I think it's an accepted fact amongst classic race fans that a lot of what's on the grid will be modern recreations (Molnar Manx - Paton etc) that are faithful (key word there...) to the original.

The 'XR69' could just as easily be recreated using an air-cooled engine that would make it a faithful replica that didn't get anyone's back up.  MD would (probably) still have won the first F1 Classic TT and you wouldn't have had the backlash that there was on the old forum about the nature of the bike.

I don't think the gentlemen of the DED really understand their market when it comes to the classics.  Figures would suggest that the re-branded MGP is increasing it's visitor numbers by approx 10% per annum but it was doing that anyway before they got involved!  I genuinely believe that the market for this event are less concerned with 'star names' but more interested in seeing the bikes that were racing 30-40 years ago.

By allowing bikes like this ersatz 'XR69', which will presumably continue to dominate, where's the incentive for people to spend time and money getting things like P&M, Harris or Egli Kawa/Suz/Yam race ready and particularly crowd pleasers like TZ750, RG500, RS500 when they haven't a hope in hell of being competitive.

They have a potential jewel of a meeting (and I very much include the Manx GP in that) but I'm really not convinced they're going to get it right.  As ever I'll happily stand corrected if they do!