Pete has a very good point. 40 years ago it was a lot different from 20 years ago.

The road surface was rougher and bumpier, tarmac and chippings, always melting tar on hot days and plenty of oil about from open drip feed primary chains and oil spreader exposed valve spring Manx Norton cam boxes.

The Veranda was a lot tighter with four distinctive bends, Quarrys was narrow with banks and trees from the Wildlife Park right through.

The changes up till the early 80s were immense. coupled with thin unpadded but todays standards leathers and the old cromwells, brakes that could fade to nothing by Signpost, I know all of these factors made me more cautious.

I think the queue that was always waiting for Ken Spraysons magic Welding torch was an indication of how rough the course was, blistered hands and feet were not uncommon. Of course 2 to 2.5 hour races were the norm, even the 250 was six laps so that would account a lot for riders not going like hell from the start.

Just watch some older videos and the difference the way even the top riders on works bikes set at a much more sedate pace until they settled down with a long way journey ahead, now it seems to be drop the clutch and go like hell.

I think today it is possible with the immense advances on brakes tyres and the kit worn and the hugely improved and additional safety around the course can give a false sense of well being that many push harder and harder and beyond the limit.

Now there is always cry who will be the first to lap at 120, 125, what next 130? 135? 140? there once was a maxim of many top riders that you should try to win at the slowest possible speed.

Now of course there is always the increased sponsorship and the need to satisfy the demands of those who are paying the bills.

So much that could be discussed, who knows the answer.