• March 19, 2024
  • Last Update March 17, 2024 9:49 pm
  • Beverley

Opinion pieces

Manx GP’s Fresh New Look

Reducing an event as historic, prestigious, world-famous as the Manx Grand Prix to nine days from fourteen days, was always going to attract differing opinions.

First and foremost, here’s a previously stated viewpoint from Nigel Rea, who was participating in his final Manx GP tenure:

“Practice has pretty much been the same as it’s always has been, it’s such an effort now to come and normally I’d have two races on the 600, I’d have two races on the Super Twin and one race on the classic, so I’d have five races.

I’m paying the same money and now were only getting three, so there is that side of it.

I don’t know what happened with the powers that be and these changes that were agreed or disagreed, we are where we are, at least we still have the event.

Which is why we are here supporting it, the people running the Manx are absolutely great people, everybody in the office, the scrutineers, the marshals.

It’s just a fantastic event, although I said it would be my last, I’m just really pleased to be here supporting the event.”

Thinking back, my initial reaction when the changes to the MGP schedule were first announced, was lets wait and see what transpires.

From my own perspective, I had an extremely productive time on Manx shores, conducting interviews a plenty, catching up with amiable great people, enjoying an ice cream or two!

The racing was top draw but my first thoughts post the RST Classic Superbike race was, oh this is it, race week has ended already.

It felt like we’d just entered the prime zone of the event and then that’s the conclusion.

Everyone’s experience is different, racers, teams, marshals, photographers and I’m sure there will be various individuals, depending upon their situation that feel the changes made are spot on, helpful to improving one of real road racing’s most loved meetings.

The Manx GP is unique in it’s nature and I hope this vibe transcends post the upcoming TV coverage, as we’ve already witnessed via the excellent daily round up series on You Tube.

Here’s to celebrating it’s 100th Anniversary, long may it continue to inspire, thrill, excite, nurture future Mountain Course superstars.

Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou