I know I am going to get slated for this, but what the heck, has never put me off before.

I think the licence is really a good thing. I think it has done its job as well. I think that the licence was brought in to stop what they called 'holiday racers'. I personnaly believe there is no such thing. But what the licence does do is that it makes sure that those people riding around the TT course are regular riders. This for me, and which is the major point, is a safety issue.

If you have, say me for instance, and I ride three times a year and one of those times is the TT, the other two are just club days, well after a while I will loose the skills needed to race a TT bike, with the current increase in speeds, now upto and over 200mph. I don't think anyone out there could really disagree with that. Just think about your last lay off and then remember how hard it was to get back upto speed. OK yes I can conceed that the people this licence is aimed at will not be doing anywhere near 200mph, but I still think that it is a risk that could be negated, and has been done by the use of the TT course licence.

Let me put it another way. I race three times a year as normal, come to the TT with a new bike, yes I have re motgaged my house and got a brand new machine. Spent the past 6 months getting it together up to spec. Go out and kill myself at the bottom of Bray Hill. A news paper picks up on my tragic accident, and starts to look into my past histrory of racing to put something together. They then realise that I have only raced three times in the last year and have done that for the last 3 years.

So what do you think they would concentrate on? Would it be

a) My racing history and put together a tribute
b) Pick up that I haven't raced alot and blamed me for killing myself and leaving my family with huge debts.
c) Pick up on the fact I have only raced 6 times in the last three years, got some dodgy bloke to ask why allow someone with that lack of experience out there in the first place on the most dangerous course in the world (you know they will put that or Island of Death). The Organisers are then asked why did they not perform 'Duty of Care'. The family bring a case against the TT organisers to cover the Morgage I have taken out.
d) All of the above

So you see I think it is a safety issue and also its a way that the organisers can state that they have performed a duty of care.

So does that help? This is only my thoughts on it and I have no idea whether its right. But can see how it helps protect the future of the TT and its reputation as the best motorcycle race in the world. Yes I do know that I could still go down Bray and this could all still happen, but at least I would have the experiance on the bike to back up my entry.


Now let the slating begin .........