Captain Starlet
RMS Regular
Other races aren't free, cookstown and tandragee charge. TT is incomparable.
The people who complain about the price will be the first to complain when the UGP is gone, I've already witnessed it first hand. People who came to me at the start of August trying to grab a free arm band and complained to me about the price of tickets have already rang, text and said to my face, I can't believe it's going bad. Even though when I didn't get them an armband they didn't go.
One person actually huffed with me this year because I didnt get them a ticket, boycotted the whole event for the first time since they were a toddler, all because this would have been the first year in a long long time that they would have had to pay in. Said they wouldn't stand in the pishing rain for love nor money. On the Saturday race day, they sent me a snapchat of them out fishing. Then when they seen the highlights said to me they were genuinely gutted to have missed it.
That's what we're up against. If it was £30 into all the racing events then yes, its extremely dear, but it's not and if the rest of the big races are free then £30 for a years International road racing is incredible value.
Flip I didn't know that the Cookstown and Tandragee charged, I can't remember ever having to pay in, I just bought the programme.
It is a sad state of affairs when someone boycotts the event over £30. I do think they should organise the event better, maybe a similar programme to the NW200 with practice on a Tuesday and full days practice and racing on Thursday and Friday, maybe people wouldn't mind paying more if they perceive they are getting more for their money.