UPDATE ON MICHAEL RUTTER ** We are very happy to provide an update on Michael’s condition following his accident during the Supertwin race on Friday. He suffered a number of fractures in his spine between the L2 and L5 vertebrae. After being airlifted to the Walton Unit at Aintree Hospital, surgeons have successfully stabilised all the fractures and Michael has already been able to mobilise on his feet. He requires more surgery in his ankle to repair a further fracture there, but for now the worst of his injuries have been treated successfully. Michael and the rest of the team would like to say a huge thank you to all the messages of well wishes and of course ALL the medical staff at Aintree and the Walton Unit. We will provide more details on his recovery in due course. ** ENDS **
In summary - it was wet and windy. The worst weather I can remember since the deluge of 1998. The organisers did very well to run all but one race, albeit with several laps trimmed off some of them. The sun did shine occasionally although it was never what you could call warm we did have our share of ice creams. Finding a meal at a reasonable price is certainly one of the biggest challenges. There are very few places where two can get something other than junk food for under £40 with a drink each and I do include the island's own pub chain and the newly opened Wetherspoons in the Chippy / Pizza / Burger "Junk" category. More Speed restrictions appear annually as is the fashion in most places now. At least you can have a taste of freedom on the mountain road except on the day they have a 5 mile rolling roadblock that they call a parade. I did manage a sub 1 hour lap just after 2pm on Saturday when the high winds were causing the road closure for the Senior race to be delayed. That includes obeying all the posted limits and not exceeding 85 on the mountain as I had my partner on the back of my little 750 Aprilia. It was a surprise to find the whole course almost traffic free. I will be back next year but after that I'm not sure, as my homestay hosts are retiring from hospitality.
i am glad i visited back in 2000, Joey won three races ,and the only speed limits were 30 and 40 limits in the built up areas ,after that it was party time .On one lap we passed a police car who was doing about 60 and we were doing well over a ton ,a surreal moment really On mad sunday my mate crashed with a blow up doll strapped to the bike ,he got off lightly but the doll didn't !
