End of the mgp or a good "idea" revamp

from another site--good idea or the end of mgp



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I heard about this a little while ago and it seems like it's pretty much a fait accompli, the MMCC will not be involved and it will be an ACU run 10 day meeting for classics only. Guess it's OK to discuss now MCN have broken the news.

I see this having pros and cons. The classic scene is pretty popular now and mainland meetings are well attended. The post classic side has rejuvenated it too. Also a lot of the spectators who go over year after year for the Manx like the classics. For the riders it could be attractive to do a 10 day meeting with consequent less drain on finances and holidays, and easier to get marshals too (used to be a bit scarce in practice week when they had to come over out of their own pockets for 2 weeks). Also the classic wouldn't have to wait untli last session for evening practices and fading light/weather just so some modern throttle jockey didn't come across a classic on a straight at 60mph less (then hold him up though the corners)

Against that is a big kick in the teeth for the modern classes as they will in probability now have no way to race on the TT course without entering the TT. The Manx always used to be seen as a training ground for the TT, indeed it even has a Newcomers race so people won't be exposed to the full heat of competition in their first race. Even if they introduce a Newcomers race in the TT they will still have people trying to qualify for any other races they're entered in against the likes of McG, hardly conducive to safety for people on their first or second visit over on a very long and demanding course.

You might think for a island with a population of 80,000 that the income of £5,900,000 might be quite a good thing, but the view of the islanders is changing. More now work in financial services than tourism and their view of the races is less about excitement and income and more about traffic holdups at commuting time. And sadly those FS wallahs have the ear of the government who seem to be bowing to their continued bitching. My guess is they'll let the new format run for a couple of years and see if it does make a better contribution in £ per days disruption but if not they'll let it go claming the riders and public didn't support it. In the meantime there will be no reduction in entry fees (currently £330 per race) and no discounts or prize money to help with costs.

While the changes will favour the classic boys time will tell whether the continuing rising costs will deter people from further supporting the event, and whether the loss of the modern classes will deter spectators. I hate to sound like the prophet of doom all the time but when the ACU get involved there tends to be ulterior motives and it all goes to ratshit. Ah well, fingers crossed.

The official line.

The Future - The official Manx Grand Prix Festival website

So the modern classes are not gone entirely but cut back to 2 races, 600cc supersport and 650 twins. Wonder if the modern boys will still come as they'd got used to riding Junior and Senior on 600s and this cuts the races they can do to one unless they want to buy a second bike. Practice times are 6 evenings which isn't too bad but race days are now afternoon/evening which will make sun dazzle a problem at the end of the day.

The boys on Facebook seem to think it's the end of the world, it's certainly a change, probably not done for the right reasons but not necessarily all negative. I'll be interested to see how it goes.

Originally Posted by Tomcat

The official line.

The Future - The official Manx Grand Prix Festival website

So the modern classes are not gone entirely but cut back to 2 races, 600cc supersport and 650 twins. Wonder if the modern boys will still come as they'd got used to riding Junior and Senior on 600s and this cuts the races they can do to one unless they want to buy a second bike. Practice times are 6 evenings which isn't too bad but race days are now afternoon/evening which will make sun dazzle a problem at the end of the day.

The boys on Facebook seem to think it's the end of the world, it's certainly a change, probably not done for the right reasons but not necessarily all negative. I'll be interested to see how it goes.

Do you know what they mean by the term "clubman tt" what level of rider is that aimed at?

Probably National licence level which is the current level of the MGP. TT is International however I think you can get a one event licence. 2ptjoe might know better, he did the TT.

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Lattest press release following on from a meeting last night which has made a few tweeks


Department of Economic Development releases further details of proposed Manx Grand Prix Festival race programme - Isle of Man Public Services -

Originally Posted by Tomcat

Probably National licence level which is the current level of the MGP. TT is International however I think you can get a one event licence. 2ptjoe might know better, he did the TT.

I got a ' one off ' international licence when i did the TT. I think thats what about 50 % did back then ( 5 years ago ) Now i'd say it's more international riders full time as things have moved on . And i tell you they needed to. It was turn up and qualify . I think it was only 110 laps to ok you for the senior .Now it's around 117 i think .

My thoughts for what it's worth are concern.
When i did it i put in for riding in the the TT F1 race and the Senior race. I was on my Aprilia and i was looking at lapping at speeds a fair bit slower during the race than the top lads. . These fast lads were doing around 128 i think and with my low start number i was concerned enough to be worried about getting blitzed by the fast lads by around lap 4 . Put on top of that it was a 6 lap race i decided to pull my Senior entry. I'd done 4 laps at the manx and another 2 at a faster lap was going to be too much for my fat , lazy unfit arse.
What am i getting at ?
The more track time you get over there the safer you become
The ACU in their wisdom took the step of introducing the TT course license on the grounds that you needed to prove you could ride a bike properly and you didn't do just the one meeting a year You needed to prove your up keep of your racing skills. So now what have we got ? A reduction of your course track time and a loss of the main feeder class , The Senior.

Hang on Mr ACU , your just going against what the course licence is about and that was introduced to keep your precious TT alive .......

Riders are now restricted to 600's or 650's and then it's TT time . Yea , fine they have those classes at the TT but the same applies in that the fast riders will be doing near 128/129 laps on 600's against 120 in the manx.

The Manx was always a laid back TT.
The fun between riders was better than the racing for me and it saddens me that this will soon be at an end. The ' Clangers' got a rough ride with late sessions and it's about time they got a better event and i suppose it has to be at someones expense and they need to do what ever they can to keep the event alive as it has given me and many many others experiences that you cant get any where else. The good news i suppose is it wont be long before the first 750 GSXR is good to go over there and i can get my gear out again.