MORE than 10,000 people attended the Manx Grand Prix Festival this year, it is estimated.
Organisers said there was a four per cent increase in visitors arriving by sea.
For the first time the event was billed as the Manx Grand Prix Festival, incorporating four events under one banner – the Manx Two Day Trial, the Classic Trial, the Vintage Motor Cycle Club meetings and rallys and the Manx Grand Prix races run by the Manx Motor Cycle Club.
More than 10,000 people also attended the VMCC's Festival of Jurby and were able to enjoy the close up experience of some iconic machines.
The TT Grandstand was one of the main areas of focus during the fortnight and the Classic Suzuki Race bike collection, the exhibition of Martin Bullock's MGP winning bikes and the Getty Images Gallery photography exhibition all proved popular with fans.
The decision to allow free entry to the Grandstand seating also was successful.
Meanwhile there was also a four-fold increase in media coverage reported during the Manx Grand Prix Races including significant features in Motor Cycle News as well as articles in Classic Bike, Classic Racer, Classic Dirt Bike and The Classic Motorcyclist.
Research from online media monitoring service Meltwater News revealed that coverage almost quadrupled during the race fortnight with over 165 articles reported to date worldwide.
The official MGP Festival website – mgpfestival.com – saw 41,383 unique visits during the fortnight, including many worldwide who listened online to the live Manx Radio commentary and accessed the MGP Live timing service for the Manx Grand Prix Races.
In total the site attracted visitors from 69 countries including the USA, Japan and Australia.
Manx Motor Cycle Club chairman Bill Bennett said: "We are really pleased that the 2010 Manx Grand Prix Festival was a success and we look forward to working closely with the Department of Economic Development to build on this."
Geoff Corkish MHK, political member for Isle of Man Tourism said: "This is just the first year in a long term plan to build a viable festival that attracts an increasing number of tourists and can generate its own commercial income through sponsorship and other licenses.
"We will be looking to implement a number of positive changes and improvements moving forward, using lessons learnt this year and listening to the views of our visitors and the competitors from the various different festival events.
"I want to thank all of our partners, particularly the Manx Two Day Trial, the Classic Trial, the Manx Motor Cycle Club and the Vintage Motor Cycle Club for all their hard work in delivering such strong events as part of the festival."
