit the cost of racing and provide a more level playing field. Anyone who has pulled up at a Club meeting with their old road bike on a trailer only to find teams with ex-world supersport bikes and race transporters and race budgets - will tell you it's a good idea. The cost to prepare a pukka 600 is astounding - and that's before you've turned a wheel.

HOWEVER

It has always been a nightmare to police and if homolgation specials are to be called standard bikes then it becomes a nonsence. It would seem that the only way forward is to lift all restrictions and return to a cc limit only.

The downside will be the withdrawl of demoralised low-budget midfiled runners and an equally strong lobby for going back to regal spec.

It's not cheating - but the fact that only a select few can buy these bikes means that it is hardly fair either.

Sam