Compared to what we used to have the practice time available isn't good and only leads to frustration and pressure with sessions inevitably lost to weather/open road incidents etc - this will only ever change when a "name" or big team isn't able to start the race because the machine isn't qualified. The walking on the course/closed road thing - Where's the published/advertised deterrent or convictions ?? - just read the 8 week sentence dished out so consider this comment retracted. The number of riders who bimble into corners at a speed you could walk round, bottle out, lob all the brakes on and make a wayward dangerous tit out of themselves is very noticeable as is many riders going for overtakes that simply hope there's not a similar vehicle doing the same coming in the opposite direction - they can't possibly ride like this the rest of the year as they wouldn't survive a month - I think the serious speed/drink offences have reduced since the bans and endorsements imposed are applicable to UK licences. The RTC's are more evident now because of the closures even for serious injuries - in the past we wouldn't have noticed as the debris would be swept up on open roads, rider taken to hospital and the bike dumped at the back of Dibble HQ. More vehicles on the road will by nature lead to more accidents - not sure what physically can be done about that or better managed - maybe we are having more accidents further around the course because the spread of fans accommodation is wider across the island now ?. I've met lots of new fans from all round the world recently but I've only ever had genuine enthusiasm conversations with them which can only be good. I suspect the uneducated bucket list people are probably on corporate tickets. The CoC managing of delays is better these days, there's little of the old sat in a misty field fannying around waiting for "A further announcement in an hour" malarkey. The parking/getting in and out of Nobles Park really really needs looking at with both entry/exit vehicles having to use the same narrow road - driving up and down the footpaths for access isn't really up to date for such a large event.
(This post was last modified: 08-06-2015, 04:39 PM by Alfie Noakes.)