IOM TT Races cancelled

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Eamonn Townsend

IOM TT Races cancelled

Post by Eamonn Townsend »

TT Races cancelled but Isle of Man still open to visitors. One of the world’s best known motorsport events, the Isle of Man TT Races, has been cancelled to protect the Island’s countryside and farming industry from foot-and-mouth disease.

The Isle of Man Government announced the decision today in a bid to retain the Island’s disease-free status, bearing in mind the Isle of Man’s proximity to UK outbreaks of the disease in Cumbria, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Motorcycle racing during the two week festival, scheduled from May 26 to June 8, has been cancelled - only the first time the event has been called off in its 94 year history outside war time.

The Isle of Man Department of Tourism and Leisure, led by Minister David Cretney, had put forward plans under which the TT races could take place with a programme of increased precautions, including an enhanced disinfection regime, ‘no-go areas’ for 2001 in the countryside, and avoidance of contact between visitors and the rural environment including livestock, but the Council of Ministers has decided that the races would constitute a significantly enhanced risk to animal health and the agricultural industry and should be cancelled.

Events traditionally staged to support the TT sporting action, including displays by the Red Arrows, concerts, fireworks displays and numerous entertainments organised by Island pubs and other businesses, will go ahead. ‘A warm welcome still awaits visitors who traditionally travel to the Island at this time of year,’ said Mr Cretney. ‘ It is of course, a major disappointment for many that Government has taken what is seen as an essential precaution to safeguard our own livestock industry, but visitors are welcome to enjoy other aspects of the traditional festival and we will be concentrating our efforts in the town centres for this year.’


Consideration was given to the possibility of postponing the TT Races to later in the summer rather than total cancellation. This option was not logistically possible because of a lack of ferry capacity, existing non-race bookings and clashes with other events.

In 1966 the national Seaman’s Strike caused the TT Races to be postponed until autumn that year when they were staged back-to-back with the Manx Grand Prix.

It is hoped that the situation in the UK will have improved sufficiently by August to permit the staging the Manx Grand Prix, August 18 to 31.
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