A deal extending until 2033 has been agreed between the Isle of Man Government Department for Enterprise and ACU Events for the organisation of the Isle of Man TT races.
ACU Events (ACUE) has been the Race Organiser for the Isle of Man TT since 2008, meaning the conclusion of this newest agreement between it and the Isle of Man Government will see the organisation mark a quarter-of-a-century as Race Organiser for the famous motorcycle road race.
In its role as Race Organiser, ACUE - which is headed by Isle of Man TT Clerk of the Course Gary Thompson MBE BEM - is responsible for all racing elements at the Isle of Man TT, including the preparation of the Mountain Course, controlling all on-circuit activity, appointing Race Officials, and training newcomers.
Additionally, the role makes ACUE responsible for marshalling and medical cover for the event, and, regarding this aspect, ACUE’s extension as Race Organiser has coincided with an extension of its agreements with the TTMA marshalling service and the Manx Road Racing Medical Services (MRMS), which now last until the same 2033 date.
On the agreement of its extension as Isle of Man TT Race Organiser, ACUE’s Gary Thompson said: “It’s an honour for ACU Events Ltd to continue in the role of TT Race Organiser. It’s a long-standing position that we have held and we are extremely proud to continue to do so.
“Understandably our work comes to the fore when the bikes leave the start line and head towards Bray Hill, but there are thousands of hours of work needed year-round to get to that stage, and it’s a workload that increases as the event grows and our aspirations for its delivery grow too.
“Without a doubt, one of the larger elements of the race organisation is the provision of the marshals and medics, for which we need several hundred in order to go racing. We’ve used this new agreement as an opportunity to secure the TTMA and MRMS over the same 10-year period, which has the huge benefit of allowing us to plan and invest for the long-term like never before.”
Tim Johnston MHK, Isle of Man Minister for Enterprise, added: “The TT continues to enjoy consistent growth across many areas, made all the more impressive when set against a backdrop of ever-increasing pressures.
“The TT is in no way immune to these pressures, but our long-term strategic delivery of the event allows it to go from strength to strength, and has brought us to this position where we can make such a long-term commitment with ACUE and, subsequently, the TTMA and MRMS, which takes the TT well into the next decade.
“It’s a testament to the continued hard work by all the organisations and individuals involved in the Isle of Man TT Races, which is a cornerstone to our strong and diverse Manx economy and a key part of our Island’s heritage.”
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