Tomcat Wrote:Steve Linsdell said a little while ago, in a very frank and open interview, that he regarded budget as just one tool for winning a race and the likes of buying a Paton was an option open to anyone with the money - if they didn't like it, well, tough, that was racing. My view is that may work in professional racing, BSB or TT and so forth, but the Manx isn't the place for it. This is the event where there is no prize money and riders foot all the bills themselves. It's an amateurs event and I believe rewarding the pros to the detriment of the true amateurs will result in more of them (us) abandoning the event, which is already short of entries.

I would like to point out that my dad is not, by any sense of the word a 'professional' rider - and nor is a factory supported TT rider who is 'pot hunting' at the Manx as some people seem to think.

He has simply proved himself at both Manx and TT with years of good results on privately entered machines - and that means that he has earned his ride on the Paton. He is not paid to ride it, he simply loves classic bikes and the Isle of Man. My parents cover the expenses of transport, entries and looking after the bikes out of their own hard earned cash - whilst also supporting both myself and my brother with our racing.

If you remember my dad started on vintage and classic machinery - becoming vintage club champion numerous times on home built Royal Enfields in the 70's. He in fact made his Isle of Man debut in 1981 on (the home built) Seeley Enfield 500 that I ride today. He came second in the newcomers. If you want the best machinery you (either have to be very rich!) or have to have earned it. This is the same in any sport, at any level and there is no reason that the Manx should be any different.

You should not ride the island to get a replica, you should ride to stretch yourself and make yourself good enough to get that replica. My dad, along with the majority of the other top runners, earned their rides from years of supporting road racing all over. The Manx is not an amateur event. It is amateur and classic. There is no corresponding race at the TT and every rider and machine entered is within the rules that applies to all in that race. Do you think if all the top runners dropped out, loads more riders would come crawling out of the woodwork? I don't, and if they did they aren't the people who should be riding the island. This would detract from the event and the spectacle.

My dad has always said that everyone is there to be beaten - the bigger they are, the sweeter the victory. Sorry this is so long, but I felt it needed saying.

David Linsdell