Today should have been the start of practice for TT 2020. The riders should have been preparing to launch themselves down Bray Hill for the first time in 12 months, for some for the first time. The teams should have been making final preparations to the bikes. The Marshals, Scrutineers, Press Office, food and stall vendors should have been preparing themselves for a busy 2 weeks. The boats should have been ferrying thousands of bike fans to our shores and I should have been getting myself ready for my favourite 2 weeks of the year.
Of course, none of this is happening as the world continues to fight the spread of the Corona Virus. The Isle of Man has closed its borders and TT 2020 is cancelled.
Manannán mac Lir, son of the sea and protector of the Isle of Man is having fun with us and has blessed us with glorious weather. I drove past the Grandstand and paddock area yesterday, it should have been buzzing with fans enjoying a beer in the sunshine but it was quiet, like any other day. I felt a tinge of sadness as I passed by. Then I thought of the people who have lost their lives, the heroic efforts of the doctors and nurses around the world and it brought me back to what was important during these times.
The TT is just a motorcycle race (anyone who knows me knows I don't say that lightly), there are more important things happening right now than the TT. Hopefully, the TT will be back bigger and better than ever next. For now, I've put together some pictures from TT 2019 to help remember better times.