Put very bluntly, TT2008 has been absolute rubbish so far in my opinion - admittedly not helped by the February-style weather. If this is what the TT has come to - ripped off everywhere you go, hardly anywhere worthwhile to watch, very few bikes on the circuit, no variety, no atmosphere, constant negative publicity - then I really am starting to think that the Isle of Man is better off without it. And to think that up until very recent years I used to spend the whole year counting down the weeks and the days until the next TT. Even Billown is starting to go the same way now, with barricades everywhere - it was like Fort Knox down there on Monday, although at least you don't get ripped off to the same extent there. In fact, I had to laugh at the sign at the Billown food stall, which read something like 'avoid the TT rip-off prices - get your food here before you go'! Cutting, but fair comment!

Shaun's postings in this thread are spot-on in my opinion. Lose the interest of the youngsters and you are well on the way to oblivion - after all, it's today's kids who will be in positions of influence and authority in 20 years time. Very few youngsters these days are TT fans anyway compared with years ago - the majority of kids with sporting interests now are obsessed with football. I am heavily involved in the Manx athletics scene these days, and I can't think of a single youngster I know through athletics who has the slightest interest in the TT. When I was a kid, it seemed everyone was TT daft. Quite a change. How are we going to get the kids interested if it costs £25 for a family of 4 to park the car and go onto the grandstand for half an hour on a practice night?

Yes, I feel thoroughly depressed about the way the TT is in 2008 - and it would seem that I'm just one of many!