(14-08-2009, 11:09 PM)Manx Badger Wrote: [quote='an old man returns' pid='39928' dateline='1250250411']

Quote:1. Paton (up 10bhp this year I hear)
2. MV
3. Mountain Licence (circuit time for the classics)
4. Always last practice

Not necessarily in that order..........

Spot on - although it is sad to admit. In respect of being last in practice, until quite recently it never used to be that way (as I'm sure most of us are aware.) I suspect that oil spillage scares are to blame for relegating the classics to the graveyard slot.

I think you have only got one of the two big reasons.
If you look back through the programs the two big drops in entries came after they allowed the CB Honda’s back in and when they introduced the course license. Since then the numbers have been in steady decline.

The other problem is there is no one new coming in to classic racing. Unless there is major change in the way they run at the short circuit meetings I can’t see many new people coming in.

What’s worse is there are two names definitely off the list due to injury and 3-4 others who are injured and may not recover in time.