I now must chime in here... and give my view point. Especially since my bike is in the Senior Classic class, and this is my first time having my bike raced on the IOM.... So that makes me a newbie, and a Yank newbie as well..! Luckily I have a talented rider with lots of TT experience...!! But to the point, I am just a poor bloke living in California...with the same love of bikes and racing we all have. And it has cost me thousands of dollars just to get my bike up to IOM "specs" and get it to the Island... I have no sponsorship, and have paid dearly just to be a (small) part of the MGP experience.

Now hear this.. and hear it well....

IT WOULD NOT BE THE SAME RACE IF THE FAST GUYS AND THE FAST BIKES WERE NOT THERE..!! TO BE ABLE TO SAY WE COMPETED WITH THE BEST OF THE BEST IS WORTH IT TO ME..!! If we get a replica it is because we earned it..!!

Now, being this is a first for me, just finsihing is a great accomplishment (on my first try...). I bow to the Great Ones, and welcome any assistance a newbie like me may be offered...

I really feel this is a race against the Island, and not each other... it is how each rider attacks the TT Course and ends up with their finishing times...

I also know that to finish first, first one has to finish, and the TT Course is famous for bikes not up to that task..!!!

Please guys, feel free to seek me out and say hello... and AFTER the Monday race, have a pint with us and tell tall tales..!!!

Cheers..!!!

Ron - 7 days until first practice..!!