Manx GP fallout begins – but Anstey could still ride…

Nobody expected the announcement by the IoM Department for Enterprise squeezing the Manx GP into nine days and abandoning the Classic TT to be greeted with applause.

More likely surprise, and for many relief, as it followed a long period of prickly negotiation with the Manx MCC in that they should accept changes had to be made in order to safeguard the future of an event in it’s 99th year And, more importantly, the sustainability and future growth of the island’s biggest tourist attraction, the TT.

While those of a more realistic view recognised that the government held all the cards and that compromise was preferable to somewhat darker prospects the changes were accepted. But there were casualties.

The non-appearance of Manx MCC Chairman Peter Maddocks and former Chairman Harvey Garton at it’s annual meeting was no surprise as they had both resigned following accusations that they had been collaborating too closely with officers of the Department and ACU Events.

What was surprising was the firing of a senior marshall for expressing his opinion on the changes. Chief sector marshall Mike Brown used Facebook to say he was ‘disgusted’ at the speed of the change - “With competitors already having bikes built, marshals and visitors having held over their accommodation and ferry bookings due to Covid such major changes should have been held over until next year.”

According to the Isle of Man Examiner, Clerk of the Course Gary Thompson informed Mr Brown that as a senior official within the TT Marshals Association and therefore part of the race organisation his comments were not appropriate and his services were no longer required. Interesting in that the new MCC Chairman John McBride and his deputy Jim Hunter are both