Extended practice sessions for TT 2009 are vital, if the new green emissions event, the TTXGP, is to be a success.
That's the view of Transport minister David Anderson, following criticism of the decision to add an extra hour to practice sessions around the mountain course, on four consecutive days in the run-up to race week.
Residents say it will add to rush hour headaches after work, while marshals are concerned at the extra time they will need to take off work, to get to their posts.
Mr Anderson says all options were looked at, and the extra hour of road closures is the only way to accomodate XGP competitors.
He told Manx Radio:
"If we hadn't had these extra practice sessions, basically the TTXGP couldn't go ahead.
"In order for them to comply to the rules to do so many laps, they have to have practice and get so many laps in.
"We looked at all sorts of ways of accommodating them in the normal practice sessions, and unfortunately the only way to accommodate them was to have a one hour earlier closure on the four days, Tuesday to Friday."
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