Cargo is correct in that numbers are dropping - by a lot in '06 and I dread to think what '07 will be like as the ACU's moves come into full force.

In the classic races it was very noticeable that there were large gaps in the entries and total numbers were down despite many riders having 2 outings.

In the modern classes although there was a full field you could see from the programme that many riders had more than one outing. I spoke to one guy who was out in the Senior Classic, Junior and Senior races (despite being a Newcomer!). When I started in 1986 you ONLY got a Newcomers ride and in subsequent years despite applying for 2 classes I only ever got a single ride, as all the events were oversubscribed.

Not any more.

If the ACU try to tell us their licence has been a great success in cutting casualties and the drop in entries is because riders don't want to come to the Manx I'll be less than impressed.