The worst decisions made have in my opinion been the scrapping of the two strokes.  They will never return and partly due to this action I still doubt the event will survive more than a few years.  The blatant lies or should that be large scale statistics manipulation  spouted by the Steam Packet company and tourist board with reference to record numbers of visitors, when anyone who came in the heady days of the 70's and early 80's  knows that compared to those days, the event is treading water.  My own life is steeped in motorcycle racing and believe me I would rather my day's ended well before the TT,   This year can lay the foundations for a long future or it can spell the imminent demise of the  greatest challenge in motorcycle sport.

       Lets then prepare ourselves for the Big One Possibly the greatest motorcycle sport event on the planet ever. But wait, is it not the same as last year with the addition of an extra parade lap and a few   " media luvvie " back slapping events. That is not what the sport wants, it's a total waste of money. Money which it appears is being channelled into a small group of people who have recently become involved in the presentation of the event.    The money gathered in for the running of the event should be spread out across the board in a more balanced way in order to assist more riders with the ever increasing costs of taking part in what is a very important event for the sport in general.  The TT is NOT about media personalities,  it's about each and every rider who pit themselves and their machines against the mountain course and the Trade companies who genuinely and generously support riders from the John McGuinness's to the Frank Spenner's of this world.

        So before this years much vaunted event even begins, there is a short list of disappointments and a point of relief.  The disappointments being the absence of Cameron Donald, tipped by people who actually know what they are talking about as opposed to forum pundits who spew forth varying amounts of crap from their anal cavities as a safe bet for a couple of TT wins and Raymond Porter who had nothing to proove at all and who has in a relatively short career achieved more than many riders do over a lifetime of trying.   The relief that Ryan Rainey has decided not to compete mixed with the an equal measure of sadness that he too has called it a day and finally the recent loss of another experienced rider. John Donnan, who's passing will no doubt have a big effect on the sport, especially  as he was phasing out his competitive riding and taking more of a managerial role, looking after Wayne Kirwan and Shane Connor.

       Over the next couple of weeks, I will be gathering the thoughts of a wide variety of people involved in the TT. From Riders, Sponsors, Trade representatives, marshals and spectators.  Lets see if the TT will continue to stand on those sturdy Manx Legs wherever they may  fall, or if amputation looks like being the kindest cut of all.