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.