Friday March 8, 2019 at 8:46am
Two Newcomers' weekends are planned to help prospective Manx Grand Prix riders get acquainted with the Mountain Course on March 15 to 17 and March 29 to 31. Manx Motor Cycle Club officials have announced the first weekend is already fully booked. The annual event, which is supported by the Hailwood Foundation, takes the Newcomers on circuits of the course along with ACU Approved Instructors, who can talk them through the finer points of riding a safe lap. The Newcomers have a chance to meet club officials and ask questions about riding in the Manx and experienced race scrutineers will give advice on preparing bikes to meet the greater demands of the 37.73-mile course. A social get together also gives riders chance to meet and talk to one another. Club chairman Peter Maddocks said the Newcomers' weekends were an important factor in ensuring new riders had the right mindset and skill level. He also emphasised the importance of Newcomers to the event's continued success. 'Our Newcomers have increasing standards to meet before they can put foot - or should I say tyre on the Mountain Course. 'It is vital that we attract sufficient Newcomers to the event because we lose 35 to 40 riders each year who move on to compete in the TT or other road racing meetings, so these weekends are important to the club and to the event as well as to the prospective riders,' Peter commented. Photo credit: Dave Kneen, Manxphotos on Line