2007 Isle of Man TT - Further Events

Further Events

The Isle of Man Constabulary investigating the deaths of a race competitor and two spectators at the 26th Milestone during the 2007 Senior TT Race arrested a marshall on the suspicion of manslaughter, although the individual was later released without charge. Further safety work was carried-out at the 26th Milestone for the 2007 Manx Grand Prix with the removal of part of a grass bank and a new race-marshall lay-by and shelter on the western side embankment.

The acting Manx Grand Prix press officer, Geoff Cannell a former Member of the House of Keys (MHK), sports broadcaster and journalist in the Isle of Man died on 24 September 2007 after a short illness. The Manx Motor Cycle Club (MMCC) handed in its resignation on 27 September 2007 as the organiser of the Isle of Man TT Races after contractual difficulties and problems with 2007 Isle of Man TT Races, a shortage of marshals at the 2007 Manx Grand Prix and the cancellation of the subsequent Senior Manx Grand Prix.

During October 2007 the Isle of Man Department of Transport began road widening at Braddan Bridge on the Snaefell mountain course and the creation of a roundabout. The Department of Transport also announced the proposal of building a new section of road for the Mountain Course with a link road from Signpost Corner to Governor's Bridge using the existing A18 Bemahague Road.

After the MMCC had anticipated a renegotiation of the terms of the contract with the Isle of Man Department of Tourism and Leisure to organise the 2008 Isle of Man TT Races the MMCC were surprised to discover that the contract was awarded to ACU Events Ltd a subsidiary of the Auto-Cycle Union (ACU). It was also announced by the Isle of Man Department of Tourism and Lesiure that a second 600cc Supersport Junior TT race would be an addition to the schedule for the 2008 Isle of Man TT Races and the return of the Ultra-Lightweight TT and Lightweight TT events to be held at the Post-TT Races on the Billown circuit.

The Clerk of the Course for the Isle of Man TT Races Neil Hanson resigned on 17 January 2008 ending a 40 year involvement as a committee member of the Manx Motor Cycle Club (MMCC). The new organisers of the Isle of Man TT Races had been unable to offer Neil Hanson a position and ACU Events Ltd and felt that a change was needed. The official press launch for the 2008 Isle of Man TT Races was held on 18 February 2008 and was attended by regular Isle of Man TT competitors, Ian Lougher, Bruce Anstey, Ryan Farquhar, Martin Finnegan and John McGuinness. It was announced at the press launch that BSB competitor Sean Emmett and former 250cc British Champion Jamie Robinson would compete at the 2008 Isle of Man TT Races.

The Isle of Man Department of Transport started building a new section of road for the Mountain Course with a link road from Signpost Corner to Governor's Bridge using the pre-existing A18 Bemahague Road. This road widening scheme and the creation of a roundabout began in February 2008 with the removal of trees on the Bemahague Estate which includes Government House, the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man.

An inquest held by Coroner Michael Moyle gave a verdict of misadventure into the deaths of race competitor Marc Ramsbotham and spectators Dean Adrian Jacob and Gregory John Kenzig at the 26th Milestone during lap 5 of the 2007 Senior TT Race. The verdict given on 20 March 2008 by Coroner Michael Moyle is a "blistering attack on TT Race Management." A working group was announced on 26 March 2008 by the Isle of Man's Chief Minister Tony Brown to oversee lines of responsibility and course improvements in response to criticism in the coroners report. As Chief Sector Marshall for Sector 9, Cathy Pullen, which included the 26th Milestone resigned her position on 31 March 2007 as one of the officials criticised by the coronors report. This was followed on 9 April 2008 by the Chief Course Marshall, Roger Hurst who also resigned from his position in the Isle of Man TT Marshals Association. The Minister for the Isle of Man Department of Tourism and Lesisure, Adrian Earnshaw MHK, made a statement that the Isle of Man TT Races has a sound future and "everything possible" to address the points made by the coroners inquest.

It was announced by ACU Events Ltd on 3 April 2008 that a contract for the official course vehicles had been awarded to Audi in a 3 year deal to celebrate the win by the pre-war Audi satellite company DKW win by Ewald Kluge in the 1938 Isle of Man TT Races. This was followed by the resignation by David Mylchreest as the official course driver. A further contract was awarded to Yamaha UK to provide motor-cycles and support for the TT Travelling Marshalls. The former British Superbike competitor Sean Emmett withdrew from the 2008 Isle of Man TT races after general comments made by Coroner Michael Moyle to potential competitors to consider carefully their position. The Isle of Man TT competitor Martin Finnegan was killed while racing at the Tandragee 100 Races on 3 May 2008 and this was followed by former Isle of Man TT and Manx Grand Prix winner Robert Dunlop who died in an accident on 16 May 2008 at Mather's Cross during practice for the 2008 North West 200 Races.