I have been reading everyones comments and have chatted to the tiny "crowd" at the grandstand and I have to agree that the Island is rather empty. However practice week always used to be the week when only the avid fans came over. I have always preferred practice week because it was quiet and I could get round and see things. We should start seeing ferries arriving from today/tomorrow with fans hanging off the sides......WE HOPE.

Having driven up and down the prom this last two days and not seeing the beginnings of the rows of bikes is a bit disturbing..

But that is me comparing the days when bikers stayed in hotels. Now they prefer to stay on campsites which remind me of Woodstock (USA Not Oxford) and try to keep warm/dry as the floods run under the tents.

Let's not write it off yet. Do any of you remember 1998 ??