Newcomers restriction? No.

Dear CR Can I please voice my dissatisfaction at the factual inaccuracy of the statement regarding newcomers at the Manx Grand Prix. There is no 40 years of age (or any other age related) restriction on newcomers to the Manx Grand Prix. Each and every application for an entry is considered purely on the individual merit of the competitor applicant. This year we have accepted an entry from a new rider who is measurably older than 40 years. Riding in the 95-year-old event of the Manx Grand Prix is a major goal and a significant achievement for road racing competitors. Annual applications for race entries number far in excess of the maximum allowable number of race starters of 80 in the Lightweight/ultralightweight, Junior and Senior races. For safety reasons the Newcomers race start limit is less than this. The Manx Motor Cycle Club’s ambition is to develop riders’ skill levels and experience on the Mountain Course, both for the future of the event and to prepare the many who progress to the TT (64% of 2018 TT riders previously raced at the MGP). Therefore the MMCC has to select those riders who are likely to give a good account of themselves during the event and who also indicate a commitment to future years of racing on the Mountain Course at the MGP or TT. Peter Maddocks Email

Guilty as charged Peter. My first paragraph in the story of Bernard Fau’s disappointment at being turned down for the Classic TT should just have said ‘Classic TT’ and not included the words Manx Grand Prix. Clearly the acceptance rules for the Classic TT are in line with those of the TT proper, which has a 40-years-old newcomer’s cut-off. Apologies for any confusion caused. Malc Wheeler