Category: IOM TT - Manx Grand Prix

1. STUNNING COLLECTION OF JOEY DUNLOP BIKES ASSEMBLED TO PAY TRIBUTE TO 'YER MAUN' AT THIS YEAR'S CLASSIC TT RACES

   Posted on 5:58pm Thursday 21st Aug 2014

   The greatest ever collection of some of the definitive race bikes of Joey Dunlop's career will open today on the Isle of Man as part of the Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts.

   The Isle of Man Government's Department of Economic Development Motorsport Team has assembled the free paddock display of 26 bikes as part of the celebrations for the legendary Irish rider's career. The Ballymoney man won 26 TT Races in a 24 year Mountain Course career.

   This weekend also sees the paddock turning back the clock in an 80's themed fancy dress experience on Friday 22nd August and a parade lap featuring many of Joey Dunlop's greatest rivals on Saturday 23rd.

   The bike collection, all of which have been loaned for the five-day exhibition by private collectors, spans Joey's entire Isle of Man career and features the first bike that Joey raced at the TT - the TZ350 Yamsel Yamaha through to the last - the iconic Honda SP1.

   Other TT winning bikes in the collection include Joey's 1988 RS250R, the first 250 to achieve a sub 20 minute lap of the TT course, that represented his 12th and Honda's 50th TT win, the RS500 that Joey won his 10th TT on in 1987 and his 1995 250 Honda, complete with the original Castrol body work.

   Although Honda, the marque most closely associated with his career, dominates the collection of 26 machines, the display also features the RG500 Suzuki that he Joey rode in the 1978 TT Races, his 350 Aermacchi from his Manx Grand Prix Classic Race days, his 1980 500 Yamaha and the Yamaha Yamsel that he won his first Southern 100 on.

   David Cretney, MHK, the Isle of Man Government's Minister of Fun, who will officially open the display at 4pm today, commented:

   "We themed our Classic TT weekend around the decade associated with Joey, and it is a time that he was undoubtedly at the peak of his powers, but the reality, as this bike display shows, is that the man from Ballymoney made a huge impact on the Island from the moment he stepped off the boat in 1976 and in all my time associated with the event I cannot recall more popular wins than his triple in 2000 shortly before we lost him."

   He continued:

   "It is entirely appropriate that we have the first and last bikes that he raced on the Island on display as well as a number in between and we are very grateful to everyone that has lent us bikes to pay appropriate tribute to someone who made such an enormous impact on the Island and worldwide."

2. BMW Group Classic brings together past and present on the Isle of Man

   Posted on 12:59pm Thursday 21st Aug 2014

   The BMW Group Classic is bringing together past and present in a stunning paddock exhibition at this year's Isle of Man Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts.

   The exhibition will run from Saturday 23rd to Tuesday 26th August.

   The German manufacturer will have a significant presence at the Grandstand with a large truck and marquee exhibiting classic and current BMW machines. The exhibition is centred on the 'BMW Kompressor that Georg 'Schorsch' Meier piloted to victory in the Senior TT seventy-five years ago.

   Meier, who started out as an off-road rider and had only completed his first season in road racing the previous year, recorded a sensational average speed of 143.723 km/h (89.305 mph) on his way to the win. The bike will sit alongside the BMW S 1000RR that Michael Dunlop rode to victory in three races at this year's TT Races including the historic Senior TT win.

   Three of the iconic marque's machines will also take part in the legendary Lap of Honour including Georg Meier's machine, which will be ridden by his nephew Wolfgang Meier. It will be joined by a 1937 BMW R 5 SS and a 1939 BMW R 51.

   BMW Group Classic will display other models from the pre-and post-war era in its exhibition area behind the Grandstand, including a BMW R 63 from 1929 (BMW's first 750cc bike), a BMW R 5 from 1936, a BMW R 67 from 1951 and a BMW RS 54 from 1954, which was designed as a racing machine for privateer riders and could reach speeds of 200 km/h (124 mph). Other bikes on display include Jock West's 1939 Type 255 BMW RS 500, which he rode to second place in the following year's Senior TT.

   BMW will also forge the link between past and present by showcasing its BMW R nineT. Launched in spring 2014, this contemporary interpretation of a classical concept is the brand's newest series-produced model. The BMW R nineT blends pared-down design with a boxer engine, a construction that has proved its mettle over more than 90 years.

   David Cretney, MHK, the Isle of Man Government's Minister for Fun commented:

   "BMW has made a real impact at the TT Races this year and we are delighted to be working with them to celebrate the company's success at this year's Classic TT event. It is great to see the return of such an iconic brand to the Isle of Man and fans are in for a real treat with their display of historic and modern machines."  

3. CLASSIC TT PADDOCK RETURNS TO 1980'S AND GETS READY TO ROCK

   Posted on 12:47pm Wednesday 20th Aug 2014

   The theme of this year's Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts is the 1980's - the golden years of Joey Dunlop's incredible career when he won five consecutive TT Formula 1 World Championships and 12 of his eventual tally of 26 wins.

   The Classic TT paddock will be turning back the clock this Friday 22nd August to celebrate Joey's decade of dominance and inviting everyone to dig out their stretch jeans, Kicker boots or New Romantic regalia and join in with the leading TT riders in the fancy dress extravaganza.

   You can expect an 80's flashback when you arrive at Glencrutchery road with chatshows and live music from 10am as the Nigel Williams band plays all those foot stomping memorable tunes from that decade of colour, deely boppers, flashing shoes and glitter. RJ Woolsey will also be bringing his own interpretation of those memorable songs.

   Manx Radio Classic TT will be digging deep into its archive with a non-stop playlist of Queen, Dire Straits, Michael Jackson and Phil Collins as well as some long forgotten tracks that will instantly transport you back to that heady decade.

   However, its not only music that came out of the decade. The leading TT racers will be putting aside their bikes for a head to head of a different kind as they look to take the honours in the inaugural space hopper race in pit lane. Early pre-race favourites include John McGuinness, Philip McCallen and Ian Lougher, who will be looking to use their experience from the 80's but there are likely to be a number of young challengers including Michael Dunlop, Lee Johnson and Jamie Hamilton.

   The purple helmets will also be bringing their disorganised mayhem to pit lane in a display of all things anarchic and chaotic before the paddock returns to the final Classic TT qualifying session.

4. LAWSON AND HODSON SHOW EARLY FORM IN SECOND MANX GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING SESSION

   Posted on 11:46pm Tuesday 19th Aug 2014

   Tonight's qualifying session for the IMGold Manx Grand Prix got underway shortly after 6.25 with a speed-controlled lap for newcomer Leon Murphy, before the session got underway in earnest at around 6.35.

   First to experience the excellent conditions around the Mountain Course were SuperTwin, Lightweight and Newcomers B (650/250) and C (400).

   Wigan's Rob Hodson continued his fine form from the previous evening to post the fastest SuperTwin lap (109.251) from Gary Gittins (108.575) and James Neesom (108.481). Dean Osborne (104.537 and 104.366) posted the fastest two newcomer B laps with Eddie Venn also posting a pair of 100+mph laps (102.839 and 101.263).

   Seven riders posted laps of over 100mph in the Lightweight session with the Isle of Man's Adam Jones (101.807) the fastest from Ireland's Mick Jordan (101.794) and Rikki McGovern (101.518).

   Ahead of the second session, Clerk of the Course Phil Taubman advised the riders that there would be waived and stationary yellow flags at Ballaugh following an oil spill.

   In the second session, Scotland's Andy Lawson again signalled his intent with the fastest lap of the evening (116.332) on the Kawasaki that he'll race in the Senior Manx Grand Prix while Andrew Soar (114.128) and Paul Smyth (113.068) also signalled their intent.

   Hodson also topped the Junior leader board with a lap of 116.144 from James Neesom (114.095) and Stephen Harper (112.762) while Shane Egan in the Newcomers A again showed that he'd be the man to beat with 111.836. Billy Redmayne (110.893) and Malachi Mitchell-Thomas (110.494) also posted quick laps, building on their performances from the previous night and already signalling that this year's Newcomers A Race, which is scheduled to take place on Monday 25th August, is likely to be competitive.

   Barry Furber (Quarterbridge), Dave Matravers (Sulby) and James Buckett (Braddan Bridge) were all reported OK after accidents during the session while Stephen Carr was taken by ambulance to Nobles Hospital with a possible ankle injury.

5. Maria Costello will return to compete in the 2014 Classic TT on three classic machines

   Posted on 4:48pm Monday 18th Aug 2014

   As a former TT lap record holder and double Manx Grand Prix podium finisher, the now MBE is no stranger to the Isle of Man TT course and is relishing the opportunity to compete in three classes at this year's Isle of Man Classic TT presented by Bennetts.

   Northamptonshire based Costello will again be on the Peter Beugger Paton in the Bennetts 500cc Classic race on Saturday 23rd August, the Bob Jackson Suzuki T20 in the Okells 350cc on Monday 25th, with the opportunity to compete for the Phil Read Trophy for the 250cc class win, and will be back out on the Team Classic Suzuki Harris GSXR1100 in the Motorsport Merchandise F1 on the same day.

   'It's such a fantastic event made even better by having the opportunity to race three different bikes. It makes for a pretty hectic schedule including two races in one day but I'm really looking forward to every lap on each bike as I didn't get to fully enjoy the TT earlier in the year, even though I got a TT bronze replica in the Lightweight race, as I was injured. Now I'm recovered I can't wait to head down Bray Hill," said Costello.

   It was on the last lap of the 500 Classic race when Maria, running as the top Privateer and sixth overall, was forced to retire due to mechanical failure. This time Peter Beugger has been given a longer lead time as last year was a last minute decision to compete after Maria met him at a test in Slovakia. He has worked alongside the Paton factory to ensure reliability and hopefully that dream finish, which they were so cruelly denied last year.

   Maria also aims to bring more success to the Bob Jackson team when she is reunited with the T20 she claimed third on back in 2010. The Team Classic Suzuki Harris F1 will also be a more known entity this year as Costello will have already tested it, at events such as the Donington Classic Fesitval, and she is looking forward to taking a big bike around the TT course again.

   "Getting to race the TT on any bike is something special but having three makes me feel like the luckiest woman on this planet. I'm so grateful to all the owners and sponsors who are making this event possible," said Costello.