PeterCourtney Wrote:Rider ability is only one of the factors in the safety of racing, but it has worried me for some time that 30 years ago you could only take part in the TT with a full Grand Prix Licence, which involved a vast amount more racing, and with a degree of success at a high level, not just taking part in a few Mickey Mouse events. The Manx GP was also very fussy about the experiaence of those allowed to start. Couple this, as Tom has said, with the complete lack of a suitable class for newcomers to learn the course at a manageable speed and there is the very real potential for disasters.
I also think that the very existence of a Newcomers award is asking for trouble. There will always be some tempted to ride beyond their experience and ability to try and achieve some sort of fame. In my first MGP in 1968, a young first-timer on a 250 Aermacchi was warned by the stewards more than once for riding beyond his limits, scraping walls and nearly going down escape roads, but he was determined to go for the Newcomers. He was killed in the race, leaving his new wife and their baby that had just been born, back home to grieve. A senseless and wasteful death.
And just a comment to those that have their heads firmly in the sand - if a sport allows spectators to be killed there are very very serious questions to be answered.

Peter at the Manx newcomers face a very serious briefing and the standard of behaviour required of them during practise and racing are made very clear...........one thing they are told is not to be chasing times and to build up to faster laps.
Newcomers even get an extra briefing after practise week wher they are taught how to do their pitstops
Even experienced Manx competitors get a briefing and we are always reminded as to how we ought to behave.
I'm sure at the TT newcomers get the same message.

As for the standard of competitor and his/her abilities the quailfying times are there to be achieved if you don't then you are unlikly to get into the race. While the times are not that hard to get you still need to know what your doing and where your going to achieve that time.