TT privateer says new sidecar regs make racing unaffordable

A privateer sidecar racer says he can't afford to return to the TT class after new regulations were published this week.

The new rules are designed to reintroduce the class to the festival after it was called off this year because of safety concerns following high-profile crashes.

But on Facebook, Mike Russell says he can't afford to meet the new technical requirements in the regulations - and so won't be racing with passenger Alice Smith next June.

In his post, he says he thinks the rules will make the class unaffordable for all but the big teams.