I've stayed out of this thread so far, but watched it with interest. As an engineer by profession (no, not a mechanic or technician, a Chartered Engineer) I find the thought of electric bikes capable enough to do the TT course interesting, and an exciting prospect for the future (notwithstanding concerns over lithium supplies).

My comments to date:

1. I agree 100% with Peter Courtney about the Course Licence, and speak as someone who it personally affects. Recent club race experience is largely irrelevant as you could spend 6 races wobbling round the chicanes at Mallory. You'd learn more doing 6 trackdays at different circuits but the ACU don't make money on the entries to those. Riders already need national or international licences and before the Course Licence had to provide proof of recency on the entry form, one qualification for some riders being many top-ten IoM positions in past years despite no short circuits done! It's expensive and irrelevant, does nothing for safety even if it is a sop to the insurers. However this isn't really the thread for discussing this, it's all been said before. If TTXGP riders can get away without needing a course licence but fulfilling the requirements for a current national or international racing licence then good luck to them.

2. I can't believe the negativity being shown by some on here, to the event and to Alison who tried to explain what they were trying to do. Yes, it's untried technology and there is a fairly small initial takeup. What else would you expect? The first riders in 1907 would have been pretty unsure if they were going to make it full race distance or achieve any remarkable speeds. Let's try and remember it's the TOURIST Trophy and was initially run to prove fuel economy. I can understand what Alison said that the major stage provided by the TT was essential to create sufficient interest from the teams, and it's a stage on which they will stand or fall. I don't think they need people setting them up to fail before they've even seen one of the machines.

3. Loud pipes do not save lives and these, as silent bikes, will be no more or less dangerous to pedestrians than IC-engined ones. Early problems with electric cells will be gradually overcome, as they were with early IC engines.

4. The growing reaction from "Islanders" to the practice times is the most worrying thing to me. I say "Islanders" because I can't help but suspect many of those whingeing about not being able to get little Tarquin to the childminders on time may be come-overs. The Manx folk used to have the TT in their blood and while I can understand a degree of frustration about traffic congestion the extend of moaning is ludicrous and speaks of the financial industries having replaced the racing not only in the Island's pockets, but in its soul. Which is a sad state of affairs. As some have suggested the answer to more practice time is morning practice but no doubt there would be an equal number of whingers opposed to that too. Only one reply to that sad stream of self-pity in the newspaper article made sense to me, and this is it:

"I have no problem with it and I live on the inside of the circuit, but work on the outside in Douglas. so I will probably go to the gym, or sit on the prom and read a book and enjoy a break from everything and if I need to get home I'll have a nice walk home, or I'll use my push bike. If you really need to get home on time, then why not come to work earlier so you can leave earlier or work through your lunch hour, I'm sure employers would understand, especially as they're in the same position. As for what happened last year during the Grand Prix – I would like to point out that the backlogs and traffic jams started at about 3:30 – 4:00ish, I know cause that's when Athol Street got gridlocked, which was well before the so called rush hour. If you don't want to be gridlocked take a holiday and stay at home, or get off the island for a week or two, plenty of options to choose from. People could also car share or use the bus and train (if its runs again this year), less cars on the road equals less chance of a grid lock. As for Phil's comment on CO2 emissions from cars stuck in traffic, ever heard of turning the engine off when you're not moving?? As for morning practices, well most of them were usually delayed or cancelled due to fog on the mountain circuit, hence why they were scrapped. I'm Manx, but sorry, stop you moaning, the amount of moaning going on about this, among other things is ridiculous, no wonder we get bad press. It's a world first, a record breaker, so instead of moaning we should be getting behind it this year, and then get better planning in place for the year after that and so on.
TIM K "