One other point I would like to make as a result of the inquest – and I touched on it in my previous posting - is about attitudes. As a great TT enthusiast for most of my life (though sadly not any more), I have always accepted that it is potentially a very dangerous sport and that accidents will always happen.

But one thing I have never been comfortable with is the way that deaths and serious injuries have for so long been treated so lightly and in such a ‘matter of fact’ manner by race officials, and in many cases by the media. Manx Radio’s commentaries have generally been superb through the years, but so many times in the past I have squirmed during a race commentary when a fatality during practice week, for example, has been completely ignored – treated as if it had never happened. The rider concerned has simply been listed as a non-starter. Some may argue that this is the best way to treat such a situation as ‘the show must go on’, but I don’t agree. In fairness, things have improved in this regard over recent years, with proper tributes being paid to the unfortunate riders.

I was absolutely disgusted (though not in the least surprised) to read about the ACU and race officials slapping themselves on the back and congratulating themselves on doing such a wonderful job in a meeting held just 4 hours after the horrendous accident at the 26th Milestone – a large part of which we now know was caused by the failings of some of those very people. They clearly would have known the essential details about what had happened when they held this meeting. Yet at the very same time as three devastated families were trying to come to terms with their tragic losses, one person was fighting for her life and one was being treated for serious injuries, the people in charge basically seemed to be saying to each other ‘Jolly good show chaps, let’s have another gin and tonic’. The words used by the Coroner to describe their attitides were 'crass', 'insensitive', 'offensive' and 'smug' - and I think he got that spot-on.

I am NOT saying that I want the TT to be stopped, but what I do want to see is a complete change in the attitudes of those in charge. One thing that will be essential from now on is top-class communication at all levels amongst those in authority. That alone will have to see a radical change in the attitudes of the ACU officials whose communication skills over the years have been consistently appalling (never more evident than during the TT Course Licence debacle). Now that they are back in charge of this year’s TT, that simply HAS to change.