Commentator’s notes

I’m well under way with my preparation for the TT commentaries. These are some of the snippets that have caught my eye: Stefano Bonetti has won a bronze replica in each of his last nine races. He had his best-ever finish, 14th, in last year’s SBK TT and swaps the BMW from last year for the Kawasaki ZX10 this time, the first time he’s ridden Kawasakis at the TT. After BMW won its first WSB race today with Marco Melandri, I’ll be keeping a close eye on how Rico Penskofer and other BMW-mounted riders perform on the Mountain Course. After two podium finishes at the MGP Ivan Lintin stepped up to the TT last year and posted a very creditable 17th in the Supersport. This time he goes in the Supersport races again and the Lightweight, all on Kawasaki machinery. Australian Dave Johnson was best newcomer in all five races in 2010. He missed the TT last year but is back this time, concentrating on the three big-bike races. The first American to record a 120mph lap Thomas Montano has entered for his first TT since 2009. Dan Sayle will line up as a solo rider in four races – Superstock, Lightweight and both Supersports – with seven TT wins already under his belt, all as a sidecar passenger, plus two solo wins in the MGP. Newcomers include Adam ‘Chad’ Child, better known as one of Motorcycle News’s bike testers – I’ve heard of journalists getting close to the story, but this is ridiculous!

MGP winner in hospital

I was very shocked last night to hear that 1976 MGP Senior winner Les Trotter is in hospital in Blackpool awaiting a quadruple heart bypass. I was with Les a month ago when he came to the starting point of the Cumbria Way in Ulverston to see me off on my 72-mile charity walk to Carlisle. He was in top form and looking forward to riding in the pre-TT Classic at Billown again this year. I spoke to him on the phone this morning and he sounded in good spirits although the whole thing has shocked him as much as anyone. My best wishes to Les and his wife D’reen who were both so supportive of my efforts last month. I am really sorry they are having to cope with this but I wouldn’t bet against Les being on the starting grid outside the best commentary position in the world in 2013.

MGP: do the Govt’s sums add up?

It’s a good job I will never be placed in charge of anyone’s finances apart from my own piggy bank. I can’t quite get my head around the maths involved in the DED’s proposals for the Manx Grand Prix, so whatever it is I’m missing, please someone let me know.

The rationale for the change put forward by the Department includes the statement that the IOM Govt loses £369,000 a year promoting the MGP, and that these losses are unsustainable. The figure has cropped up in interviews and is mentioned in the Dept’s list of Frequently Asked Questions which I found posted on Realroadracing.com. In the FAQs it is stated that the stats are based on the Economic Survey carried out in 2009.

I have a summary of that report so I dug it out and it states that:     The first survey has revealed that this year’s Manx Grand Prix attracted 8,915 visitors to the Isle of Man in 2009 of which the majority, 8,055, travelled by sea. Each visitor spent around £551 during their visit, which lasted an average of 7.3 days, making an overall contribution of £4.9 million to the Island’s economy (and contributing income of approximately £800,000 to Isle of Man Government). 

So, for an investment of £369,000, the IOM Govt secured a profit of £431,000 for itself and ploughed £4.9 million into the bank accounts of the hoteliers, publicans, restauranters, chip shops, taxi drivers, merchandise vendors, and everyone else who enjoys the spin-offs. That doesn’t seem a bad deal to me and I don’t quite understand how the DED can say the MGP is causing them to lose money when their own survey tells a different tale.

It’s possible that research carried out more recently produced different results from 2009 but the DED’s case, as published on realroadracing.com, clearly cites the 2009 research as its primary source. So, regardless of all the other pressures on the MGP, is this financial factor one which carries genuine weight, or is the DED jeopardising £800,000 in income to the Govt and nearly £5 million in takings to the rest of the island?

 

TTSC answers a question

The Summer edition of the TT Supporters Club magazine has arrived and thanks to Graham Bean and his team for answering a question that’s been bugging me ever since the new arrangements were announced regarding start numbers. Now that the riders from 20 onwards will start in order of practice times, and not in numerical order, how and when will I as the commentator know the order that they’ll come to the grid? Preparation is everything and I always prefer to have as much advance warning as possible. The answer comes from a wide-ranging and honest interview with Paul Phillips, the island’s TT & Motorsport Manager. “The order in which the riders start will be published online at the end of qualifying. We won’t be charging for this information. We will look to get it to the campsites etc also, to ensure everyone who does want it can get it easily enough.”

This is fine and it means I ought to have a full day to get myself organised with the exception of the first day’s racing which starts only a few hours after Friday evening practice – and Paul didn’t say how long after qualifying ends it will take to upload the data. I am increasing my order for midnight oil. But for the fans, not everyone has online access and many who do – especially with mobile devices – won’t always be able to get online because of problems accessing the various networks.  The changes make obvious sense in racing terms but it’ll be harder for the spectators to work out what’s going on after rider 20. All the more reason to keep it pinned to Manx Radio TT. With a fair wind we’ll be able to keep you in the picture.

UPDATE 7/5/12: Further reading of the TTSC mag reveals more info on this. The start positions will be finalised after the Friday of practice week and they’ll stay that way for the whole of race week. Times recorded in the practices on the Monday and Wednesday of race week won’t affect a rider’s starting position. Anyone who achieves a qualifying time on the Monday or Wednesday will start at the back of the grid.

I can’t celebrate MGP changes

I guess most of us have mixed feelings about the IOM Govt’s plans to reform the Manx Grand Prix. Plans announced today after a review which began in November mean that the event will be shorter by four days and we’ll lose the Newcomers races, the 250 Classic, the 400cc race and the Senior MGP. I’ve discussed the Senior on the blog in the past, wondering how relevant it is in its present format when many riders are going faster on 600cc machines than others on 750s. I felt that something had to be done about the Senior although abolishing it wasn’t on my agenda.  I can understand the IOM Govt’s arguments about trying a different way to promote the event and reducing the disruption to island life, but I can’t celebrate the loss of so much motorbike action. In my view the MGP has grown immeasurably in the last three years or so and I love the extension of the racing programme to give us Newcomers races on the Saturday at the end of practice week. The new set-up means we won’t see anyone emulating Dan Kneen with his incredible hat-trick of wins and the 400cc class that gave us the first win by a woman rider in Carolynn Sells. The particular talent that it takes to prepare and race a 250 machine over the Mountain Course is being pensioned off – 250 experts like Ewan Hamilton, Bud and Tom Jackson and Peter Wakefield will feel disenfranchised, or maybe that should read disembowelled. Unless anyone can do it this year, Andy Brady will be the last to do the Junior/Senior double and what a heart-warming story that was last year. And it’s going to be that bit harder for riders in future to join the Tommy Club, that exclusive set-up for riders who lap at 120mph in the MGP in memory of the late Tommy Clucas.

This is the new Proposed Event Schedule

Saturday

Morning: – Classic Trial;         Afternoon: – Classic Trial; Evening:- Practice

Sunday       Morning: – Classic Trial;       Afternoon: – Classic Trial

Monday         Evening: – Practice

Tuesday         Evening: – Practice

Wednesday         Evening: – Practice

Thursday         Evening: – Practice

Friday       Afternoon: – Practice;       Evening: – Lightweight Clubman’s TT

Saturday         Afternoon: – 350cc Classic Race;         Evening: – Clubman’s Supersport TT

Sunday         Afternoon: – Festival of Jurby;         Evening: – Festival of Jurby

Monday       Afternoon: – 500cc Classic Race;       Evening: – Classic Superbike Race

Radio TT 12 months of the year!

Manx Radio today announced the creation of a new website manxradio365.com which will provide non-stop TT-themed content. Listen to the promo here: TT365promo The site will use loads of material from Manx Radio’s archives including race commentaries, interviews and features stretching back over the last four decades. Scarey thought but you’ll be able to access me, Roy, Dave, Kinley, Glover, and Charlie Williams twenty-four seven. Even our nearest and dearest don’t fancy that. And of course there’ll be lots of great atmosphere and nostalgia from Peter, Geoff, Maurice and the Radio TT giants of the past. It won’t all be recycled audio – there’ll be a live show every Saturday night with the latest news and gossip on matters TT all year round. And come the end of May, that’s where you’ll find this year’s live Radio TT. Should be great!

It’s starting to get tasty

It’s been quiet on the blog lately but things are getting really tasty now. The riders are all back on the track, getting back into the swing of things and familiar names are catching the eye – Ryan Farquhar with five wins in the Ian Watson meeting at Scarborough at the weekend, Steve Mercer winning the main event at the same meeting, Michael Rutter getting on the BSB podium at Brands Hatch and Cameron Donald coming off at 150mph (rider ok) in the World Endurance round at Magny Cours. Fantastic to see Simon Andrews racing in the same Honda TT Legends team as Cam after a long and painful recovery from the broken leg he suffered at Snetterton last July – all the gory details have been posted by Simon on Twitter @Si_Andrews17. Everywhere I look there are stories developing and I can’t wait for it all to come together at the TT in a few weeks time.

All the top riders are on the island at the moment, ready for the TT Media Launch at the Villa Marina tomorrow evening. I won’t be there unfortunately but will follow the proceedings from home in Liverpool. I can tell you there is a very exciting initiative to be announced by Manx Radio, so listen online via this link for that plus the rest of the news and gossip.

Bob Mac plaque

Meanwhile the plaque marking Bob McIntyre’s 99.58mph lap on his 250cc Honda in 1961 has been created and will be unveiled at the Sulby Glen Hotel during practice week – well done Ian Huntly for coming up with the idea and piloting the whole scheme through to fruition.