Hmmm Chocolates sound good!

Kenny, sorry if you think that I am directly aiming comments at you, because that isn't really my intention. I know that you have won replicas and I also feel that I should point out that I have never won a replica as a rider and I'm certain that if and when I ride in the manx I will not find it in any way easy. My comments were aimed generally at people who believe that TT riders are making it harder to win a replica (which tends to be people who cant win one).

The point that I am trying to get across is that I BELIEVE that it is no more difficult now to win a replica than it was 10 or 15 years ago. I also believe that all the mathematical evidence would suggest that there is little upward trend in the difficulty of winning a replica especially when offset against constant development of bikes (even the privateer ones) and circuit improvements/modifications.......

If the playing field is not level now then it hasn't been level for a very long time. The reason for recent outcry is the relative fame of the people doing the winning, despite the fact that they probably aren't any better than any of the top classic riders of the last 15years! Let's not forget that Bob Heath was a factory rider and a world class international rider, even the likes of my dad had raced with and beat riders like Kork Ballington..........Is Ryan Farquar any faster than Alan Oversby?? (I dont think so). I've even watched Bob Heath (Seeley G50) beat Lougher, Palmer and Griffiths (Kit 125 Hondas) round Aberdare park on a couple occasions.........

I do however think that it could be argued that true privateers are being put off by the percieved difficulty in competing against "professional riders" while they were less put off by the threat of competing against "fast privateers" even though the reality is that there is little difference in actual speed. This is also difficult to argue as I am certain that most people who have been put off since 2005 are those who cant see the point of wasting money wobbling about at the back of club races to get a TT Cousre license.......I know of 2 such people who wont be at the manx this year for this very reason, despite having their entries accepted