CLASSIC TT - 2018 - Isle of Man

  • Pressemeldung:

    Monday, 20th November 2017


    40th ANNIVERSARY OF MIKE HAILWOOD’S TT COMEBACK TO BE CELEBRATED AT 2018 CLASSIC TT RACES PRESENTED BY BENNETTS



    Arguably the most memorable and emotional moment in the 110-year history of the Isle of Man TT Races will be central to the celebrations at next year’s Classic TT presented by Bennetts, which forms part of the Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling.

    23 time TT champion John McGuinness will ride a parade lap on the original Sports Motorcycles Ducati that Mike Hailwood raced in his glorious 1978 comeback. The lap will celebrate the fortieth anniversary of ‘Mike the Bike’s’ Formula 1 TT Race win - his first after an eleven-year absence.

    The parade lap, on Saturday 25th August, is the latest event in a long line of iconic moments and nostalgic racing that have already, according to the Daily Telegraph, established the Classic TT as ‘one of the best biking events on the planet’.


    Commenting on the Mike Hailwood comeback anniversary lap John McGuinness said: “I’ve already had some special moments on the Mountain Course in my career,- both racing and with parades - but this is undoubtedly going to be one of the real highlights. It’s truly an honour and a privilege to be asked to represent Mike even though I was only six when he came back and won the F1 Race. It’s an iconic moment in TT history and a story that everyone who follows the event knows about.”

    Mike Hailwood’s family - widow Pauline and son David - will attend the Classic TT to witness the Parade Lap, with the original machine, one of the most iconic in motorcycle racing history, being kindly supplied for the event by New York based collector Larry Auriana.


    The Classic TT has been the scene of a number of memorable races in the event’s five year history and last year alone included the first ever 120+mph 250cc lap of the Mountain Course by Bruce Anstey on the Padgetts Motorcycles Honda.

    Other highlights from 2017 include Anstey’s stunning new outright Classic TT lap record of 127.496mph on the YZR 500cc Yamaha during the thrilling Classic TT Superbike Race that ultimately saw Dean Harrison take the race win and former British Superbike Champion Josh Brookes riding the Winfield Paton to his maiden Mountain Course victory.


    Other memorable Classic TT moments since the event’s inception in 2013 have included Steve Plater’s lap of the Mountain Course on an authentic factory six-cylinder 250cc Honda Six, the ‘Joey Dunlop Road Racing Legend – The Rivals’ Parade Lap in 2014 that saw many of Joey’s greatest rivals, or representatives of his rivals, appearing in a tribute lap.

    Michael Dunlop’s recreation of the first 100mph lap on the Gilera and the unforgettable John McGuinness and Giacomo Agostini tribute to the 1967 Senior TT battle between Agostini and Mike Hailwood are other prominent moments in the TT’s illustrious history that have been recognised with tribute laps.

    This year’s Classic TT presented by Bennetts promises to add further layers to the ever-growing history and stories that the Mountain Course generates. After a week of qualifying, the now well-established four-day festival kicks off with the Classic TT Paddock Carnival on Friday 24th August as ahead of the final full qualifying session for the four-race Classic TT programme.

    The Classic TT races gets underway with the Bennetts Senior Classic TT on the morning of Saturday 25th August with the class dominated in recent years by the stunning collection of Patons assembled by Roger Winfield. Saturday afternoon, following the Hailwood Parade lap, sees the memorable sight, sound and smell of the two stroke 250’s for the Dunlop Lightweight Classic TT Race before tales of derring-do are swapped in the evening’s Classic TT Party in the VIP Hospitality Suite.

    The action moves to the North of the Island on Sunday 26th for the now traditional nostalgia-fest – the ‘Festival of Jurby’, organised by the Isle of Man chapter of the VMCC – a fitting preview to the evening’s RST Legends dinner back at the TT Grandstand.


    The action returns to the Mountain Course on the British Bank Holiday Monday 27th August with the Junior Classic TT Race, which has seen so many memorable British marques returning to the Mountain Course and battling the more modern Japanese manufactured bikes. Last year’s race saw Michael Rutter take the honours on the Ripley Land Racing Drixton Honda.


    Monday’s Race programme is bisected by the Classic Racer Magazine Lap of Honour; the chance to see some of the most memorable and some long forgotten machines and marques once again navigating the Mountain Course before the meeting reaches its climax with the RST Classic TT Superbike Race which has seen so many thrilling races, lap records and remarkable lap and race times by machines that belie the term Classic.


    And this year it’s easier than ever before to experience in person all the drama and excitement that this unique event throws up. Information on travel and accommodation options, grandstand seats, an extended choice of special events and Official VIP Hospitality Experiences are available from the Classic TT’s Officially Licensed Travel Partners.


    To secure your place at the most exhilarating motorsport event in the world you can book all your ticket requirements now at iomtt.com.

  • Auf der diesjährigen Classic-TT hatten die Ducati-Enthusiasten aus England eine tolle Ducati-Sonderausstellung über „Mike Hailwoods Ducati Comeback auf der Isle of Man in 1978“ organisiert. Ziel war die Ankündigung dieses 40-jährigen Jubiläums zur Classic-TT im kommenden Jahr. Schade ist, dass das Ducati-Werk bzw. das Ducati Museum sich voraussichtlich nicht daran beteiligen werden. Insofern ist den „Machern“ dieser Veranstaltung ein großes Lob zu zollen. Sicherlich wird dieser Sonderlauf genau so gut wie in diesem Jahr die „Ehrenrunde“ von Michael Dunlop mit der legendären 4-Zylinder Gilera GP500 anlässlich des 60-jährigen Jubiläums 100 mph durch Bob McIntyre im Jahr 1957.

  • Ich war 1982 bei NCR in Bologna, ich wollte meine 900 SS überarbeiten lassen. In der Kellerwerkstatt stand das TT-Motorrad von Mike Hailwood. Sie haben es mir zum Kauf angeboten. Umgerechnet für 17.000 DM. Ich habe nur einige Teile gekauft. Meinen Brief mit meinen Umbauwünschen für Zuvieinsatz haben sie nicht erhalten. Ich habe die Hailwood-Maschine nicht gekauft. Heute gibt es ja wohl mehrere "Hailwood"-Ducatis. Die Zeiten schreiten voran, in Italien bleibt vieles gleich.

    Männlich, 63, aus Essen, Yamaha-Fan, RD 350, ab und an mal BMW, fahre gerne mal Autos (Polo, Citroen)

  • Pressemeldung:

    TR3OC TO CELEBRATE TRIPLE MOTORCYCLES 50TH ANNIVERSARY AT 2018 ISLE OF MAN CLASSIC TT RACES




    The Trident & Rocket 3 Owners Club (TR3OC) is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the iconic Triumph and BSA triple motorcycles at the 2018 Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts. TR3OC is organising a spectacular display of both road and racing triples together with associated memorabilia.


    Tridents are the most successful production racer ever at the TT, winning five consecutive production classes on the Island.


    Visitors to the Isle of Man during the Classic TT will be able to see a comprehensive collection of motorcycles including the rebuilt ‘Slippery Sam' courtesy of the National Motorcycle Museum as well as the first Triumph Trident to be raced around the famous Mountain course in 1969 - the Hughes Triumph that was ridden by Martin Carney.


    A dozen more notable race bikes will also be displayed as well as a selection of artist John Hancox’s pen and ink drawings. John is a Technical Illustrator whose work can be seen every time a Triumph Trident's parts manual is opened.

    Along with the racing legends, the display will feature a definitive collection of road bikes. Starting with a 1969 Aquamarine T150 together with UK and US examples of various bikes, including Hurricane, Rocket 3s T150Vs and T160s.


    The Trident model that completed a 24 hour sponsored ride around the TT Course for the Manx Grand Prix Helicopter Fund will be on show together with the obligatory collecting buckets as well as a replica Travelling Marshal’s Trident and an original Marshal's bike that was ridden by Travelling Marshal Des Evans. The Martin Russell Parallelogram will also be on display.


    There will be a closed road parade around the TT Course on Saturday 25th August with many of the display bikes taking part. The lap will see Des Evans reunited with his Travelling Marshal’s Trident for a lap of the 37 ¾ miles while Ian Martin - TT star Guy’s father - will be riding his BSA Rocket 3.


    On the morning of Sunday, 26th August, the display will temporarily de-camp to Jurby Motodrome where the Vintage Motorcycle Club’s Isle of Man section host their annual Festival of Jurby event. Visitors will have the opportunity to see the world’s greatest display of Vintage and Classic motorcycles - not only on their paddock stands but also spreading the instantly recognisable aroma of Castrol R on the Jurby racetrack.


    Commenting on the anniversary TR3OC event co-ordinator Ian Bradshaw said:


    “None of the above would have been possible had it not been for the input of the Isle of Man Government, Department for Enterprise’s Motorsport Team and the Isle of Man section of the Vintage Motorcycle Club as well as everyone who has allowed their bikes and memorabilia to be displayed. I hope everyone interested in Motorcycles takes the opportunity to enjoy what is the display of a lifetime.”




  • Ex-Renzo Pasolini Benelli 350/4 Returns to Isle of Man for 2018 Classic TT presented by Bennetts




    For the sixth consecutive year, Team Obsolete has been invited to the Isle of Man Classic TT presented by Bennetts to display and parade a genuine exotic bike from its world renowned collection.


    This year they will be bringing the Ex-Renzo Pasolini 1967 Benelli 350/4 to participate in the Classic Racer Magazine Classic TT Lap of Honour on the Mountain Course on Monday 27th August, part of a stunning parade that will feature a number of memorable pre-1992 Race bikes. The iconic machine will be ridden by 1984 Senior Historic TT Race winner Dave Roper. The bike will also feature in the VMCC Festival of Jurby on Sunday 26th August.


    The bike is the very same seven speed Benelli that Renzo rode to an amazing 2nd place finish in the Junior TT in 1968 behind Agostini on his MV. It is also the very same bike that rider Dave Roper so famously rode to victory at the 1993 Daytona 350 ‘Historic GP’ and later crashed at Kerrowmoar while leading the 1993 Junior Classic Manx GP.


    Robert Ianucci, who manages Team Obsolete said:


    “After an extensive rebuild the Benelli has been run several times in preparation for the coming event. We are excited to return the machine to the island 50 years after Pasolini’s podium to share its song with the faithful once more.”


    Classic TT Grandstand tickets are available now starting from as little at £5 with race day tickets priced at £30. VIP experiences, tickets for the Classic TT Party on Saturday 25th August and the RST Classic TT Heroes Dinner on Sunday 26th August are all available to buy now at iomtt.com or via our sales hotline on (00 44) (0) 1624 640011.

  • Pressemeldung:

    Returning John McGuinness heads impressive line up for Bennetts Senior Classic TT Race



    This year’s Bennetts Senior Classic TT Race will again signal the start of the 2018 Race programme for the Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts and with an 80-strong grid, another fiercely contested Mountain Course Race is expected.


    Heading the entry at number one is 2016 Race winner and current Senior Classic TT Race lap record holder John McGuinness who returns on the Team Winfield Paton. After almost 18 months out of racing, 23-time TT winner McGuinness’s comeback is eagerly anticipated.


    The twin-cylinder Paton has won no less than four of the five previous Senior Classic TT Races but there are plenty of other riders capable of stopping their domination, perhaps none more so than ten-time TT winner Ian Lougher (#5) on the John Chapman Racing MV Agusta. Lougher won the race in 2014 and will certainly be aiming for the top step again.


    Maria Costello (#10), third in 2016 and fourth last year, will again be mounted on the Team Beugger Racing Paton but perhaps the biggest threat to the Italian multi-cylinder machines will come from the three pronged attack of the Davies Motorsport Honda team.


    Works Honda TT rider Lee Johnston will, arguably, be their strongest challenger as he sets off at number 13 but both Alan Oversby (#2) and Dominic Herbertson (#8) will be pushing for a podium - at least - with the latter finishing in fifth place twelve months ago.


    The field is packed with potential rostrum men riding British machines led by last year’s runner-up Jamie Coward (#3) on the Ted Woof/Craven Manx Norton. The Yorkshire rider has the distinction of setting the fastest ever lap on a British single-cylinder machine during last year’s meeting.


    Six-time TT winner Michael Rutter (#4) will again ride the Ripley Land Racing Matchless with former World Championship 125cc and Moto3TM competitor Danny Webb (#17) on board the Dunnell Racing Norton with Michael Russell (#19) riding a similar machine for Izzard Racing.


    Olie Linsdell, the maiden winner of the Senior Classic TT Race in 2013, will again be on the Flitwick Motorcycles/Steve Bond Royal Enfield, this time with the number nine plate, while the CSC Racing Honda pairing of Daniel Cooper (#11) and James Hillier (#14) and the father and son duo of Bill and Chris Swallow also feature in the top twenty. Bill goes at number 15 on a Ducati while Chris is a place behind on the grid on another Royal Enfield.


    Austrian ace Horst Saiger rounds out the top twenty on the Egli Motorradtechnik Vincent machine but there is also quality throughout the field and other riders outside the top twenty include Mark Parrett (Norton), Mark Herbertson (Matchless), Peter Boast (D&M Engineering Honda), Phil McGurk (Dave Hardman BSA), Dave Matravers (Round Oak Services Paton), Steve Ferguson (Greenall Racing Honda) and John Barton (Wemoto.com Matchless).


    The Welsh family of Hefyn, Bob and Mereydd Owen are back for another attempt as are David Madsen-Mygdal, Lancelot Unissart, John-Leigh Pemberton, Alex Sinclair and Chris McGahan.


    Josh Daley, Matt Mylchreest, Barry Lee Evans and Dean Osborne are amongst the debutantes in the four-lap race which is scheduled to get underway at 11.00am on Saturday 25th August.


    Classic TT Grandstand tickets are available now starting from as little at £5 with race day tickets priced at £30. VIP experiences, tickets for the Classic TT Party on Saturday 25th August and the RST Classic TT Heroes Dinner on Sunday 26th August are all available to buy now at iomtt.com


  • Stunning collection of Honda RC30s assembled as 30th anniversary of the all-conquering V4 is celebrated at the Classic TT




    The thirtieth anniversary of the RC30 Honda, one of the most iconic motorcycles of its generation, will be celebrated at this year’s Isle of Man Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts with a stunning collection of the machines being assembled in a pop up museum in the heart of the Classic TT Paddock. And over 30 RC30 Honda’s will take to the Mountain Course on Monday 27th August as well in the Classic Racer Magazine Classic TT Lap of Honour.


    The RC30 is inextricably linked to the history of the Isle of Man TT Races and made its mark from the outset in the 1988 Formula One TT Race which Joey Dunlop won on an early version of the bike, setting an outright lap record in the process.


    The bike was actually released in Japan in 1987 but only came to Europe in 1988 and made an instant impact when Fred Merkel won the inaugural Superbike World championship riders and manufacturers title, which he repeated the following year.


    Many of the bikes that will be on the Isle of Man for the celebration were ridden by some of the greatest names in the sport including 26-time TT Race winner Joey Dunlop, Steve Hislop, Phillip McCallen, Carl Fogarty and Freddie Spencer.


    Other machines include bikes that Nick Jefferies, Steve Ward, Johnny Rea, Alan Bennallick, Kenny Irons and Australian Mal Campbell all raced successfully on during their careers at prestigious meetings around the world. Five factory NLOB RC30’s, formerly ridden by Dunlop, Fogarty, McCallen and Jefferies in either Castrol or Silkolene colours and Hislop’s 1988 Production RC30 Honda will also feature.


    Steve Ward’s machines from 1988 and 1993 will be part of the paddock display. The Leeds rider achieved third place finishes in both the Formula One and Senior Races in the latter year, while the GT Motorcycles RC30 regularly campaigned by Alan Bennallick is another Honda RC30 that will form part of the celebrations.


    Spencer’s Two Brothers Racing Honda RC30 that the triple World Champion rode in the AMA Superbike Championship is also in the exhibition.


    In addition a number of RC30’s ridden in the World Endurance Championship will be on display including the 1989 Dholda Honda, an ex-Mal Campbell Moriwaki machine, also from 1989, that the Australian took to third in that year’s Suzuka 8-Hour and the Team Bike and That’s Racing machines that won and finished on the podium respectively at the Le Mans 24 Hour race as well as taking podium finishes elsewhere.


    The free to enter Honda RC30 30th Anniversary Pop Up Museum curated by the Honda RC30 Owners Club, will be open from Friday 24th to Monday 27th August in the Classic TT Paddock .


    Classic TT Grandstand tickets are available now starting from as little at £5 with race day tickets priced at £30. VIP experiences, tickets for the Classic TT Party on Saturday 25th August and the RST Classic TT Heroes Dinner on Sunday 26th August are all available to buy now at iomtt.com or via our sales hotline on (00 44) (0) 1624 640011.