Hi Eric

In response to your question who is right? I'm not sure, I think Martin is right to a degree, whereas things are now, with the think tank and debates going off, going in the right direction, but as we see from Paul Bird's reaction, they are too little far too late.
There is a big debate going on about the state of the TT elsewhere on the web, and it seems that the same points are being brought up by all interviewed, myself included, that is the way in which both big teams and ordinary racers are (mis) treated by the ACU, ripped off by the Steam Packet, and confused by rules at scrutineering changing at random usually towards the end of practice. PLEASE NOTE THIS IS NOT A DIG AT THE SCRUTS BUT THE RULES THEY ARE TOLD TO ENFORCE :-)!!!!
Also the way in which Marshals and Scrutineers are taken for granted by the organisers, and of course the way in which spectators are ripped off and now not even allowed into the paddock. The list is endless but the points are all the same from a wide range of people.
I think it's a terrible shame that Paul Bird has said he will not return, and I think the ACU should eat a bit of humble pie and try to attract him back, not just with money but with a bit of common decency and respect!!!! Without the big teams there are no spectators and without them it doesn't matter how many riders, scrutineers, marshals or ACU FRELOADERS turn up, there will be NO TT, cos the TT is about money.
Sorry about rabbling on a bit.
Russ