Having grown up there I can see both points of view. It really is terrible the amount of top riders that have died on the course, along with non racing fatalities in the festival.
The thing I think though, is no-one is putting guns to these guys heads, if they are not willing to ride thats fine, its clear that the top riders here can succeed at the top level in circuit racing, a certain Carl Fogarty and Steve Hislop will confirm that, with their respective superbike triumphs. McGuiness is in their league for sure, as would other guys like Guy Martin, Cameron Donald etc etc. They all go into the race with their eyes open is what I am saying. It is tragic I know and we have lost some of the top guys, I still remember the shock of hearing Phil Mellor had died in the Senior Race. The weather that day was shocking, I ride bikes and I would have got the bus to work that day if I had to ride in that weather. Then there was the Manx Rider Phil Hogg, his crash was just from his bike seizing up. Then as you mention Dave Jeffries. I have been away from the Island a few years and the shock when I heard about him was awful, there are riders sinonimous with the TT, Joey(and Robert), Fogarty, Hislop, Hailwood, Agostini, McGuiness and undoubtedly Jeffries.
You have to understand the Isle of Mans point of view in keeping it going. Without it the island would lose a major slice of their income, it would cripple a lot of businesses there, if it just disapeared.
I think it is what it is, and anyone racing goes into it knowing the truth, but the race is special, the tradition of over 100 years of racing, the courage shown by the riders, which I think is the biggest draw of the race. Most of the guys riding are guys that have day to day jobs, but they are warriors almost when they are competing in the TT, they are to me at least, I dont know how big the prize money is these days, but it deserves to be a very substantial amount. Then on top of the racing you have everything else that goes on in the 2 weeks. Last year seems to have been a down year entertainment wise, but usually it is heaving with outside events, mototrcycle collectors rallies, outside motorbike racing(Beach, Trials, Off Road racing). For mention on its own the Ramsey Sprint is a great day with all sorts of crazy bikes entered into the drag race.
Geoff I agree a spectacle of the highest order!!!
tewker
