Island Echo readers have well and truly shown their support for next year’s Diamond Races motorcycle festival, with over 7,400 people saying they support the event.
A poll was launched on Island Echo’s Facebook Page on Sunday evening and within just 24 hours a total of 8,100 votes were cast.
92% of respondents say they will be supporting Diamond Races and can’t wait for the inaugural event in October 2021. Just 8% of the voters – 640 people – say they don’t support the motorcycle race and it shouldn’t take place.
As reported by Island Echo, Diamond Races Isle of Wight will bring professional road racing to our shores for the very first time. A best-in-the-business team are behind the race meeting, which will see top riders compete in a time trial format around a 12.4-mile, closed-road course.
The Isle of Wight Council have thrown their support around the major new event, however, Bob Seely MP has not been so positive. Mr Seely has raised numerous concerns about the staging of the Diamond Races, as first reported by Island Echo.
A whole plethora of comments have been left on Facebook in the past 2 days…
Tracy Soal says:
“Cannot wait, this is brilliant for the island, and the roads here are ideal… If we can have a round the island bike randonee why not this… excellent”.
Betty O’shea comments:
“Like the Festivals it’s only a few days of disruption, the Island needs these kind of events to keep going perhaps the people who don’t want these kind of things would like to contribute a large amount of their income/pension every year to keep the Island going”.
Ian Schofield raises concerns:
“Since the Tour de France took place in the Yorkshire Dales a few years ago the place has been infested with cyclists. I only hope the same doesn’t happen here with motorcyclists flooding the island all year long”.
Labour’s Richard Quigley has said:
“I’ve read with great interest the plan for Diamond races to bring our very own race to the IW. I have been in contact with the organisers to express my concerns over the environmental impact and the concerns of residents, but overall I am in support of the initiative.
“The plan has the full backing of the council (though not our MP) and whilst there are many things I could criticise them for, supporting the Island as a visitor destination isn’t one of them.
“Do I want to encourage motorcyclists to “race” the course all year round, absolutely not. The way to avoid this is to provide sufficient policing to prevent it, maybe our MP could have voted against cuts to policing and local authority funding.
“The organisers are committing to community initiatives that will leave a positive legacy.
“The Island has many opportunities to offer, not all of them are sea based, so an activity such as this opens up a new reason to visit and with it a whole new lot of visitors.
“I reserve the right to ask the organisers to mitigate the environmental impacts, as we all would and I believe the best way to achieve that is through an involved and positive approach with the organisers.
“My experience of motorcycle groups is they are, by and large, sensible people that just enjoy the pleasure of motorcycling. Through engagement and proper planning, this could be an event the whole Island could be proud of. Let’s not demonise it before it has begun”.
Good to see the very high percentage of the recent Facebook poll who are in favour of this proposed motorcycling event. Yes it’s a few days of disruption but it’s the same as all other events that bring entertainment for old and young alike.
Gosh, I hope spectators and pets are safe, these go really fast. How will they ensure the safety over such a long race track of people?
Go pack a bag Janice, theres unsafe drivers everyday get off your ipad and go stand in newport promoting road safety
Unnecessary
On the isle of man TT pet owners are fined if they allow pets to wander on the course at race times. Spectator safety is also well controlled to designated areas .
Still accidents/fatalities though it’s a good thing for the island as long as it’s done properly which I’m sure it will be as long as island roads or iw council don’t get involved!!
What about cats and kittens? One cannot be expected to keep all cats in all day. They wander at will, free. Why should we or Horse face, have to have our lives changed just because of some persons which to see other persons whizzing around at speeds we are not allowed to drive at on public roadways?
Go to a real race track if you want excitement and leave my puss to wander at will.
MEOW MEOW
Surely for a few days in October you could stop your puss from wandering at will .
Sorry , but the wandering puss comment was just too funny to ignore.
I think this is great for the island and it seems the people have spoken…. Bob Seely should throw his weight behind it as vigorously as he does for the cycling and stop being bias.
Environmentally the isle of man TT races are on the cutting edge of electric motorcycles pushing the boundies of technology in the electric class.
Do me a favour Tim, chuck an ed on the end of bias and an ar in boundies and i’ll agree with every word you’ve written, thanks.
Who made you the spelling police
Do me a favour and stick a question mark at the end of your comment, cheers.
I get why people dont want the bike event to happen, but…….it brings people over spending money for local businesses after this pandemic that has destroyed familys and businesses, plus the islands gunna get much more popular as it’s the perfect place for people in high populated towns to sell up and move here so house prices will jump up in the next 5 years…..who ever doesn’t want the event here I think you need to go and pack a bag and get a ferry and start a life instead of being a bore =)
Do we want house prices to jump more with mainlanders coming here? Our young generation can not afford property here already what hope does it give them? There’s already too many second homes here bumping up the values. I agree with the race but not more overners buying up our property.
Better not frighten my horse.
keep of the roads then. prat
Horse face likely has more right to ride his or her horse on the road than some ‘look at me’ leather clad gimp.
S/he will cause no noise, no damage, and likely pays council tax here.
Bigoted idiot .
lets hope island roads can repair all the pot holes in time
I hope not, be good for a real test of the riders, or not.
If YOU want to see fast bikes, then GO to a proper race track. Don’t inflict your tight wallet wishes on those who don’t wish to see noisy, dangerous, look at me, types ruining the peace, and endangering the wild life, rabbits, birds and pets by showing off on OUR roads.
This will only encourage more idiots to drive like their idols.
Grow up.
I dont know if you ever go out and use your eyes but there are idiot drivers on the roads daily, people who drive on drink & drugs and drive dangerously……this will be a very organised event only for a few days and will bring thousands of paying guests to the island which will help hotels shops restaurants, millions of healthy animals are slaughtered every minute of the day for food so now all of a sudden your worried about the wildlife ……pack your bags and go sit in dark room for a few days…get of your ipad and spend a few days with your family while the event takes place =)
No one I forcing you to watch the racing .stay indoors and be A misery .the rest of us normal people are going to enjoy it .
As we see on the echo, a motor cycle has been burned out in Ryde today. This will likely encourage more such joy riding of stolen motor cycles which will be ridden and then set alight to destroy prints etc.
If you need a thrill, pay and go to see proper racing. What if a kitten walks into the road. None here seem to care about anything other than a few hours free entertainment. You must be bored.
I’m sorry for you as you have an obvious problem with motorcyclists. Not only that but any event that doesn’t agree with you. The intended route of this TT will be well marshalled. Safety will be well managed. The people will be well informed in advance of the road closures. Horse riders,cyclists and pedestrians will have to put up with this for a few days. Along with many other events this will bring money to the island. I’m not a scooter enthusiast but I have no problem with their arrival on the island for their event. Let people enjoy themselves young and old. Think of the song made famous by Monty Payton’s ‘Always look on the bright side of life’ Try to have a nice day.
You will never win with these miserable sods .Just leave them alone to fester in their self made misery.
Not sure about how much money it will bring as I’m sure most of the accompanying businesses will be from the mainland like they do at the festival so not so much money into island pockets. Hotels etc maybe but a lot will be camping or camper vans. I can see the ferries making a mint though.
Obviously people will keep their pets indoors ,and with livestock ,they can be moved to another field ….
🙂
I’ve been to the TT A few times .livestock on the edge of the track don’t take a blind bit of notice of the racing .and residents nearby are required to keep pets inside at race times .only really affects cat owners as cats are free roaming. It’s not really an issue. Some people just love to moan and be negative .it’s the only pleasure in their sad unfulfilled lives .
why should people move livestock, ffs they live there.
Go to the pet shop get a kitten and you can call it Life as you clearly need to get a grip
92% of Respondents, that’s probably around .001% of the population.
Chale to Grange on the Military Road I can accept as practical but the inland section is just plain stupid.
Actually 7400 were for this event. Guessing there are 145000 people on the Isle of Wight that is just under one twentieth of the population. You figure of 0.001% is way way out I’m afraid. In maths you must try harder. I take it that you’re against it.
A result for or against in a Facebook poll is meaningless.
8,100 is around 6% of the population of the island but there is no way of identifying where the actually live and if they have a legitimate interest in the island.
92% of a social media poll is in effect fake news.
There could be a lot of positive possibilities generated by such an event and there are also genuine objections about disruption, noise etc but this has been presented as a secretive ‘fait accompli’ by both Diamond Races and, particularly, the IW Council and lacks legitimacy as a result.
When will the IW Council schedule the public meeting concerning this so that Mr Stewart can explain the lack of consultation.
Maybe because all those who would like to object, older people etc, don’t have a clue on how to use the internet. Of course it has the backing of the council, our very own Councillor Dave “Pugwash” Stewart has been “working behind the scenes” in getting this idea going, maybe some of the people who get injured or families of those who are killed by maniacs the islands roads should lobby, but we all know petitions, letters etc all go missing anyway.