TT organisers are requesting expressions of interest from organisations that may want to run the TT races from 2015.
The current contract to run the races is with ACU Events Ltd, which comes under the umbrella of the ACU controlling body for motorcycle events, but this expired earlier this year.
The Department of Economic Development, which is the current holder of rights relating to promoting and running the TT races, has advertised inviting applications from parties who may be interested in running the races in 2015 and 2016 with a possible extension up to and including 2019.
As well as running the actual races, the successful party would also be responsible for any parade laps on the course which form part of the programme and they would also oversee technical matters such as ensuring riders meet the entry criteria and operating the IT system for entries, race timing and race control.
Other duties include providing suitably qualified race officials, including a clerk of the course, currently Gary Thompson, and working with personnel like scrutineers, marshals and others.
Duties also involve liaising with contractors setting up the course, ensuring road closures are in place, ensuring the course is fit for purpose and ensuring medical cover including rescue helicopters are all organised.
A government spokesman said the contract was due for renewal and it therefore was offered out to tender to comply with standard financial regulations. The first stage of this was for parties to make inquiries and express an interest and if enough suitably qualified parties did this, a tendering process would follow.
Current organiser ACU Events Ltd has run the races since 2008 and is the commercial arm and a subsidiary of the ACU. In addition to running the TT races, it also runs the ACU British Motocross Championships and runs its own motocross track at Milton Malsor near Northampton. The company was set up in 2006 and has five directors, all from the ACU. Its initial contract to run the TT was for three years but this was extended by a further two years then one more year.
A government statement confirmed ACU Events Ltd would be submitting a tender for the new contract and has already submitted its expression of interest in the event.
Before ACU Events was in charge of the TT, the races were organised and run by the Manx Motor Cycle Club but this contract came to an end after the centenary TT races in 2007, after which ACU Events Ltd took over.
As well as the duties already mentioned, any body taking over the running of the races would also be responsible for a large budget for which audited accounts have to be produced. They would also need to ensure best practice was complied with in terms of risk management as well as accommodating any requests by the Department of Economic Development for promotional or commercial entertainment opportunities.
The three-D film Closer to the Edge, which was released in 2010, the year of Ian Hutchinson’s historic five wins in a week, coupled with day-by-day coverage on ITV4has seen a huge growth in popularity for the TT in recent years, spurring the Steam Packet to create extra space in the Manannan fast craft with an extra mezzanine deck to accommodate more motorcycles travelling next year.