Manx Grand Prix 'extremely challenging' to run but club remains optimistic over future of historic event on Isle of Man
Manx Motor Cycle Club chairman John McBride says the Manx Grand Prix remains “extremely challenging” to run but is optimistic over the future of the event.
Speaking ahead of opening practice for the MGP and Classic TT on the Isle of Man on Sunday, McBride also acknowledged that the event needed to appeal more broadly to “the average motorcyclist”.
“It’s extremely challenging but we’ve been lucky, particularly this year, due to our newest committee members Lee and Carol Bartram, we now have a series of sponsors,” he told Manx Radio.
“It’s eased it a little bit we’re finding that a lot of people don’t want to do anything for nothing any more.
“At one time everything ran, not on a nod and a wink, but everybody knew what they wanted to do in getting involved in the Manx Grand Prix and that was their reward, and now a lot of people tend to want to be paid for things.
“But we do have quite a few local firms and people who actually provide things free of charge or at low cost, but the event is quite an expensive event to put on now.
“It’s supported by government and we don’t take anything from the government for ourselves, but government do provide a certain amount of funding towards maintaining the infrastructure around the course et cetera, and of course you have a motorsports department to maintain and ACU Events need to be paid.
“So we are still heavily reliant on government, but we hope that in return we are bringing in sufficient visitors to cover the cost.”
McBride also hopes plans to livestream the Manx Grand Prix will have a positive impact on encouraging more people to visit the event.
“We’re hoping for a good year this year and we think bookings are looking good, so we’re hopeful we’ll grow year on year and we’re going to livestream the event properly this year and we hope that will get the Manx Grand Prix out to a bigger audience,” he said.
“One of the things we have recognised is that we need to appeal more to the average motorcyclist, whether that’s bringing in other events during the week to make it more of a festival again I don’t know.
“I don’t think everyone’s interested necessarily just in the racing, and I think people want to come here and have a good time and that’s what we’ve got to provide somehow.”