It appears to the Manx Herald, who fully supports the concept of the TTXGP, rational thought - of the people involved in making the initial decision, and subsequent u-turn - was clouded by an, undeclared, imperative that the TTXGP proceeds almost at any cost.

An apology has finally been issued to the public over the farcical attempt to increase practice hours during this year’s TT without any proper consultation with stakeholders.

However, the apology, issued via the Manx Herald, is not from Tourism Minister Martyn Quayle - Chairman of the so-called ‘Platinum Group’, a triumvirate of government ministers, Tourism, Transport and Home Affairs – but Transport Minister, David Anderson.

Mr Anderson said he is: “sorry we caused all the hassle we did to the public”, but added the caveat, “and had we had all the information then, that we do now, the decision may have been different.”

Whilst the sincerity of the apology may be tempered by the continuing emphasis that ‘new information’ - claimed not to have been available when the initial decision was made to close the roads an hour earlier – absolves the ‘Group’ for a possible error of judgment; it still goes a lot further than what Mr Quayle has, so far, been prepared to concede.

It was put to Mr Anderson no real ‘new information’ had been received by his ‘Group’ and that it was an attempt to deflect attention away from the real problem, which was the poor management of rider recruitment by the organizers.

The Manx Herald was not alone in knowing, months ago, rider recruitment was an issue; and these concerns were relayed to the Department of Tourism; however, it seems no action was taken then to try to overcome, a relatively simple, problem.

The TT regulations, also issued many months ago, set out the licence and practice requirements for TTXGP riders, so it wasn’t a surprise to anybody what rules applied when entries closed at the end of March.

What seems to have happened, when entries closed, is the TTXGP organizers tried to get the ‘regulations’ changed, to cover for their own failure to see that teams recruited riders racing in other TT races. When you consider how many riders are entering in the TT it should not have been too difficult to find 25 willing to ride in the TTXGP; but, for whatever reason, it seems it was.

It was also put to Mr Anderson that the mismanagement by others ended with the members of the ‘Platinum Group’ and their unnamed ‘advisors’ (although Mr Anderson did name Director of Highways, Bruce Hannay as one of them), looking completely stupid and facing the wrath of the public, marshals, medics, Uncle Tom Cobley and all.

He wouldn’t be drawn on this, and continued with the official line given by Mr Quayle, during Question Time, in Keys on Tuesday.

It appears to the Manx Herald, who fully supports the concept of the TTXGP, rational thought - of the people involved in making the initial decision, and subsequent u-turn - was clouded by an, undeclared, imperative that the TTXGP proceeds almost at any cost.

Mr Anderson maintained, throughout our conversation, the importance of the TTXGP to the IOM; and effectively suggested nobody outside the inner ‘clique’, involved in organising the event, can really appreciate the work that has gone on ‘behind the scenes’.

He alluded to ‘dark forces’ working from within government to oppose the TTXGP, and insisted that without Mr Hussain the event would not be happening; an opinion the Manx Herald does not share.

However, we do hope the race goes ahead, and it is a success, and that the Island can look forward to being at the cutting edge of new technologies based on the machines developed to race the mountain course.

The Manx Herald is aware of businesses who have already expressed an interest in setting up activities in the IOM, on the back of the TTXGP; and this has to be a good thing when the finance sector is looking ever more wobbly.

Footnote:

Attempts were made to contact Mr Earnshaw for a comment, but we were unable to contact him.

Since publishing this article Mr Earnshaw has been in touch. He thought Mr Quayle had issued an apology in Keys, on Tuesday, and suggested things have moved on. Whilst adding that it was easy for people to sling mud from the side lines he did admit the matter had "not been our finest hour".

In view of the worsening global situation, in respect outbreak of swine flu, there is obviously a question mark over this year’s TT. The Manx Herald has sought assurance, from the Chief Minister, that any decision about the cancellation of the TT will not be left to the ‘Platinum Group’ - given their demonstrable ineptitude over the slightly less important issue of practice times. A reply is waited.