thewitch Wrote:Oh... just a late thought... sorry, guys, but the 250 list is a waste of time... this has been gone through before, and many of those guys have said they would not do the TT on the Mountain course... by the way, at least 2 have retired, or announced their impending retirement. Nobody would like to see them back more than me, but it isn't going to happen, because they won't enter. They have given their reasons, the main one being that the bikes simply don't last the course.

I disagree. The list was put together as a guide as to the number of riders who ride 2 strokes today in Britain. 95% of that list features competitors who have raced a 2 stroke in the last 12 months. The bikes are there as are the riders.

I note your point about retirements etc etc but as the high numbers indicate, it isn't going to cause a problem. As I stated, even with an over contingent chop in half, a field of 77 would still be larger than any field starting a TT race this year. There is a huge untapped resource in riders who race on the continent. The TT has full time employees who could quite easily attract a strong field including many continental newcomers. Plenty of time and plenty of resource. Your argument is not very strong.

The idea that riders are saying they wont race a 2 stroke at the TT becuase of a high rate of attrition is incorrect. I would like to see some backup to that comment, name names? I've not spoken to anyone who has said that before. If that is a sole reason why riders would not compete, classic racing at the Manx would never be so strong.

Good 2 stroke racing takes place at every road race in Britain except the TT. Unfortunately, the attitude of 'can't' and 'never' appears to be leaving the stalwart road race fans somewhat unhappy.

Finally, I wasn't impressed by the 2 stroke races at Billown. Yes the first half of the 250cc was good but it was not TT racing, nowhere near.