Category: IOM TT - Manx Grand Prix

1. Isle of Man Government signs agreement with 360fly that will offer Fans First Mobile Virtual Reality Experience at Isle of Man TT Races

   Posted on 10:00am Friday 13th May 2016

   New 360fly 4K Camera to Live Stream Immersive 360° Video Content Via Livit Platform, Playback Content Available Online and Through Social Media Channels

   The Isle of Man Government today announced a partnership with 360fly, Inc., maker of the category-leading, single-lens camera that captures stitchless 360-degree video, that will bring immersive 360-degree video and mobile virtual reality content from the 2016 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy to race fans around the world.

   As the official 360-degree camera of Isle of Man TT, 360fly will utilize its latest 4K camera technology to live stream 360 content via the Livit platform and distribute playback content through Isle of Man TT’s social media channels.

   Fans unable to physically attend the exhilarating event will be able to experience the race like never before – in immersive 4K video and mobile virtual reality. Content from the race paddock, rider pressroom, VIP hospitality and grandstand activation area, as well as on-bike footage from competing riders will be available on YouTube (Isle of Man TT and 360fly) and Facebook (Isle of Man TT and 360fly). Additionally, 360fly will be live streaming from the race paddock and rider pressroom. Fans can download the free Livit Now mobile app on iOS or Android and follow @360fly.

   “Isle of Man TT is an incredible event that the vast majority of race fans are unable to attend due to its secluded location,” said Peter Adderton, 360fly CEO. “The ability to not only track rider perspectives, but also pan in 360-degrees across the Island’s breathtaking terrain, will bring an entirely new dimension to how fans experience this unparalleled racing event.”

   Virtual reality and immersive video have never been more top of mind, thanks to number of recent announcements by major media companies such as Facebook and YouTube, VR purveyors such as Oculus Rift, and consumer-friendly 360-degree mobile VR cameras such as 360fly. The overall category can be broken down into two distinct areas: professional-grade, 3D VR and consumer-level 360-degree 2D video (aka “mobile virtual reality”).

   Specializing in consumer-level 360-degree video, 360fly brings immersive video and mobile VR to the masses with its affordable camera offerings and its intuitive mobile app. 360fly allows users to easily shoot, edit and share 360 video to popular social platforms like Facebook, YouTube and more.

   The new 360fly 4K camera will be available in stores and online at the end of May 2016 for $499. The 360fly HD camera is currently available at Best Buy stores in the USA for $399.

2. NUMEROUS CONTENDERS FOR MONSTER ENERGY SUPERSPORT TT RACES

   Posted on 9:00am Tuesday 26th Apr 2016

   Once again, the Monster Energy Supersport 600cc races received more entries than any of the other classes on the programme at the 2016 Isle of Man TT Races, fuelled by Monster Energy, which will mean that 95 of the world’s best road racers will line up on Glencrutchery Road for the two four-lap races which they should see some of the closest and most competitive action of TT2016.

   The top 20 riders are again seeded but unlike previous years, where there’s been some significant shuffling between the different classes, 2016 sees the starting top ten in identical order to the 1000cc races although the pre-race favourites will vary.

   Ian Hutchinson claimed victory in both races last year and the Bingley Bullet will again be riding for Keith Flint’s Team Traction Control Yamaha team. With countless 127mph+ laps in the class already, he’ll start the race as the slight favourite from number four.

   Michael Dunlop was forced to retire from both races in 2015 due to the arm injuries sustained in the RST Superbike race but he still holds the class lap record at close to 129mph and could prove to be Hutchy’s biggest threat. The Ballymoney rider will again line up at number six but this time for his own MD Racing team with his choice of machinery yet to be confirmed.

   Bruce Anstey, the Valvoline Racing by Padgetts Honda ride, is another who is likely to be challenging at the front of the field. The Kiwi took a pair of seconds in 2015 and pushed Hutchinson all the way in what’s always been one of his favourite races.

   Fellow Antipodean Cameron Donald will also be looking to show the form that saw him take two second places and the TT Supporters Club Trophy in 2012. Back on board the Wilson Craig Racing Honda, Donald has lapped at close to 127mph on the 600cc machine and cannot be ruled out.

   The Jackson Racing duo of John McGuinness, number 1, and Conor Cummins, at number 10, will provide Honda with other potential race winners but in a field of multiple potential race winners Kawasaki, Yamaha and Triumph all have riders capable of winning.

   Yamaha, and specifically the Mar-Train Racing team, have a strong opportunity with Manxman Dan Kneen (14) who recorded his best TT finish to date of fifth in the opening race of 2010. However, William Dunlop (8) on the CD Racing machine will fancy his chances of being the first Yamaha rider home having already finished on the podium three times in this race.

   Triumph have two potential winners in Gary Johnson (7) and Lee Johnston (13), the former having previously won the race on the British machine when riding for Smiths Racing in 2014. This time around he’s riding for T3 Racing while Johnston (13) will again line up for his regular East Coast Construction team, which could provide his best opportunity of claiming a maiden TT victory.

   James Hillier (3) will again spearhead Kawasaki’s efforts on the Quattro Plant Muc-Off machine as he looks to step on to a 600cc rostrum for the first time, an ambition shared by Peter Hickman (5) on his privately entered ZX-6R and Dean Harrison on the Silicone Engineering entrant. Other quick men on Kawasakis include Michael Rutter (9) riding for Bathams/SMT Racing and Iast year’s Lightweight race winner Ivan Lintin who again has the number 20 plate for Devitt RC Express Racing.

   Australian David Johnson, Dan Stewart and Martin Jessopp will again start at numbers 15, 17 and 18 respectively whilst the top 20 riders shows just two differences to the 1000cc races with Dan Cooper (16) and James Cowton (19) being seeded on this occasion.

   As always, there’s plenty of quality outside the top 20 as well with Jamie Coward (21), Daniel Hegarty (22), last year’s Newcomers Trophy winner Derek McGee (24), Steve Mercer (25) and 2015 Manx GP winner Malachi Mitchell-Thomas (23) just some of the names more than capable of top 15 finishes.

   Other riders to look out for include Sam West (27), Mark Miller (31), Connor Behan (34), Christopher Dixon (39) and Hudson Kennaugh (43) while a number of Manx Grand Prix riders step up to the TT for the first time including David Sellers (44), Rob Hodson (49), Joseph Newbould (50), Karl Foster (61) and local rider Paul Smyth (62).

   Such as been the quality and depth of the entry, just three newcomers have been accepted but there’s an international flavour with Northern Ireland’s Seamus Elliott, Canada’s Darren James and Norway’s Olaf Romjin set to line up for the Monday and Wednesday races.

   With 95 entries challenging for just 78 starting places on the grid, a starting position will have to be earned.

3. Honda and DJ Carl Cox to thrill at Isle of Man TT for third straight year

   Posted on 7:41am Friday 22nd Apr 2016

   – Due to ongoing success, the Honda TT Revolution returns for its third year   
   – Gives aspiring DJs the chance to open for Carl Cox at TT closing party
   – Pan-European competition in partnership with Mixcloud

   Aspiring DJs will once again have the opportunity to open for legendary DJ Carl Cox, one of the world’s most successful DJs, as the Honda TT Revolution returns to the Isle of Man for an unforgettable week of motorcycle racing and music.

   Last year’s event saw TT Revolution ambassador Carl Cox headline a sold-out closing party, concluding an epic week of racing that culminated in Honda’s John McGuinness claiming the outright lap record, his seventh Senior TT victory, and 23rd career TT win.

   Honda Motor Europe continues its partnership with Mixcloud – an online music streaming service that allows listening and distribution of radio shows, DJ mixes and podcasts – and fans will able to upload a short mix of their own making for a chance to share the stage with Carl at the closing party, after the Senior TT on Friday 10 June.

   To be in with a chance of stepping behind the decks, entrants must submit an original mix encouraging their friends and fans on social media to share, listen and like. The more likes and listens a mix receives, the higher the chance of the mix being selected by our panel of judges, before Carl himself, selects his favourite.

   To enter and submit your competition mix go to Mixcloud here

   The lucky winner and one guest will be flown out to the Isle of Man on the penultimate day of the TT races as a Honda VIP where they will be able to witness the world’s greatest road race in all its glory, before opening the closing party and sharing the stage with Carl Cox.

   Last year’s competition was a huge success, reaching more than 15,000 music enthusiasts from across Europe, with the bulk of entries coming from the UK, Portugal and Italy.

   “I’m excited to once again be part of the Honda TT Revolution, which is now in its third year,” explains Carl Cox – who himself is a bike and racing fan. “The TT race is an experience like nothing else, and is something everyone, including non-bike fans should get along to one year. The Honda TT Revolution combines two of my biggest loves, music and bikes, and is a great opportunity for aspiring DJs to experience something completely different, whilst doing something they love.”

   The Isle of Man TT is a motorcycle race steeped in history with over 100 years of drama filled, exhilarating racing, held over 37.73-miles of the Island’s picturesque streets and mountain roads.

   The Honda TT Revolution closing party will take place at Tahiko, Douglas on Friday 10 June. Tickets will be on-sale from May through Resident Advisor.

   
   Carlcox.com
   
   

4. Bigben interactive announces agreement to produce new Isle of Man TT races video game

   Posted on 8:30am Monday 18th Apr 2016

   The Isle of Man Government Department of Economic Development has reached an agreement with leading French based publisher Bigben Interactive to exclusively produce, under global licence, a new motorbike video game dedicated to the TT Races, titled ‘TT Isle Of Man – Ride on the Edge.’

   The new TT Isle of Man video game is being developed by Kylotonn Games, a French racing games development studio already known for WRC 5, the 2015 official World Rally Championship video game, acclaimed by the gaming industry and Ping Award winner in the Best Console Game of the Year category.

   Bigben Interactive and Kylotonn have already begun a programme to assess, record and digitally map the iconic 37¾ mile TT Mountain Course, which is run entirely on closed public roads. The TT Races is widely recognised as one of the world’s leading motorsport events and has run on the Isle of Man since 1907.

   David Cretney MLC, the Department of Economic Development’s political representative for Tourism and Motorsport commented: “The partnership between Bigben Interactive and the Isle of Man Government represents an opportunity not only to generate additional commercial income but also to increase the profile of the TT Races and broaden the event’s appeal to a wider, younger demographic working alongside a world class partner in the gaming world.”

   “For several years now, our team has worked together with Kylotonn’s developers to create and offer the best depictions of some of the most spectacular racing events like the Isle of Man TT races or the World Rally Championship.” says Benoît Clerc, Head of Software at Bigben Interactive. “By creating 1/1 the iconic 37¾ miles of the race, we already know that all the motorbike fans will feel the speed and the excitement of being part of the Isle of Man TT races,” concludes Benoît Clerc.

   TT Isle Of Man – Ride on the Edge, which will be released in 2017, will feature many of the leading teams and riders who will be recreated digitally to accurately represent their team liveries and bike manufacturers. The game will be available for Playstation®4, Xbox One, and PC.

   

   Big Ben Interactive representative Regis Fontenay with John McGuinness and Ian Hutchinson on the Isle of Man at the launch of the 2016 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy

5. SUBARU TEAM UP WITH PRODRIVE TO TARGET NEW MOUNTAIN COURSE RECORD AT ISLE OF MAN TT RACES

   Posted on 12:00pm Sunday 17th Apr 2016

   Subaru of America, Inc. is teaming up with Subaru Tecnica International (STI) and UK based motorsport and technology company Prodrive with the ambition of breaking its own TT Mountain Course record during this year’s Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy.

   Three-time British Rally Champion Mark Higgins, who has established the two previous TT Mountain Course records driving cars on behalf of Official TT Car Partner Subaru will again tackle the iconic 37¾ mile (60k) course.

   Prodrive are well known for running Subaru's World Rally Championship programme from 1990 to 2008, so the partnership will give the effort a significant boost as they look to break the fastest lap time for the third time.

   Prodrive has a long established history of giving UK-specification customer cars more power, along with creating a one-off, Subaru-based P2 sports car to showcase their engineering skills and close ties with the Japanese manufacturer.

   Subaru will again have the chance to do practice runs before their record attempt, which will take place on a closed road on Friday 10th June during this year’s TT Races meeting.

   Manxman Mark Higgins is confident that he can break his own record of 19 minutes and fifteen seconds, which he set in 2014, breaking his own previous best of 19:56.7, which he set in 2011. Mark’s original lap record time was over two minutes inside Tony Pond’s previous best time established 21 years earlier.

   Commenting on the lap Mark Higgins said:

   “It’s always a great honour to return to the Isle of Man and to have the privilege of driving on a closed road on the TT Course. We’ve already made great strides in demonstrating Subaru’s technical excellence and ability on the TT Course, which is one of the most demanding tracks for a number of different reasons, but in teaming up with Prodrive I believe that we can take things up a notch again.”

   David Cretney, Isle of Man Government representative for Tourism and Motorsport commented:

   “Subaru are a valued partner for the Isle of Man TT Races and their financial support continues to allow us to invest in the growth and development of the races. It is always a pleasure to welcome Mark Higgins back to the Isle of Man and he is a great ambassador not only for Subaru but for the Island and the TT Races.”