Marshal numbers should not be a problem for the remainder of the Manx Grand Prix and Classic TT.

Marshals’ chairman, Dave Dentith, praised volunteers for rallying round and responding to a plea for extra bodies after Saturday’s practice session was curtailed and a planned extra session was cancelled on Sunday.

Speaking yesterday (Monday), he said: ’We have plenty of people tonight, all we want now is some better weather.

’A lot of people have turned up this morning: we’ve had a great response.’

He accepted that at 80-plus marshals short, numbers had been low for Sunday’s extra practice session which was to take place at 1.30pm. As a result, clerk of the course, Gary Thompson took an early decision to cancel the session.

In a statement issued just before 8.30am on Sunday, he said: ’Last night, I made the decision that we would use this afternoon to run a full qualifying session, but having reviewed the marshalling numbers for today, it is very clear we will be 80-plus marshals short of the manning levels required for the TT Course which is significantly below the number that we require.

’What I don’t want to do is close the road, get everyone in place, have everyone waiting and then find we can’t hold the qualifying session, so we have decided to give everyone plenty of notice and cancel today’s session and concentrate on getting marshal numbers in place for Monday night.’

Saturday’s opening practice session was delayed as marshals were ferried around the Mountain Course from areas with plenty of people to sectors with too few.

The session was then blighted by rainfall in the west of the island meaning the session was cancelled once the Newcomers’ mandatory speed-controlled lap had taken place.

Mr Thompson praised the ’outstanding’ support of the marshals who did turn out.

Contingency plans have now been put in place to run extra practice sessions on Thursday and Friday afternoons and Manx Motor Cycle Club chairman Peter Maddocks has added his voice to the call for more marshals to ensure these sessions can go ahead.

’Marshals are not required to complete every session for the entire fortnight and anybody who can support the event by marshalling for even just one or two sessions will be very welcome,’ he said.

Mr Dentith said he was unsure why marshal numbers had fallen short for the Sunday session but he thought a poor weather forecast could have played a part. In addition, he pointed out that although people may sign up, not everyone actually turns up on the day.

’In the end, you have to just wait for the first night,’ he said.

The minimum manning level for the Mountain Course is now 536 but traditionally some areas are inundated with volunteers while some others, such as the mountain sectors can struggle, but Mr Dentith said people were now often more accommodating when asked to move to other areas, and cars and minibuses were kept on standby to make this happen smoothly.

In a new move this year, warm waterproof suits are also being provided for mountain marshals where the weather can be cold and unpleasant.

Whilst the weather forecast looks good for today (Tuesday), heavy rain is expected tomorrow evening.

To volunteer to marshal register online at www.iomttmarshals.com or, visit the marshals’ tent at the side of the grandstand.