Mountain and MotoGp races? Now that would be a TT!
John Surtees Weblog - 10 June 2007
Last week I returned to an Isle of Man TT race for the first time since I had competed in a lap of honour in 1979 - the Tynwald Millennium year.
Despite an intensely busy programme, I did not think the opportunity to be present for the 100th anniversary of the TT was something that I should let pass. So, in order that I could take part in the Parade of Champions on Friday, 8 June, I arranged for a 1959 MV Augusta to go to the Island.
That year - 1959 - will always stick in my mind as possibly the worst race conditions I had ever competed in - wind, rain and hail being the order of the day. It was certainly one of my most difficult, but also one of my most satisfying wins.
My lap around the course all these years later passed without any problems, except for knowing where I was going. Back in the '50s I knew automatically where to be on the road and when but - nearly 50 years later - that automatic recall is not quite what it was plus, of course, the circuit has been changed considerably.
I personally do not think the opening up of the corners and the widening of the roads serves any purpose at all except to make it faster, rather than safer.
It was superb to meet so many old friends and see so many motorcyclists of all nationalitiies coming together for the festivities. I was saddened that our lap was delayed by an accident in what up until then had been a good one relative to accidents.
I don’t know what the future holds for the TT - certainly we should try to preserve as much as possible the support that is available from the Manx Government and people.
But I personally think that a reduction in engine capacity should be looked. And, if you follow the current Formula 1 fad for street circuits: what about creating a shorter road circuit on the island? This could incorporate all the safety features of a modern track and maybe facilitate the double header of a MotoGP race (on the shorter circuit) with a traditional race (around the mountain circuit) - all within the TT fortnight.
This would bring World Championship racing back to the Isle of Man and - if the mountain course TT races were restricted to say 250cc and 600cc - provide for safer racing.
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