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!