Classic TT - Isle of Man

  • Team Obsolete set to parade authentic works Honda '6' with Steve Plater at the 2017 Classic TT





    The legendary TT Mountain Course will reverberate to one of the most distinctive racing sounds from the 1960s at this year’s Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts as the iconic 250cc Honda-6 will complete a demonstration lap around the 37.73-mile circuit on Monday 28th August, the second race day of this year’s Classic TT meeting.

    Owned by Team Obsolete’s Rob Iannucci, the ‘Six’ is the first example of Honda’s ground-breaking machine and is the only surviving RC165. Jim Redman first rode it, followed by Stuart Graham before Mike Hailwood took it to victory in the 1966 Czechoslovakian Grand Prix.

    Redman raced what was the first Honda ‘Six’ at Monza in 1964 where it was rushed from Japan in the passenger compartment of a commercial airplane. The Rhodesian took third at Monza and then took the bike to its maiden victory when he won the 1964 250cc Japanese Grand Prix.

    The ‘Six’ was one of the most interesting and most technically advanced racing motorcycles of its time and was built to put a stop to the run of victories for the 250cc Yamaha which, in the hands of Phil Read, won the 1964 and 1965 250cc World Championships.

    Although the six-cylinder Honda 250 did not win the championship in 1965, it was able to put up a competitive fight against the two-cylinder Yamaha, ridden by Read and Mike Duff. Redman won the 250cc TT that year for the fourth time in a row. Yamaha’s response was to produce an updated two-stroke, four-cylinder motorcycle, built solely to stand up to the competition from the Honda. Ex-factory Honda rider Steve Plater, winner of the 2009 Senior TT Race and current presenter on the TT and Classic TT ITV4 highlights programmes, will ride the bike with the Lincolnshire rider completing a demonstration lap on Monday 28th August, ahead of the Motorsport Merchandise Superbike Classic TT Race.

    The “Six” will first appear at the VMCC’s Festival of Jurby on Sunday 27th August for some shakedown laps. Dave Roper, winner of the 1984 Senior Classic TT, will ride the Honda at Jurby on the 27th.

    ITV4 will feature the Honda Six in their highlights programme with Plater, as expected, embracing the Classic TT spirit by riding in replica leathers and helmet, evoking memories of the machine’s 1960s heyday.

    Team Obsolete owner Robert Iannucci has supported the Classic TT with a series of iconic bikes with Mountain Circuit connections since the event was established in 2013 and both Redman and Graham will attend the Classic TT to talk about their experiences with the bikes.

    Iannucci says of the restoration of his bike: "Recently we disassembled and scrutinized the entire motorcycle again. We are carefully rebuilding the motor with new pistons and a new crankshaft assembly. We commissioned two from an Italian Formula One technology company, supplying them with the complete original crankshaft assembly which they reverse engineered. Their engineers said that they got an education from the process. "Team Obsolete has been racing classic bikes since 1978 and have now competed in 1500 races with 50 riders. Our victory in the 1984 Historic TT, and the 1989 Manx GP Milne Shield, sealed our love for the Mountain Circuit, which represents the ultimate challenge. We have made 26 starts in all, with two wins and two fastest laps.”

    "The Classic TT has now emerged as the crown jewel of classic motorcycle sport worldwide. We are honoured to have received an invitation every year since its inception to share our historic bikes with our friends. All of us come because we must. Regardless of where we hail from, we are all drawn to something very special. We all know that we belong here. We see it in each other’s faces and we feel it in our bones."

    The man chosen to ride the machine at this years Classic TT, Steve Plater added:

    “It is an honour to have been asked to ride of the most iconic and technically ground breaking motorcycles ever built on the most famous race circuit in the world. Whenever a bike like this gets demonstrated at other events, it is normally over a very short run, so you have to admire the ambition of Robert Iannucci and Team Obsolete in making this happen for a full lap of the TT Mountain Circuit. I’m sure the fans coming to this year’s event are in for an assault on their senses when this bike comes past!”

    Classic TT Grandstand tickets are available now starting from as little at £5 with race day tickets priced at £20. VIP experiences, tickets for the Classic TT Party on Saturday 26thAugust the RST Classic TT Legends Dinner on Sunday 27th and the Classic TT Prize giving and Closing Party on Monday 28th August are all available to buy now at iomtt.com or our sales hotline on (00 44) (0) 1624 640011.


    ---------------


  • Senior TT winner Michael Dunlop leads three rider Team Classic Suzuki line up for 2017 Classic TT

    Team Classic Suzuki will have a three-rider assault on the 2017 Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts with team owner Steve Wheatman having signed a formidable looking line-up of Michael Dunlop, Lee Johnston and Danny Webb for the Motorsport Merchandise Superbike Classic TT Race.

    All three riders will ride identically-prepared GSXR1100 Suzuki-powered XR69’s in the four lap race which will take place on Bank Holiday Monday, August 28th with Dunlop hoping to make it three wins in a row and four in total at the event.

    The 15-times TT winner took victory in the inaugural event in 2013 before retiring in 2014 but he bounced back to take victory in both 2015 and 2016, setting a new lap record last year with a stunning speed of 126.808mph. With that kind of pedigree, he goes into this year’s race as the red-hot favourite for the win although an incredibly strong entry means nothing is guaranteed.

    He’s joined on the immaculately prepared Suzuki’s by fellow Northern Irishman Johnston who is eagerly looking forward to making his return to the Classic TT having missed last year’s event, as well as this year’s TT Races, due to injury. The now Hull-based rider took fifth in 2014 and seventh in 2015 whilst he’s also lapped at 123.636mph so, with a victory already to his name in the Junior Classic TT Race, he’ll be hoping to add the Superbike title to his list of considerable achievements around the Mountain Course.

    Completing the line-up is former 125cc and Moto3 World Championship contender Danny Webb who aims to be fully fit after a crash at Laurel Bank during qualifying for this year’s Isle of Man TT Races left him nursing a dislocated shoulder and back injuries. The 26-year old was part of the squad in 2016 and lapped at 121.289mph on his way to an impressive sixth place.

    Dunlop may start as the race favourite but such is the strength of the squad, both Johnston and Webb have every chance of joining him in the top three and making it an all Team Classic Suzuki podium.

    Team owner Steve Wheatman commenting on his line up for the 2017 Classic TT said:

    “The Classic TT has quickly turned into a prestigious event with a high quality entry, so we expect a very hard challenge from the rest of the opposition in the Superbike Race. In Michael we have a consistent race winner and he will be looking to add to his win tally and we will be providing him a bike capable of doing that. Lee and Danny are both coming off the back of injuries from the TT, but both expect to be fully fit in time and we know they are both capable of featuring at the front of the race.”



    Classic TT Grandstand tickets are available now starting from as little at £5 with race day tickets priced at £20. VIP experiences, tickets for the Classic TT Party on Saturday 26th August the RST Classic TT Legends Dinner on Sunday 27th and the Classic TT Prize giving and Closing Party on Monday 28th August are all available to buy now at iomtt.com or our sales hotline on (00 44) (0) 1624 640011.

  • Sports motorcycles set to make competitive return to the mountain course at the 2017 Classic TT presented by Bennetts


    39 years since the legendary Mike Hailwood won the Formula One TT, the iconic Sports Motorcycles Ducati team are set to return to the Isle of Man in August this year where they will contest the Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts with Chris Swallow.

    Guided by the skilful hand of Steve Wynne, Mike’s spectacular achievement - 11 years after his last race in 1967 - is firmly stamped into the ledger of motorcycle racing history and although Wynne is now enjoying his well-earned retirement, a fortunate quirk of fate has sparked an exciting new era in the team’s history.

    His long-time friend and engineer from Yorkshire, Glyn Robinson is now carrying the Sports Motorcycles baton and producing a whole series of very special parts for the classic 1980’s Ducati race scene, even as far as creating whole factory replica bikes of the day.


    As was always the case at Sports Motorcycles in Manchester, racing is still central to the proceedings. The team are currently enjoying tremendous success in the Antipodean regions but have recently cast their sights on maintaining important historical matters - the Isle of Man.

    As a result, Sports Motorcycles Ducati will return to the Isle of Man in 2017 where they will contest the Dunlop Lightweight Classic TT Race on a newly built 750cc TT1 with another Yorkshireman, Chris Swallow, in the saddle.

    His pedigree at the island – which includes two podiums at the Classic Manx Grand Prix races and fifth in the 2015 Bennetts Senior Classic TT Race - on a raft of historic single cylinder machinery is proven, and he has also competed very successfully on Glyn’s Sports Motorcycles Ducati 600 TT2 in NZ for the previous four years. Chris is now looking forward to the opportunity to prove himself on the mountain course on a 750cc twin.


    The Sports Motorcycles-entered Ducati TT1 is built from scratch entirely in house having a host of special parts which are all manufactured in their own machine shop using a wide range of CNC production equipment. These include Marzocchi replica 41mm magnesium forks and adjustable yokes, brake discs, footrests and controls, dry clutch assembly and housing, rear spindle clamp assembly and caliper carriers. The frame itself, swing arm, exhaust system and fuel tank are also hand crafted by Glyn.


    The sight and sound of a Ducati twin wearing the distinctive Sports Motorcycles Ducati colours on the island will surely evoke some memories of that magical moment in 1978.

    Speaking ahead of this year’s Classic TT, Sports Motorcycles rider Chris Swallow commented:

    “When I head off down Glenclutchery Road on this bike it will be the proudest moment of my relatively short TT Mountain Course career so far. We tested the bike at Pukekohe in New Zealand recently and the bike Glyn has produced is some thing. The attention to detail is simply brilliant, it's quick and it handles very well. It's a real credit to Glyn and the Sports Motorcycles name.”


    Project leader Glyn Robinson added:

    “It’s indeed a great honour to have the opportunity to represent Sports Motorcycles at the Isle of Man with Steve Wynne’s blessing and we are all looking forward to making our debut at the Classic TT.”

  • 15 times TT winner Michael Dunlop joins Daniel Cooper at Turner Racing for Lightweight Classic TT race


    Turner Racing will make a two-pronged attack in this year’s Dunlop Lightweight Classic TT Race at the 2017 Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts, having secured the services of Michael Dunlop and Dan Cooper for the four-lap race, with the duo sure to be among the pre-race favourites

    Owned by Roger Turner, the team will supply a pair of TZ 250cc Yamahas for Dunlop and Cooper with the latter back with the team for a second year and hoping for another strong result around the Mountain Course.

    Dunlop will be making his debut on a 250cc machine at the event but he does have considerable pedigree on the Lightweight machines - none more so than in 2008 when he took a highly emotional and, arguably, career defining victory at the North West 200, his first ‘international’ win. His first appearance on the 37.73-mile course also came on a two-stroke machine when he took the win in the 2006 Ultra-Lightweight Newcomers Manx Grand Prix.

    It means the 15-times Isle of Man TT race winner and current outright lap record holder will compete in all four Classic TT races having also been confirmed for Black Eagle Racing in the Bennetts Senior and Sure Junior Classic TT Races and Team Classic Suzuki in the Motorsport Merchandise Superbike Classic TT Race.

    Cooper campaigned the 2008-spec TZ Yamaha for Turner Racing at last year’s Classic TT although problems during practice week meant he was unable to make the start grid. With a year’s experience under their belt though, the team are confident of giving a good account of themselves this time around and providing the two riders with a great chance of success.

    Like Dunlop, 2015 TT Privateers Champion Cooper has a vast amount of two-stroke experience having won the 2006 125cc British Championship on the KRP Honda.

    Team owner Roger Turner commented:

    “We are very excited about this years Classic TT and are delighted to be working with undoubtedly the best TT rider around at the moment in Michael Dunlop. Michael has a lot of two-stroke experience and is excited about riding in the Lightweight Race. We are working hard to make sure we put a bike under him capable of winning the race. With Dan there is a lot of unfinished business after last years disappointment, but we have put that bad luck behind us and will be aiming to have two bikes on the podium.”

  • Herbertson joins Dunlop and Oversby at Davies Motorsport for Classic TT races presented by Bennetts






    Midlands based Davies Motorsport will continue their association with the Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts, increasing their line-up for 2017 from two riders to three with William Dunlop, Alan Oversby and new recruit Dominic Herbertson contesting the Bennetts Senior Classic TT and Sure Junior Classic TT Races on their latest-spec Honda machines.

    The team has been a mainstay at the event since the inaugural year in 2013 with Dunlop and Oversby lining up for their fifth year with the team, the duo again lining up in both the Bennetts Senior and Sure Junior races while County Durham’s Herbertson joins them after a successful debut for the team at the Pre TT Classic Races earlier this year.

    The undoubted highlights have been three podiums for the team with Dunlop taking second in the 2013 Bennetts 500cc Classic TT, where he lapped at an excellent 109.401mph and Oversby’s similar result in the Okells 350cc Classic TT Race in 2014.


    The Grange over Sands rider led in the early stages and lapped at an impressive 104.140mph before having to settle for second place behind eventual race winner Lee Johnston and he added another podium to his name in 2016 with third in the same race. He was also holding onto a rostrum position in the Senior Race, after lapping in excess of 107mph, before slipping back to fifth on the final lap.

    Dunlop has been out of luck in recent years but Herbertson enjoyed an excellent ride last year when he took sixth in the Senior Race with a near 106mph lap and he also experienced his best ever TT earlier this year, lapping at more than 126mph on his way to a top twenty finish in the PokerStars Senior TT Race.

    Those performances fully justify his inclusion in the team and, with all three riders having proven pedigree around the Mountain Course they are sure to be amongst the race favourites for the two four-lap races.

    Davies Motorsport have been long-time front runners on the Classic racing scene and is headed up by John Davies, who sponsored numerous riders in the 1980s and 90s including Alex Bedford, Kevin Mitchell, Neil Hodgson and Steve Thompson. Davies was a regular competitor himself at the Manx Grand Prix between 1978 and 1997, with his best finishes being second in the 1978 Senior Newcomers race and a brace of fourths in the 1986 and 1987 Lightweight 250cc races. He also campaigned a 500cc Grand Prix Harris Yamaha for the Padgetts team.

    Specialising in Honda machinery, nephew Colin Davies handles all the technical aspects for the team and he too has a wealth of experience at all levels including numerous years as technician to Kevin Schwantz at Lucky Strike Suzuki where together they won the 1993 500cc World Championship.


    Team owner John Davies commented:

    “The Classic TT has become the big event of the year for Classic racing and we are coming with an increased rider line up and a set of bikes that have improved year on year. We want to be challenging for the podium in both the Senior and Junior Races and we have both the machinery and the riders to be able to do just that.”


  • Rutter returns to Classic TT with Ripley Land Racing.




    Michael Rutter will have a strong chance of another race victory at the Classic TT presented by Bennetts with the Midlands ace contesting the Sure Junior Classic TT and Bennetts Senior Classic TT races for Ripley Land Racing.

    The Bridgnorth rider has ridden for the Guildford-based team since 2014 and gave them a famous victory on their 350cc Drixton Honda in the 2015 Junior Classic TT race before taking a close second to Michael Dunlop in the corresponding race twelve months ago. The duo had a race-long battle with Rutter lapping at 103.974mph on his way to the runner-up spot.


    In addition, Rutter will also ride Ian Garbutt’s MkII 500cc Seeley G50 Matchless in the Bennetts Senior Classic TT race, having ridden the machine for last two years. Rutter broke the 500cc single cylinder record in his first year on the bike in 2014 with a stunning lap of 109.102 mph and was leading the race and on course for a fairytale victory until a minor problem on the third lap caused him to retire on the Mountain Mile.

    Problems on the opening lap last year saw him lap at just 60.975mph but he gamely carried on and lapped in excess of 106mph before retiring on the final lap. He was also forced to retire from the race in 2016 when lying fifth after more 106mph+ laps.

    Rutter will be one of the favourites for victory in both of the races, further highlighting the credibility and importance of the Classic TT while Ripley Land Racing’s intentions are clear to see.

    Team owners Ian and Janet Garbutt are staunch supporters of the Classic TT and, with one of the finest Mountain Course riders on their books, they have a strong chance of adding to their already impressive track record, which also includes two race wins with Chris Palmer.

  • TWO BRITTENS SET TO FEATURE AT 2017 CLASSIC TT PRESENTED BY BENNETTS


    The iconic New Zealand-built Britten machine will make its return to the Isle of Man in August with not one but two of John Britten’s ground-breaking creations taking to the Mountain Course once more at the Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts.

    The pink and blue Britten and CRS Britten, owned respectively by Kevin Grant and Bob Robbins, were both campaigned at the 1994 Isle of Man TT races and will be ridden this year by Bruce Anstey and fellow Kiwi Stephen Briggs in the Classic Racer Magazine Classic TT Retro Parade on Monday 28th August.


    Grant’s machine won the BEARS World Championship in the 1990s and was ridden by Nick Jefferies at the 1994 Isle of Man TT Races with the 1993 Formula One TT winner lapping at more than 118mph from a standing start in the 1994 Senior Race before being side-lined with a gearbox issue.

    The machine has continually been demonstrated around the world since and returned to the TT in 2004 with triple World Champion and double TT winner Hugh Anderson MBE on board. It was last seen on the island in 2014 when Anstey paraded the bike during the Classic TT festival and the 12-time TT Race winner will again put the bike through its paces.

    The CRS Britten competed at the TT on more occasions than any of the other Britten machines with Shaun Harris’ ride in the 1996 Senior being one of the most popular finishes of recent times. The machine has only recently returned from being on museum display to being demonstrated at events internationally.

    Briggs, who competed in the Supersport 600cc TT races in 1994 and 1996 will ride the equally striking black and yellow CRS Britten. Both bikes have been rebuilt completely to ensure there are no issues and are sure to be one of the most popular attractions at the 2017 Classic TT presented by Bennetts.



  • SUPERBIKE CHAMPION JOSH BROOKES TO MAKE CLASSIC TT PRESENTED BY BENNETTS DEBUT ON BOARD ROTARY NORTON



    2015 British Superbike Champion Josh Brookes has been confirmed to compete at the 2017 Classic TT presented by Bennetts.
    Brookes, fresh from a highly successful campaign at the 2017 Isle of Man TT Races, will make his debut in the August event riding for Wiz Norton Racing.
    The Australian ace will ride a 588cc Norton Rotary alongside the team’s regular rider Richard Wilson in the four-lap Motorsport Merchandise Superbike Classic TT Race.
    Brookes has been testing the bike at the Donington Park, and the Norton produces approximately 120bhp and and is running an original specification from the era when the likes of Robert Dunlop, Trevor Nation and Ron Haslam all enjoyed success on the British-built machine.
    Arguably the Norton’s finest moment, though, came in 1992 when Steve Hislop won the Senior TT after a race long duel with Carl Fogarty - the race voted the greatest ever by race fans in a 2011 survey to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Mountain Course. The Scot lapped at 123.50mph, the fastest ever lap by a rotary machine, and this is the lap time that Brookes and the Wiz Norton Racing team are aiming to beat.
    Earlier this year, 34-year old Brookes made his return to the Mountain Course after a three-year gap and took four top twelve finishes, including sixth place on Ryan Farquhar’s IEG International/KMR Kawasaki in the Bennetts Lightweight Race.
    His best performance came in the closing PokerStars Senior Race with another sixth placed finished sixth lapping at 130.883mph on the SG6 Norton to record not only his personal best lap but also the quickest ever by a Norton machine. This followed up the seventh place he had already recorded in the opening RST Superbike Race.
    Wilson has competed on a similar Norton Rotary for Wiz Racing in the last three Superbike Classic TT Races finishing 21st in 2014 and 19th in 2016 despite a lengthy pitstop in the latter that dropped him down the order. His fastest lap came in last year’s race at 114.836mph.

    Speaking about the news, Josh Brookes commented:

    “I’ve always been interested in the Rotary Norton racers from the 1990’s and love the engineering ideas that went into this truly iconic motorcycle. I saw the Wiz Norton guys at an event and got talking to them about the project and one thing led to another and it wasn’t long before I was testing the bike. I’m really excited about making my Classic TT debut on such a fabulous motorcycle and getting some more time on the TT Mountain Course.”

    Classic TT Grandstand tickets are available now starting from as little at £5 with race day tickets priced at £20. VIP experiences, tickets for the Classic TT Party on Saturday 26thAugust the RST Classic TT Legends Dinner on Sunday 27th and the Classic TT Prize giving and Closing Party on Monday 28th August are all available to buy now at iomtt.com or our sales hotline on (00 44) (0) 1624 640011.

    Photocaption: (1) Please credit Pete Morris @ PJ Motorsport – (pjm-photography.co.uk)

  • Superbike Champion Josh Brookes replaces injured John McGuinness at Team Winfield for Bennetts Senior Classic TT Race


    Team Winfield, one of the most successful Classic motorcycle racing teams on the planet, will once again take to the TT Mountain Course in 2017 having secured the considerable talents of Josh Brookes for the Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts.

    The team will concentrate their efforts this year on the Bennetts Senior Classic TT Race with Australian ace Brookes campaigning the 500cc Paton that John McGuinness took to a record-breaking victory 12 months ago.

    Roger Winfield’s outfit have been ever-present at the Classic TT since 2013, and the Classic Manx Grand Prix before that, and although McGuinness was out of luck in the early years of the Classic TT, he made up for that last year when he won the race and set a new lap record of 113.342mph as he came home over twenty seconds clear of Dean Harrison.


    The 23-time Isle of Man TT had been due to ride Winfield’s rapid 500cc twin cylinder Paton again this year but having sustained leg injuries at the North West 200, the team were in need of a top quality replacement and they’ve got just that in 34-year old Brookes.


    The former British Superbike Champion enjoyed a superb return to the 37.73-mile Mountain Course at this year’s TT as he lapped at close to 131mph on the SG6 Norton on his way to securing sixth place in the Pokerstars Senior Race. He took the same result in the Bennetts Lightweight Race, on Ryan Farquhar’s IEG/KMR Kawasaki. The Northern Irishman himself has a strong link to Team Winfield having taken numerous victories at the Manx Grand Prix on Winfield’s immaculately prepared machines.

    Brookes will be getting his first taste of Classic TT action but there’s not doubt that the combination of his skill and talent and Winfield’s engineering expertise, is one to be feared They will come into this year’s event as one of the pre-race favourites. Indeed, the Sydney rider could well start favourite for his maiden Mountain Course race victory.

    Team owner Roger Winfield commented:


    “We were deeply saddened when John (McGuinness) was ruled out after his crash at the North West 200. Working with John has been a real highlight for our team over the past few years and after some terrible luck we showed what we are capable of last year when he won the race and moved the lap record on considerably Hopefully he will continue to mend well and we look forward to be able to work with him again in the future.”

    He continued:
     
    “The task of replacing the most successful living TT rider has been a difficult one and we would have been forced to miss the event if we couldn’t find a rider of the very highest calibre to fill John’s boots so we were delighted when Josh Brookes agreed to join our team. While not as experienced on the Mountain Course as some of the riders in the field, there is no question about his skill level, and his results impressed everyone at this year’s TT after two years away. We will give Josh a great bike which hopefully he will get a lot of enjoyment out of riding, and we will see where we all end up after a week’s qualifying and four fast laps in the race itself.”

    Josh Brookes added:

    “It’s great to be riding the team Winfield Paton at the Classic TT. The team and the bike clearly have pedigree having won last year’s race and setting a new lap record. It’s going to be a steep learning curve for me with a type of bike I have no experience of riding, but I am looking forward to the challenge and will give it my all to give Roger and the team a good result.”

  • ISLE OF MAN FESTIVAL OF MOTORCYCLING PROGRAMME NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER



    Motorcycling fans can now pre-order the definitive guide to the 2017 Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling with the release of the 2017 Official Programme.

    The full colour 92 page glossy publication previews the four main events that comprise the 2017 festival – the Classic TT presented by Bennetts, the Manx Grand Prix, the Manx International Classic Trial and the Vintage Motorcycle Club’s Festival of Jurby.

    This year’s feature packed programme includes a nostalgic look back at Bob McIntyre’s 100mph Mountain Course milestone, sixty years after the Scotsman’s iconic lap and ahead of Michael Dunlop’s tribute parade lap on a replica Gilera.

    There’s also a profile of one of the TT’s young guns – cover star Dean Harrison – who talks about the enjoyment he gets from riding Classic machines while at the other end of the age scale Nick Jefferies, who has been competing on the Mountain Course for 42 years, reveals what makes him keep coming back ahead of his Classic TT and Manx Grand Prix campaign.


    The programme also profiles Maria Costello, now in her 21st year of competing around the Mountain Course since her 1996 Manx Grand Prix debut. The Northamptonshire based rider talks about her early days on a Honda Melody scooter through to last year’s memorable Classic TT campaign that saw her stand on the podium alongside John McGuinness in the Bennetts Senior Classic TT.

    As well as the profiling the leading riders there’s also an in-depth look at two of the most remarkable machines in the TT’s history, the Britten V1000 and the iconic Honda Six, which will both feature at this year’s event.

    As well as the glossy feature magazine this year’s programme pack includes detailed race guides for both the Classic TT and Manx Grand Prix featuring the complete entry list for every race, the complete list of ‘Vintage’ and ‘Retro’ parader’s as well as the full qualifying, race and parade schedule. The programme is an indispensible guide to some of the best entertainment on the island so that you don’t miss anything off the track either.

    The programme is available to pre-order now via iomtt.com priced £10 with UK delivery scheduled from 12 August and international distribution to most destinations also possible. Customers can also collect their copy from the Duke Grandstand shop during the festival.


    It is also available from many of the Isle of Man's leading newsagents.


    - Ends

  • IRISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPION DEREK SHIELS JOINS HORST SAIGER AT GREENALL RACING FOR ISLE OF MAN CLASSIC TT PRESENTED BY BENNETTS


    Greenall Racing will return to this year’s Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts with Irish Superbike Champion Derek Shiels joining regular team member Horst Saiger in a two-pronged attack on the Motorsport Merchandise Superbike Classic TT Race.

    The duo will ride identically prepared ZXR750 Kawasaki’s in the four-lap race which is scheduled to be held on Bank Holiday Monday, August 28th.

    Austria’s Saiger has become a staunch supporter of the Classic TT event, adding the meeting to his Isle of Man TT Races schedule and having finished 13th in the 2015 race, he improved considerably in 2016, finishing sixth and lapping at an impressive 122.529mph.





    However, like a number of other riders he fell foul to a technical infringement and was removed from the results. He did, however, finish in a fine 10th place in the Bennetts Senior Classic TT Race riding an immaculately prepared Egli-Vincent EVG500

    Sheils will be making his debut at the Classic TT and although he had a disappointing time on the Mountain Course in June at the TT, retiring from all four of his races, he did lap at 128.780mph to become the fastest rider from Southern Ireland around the 37.73-mile course.

    The double Irish Superbike Champion has again been in imperious form at the Irish National road race meetings this year and his appearance at the Classic TT adds further intrigue to a high-quality line-up.


    The team is well established within road racing circles as they were originally formed over 30 years ago and since then have had many successes on the Mountain Course and the Irish roads with riders such as Bill Ingham, Geoff Johnson, Steve Hazlett, Bob Jackson, Jim Hodson and Jim Moodie.

    They also prepared the 926cc Ducati for the late Simon Beck, which he rode when finishing 3rd in the 1995 Formula 1 TT Race, splitting the 4 factory Honda’s as well as building the popular Lancastrian’s factory ZX7RR Kawasaki’s.


    Commenting on his Classic TT debut, Derek Shiels said:

    “I’m really looking forward to getting back to the Island for the Classic TT and hopefully I’ll have more luck than I did at the TT in June. The Classic TT has gone from strength to strength since it started so it is good to finally get involved. I’m excited about riding the Greenall Kawasaki’s which look to be amongst the best bikes out there, and I am hopeful of getting a good result for Angus (Greenall) and the team.”

  • TT STARS DAN KNEEN AND JAMIE COWARD CARRY MISTRAL RACING'S HOPES FOR 2017 CLASSIC TT PRESENTED BY BENNETTS


    Continuing the strength in depth at the Classic TT presented by Bennetts, Mistral Racing will field Dan Kneen and Jamie Coward in this year’s Motorsport Merchandise Superbike Classic TT Race.


    The pairing will form one of the strongest teams on the grid in the 4-lap race, riding identically prepared ZXR750 Kawasakis as they look to break the Suzuki and Yamaha stranglehold on the event.

    Kneen rode for the team in 2016 and, after lapping at 123.853mph, was running in the top five before being forced to retire on the second lap. He comes into the meeting as one of the in-form riders having achieved his debut podium at this year’s Isle of Man TT Races, when he finished third in the RL360º Quantum Superstock Race, while he also finished in the top three in all four Superbike races at the recent Southern 100.

    Coward has ridden for Ian Harrison’s team at the Classic TT presented by Bennetts every year since 2013 with the exception of 2014 when he missed the event due to injury. He finished sixth in 2015 and lapped at 122.858mph twelve months ago before being removed from the results due to a technical infringement.

    The Hebden Bridge rider is in excellent form this year on the Radcliffe Racing machines, securing his best ever finish at the TT with ninth in the RL360 Quantum Superstock Race, posting personal best lap times at all of the meetings he’s competed in.


    Mistral Racing have competed at every Classic TT since its inception in 2013 and have over 25 years experience in performance motorsport and motorcycle tuning. They are acknowledged as one of the most accomplished engine tuning companies in the UK. With Kneen and Coward piloting the ZXR750 Kawasaki’s, they will have every chance of recording at least a podium finish.

    Commenting on the Classic TT, Mistral Racing’s Dan Kneen said:

    “I really enjoyed working with the Mistral guys last year and we were on for a good result before we got hit by some bad luck. The team have done a lot more development with the bike since last year and we should be as competitive as anything else out there.”




  • CAMERON DONALD LINES UP SURE JUNIOR CLASSIC TT RACE CHALLENGE WITH MCINTOSH RACING



    Cameron Donald will again challenge for honours at this year’s Isle of Man Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts with the Australian ace a confirmed starter in the Sure Junior Classic TT Race.

    The double TT winner will ride a 350cc Manx Norton for McIntosh Racing run by Kiwi classic racing supremo Ken McIntosh.

    Donald has been a regular at the Classic TT since the inaugural year in 2013 and finished second in that year’s Okells 350cc Classic TT behind race winner Chris Palmer riding an AJS 7R.


    Riding the same machine, he finished fourth in 2016 just missing out on the podium but with a fastest lap in the class of 100.382mph. He will go in to the four-lap race, to be held on Bank Holiday Monday, August 28th, as a major contender for honours.

    New Zealand tuning ace McIntosh has also been a staunch supporter of the Classic TT initially fielding Bruce Anstey on his 500cc Manx Norton. The 12-time TT winner retired in 2013 but took an excellent third in 2014 lapping in excess of 108mph and McIntosh’s expertise when it comes to Manx Norton’s is highly regarded so he’ll be giving Donald every possible chance of glory in 2017.

    Speaking about the Classic TT, Cameron Donald said:

    “I’ve really enjoyed the Classic TT since the outset and having missed riding at this year’s TT on the modern bikes, I am raring to go with Ken and the McIntosh Racing Team. I’ve worked with Ken on and off for a long time and I know how good his bikes are. It’s always going to be a hard up against the multi cylinder bikes, but these are races of attrition and with four consistently fast laps I hope to be close when the chequered flag goes out.”

  • BRUCE ANSTEY AND MICHAEL DUNLOP GO HEAD TO HEAD IN DUNLOP LIGHTWEIGHT CLASSIC TT RACE AT 2017 ISLE OF MAN CLASSIC TT PRESENTED BY BENNETTS




    The second running of the Dunlop Lightweight Classic TT Race at the Classic TT presented by Bennetts has attracted an increased entry of 68 riders for 2017 and last year’s race winner and lap record holder Bruce Anstey heads the line up.

    The Kiwi lapped at 118.744mph on his way to victory in 2016 and he’s back to try and make it two in a row, this time starting at number 2 on the Padgetts Motorcycles Honda.

    The pre-race favourite sets off ten seconds after one his closest rival Ian Lougher, the Welshman again riding the Laylaw Racing Yamaha with another major threat coming at number three with Michael Dunlop contesting the race for the first time on the Turner Racing Yamaha.

    His team-mate Dan Cooper sets off at number five and is sure to be challenging for a podium finish whilst the same applies to the John Chapman Racing duo of Dan Kneen (7) and Ivan Lintin (8) who will both ride RS250 Honda’s.

    James Cowton (9) is another likely rostrum contender on his Yamaha with Phil Harvey (10) aiming for a repeat performance of 2016 when he took an emotional third place on his CSC Racing Honda.

    Paul Owen (11) just missed out to Harvey last year on the Team 98 Honda and other class regulars to be back for another try are Rhys Hardisty (15) on the Kaymac Marine Engineering Yamaha, former Newcomers Manx Grand Prix winner Gary Vines (17) riding his immaculately prepared Online Lubricants Yamaha, Chris Moore (18) riding the JL Exhausts/Dafabet Yamaha and Davy Morgan (19) on his own 250cc Honda.


    2016 TT Privateer’s Champion Dan Hegarty (12) makes his debut in the race riding a TZ Yamaha, while former Manx Grand Prix winner Dan Sayle is set to go at 14 on the Steelcote Solutions Yamaha.

    Exciting road racing prospect Adam McLean starts at number 16 and will also be Yamaha-mounted whilst other riders expected to be pushing for top ten finishes are the Clever Brown Honda pairing of Nigel Moore and Shaun Anderson, Timothee Monot (Team Baz Honda), Michael Sweeney on the second Laylaw Racing Yamaha, Tom Snow (FCL Racing Yamaha), Stuart Hall (Martyn Nelson Yamaha) and Dan Stewart (Wilcock Consulting Yamaha).


    However, a spoiler in the race could well be Michael Rutter on the Red Fox Grinta Racing Ducati with the Midlands rider setting off at number four whilst Chris Swallow also has a 750cc Ducati at his disposal, this time under the iconic Sports Motorcycles Ducati banner.

    Other riders to keep an eye on include David Hewson (Obsession Engineering Yamaha), David Madsen-Mygdal (RJP Racing Honda), Neal Champion (Frasers of Gloucester Yamaha) and Michael Russell (CMB Motorsport Honda).

  • Michael Dunlop, Dean Harrison and Josh Brookes lead a star-studded entry for 2017 Bennetts Senior Classic TT race


    This year’s Bennetts Senior Classic TT Race at the 2017 Isle of Man Classic TT presented by Bennetts is set to be another fiercely contested encounter around the Mountain Course with an 87-strong field containing some of the sport’s finest road racers.


    Last year’s winner and current lap record holder John McGuinness is sadly absent due to injury but Team Winfield have moved swiftly to replace him with Josh Brookes taking over their 500cc Paton. It will be the Australian’s first time at the Classic TT presented by Bennetts but, setting off at number eight, he’s sure to be a major contender on, arguably, the strongest bike on the grid.

    The strongest competition is likely to come from the Black Eagle Racing pairing of Michael Dunlop (3) and Dean Harrison (9) on MV Agusta’s, the latter having won in 2015 and finished second twelve months ago. Ian Lougher (John Chapman Racing) will also mounted on one of the Italian multi-cylinder machines. The Welshman won in 2014 and he has the honour of leading the field away at number one this year.

    Davies Motorsport Honda trio William Dunlop (6), Alan Oversby (5) and Dominic Herbertson (15) are all podium contenders while Maria Costello (Team Beugger Racing) will be looking to repeat her 2016 rostrum finish when she was third on the Paton. She starts at number 7 with Classic maestro Bill Swallow (16) another rider to be Paton-mounted, this time for Gleve Racing.

    The field is packed with potential rostrum men riding British machines - none more so than Lightweight TT winner Michael Rutter (Ripley Land Racing Matchless) at number 4, Jamie Coward (Ted Woof/Craven Concrete Manx Norton) at number 2, Danny Webb (14) on the Dunnell Racing Norton and James Cowton (17) riding the Dave Kenah Racing Norton.


    Olie Linsdell, the maiden winner of the race in 2013, will again be on the Flitwick Motorcycles/Steve Bond Royal Enfield, this time with the number ten plate, while amongst Cameron Donald (11) riding the Motagallur Vincent, Chris Swallow (12) on the Wooderson BSA, Daniel Hegarty (18) with the D&M Engineering Honda and James Hillier (19) on the CSC Racing Honda all start in the top twenty. Austrian ace Horst Saiger rounds out the top twenty on the Egli Motorradtechnik Vincent machine.

    There’s plenty of talent throughout the field and other riders competing include Ivan Lintin (Brian Richards Racing Matchless), 1993 Formula One TT winner Nick Jefferies (Goathland Garage Norton), David Sellers (Chris Hughes Racing Honda), Peter Boast (D&M Engineering Honda), Phil McGurk (Dave Hardman BSA), Dave Matravers (Round Oak Services Paton), Steve Ferguson (Greenall Racing Honda) and TT Rider Liaison Officer John Barton (Wemoto.com Matchless).


    Classic racing stalwarts Hefyn, Bob and Mereydd Owen are back for another effort as are David Madsen-Mygdal, Mark Parrett, Mark Herbertson, Davy Morgan, Michael Russell, Alex Sinclair, Bruno Leroy, Chris McGahan and John Leigh Pemberton. Meanwhile, the leading newcomer of TT2017, Adam McLean, is set to make his Classic TT debut on a 500cc BSA.

    The four-lap race is scheduled to take place at 11.30am on Saturday 26th August.

    Classic TT Grandstand tickets are available now starting from as little at £5 with race day tickets priced at £20. VIP experiences, tickets for the RST Classic TT Legends Dinner on Sunday 27th and the Classic TT Prize giving on Monday 28th August are all available to buy now at iomtt.com or our sales hotline on (00 44) (0) 1624 640011.

    - Ends -


     

  • JOSH BROOKES CLINCHES MAIDEN TT MOUNTAIN COURSE WIN WITH VICTORY IN BENNETTS SENIOR CLASSIC TT RACE


     

    Josh Brookes clinched his first TT Mountain Course win with victory in today’s thrilling Bennetts Senior Classic TT Race, the opening race of the 2017 Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts.

    The Australian led from the start of the race and completed his victory on the Team Winfield Paton with a commanding thirty-four second gap ahead of runner-up Jamie Coward.Afterwards a clearly elated Brookes said:

    “My first board wasn’t updated and the second board had me at ‘P +0 so I gave it everything I’d got and risked blowing the engine. It was nice to be able to fill in for John which is a great honour but also to win the race for the team.”


    After a short delay to clear an oil spill on Bray Hill, the Isle of Man Classic TT Races roared into life at 11.45am. Last year’s race winner, 23 time TT Race winner John McGuinness, was the official race starter as he continues his recovery from injuries sustained in his North-West 200 accident.

    Ian Lougher, the 2014 race winner, had the honour of being first away on the John Chapman Racing MV Agusta but the Welsh rider was reported as a retirement at Greeba Bridge on the opening lap. Dean Harrison on the Black Eagle Racing MV was also out of the race on the opening lap at Ballagarey while Michael Rutter was unhurt after sliding out at Ballacraine on his Ripley Land Racing Matchless bike.

    Brookes was first to Glen Helen, establishing a lead of over seven seconds from William Dunlop on the Davies Motorsport Honda with Maria Costello, looking to emulate her podium place in last year’s race, in third on the Team Beugger Paton less than a second behind Dunlop. Jamie Coward on the Ted Woof Norton was fourth half a second further back with Michael Dunlop riding the Black Eagle Racing MV Agusta fifth.Coward moved into second place at Ballaugh but was already twelve seconds behind Brookes and the Australian extended his lead to over the second placed man to twenty seconds by Ramsey.


    Alan Oversby, who was in fifth place, was black flagged at Sulby Bridge with smoke coming out of his Davies Motorsport Honda machine but the Morecambe man was allowed to continue, and given a time credit for the stop, although the bike eventually gave up the ghost at Ballaugh Bridge on his second lap.


    Jamie Coward was first through the Grandstand clocking 108.340mph but Josh Brookes was the leader at the end of the opening lap with his lap of 111.295 (20:20.432) – his fastest of the week. Maria Costello maintained her third place (108.204) a second behind Coward with William Dunlop (107.743) and Bill Swallow (105.625) rounding out the top five.

    However Swallow, who came into the pits at the end of his first lap, was given a thirty second penalty for speeding in the pits which dropped him down the order while Michael Dunlop retired in the pits at the end of his opening lap when running in 11th place.


    Josh Brookes posted 110.839 on his second lap, and elected to run straight through which gave him a lead of almost forty seconds over second placed Coward - who was timed at 110.054 - which would be needed with Coward able to complete four straight laps on the single cylinder Norton.


    Costello, however did choose to come in for a ‘splash and dash’ on the second lap and her lead of less than a second over Dunlop became a forty eight second deficit by Glen Helen on her third lap with Dunlop still to pit. Michael Russell riding for Izzard Racing Norton was the leading privateer and completed the top five.

    The true race leader board only became clearer at the end of the third lap with Josh Brookes coming in for a fifty-three second pit stop after a lap of 110.823 and Jamie Coward running straight through after a third lap of 110.057, the fastest ever single cylinder lap of the Mountain Course. Brookes lead was duly revealed to be down to 2.5 seconds ahead of Coward at Glen Helen on his fourth lap.

    William Dunlop also came in at the end of his third lap (108.606) and with a 39 second pit stop, he remained in third place at Glen Helen on the last lap, 8 seconds ahead of Costello but well over a minute behind the leading pair.

    At the front of the field Brookes continued to move ahead of Coward and a last lap of 108.068 gave the Australian his first TT Mountain Course victory in 1:22.11.712./ 110.167mph

    Coward held the runner up position with an overall race time of 1:22.45.472/ 109.412 while Dunlop clinched the final podium place with a last lap of 104.449 and an overall race time of 1:24.18.778/ 107.400. Costello (1:24.26.278/ 107.241) finished fourth with Dominic Herbertson fifth and Bill Swallow sixth. Michael Russell, who finished in seventh place, was the leading privateer.



  • Anstey rips up the record books in Dunlop Lightweight Classic TT Race win


    Bruce Anstey shattered a number of records on his way to repeating last year’s victory in this afternoon’s Dunlop Lightweight Classic TT Race, the second race in the 2017 Isle of Man Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts.


    The flying Kiwi started by breaking the outright 250cc lap record on his opening lap, becoming the first rider to do a 250cc lap under 19 minutes which he followed up by becoming the first 250cc rider to post a 120mph lap on his second lap and he also broke his own race record by over a minute.


    In the winners enclosure Anstey revealed that the team had been specifically targeting the 120mph lap;


    “Clive [Padgett] ’s done brilliantly getting the bike up to spec over the winter. We have been targeting the 120mph lap so it’s great to get it in the bag. I used Ian as a bit of a target and went flat out for the first two laps.”


    In a day when the clock was turned back on the Isle of Man it was clearly a day for the veterans with the top three riders – Anstey, Michael Rutter and Ian Lougher - all having made their Mountain Course debuts in the 1980s and 1990s.


    Lougher on the Laylaw Racing Yamaha was first away and the Welshman lead on the road at Glen Helen at the opening checkpoint but Anstey had already taken 9 seconds out of him on the clock with Dan Sayle riding the Steelcote Solutions Yamaha the Kiwi’s nearest challenger, four seconds behind the race leader at Glen Helen.


    Anstey moved in front on the road at Ballaugh on the opening lap and extended his race lead over the Mountain section before posting an opening lap of 119.888mph/ 18:52.960, the fastest ever lap by a 250 machine, and the first under the 19 minute barrier – all the more remarkable as it was set from a standing start.


    Behind the Kiwi Dan Sayle was trying to give the Padgetts Motorcycles.com rider some competition but the Manx rider was already 25 seconds down with his opening lap of 117.225 with Michael Rutter on the Red Fox Grinta Racing Ducati, a tribute to his father Tony, completing the top three in 116.903. Lougher (116.657) was maintaining a podium challenge just over two seconds behind Rutter with Ivan Lintin (114.950) completing the top five.


    That remained the order on lap 2 with Anstey breaking his own lap one record with a lap of 120.475/ 18:47.438, the first 120mph 250cc lap in the history of the Mountain Course with the New Zealander slowing down for his pit stop.


    Anstey’s record breaking opening two laps gave him a lead of over fifty seconds from Dan Sayle (117.740) with Michael Rutter maintaining his podium challenge only five seconds behind Sayle. Lougher and Ivan Lintin held fourth and fifth places respectively going into the third lap.


    Dan Sayle was reported as a retirement at Garey Ford near Kerrowmoar which saw Michael Rutter move into second place at Ramsey with Lougher slotting into the final podium position but Anstey’s lead at the end of lap three after a lap of 113.233mph was a decisive seventy seconds ahead of Rutter with Lougher (111.580) a further thirteen seconds back in third place.


    That remained the top three at the finish with Anstey taking the race in a new record time of / 117.853/ 1:16:50.072. Rutter’s final lap of 116662 saw him finish in the runner-up up slot in 115.723/ 1:18.14.929 with fellow veteran Ian Lougher third in 115.665 1:18.17.289. Stuart Hall riding for Martyn Nelson Yamaha (109.416/ 1:22:45.565) was the leading privateer in eighth place.