New format for starting could be difficult to follow
SPEAKING of the TT, I see that there is a change to the old format of numbers and starting for this year. As usual riders will be allocated numbers and they will be seeded as per their race lap times from previous races over the Mountain course. The top 20 will be seeded in the solo races and in the sidecars the top 10, and subject to qualifying they will start as normal in 10-second intervals. There will be no riders moved from higher numbers to lower ones, nor will there be any riders moved out of the top 20, but this is where the fun starts. All other competitors will be issued with a grid position which will be the position that they will start their races, and these will be based on qualifying times. The list of grid positions will be issued daily via iomtt.com and the official noticeboard in the race office. Grid positions will be issued for all races prior to the first day of racing. Practice sessions during race week will not change the format, but riders who do not manage to qualify during practice week will be allowed to use these sessions to qualify, but will not be allowed to use their times and will start from the back of the grid. I can see this format taking some time to get used to. Anyone who does not have a radio to listen to the races while they are in the Island will have a job trying to keep up with the numbers. The top 10 in the solo classes have been selected already but we will have to wait until April for the official announcement. Based on the new format the starting numbers for the top 10 should read like this: 1 John Mcguiness 131.578mph; 2 Conor Cummins 131.511; 3 Ian Hutchinson 131.487, 4 Bruce Anstey 131.378, 5 Guy Martin 131.038, 6 Gary Johnson 130.450, 7 Michael Dunlop 130.213, 8 Ryan Farquhar 129.883, 9 Cameron Donald 129.758, 10 Adrian Archibald 128.883.
