Hi

I would just like to say that as son and mechanic to one of the riders killed this year I resent the implications that age, and preparation could be blamed for the accidents.

In my opinion my father was in the best health that he had been in for a while when we attended this years manx. He was only 1 year older than last year when he finished second so he was hardly on a downwards spiral riding wise particularly having recently enjoyed wins and podium finishes at aberdare park.

The machine he was riding in the practice was probably in the best state of preparation it had ever been with tyres freshly fitted this season that were in good condition.

In terms of mental preparation we were at the manx to win it. However my dad NEVER pushed it in a practice he was a racing man and a practice lap time meant nothing to him.

I don't know what happened but I suspect conditions were not as he expected when he entered the blind corner. We will never know exactly wot happens but for sure he wouldn't want his death to be used as an excuse to stop the manx and he would still want to ride there if it happened to someone else.