As someone who has competed in the MGP many times between 1986 and 2010 - in recent years in the classics - I have mixed feelings about this.

1. "Back in the day" when the classics were first brought into the MGP programme it was popular for riders to do practice week then the one race on the Saturday and head off home - less cost, less time out of annual holidays. So to a certain extent the proposed new format may find favour with some of the classic folk who have become accustomed to being the poor relations of the paddock. In fact riders of the modern classes could also benefit to a degree from a shorter meeting and consequent cost/holiday savings.

2. One of the big problems in practice week has always been availability of marshals, the selfless boys and girls who stand out in all weathers and keep us safe, using their own holiday time and their own money while receiving few thanks for their efforts and personal risk. Running the races over a week and a bit could also help them with the money/holiday cost and make it easier to fulfill the obligations for minimum numbers of marshals on course at all times.

3. The MGP has already developed quite a large 'classic following' among spectators and it is worth noting in many cases classic bike enthusiasts are relatively wealthy and willing to spend money on a holiday on the IoM. Developing this source of spectators can only be good for the economic wellbeing of the Island, though it should not be done at the expense of losing out on all the younger types who enjoy seeing the modern machines.

Before too many folk start getting hot under the collar, there are negative points too.

4. The 2-day trial has always been a good one to watch, and the 'festival' events more recently staged for the non-race days also generally entertaining, giving an incentive for spectators to come for a larger experience than just the bike racing. This would be lost, along with the related spectator appeal.

5. I don't see limiting modern classes to 600cc as any sort of advantage. Is this proposed as a safety feature? Because from my own recollection very few accidents have been a direct result of engine power, and the consequences of an accident at 160mph and 180mph are not very different. Disallowing the bigger bikes will make the whole event less attractive to riders of modern machines as many used to ride their 600s in the Senior class with good effect, and would now be faced with the whole of the expense of attending the meeting for only one ride.

6. I question the wisdom of allowing any rider to enter the TT and having to qualify against the likes of McG without first having served an apprenticeship in the less extreme environment of the Manx. This is surely a recipe for disaster.

7. Nothing has been done about some of the biggest reasons for lack of rider nvolvement - the cost. Entry fees continue to rise, as do ferry prices, and it can cost £1500 before turning a wheel. Add on the costs of the Course Licence whose benefits on safety have always been unproven and riders who know the course like the back of their hands can be faced with costs of another £1000 just to get a licence.

8. I am disappointed with the lack of take-up of the 750 Classic event, having supported it myself in its first year (before finances forced me into retirement), but I believe it still has a place, along with the traditional Senior, Junior and Lightweight classes, and of course the Post Classic which is booming on the mainland. It has been suggested that the graceful (or not so graceful!) ageing of riders in these classes is the reason for their reduction, and while this is A factor it is certainly not THE only factor, as the continued popularity of classics and post classics on the mainland proves. I suggest cost is a far bigger factor, including the cost of gaining the course licence for riders who might only otherwise race a few times a year (or riders who don't easily have access to UK short circuit meetings). It should be noted that amalgamating classic races would have the same disincentivising effect on riders who currently enter 2 classes, as with modern bike riders.

9. As noted by other writers with a shortened programme and no gaps in the race calendar, any disruption due to weather could not be clawed back the following day and riders may find themselves having paid a lot of money for one race which was then cancelled. Furthermore practice has already been severely cut back over the years with the cessation of morning practice and the long Thursday afternoon session. It can already be hard to qualify if faced with sessions cancelled for bad weather and mechanical issues at other times. This puts more pressure on riders which is an inevitable safety concern if they are pressured into pushing before they or the bikes are ready, as well as being a source of disappointment for any who fail to qualify through no fault of their own. Such let-downs would surely dissuade riders from entering again.

In summary then, I feel the proposals are not all bad, but there are enough negative points to raise serious questions about implementing the proposals.

From a rider's perspective and more recently a spectator's, the organisers have made a lot of positive moves in recent years to improve the event, both interms of its organisation, the paddock facilities and the programme of entertainents that run alongside the racing. With more development and more active selling of the "Festival" I am sure more spectators could be brought over, and with attention to the cost many more riders could be brought in or brought back. In my view the duration and format is now about right, and running a reduced event runs the risk that both riders and spectators will be deterred from coming over. Should the MGP enter a death spiral all the costs for preparing the course for racing will fall on the TT, a far greater money-spinner for the Island, and a great tradition and visitor attraction will be in danger of being lost also.