Category: IOM TT - Manx Grand Prix

1. Isle of Man introduces new ISPV Legislation

   Posted on 8:39am Wednesday 1st Apr 2015

   The Isle of Man Insurance and Pensions Authority have brought in new Insurance Special Purpose Vehicle (ISPV) Legislation which enhances the Island's already attractive insurance business offering.

   The legislation enables Isle of Man firms to facilitate Insurance Linked Securities (ILS) and similar transactions including catastrophe bonds.

   John Garland, Head of Corporate Financial Services with the Isle of Man Government's Department of Economic Development said:

   "We have been working and consulting closely with industry and the Insurance and Pensions Authority on introducing this legislation and already have enquiries in the pipeline. We believe that our framework for ISPVs offers excellent features for potential users as well as the proportionate and focused legislation that we are renowned for. This new framework promises to open up new business streams for the Isle of Man and provide welcome competition in this area, particularly given our close proximity to London."  

   "We can offer speed to market with the licencing process designed to take just 5 days following receipt of fully prepared applications. We can also offer a highly competitive fee structure – that may be fixed for the lifetime of any ISPV with a determinable lifespan - along with simplified regulatory requirements, including returns.

   I am confident that our framework will prove of great interest to potential users in this specialist area who want to place their business in a highly respected and responsible international finance centre with a long track record of attracting high quality insurance business from around the world."

2. ULSTER'S TT HEROES CELEBRATED IN NEW EXHIBITION ON THE ISLE OF MAN

   Posted on 8:19am Saturday 28th Mar 2015

   Some of the greatest names in The Isle of Man TT Races history will feature in a new exhibition, organised by Manx National Heritage, at the House of Manannan in Peel in the West of the Isle of Man.

   The exhibition, entitled 'Ulster's TT Heroes', acknowledges and celebrates the TT race wins of Northern Ireland's best riders throughout the event's illustrious history.

   Central to the exhibition is a retrospective look at the contribution of the Dunlop family; from 'Joey', who recorded 26 TT race victories in a 25 year career of racing on the Mountain Course, and his brother Robert, himself a five time race winner, in the '70s, '80s and '90s, through to the modern legend Michael, who now has 11 TT Race wins.

   Two of Joey's bikes and his iconic 1988 yellow Arai helmet will be on display together with memorabilia highlighting the successful careers of the other Dunlop family members.

   Other riders featured include 1980s luminaries Norman Brown and Brian Reid; Brown famously finished on the podium in every race he completed on the Isle of Man including race wins in the '81 MGP Newcomers race and the Senior TT in 1982, his debut TT year. Reid's notable TT career included five race victories spanning the '80s and '90s.

   Recent riders whose careers also feature include Adrian Archibald and Ryan Farquhar.

   Phillip McCallen's historic four wins in a week in 1996 are covered in the exhibition, with McCallen's total of 11 TT race wins placing him fifth on the all-time list of TT race winners alongside Michael Dunlop, but it is his distressed leathers from the following year's TT, when he crashed at Quarry Bends in the Lightweight TT race, that are expected to generate particular interest.

   The exhibition includes narrative and display boards from Northern Ireland's Ballymoney Museum which have been complemented by memorabilia provided by riders, teams, manufactures and motorcycling brands associated with the event.

   Manx National Heritage has also utilised items from its own archive including personal telegrams and letters from the papers of David Wood, Joey's manager for many years, which are expected to provide further insight into the TT career and history of Northern Ireland's greatest rider.

   The free to enter exhibition will run from Saturday 28th March to Sunday 6th September 2015, coinciding with this year's TT Races, Southern 100 and Festival of Motorcycling. It will be open every day between 10am and 5pm.

   Suzanne Walker, the curator of the exhibition and site manager of the House of Manannan commented:

   "Some of the Northern Ireland's best riders are inextricably linked to some of the greatest TT races and indeed the event's history and we wanted to celebrate and acknowledge the country's contribution through the achievements of individual riders."

   She continued:

   "It has been great working with Ballymoney Museum to bring this popular exhibition over to the Island. The exhibition has been timed to run during the Isle of Man's road racing season so that the visiting race fans, as well as residents are able to see it. I hope that some of the TT riders past and present will also get the chance to experience it."

   
   
   Joey Dunlop riding the SP1 Honda to victory in the F1 TT Race in 2000 on the Isle of Man
   

3. STEAM PACKET COMPANY ANNOUNCES 10% INCREASE IN VISITING MOTORCYCLISTS FOR THE 2015 TT

   Posted on 12:00pm Wednesday 25th Mar 2015

   More than 13,500 motorcycles are booked to travel to the 2015 Isle of Man TT with the Steam Packet Company.

   The figure represents an increase of more than 10% in the number of bookings compared with this time last year.

   The increase has been made possible by the Steam Packet Company's investment in a removable mezzanine deck on fast craft Manannan. This has created additional space for motorcycles during the TT and Festival of Motorcycling periods, allowing fans who have previously travelled as foot passengers the chance to bring their bikes.

   Crucially, MV Arrow providing freight services during the TT has allowed more space on Ben-my-Chree for vehicles. The charter of P&O Express has also once again added additional passenger capacity for the event.

   Steam Packet Company Chief Executive Mark Woodward said, "The fact that bookings for the TT are up on this time last year shows the ongoing popularity of the event and the demand from visitors to experience it for themselves. We constantly review our services and identified there was a clear demand for extra space for motorcycles. We have invested heavily in the removable mezzanine deck to create this space, and that has allowed us to ensure more people can bring their bikes this year. In addition, there has been significant investment in the charter of P&O Express, to supplement our passenger services, and MV Arrow, which will take over the Ben-my-Chree's freight duties during the TT so there is more room for fans."

   He added: "Our team works around the clock during the TT bringing fans to the event, and based on the current bookings we're looking forward to another really busy year." 

4. DJ CARL COX MOTORSPORT ENTERS SIDECAR TEAM FOR 2015 ISLE OF MAN TT RACES

   Posted on 12:00pm Wednesday 25th Mar 2015

   This year's Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy sees the introduction of the Carl Cox Motorsport sidecar team to the Sure sidecar class.

   One of the world's most recognised DJ's, Carl Cox is also a complete motorsport fan, an avid collector of iconic motorcycles, and actively participates in track days, ride schools, motorcycle tours and even jumps behind the wheel of his V8 drag cars when he can!

   Carl has also become a regular fixture at the MotoGP and WSB meetings and based on his ever-growing involvement within the motorsport community he formed Carl Cox Motorsport with good friend Gavin Sokolich from New Zealand, in order to take on an active role in the race circles with his own teams.

   The brand has quickly grown to include an F1/F2 Sidecar team, 2 bikes in the Ducati TriOptions cup (BSB support class), 2 bikes in the post-classic series in Australia, and several drag race cars.

   In 2013 experienced NZ Passenger Robbie Shorter and his rider Barry Smith (ex UK GP rider from the 80's) put together a home-built F1 chassis with a K4 Suzuki gsxr1000 engine and proceeded to win multiple short circuit and road races throughout NZ, when 2014 rolled around they decided to purchase an F1 Windle to see if they could contest the New Zealand Championship.

   It was around this time the team was noticed by the newly formed motorsport franchise of Carl Cox Motorsport- Carl was on a motorcycle tour in NZ and had no hesitation in signing them as the first formal team for the brand. The team went on to finish #2 for their first full season racing for the brand.

   Plans for the TT were made, and they purchased a 2010 BLR/Suzuki chassis that was in the UK- their first time riding the bike was when they picked it up from the old owner, put it in the back of the van, drove to Oschersleben in Germany, and raced in the inaugural F2 World Trophy! The pair had an 8th place finish and then put the bike into a container headed for New Zealand for the team to begin preparation.

   Jan 2015 saw the start of the NZ national series, and in a spectacular incident in the very first race of the season, the F1 Windle flipped, resulting in a substantial shoulder injury to rider Barry Smith- unfortunately this meant he would be unable to ride this year's TT as planned.

   A call was made to a retired Kiwi sidecar legend, and rider Colin Buckley agreed to hop on a sidecar after a 12 year break to finish the NZ series with Carl Cox Motorsport, and also return to the Island for his fourth time at the TT, having previously raced in 1996, '97 and '98, gaining several bronze replicas.

5. AJ Venter to stay with Topgun Racing for TT 2015

   Posted on 10:15am Friday 20th Mar 2015

   South African Superbike Racer and former British Championship podium finisher Allann Jon Venter, has today confirmed he will once again be riding for Topgun Racing at this year's Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy.

   He will once again be competing in the RST Superbike, Monster Energy Supersport and RL360 Superstock classes onboard the same two Hondas that he raced at the 2014 meeting. He came home with four Bronze Replicas and two finisher's medals from the six races that he competed in, finishing with a best placed 19th in the Lightweight TT Race and also finished a credible 36th in the PokerStars Senior TT Race. He recorded a fastest lap of 119.6mph, his personal best around the Mountain Course.

   AJ commented: "As it's my 3rd year back at the famous mountain course, I am really happy to remain Topgun mounted for a secod year. I was over the moon with last year's achievement as they were my best to date. When Wurz rang me up and offered me the ride again this year, there was no hesitation in saying yes. Being my 3rd year at the course I am aiming to keep chipping away at the times and move into the 120mph bracket."

   Wurz Cox (Team Owner) said: "AJ impressed us all last year with his pure passion and dogged determination to succeed at the TT, this along with the fact we all bonded so well last year made it a very easy decision to invite him back for 2015"

   You will be able to follow AJ and the team's progress throughout the build up to 2015 TT at www.topgunracing.co.uk

   Or follow them on facebook and twitter.