The Isle of Man Government, Department of Economic Development has today confirmed the race programme for the 2014 Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts.

Following a week of practice and qualifying, the race programme will get underway with the Bennetts 500cc Classic TT Race on Saturday 23rd August. The second and final day of racing takes place on Bank Holiday Monday 25th August with the Okells 350cc Classic TT Race being followed by the combined Motorsport Merchandise Formula 1 and Formula 2 Classic TT Races.

The Classic TT Races form part of a four-day festival of motorcycle nostalgia from the 22nd to 25th August, which also includes a Paddock Carnival, classic racing machinery displays, photographic exhibitions, the Festival of Jurby and a whole host of social events. The Classic TT is one of the events that make up the 2014 Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling between August 16 and August 31. The festival also includes the Manx Grand Prix (27th to 29th August), Manx 2-Day Trial (23rd and 24th August) , Manx Classic Trial (30th and 31st August) and the VMCC rally and The Festival of Jurby (24th August).

Following the success of the inaugural Classic TT, the Department has reviewed all aspects of the event and carried out consultation with teams, competitors, commercial partners and race fans with a view to refining and building upon the 2013 activity.

This review has led to a number of racing specific changes for 2014 including the withdrawal of the 250cc and Formula Classic TT Races. Whilst machines from these races will still be allowed to compete (in the 350cc and Formula 1 Classic TT Races respectively) the limited numbers of entries and finishers in 2013 has led to the decision to remove them from the programme. ______________________

A number of new awards have been added for 2014 to recognise the achievements of different specifications of machinery in the races. These awards will be presented in a tribute to some of the greatest names in TT history, and will feature these legendary riders helmet iconography in the trophy design. The new awards will be as follows –

- The Joey Dunlop Classic TT Trophy (Presented to the rider of the first 750cc machine to finish in the Formula 1 Classic TT Race).

- The Mike Hailwood Classic TT Trophy (Presented to the rider of the first 500cc single cylinder machine in the 500cc Classic TT Race).

- The Geoff Duke Classic TT Trophy (Presented to the rider of the first 350cc single cylinder machine in the 350cc Classic TT Race).

- The Phil Read Classic TT Trophy (Presented to the rider of the first 250cc machine in the 350cc Classic TT Race

The competitor sub class categories have also been redefined for 2014. The ‘GP Rider’ and ‘Privateer Rider’ competitor sub classes were introduced to ensure competitors of all abilities and experience could compete in the Classic TT Races in an environment that promotes equality and sportsmanship. The sub classes were used to determine the awarding of trophies, replicas and qualification times.

Changes for 2014 will see the qualification for the ‘GP Rider’ sub class be defined as follows:

- A rider who has finished in 1st, 2nd or 3rd in a 500cc, 350cc, Formula 1 or Formula 2 Classic TT Race in any of the previous two years.

- A rider who has lapped at a threshold speed in a 500cc, 350cc, Formula 1 or Formula 2 Classic TT Race in any of the previous two years. These threshold speeds will be105mph in 500cc, 100mph in 350cc, 115mph in Formula 1 and 108mph in Formula 2.

- A rider who has finished in the top 20 in a Superbike, Supersport, Superstock or Senior TT Race in any of the previous two years.

- In exceptional circumstances any other rider at the promoters discretion based on their experience and machinery.

Work is ongoing in co-operation with the Classic TT Race Organisers, the Manx Motor Cycle Club, to identify improvements to practice and qualification track time allocation as well as logistical issues relating to technical inspections and the Parc Ferme ahead of next year’s event.

The technical regulations for the Classic TT Races are also currently under review, and whilst some minor amendments are likely to be made, there are currently no plans to make any significant alterations to the key technical specifications. The full regulations for the Classic TT will be released along with those for the Manx Grand Prix Races in early 2014.

There are no less than 30 major motorcycle manufacturers exhibiting at Motorcycle Live 2013 and each one will be showcasing its latest machinery and 2014 model launches, some of which will have never been seen in the UK before.

The British Eurosport Entertainment Zone featuring the Blackhorse Stage will provide non-stop entertainment in the form of game shows and Q&As with a daily dose of famous faces and stars from MotoGP, World Superbike, British Superbike and the Isle of Man TT.

Motorcycle Live 2013 is the perfect opportunity to broaden your two-wheel horizons. The Yamaha Off Road Experience offers the chance to swap the tarmac for the dirt with a FREE 20-minute taster session on a specially designed indoor motocross circuit.

New-for-2013, the Retro Zone sponsored by Brittany Ferries will take you back in time to the 70s and 80s with a display of immaculate machinery that celebrates, among other models, the much-loved Yamaha "Fizzie".

The ever-popular My First Honda Licence makes a welcome return to the show. Children between the ages of five and 11 can take a supervised ride on a powered two-wheeler around a specially constructed street scene.

www.motorcyclelive.co.uk

SHARK-supported Tom Sykes was crowned the 2013 World Superbike Champion at Jerez, Spain on 20 October. To celebrate this, and by popular demand, SHARK Helmets has launched a very special new design - the Speed-R Sykes Replica.

The model is a replica of the Race-R Pro helmet worn by the SBK champion and is a welcome addition to the existing SHARK racing replicas. The helmet features Sykes's unique design with chrome detailing and inspirational words in Japanese script including 'power’, ‘success’, ‘courage’, 'belief' and 'karma'.

The Speed-R helmet is constructed from the latest generation composite fibre and weighs just 1450g without compromising on any features. It has a new sunvisor mechanism for better feeling with gloves and is available with PinLock Maxvision. It also features SHARK’s Easy Fit system for glasses wearers and a double D-ring strap.

The Speed-R Sykes replica will be available in UK dealers from early December, priced at £309.99. To find your local dealer visit Nevis Marketing or call 01425 478936.

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The BMF Show organisers – The Mulberry Group announce an overhaul of ticket pricing which will apply across ALL BMF Shows in 2014.

Mulberry Group MD Martin Chick said “The feed-back we have received over the last couple of years clearly indicates that people don’t want to experience ‘hidden charges’ when they book tickets for the shows – so for 2014 we are making it very simple and totally transparent. We have now published our prices for the 2014 show season and the price advertised will be the price a customer pays – NO booking fees, NO admin fees, in addition, we will also eliminate any postal charges by moving entirely to an e-ticket solution”.

“By adopting this policy we are convinced that the customer will receive a better deal – tickets will not be ‘lost in the post’ and whatever transpires with postal charges in the future we will not have to pass these on!”

Advance ticket sales for the 2014 BMF Shows will go on sale on Monday 4th November and are available via the bmf shows website: www.thebmfshow.co.uk or via the ticket hotline: 0844 8845151

For more information about any of the BMF shows visit www.thebmfshow.co.uk

Or talk to the show organisers, The Mulberry Group, on 01869 277077.