The age-old tradition forbidding winners of the main races in the Manx Grand Prix from re-entering the following year’s event will be open for consideration from now onwards.

Manx Motor Cycle Club has announced rule changes that also relax restrictions on entries from former TT riders who wish to enter the Manx Grand Prix.

The 2019 regulations will state that a rider cannot compete in both the TT and MGP in the same year, or have won a TT bronze replica in 2018, or have won a TT silver replica in either of 2016, 2017 or 2018.

In addition the club will consider entries from previous Manx Grand Prix winners from any year, including 2018.

None of these changes will effect riders or passengers who have competed in a Sidecar TT, or riders in the Classic TT for whom there are no existing restrictions.

Manx Motor Cycle Club chairman, Peter Maddocks, commented yesterday: ’Our aim is to improve the quality of the entry in the Manx Grand Prix by retaining our most talented riders longer before they make a decision to move to the TT.

’Also, should those riders find that their move to the highly-competitive TT is a bit premature, they will find that there is now a route back to the Manx Grand Prix without having to put their racing careers on hold for a few years.’

l More motorcycling P63.