At the moment of course John McGuinness immediately springs to mind.

Watched him a lot last year in BSB during qualifying and racing and he was so impressive.

Being honest the TT is a whole different ball game as has been proven over the years.

Personally i dont care how long a racer has been competing as long as he is going for all the right reasons.

Remember having a very in depth conversation with Les Shand as to his reasons for racing at the TT and i could not argue with any of them.

I still reckon that he is one of the most underated Scottish racers, who has been very unlucky with the timing of injuries.

Steve Plater for me still has a great deal to offer the sport, his all round experience in Endurance racing, Bsb and laterly the Roads, can only add to the fans enthusiasm of a relativly new face to the Roads who gives 110 % in the way of commitement.

Looking at it i feel you cannot compare the BSB short circuits to the "Roads" as its way different in the way of organisation, pressure, practise, and finally racing.

If you can combine the both as we have seen in the past, then you can trully be labelled a Great 8)

Many have aspired, not to many have fullfilled.

Those who have are a breed apart.

Well, we won't get any all rounders if the attitude of the posters re-Jamie Robinson get their way, as no-one who is anything less than 100% roads suits them.
I nominate Guy Martin, lawnmower racer, BSB man, and, this year TT WINNER (Must be true, my grandson says he'll win)

I sincerely hope not

It is a shame that the top BSB riders are not doing the TT. Is it money talking?

As someone who started Phill Mellor on his racing career, I know how much he relished the challenge of the Mountain Circuit, even though it was going to cost him a considerable amount, and we spent many hours talking about the differant technique required to race on the TT course compared to the short circuits he was used to.
Phil was a short circuit scatcher, but after his first visit to the Isle of Man he was a true "roads" racer.

Surely there are going to be young riders with the talent to race short circuits and the Mountain Course?
However, to follow the likes of Hailwood, Dunlop and Jefferies who were true ace all rounders, they are going to have to be very talanted and very committed to the sport.

I am and always will be a TT fan but the fact that you are looking to the BSB winners or other wise is an indication of the fact that TT riders are in it because it is a place they can shine when they can't on the shorts. The argument used to be why aren't the GP stars riding round the island which means we should be discussing why Stoner, Rossi, Pedrosa and the likes don't do it. Unfortunately our expectations have got less because the fact as much as we may hate to accept it is that the very best will never race the TT again. Here's to all the heroes who do turn up and give us the thrills and the memories and lets be supportive to them all for what ever reason they choose to be there.

Cheers Harvey,

May not always agree with your points of view but as a long standing friend always very much appreciate your posts.

Stella x

Being honest, if they could get someone like say leon Haslam that would lift the TT up to a new high. Can't see it the way things are going these days.

Roll on the new season.

I find this a very interesting thread. I am in awe of the likes of the Stoner's, Rossi's, Toselands, etc, etc but my daughter and I agree that the bravest riders EVER are those who chose to compete at the TT at any level, in any division.
Those who compete on Road (something we don't have in Australia) and Circuit deserve special acknowledgement. Regardless of what some of us think of Carl F. he achieved in both codes and I don't think anyone has mentioned Rob McElnea. I watched him race in Australia on what you would call 'circuit' and I was informed by an ex English all rounder that, in his opinion, Rob was one of the most versatile he had seen (this was back in 1990 I must add).

Does it matter how good you are at BSB, Carpark racing ect the TT is a challenge, something that needs a lot of thinking about before you race at it. Most of todays tp BSB / GP riders have made their racing a carreer and full time job and not just racing, they also have the PR and sponsorship deals to tend too. The TT will never give a rider a full time job based on a win at the TT.
At pressent we have a team of young men at the helm of the TT, something that has been needed for years. What they are doing in trying to get some of these stars here must be hard work, and what they have achieved over a short couple of years is first class.
Nealy every forum you visit you always have the faceless few that rip the back out of Paul Phillips and his team and to tell you the truth Im F****** sick of it, give them time and respect. If you have anything to say about the riders they bring to the TT speak to them in person, dont rip the back out of them over the forums. I have had a few issues over things at the TT and have found that now we have someone who will listen and take action if needed.

Finnaly, great road racers dont always make good carpark racers and the same goes for the carpark racers they dont make good road racers but they all try 100% to entertain us. and remember the last man over the line deserves the same respect as the man/women that came first.

Just watch Conor Cummins.................

This is a good and potentially endless thread but I,ve got to agree with Stella & the Witch here...
John Mc had a cracking season last year, and has won a British 250 championship.
Ian Hutchy won a 600 round last year at Oulton I think.
Guy has talent in skip loads.
Conor is a man with a plan who could go a long way on tracks and roads.
All riders at the sharp end of this game could, with the right application, drive & ambition, win at BSB & road level.
This sport boils down to the man, his talent, skill & attiude on the day & whats underneath him.
Whats underneath him is all down to whats available, politics and money and money and money and some more politics just for good measure.
Things can never be as they were, not in bike racing or football or anything, times and circumstances change.
We are as road race fans (I think any way) are blessed at this moment in time with a sport that is on the up.
It will never be as it once was.
Hutchy, Conor, Guy or whoever may be succesfull at BSB & road level but they not going to be GP world champions.
Its that politics & money thing again but they will be as good as there circumstances allow so we should just enjoy the racing and not be to concerned with the " what if" or "if only" side of things.
Anyone who watched the top dozen or so riders race as they did at last years 600TT and can think that "it was OK but would they win at BSB"? is looking at his glass & thinking "its half empty"
Enjoy......

The way it is these days is that your factory riders are contracted to do a series, whether it be Moto GP, WSB, BSB, AMA or whatever other, and the teams do not allow their prize investments to risk riding at the TT or any other race for that matter that might affect their results in their contracted series the only exception to the rule seems to be the Suzuka 8 hour which the japanese treat as being very important. I feel this is the main reason the days of top factory short circuit riders at the TT are over, they employ specialists to do the roads.

Well i hark back to years past and it wasnt that long ago when you think about it maybe 5 to 10 years in some cases. Ok MotoGP WSB and the like have moved on and the riders are contracted to do these championships as are the Roads Specialists like Guy Martin & Co. But for me we had a few Racers who could master both and for me they where Steve Hislop one of the greatest all rounders British Champion & TT Champion, Carl Fogarty FI, WSB Champion & TT Champion and of course the ever youthfull Jim Moodie British Supersport Champion & TT Supersport Winner
If you think back to the early 70,s a lot of GP Stars came to the TT not just for the points in the Championship but also the Money. A TT Win back then was worth more in monetry terms than a GP win in itself. Racing has got so professional these days the tables have turned money wise.
I think we will see a good all rounder in the future given time but as to who it might be i have no idea all the best one and all Irish Ago.....

Hi Harvey, I agree with you riders of the stature of Rutter and Plater etc. do up the profile of the TT, and I personally would love to see top short circuit riders compete.

But my point is I feel the freedom of riding in events like the TT has been removed from the riders by the money men/women who are protecting their investment and are rarely willing to allow a rider to compete in anything else but their main series.

It not only effects the road races take a look at events like the race of the year at Mallory it used to attract GP riders now it is a glorified club race.

Good read this and i`m sure it will continue to be over the coming season.
Nice one Harvey,and if you get the chance of getting to a BSB give me a text. 8)

The latest batch of American riders who are at the end of their carreers in terms of the AMA chapionships that have come to the TT and NW are a testiment to the work done by PP. These riders have proved they are class at the Roads and I hope to see a few more arrive on our shores. And these riders have been tempted by a phone call not like in the old days when a large party would go on a free be trip