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£15,000 bill for recruiting new riders to TT
MORE than £15,600 of taxpayers’ money has been spent on travel and accommodation for prospective newcomer entrants to the TT, figures released in Tynwald show.
Douglas North MHK John Houghton asked what the annual cost is of the Motorsport Development Group’s TT rider recruitment campaign.
Economic Development Minister John Shimmin MHK replied that the Motorsport Team had spent £15,615.94 on travel and accommodation for prospective newcomers in the past 12 months.
He said during this period, 16 newcomer solo competitors and 27 newcomer sidecar competitors had been hosted with the aim of them competing in the TT races in the future.
Of those 43, eight did not compete in this year’s TT.
Mr Shimmin said reasons for not competing include pre-event injury, budget and team issues.
‘It is highly likely that the majority of these individuals will make their TT debut in the future. No potential competitor hosted as part of the recruitment scheme is compelled to compete and the department acknowledges that an individual may visit the island and decide that the TT is not for them.’
He said his department’s Motorsport Team is not responsible for the promotion and recruitment of competitors to other events. For the Manx Grand Prix this responsibility lies with the Manx Motorcycle Club, for the Southern 100 it’s the Southern 100 Club and in the case of the rallies, this is the responsibility of the various rally organisers.
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Weather for Isle of Man
Saturday 25 May 2013
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