I agree everyone should buy a programme at all road races in support of the riders but the stupidity is that the organisers make it worthless on race day by allowing none regulation plates and numbers so they defeat the object and don'y encourage people to buy one.

Another reason the MGP and TT insisted on regulation numbers and backgrounds was retirements if you stopped for any reason you were supposed parked your maxhine facing oncoming riders with the front number clearly visible for travelling marshalls. I got told about not doing this when I broke down one mornng practice and put the bike in somones front garden and went in for a cup of tea.

Effectively I was missing wherabouts unknown. In fact I know definitely of a certain American from Westchester Pennsylvania in our digs who did the same back in the 70s who was still being entertained by the lady of the house long after the roads opening car, and they had search parties out looking behind hedges etc for the rider and bike while he was still eating toast.