cargo Wrote:At the end of the day a successful Manx Classic race is one when it's a good exciting race with lots of people watching...........if it takes a few TT names and an exotic bike or two to achieve that then so be it.

If we get a crappy race and nobody watching then we all lose.

You're right, at least partly, but remember the classic classes aren't exactly overflowing with riders just now. My opinion is the increasing difficulty of getting a 'rep' against the big-budget TT stars discourages "holiday racers" (remember the derogatory term the lovely ACU came up with?) from entering. Your views may differ cargo, but I speak as one who did the classic events for some years and knows plenty more who think the same as me.

I would also argue with the POV that a full field of classic Holiday Racers equals a crappy race. Many spectators come over to see the classics and if you drop to a handful of TT stars followed at some distance by a handful of folk who never had a prayer of a rep anyway, I can't see that holding too many people's interest.

I take Carolynn's point and I was well aware of the grumblings about Bob's bike (I was in the paddock too!), but that's what happens when you get someone hugely talented and I don't believe the bike was as special as the bad losers made out