T.T. CONTROVERSY Change not supported by former N.Z. rider

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32967, 13 July 1972, Page 16

T.T. CONTROVERSY Change not supported by former N.Z. rider

T EADING international riders, headed by the 10 times world champion, G. Agostini (Italy), are mounting a strong campaign to have world championship status removed from the Isle of Man T.T. classic. Their protest was sparked off by the death of the brilliant little Italian, G. Parlotti, in the 125 c.c. race of the last meeting on the mountain circuit. Agostini, who has scored 10 victories in the Isle of Man, and the present world 250 c.c. champion, P. W. Read (Britain), are among those who have vowed they will never race in the island again. One of New Zealand’s greatest riders of former years, T. R. McCleary, jnr., who was a spectator at the T.T. meeting last month, does not agree with their sentiments. “I would like to see the T.T. stay where it is. The course is dangerous—let’s face it. I don’t think anybody could say it wasn’t but as far as England is concerned, the tradition will probably outweigh the danger.” Mr McCleary is well qualified to comment on the subject. Before he retired from the road racing scene at the end of 1966, he had won the remarkable total of 11 New Zealand grand prix titles. He dropped out of the sport as a competitor after winning

the senior grand prix four times in succession—a feat which remains unchallenged. In 1954, Mr McCleary was chosen to represent New Zealand in the Isle of Man T.T. Unfortunately, he broke his wrist in a crash during practice and was unable to race. However, this has not turned him against the meeting. “The circuit has been a danger for 50-odd years. I know the bikes go quicker now but .really, the circuit is only as dangerous as the riders make it.” Referring to the complaints by some riders that the T.T. takes a heavy toll of their machinery—most racers cover about 300 miles in practice and racing —Mr McCleary said: “They didn’t grizzle about it in the old days. I think this must just be a sign of the times.” Mr McCleary considers that the standard of riding at the T.T. is little different from that of his day. The top men such as Agostini and Read were out on their own but the “also rans” were probably not as good as they used to be. “In my day a good New Zealand rider had to press on if he was to finish in the first 20 or 25. Now a rider of the same standard could expect to finish as high as tenth.” =====