I hope this all works.
Not the best news but we will keep our fingers crossed.
http://miyakejima-tt.com/
Here is a page re Ian Lougher's visit:
http://challenge-miyakejima.com/pdf/071024_ian.pdf


The Governor of Tokyo is very pro active about trying to boost the island, here is an extract from his policy speech in 2006:

..."On the occasion of my inspection tour of London, I visited the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea. This island is roughly the size of Awajishima Island in Japan and has a population of less than 80,000. It is well known worldwide for the international motorcycle race that runs on its public roads and dates back over 100 years. I was overwhelmed by the power of the motorcycles that sped along the public roads right past private residences at speeds of over 200 km per hour. I was also able to see and hear first hand how each and every resident has an enthusiasm for motor sports and how the entire island supports the race.

While at one time the Isle of Man struggled with a downturn in the number of tourists visiting the area, its per capita gross domestic product is now greater than that of the U.K. This was achieved through not just the race but by also luring IT industries to its shores and other unique industrial promotion policies. The islands of Tokyo have much to learn from these pioneering efforts, and I imagine that the mayors of both Miyakejima and Hachijojima Islands who accompanied me on this trip felt the same way.

I hope that the people of the islands will combine their efforts to take the first specific steps towards the realization of setting motorcycle races to ignite tourism in the area. The TMG will also actively support new development of the islands that makes the best of the creative originality of the local area."



If you go to this page http://challenge-miyakejima.com/fla/index.html
you will get on-bike video of the road around the island, just click on the menu items on the left and when it finishes a section click on the small white x in the top rh corner then select the next menu item. It looks like an interesting road and at times reminds you of the IOM.
Miyakejima erupted 5 days before Joey died in 2000, it would be nice if something good could come out of that time when the islanders were evacuated from their homes.