OK, so there are problems with the system being used for recording the race timings. This sort of thing has to be expected when taking into consideration the complexity of this unique event. What with the length of the course, the nature of the terrain, the number of timing points, plus the number of riders and the number of bikes each requiring an independent transponder to be fitted.

All of this at great expense not only to the riders themselves, but also to those who are trying to implement the usage of the recording system. However, one question does remain; was this system ever tested anywhere, simulating the above mentioned criteria for the TT ? I would think perhaps not.

However give the guys who are working with it, the time, and I am sure that the system will prove to be a fantastic advance on what has gone before. Anything that advances the event and brings it into line with other like events that use similar type systems, can only be good for the TT in every way.

I have read and have heard personally, many gripes about this years TT, particularly the manner in which the general public are made aware of official information relative to the event, particularly the posting of the racers finishing times and the race results.

Due to the above mentioned malfunctioning system advancement and the lack of the usually provided information being made available through time tested and proven methods, this year, so far, it has been fair to say that it has not been a success, as yet. Give it a chance, the new system may prove to be brilliant when the bugs are ironed out of it.

What I will say however, is that the discontinuation of the past proven methods for the release of official information into the public domain before any new system has been fully tested and proven appears to have been a mistake.

I do know that there are many people who in the past have applied and received Press Passes from the Press Office, who this year having applied in the usual manner have discovered upon arriving at the Press Office that their request has been denied, myself being one of them. This has not helped in permitting the interested public to know the practice/race results and finishes, and in fact is most likely the reason for there being a dire lack of information on the usual websites that you have visited during past TT's.

A.N.Other official was somewhat perplexed to discover that I had been denied a pass this year and when informed as to why (the reason given to me personally), he just shook his head in disbelief and stated that "Publicity of any sort (good that is) through any media has to be good for the TT".

Photographs of riders during practice and in the races, on various sites, has again been curtailed, again for what appears to be cut-backs in the issuance of Official Passes permitting those who have been able to provide the general public with action shots. Why ?

I am personally of the opinion that any manner of publicity for the TT, be it written reports, race results and/or photographs that appear on any genuine site with a TT interest, can only be good for the TT. However it appears that perhaps there are others who think differently.

I could go on here about what my involvement with this great sport is, (not as great or as lengthy as some), but others would most likely not be interested, so I shall decline to elaborate on that, however what I shall say is that this year, I think the organizers have gotten it wrong, concerning the release of information into the public domain.

I would just like to add that yes, I do feel somewhat miffed that I have been denied access to information which I have received in the past without hindrance. Information that I have previously been able to process in a manner which has proven to be timely, and has been delivered to the general public through this site.

Who knows, perhaps by way of this posting, I will never receive another Press Pass for the TT, only time will tell.