What is the exact relationship between Duke and the Diamond Races? You can't help notice that they immediately publicised the event through their social media channels, email lists, and website to existing TT fans, and are already advertising travel packages. It seems that there has been a significant amount of collaboration between the parties involved.
Duke were previously partners to the TT in providing the 'official' website and social media channels for the event, which were not relinquished at the end of the tenure. Duke then trademarked 'IOMTT' for their own use, potentially stifling the government's attempt to build its TT brand presence. It is staggering that the government didn't publicly object to this potential infringement of the TT brand, seeing that they have often taken issue with small island retailers and individuals for minor violations.
Duke's extremely valuable social media audience was previously built on the back of government support and now is being used to promote an event that could be a potential competitor to the TT. What notice was given to the government about these plans and how can they continue to be a partner of the TT on this basis?
How far did the £188,428 TT World Series feasibility study influence the development of the Diamond Races? It does not take a huge imagination to see the direction this could take in further deals with multiple smaller road racing events to create a 'world series'.
