Category: IOM TT - Manx Grand Prix

1. IN FORM MANXMAN DAN KNEEN TO REPLACE INJURED CAMERON DONALD FOR CLASSIC TT PRESENTED BY BENNETTS

   Posted on 8:00am Tuesday 5th Aug 2014

   Ripley Land Racing have moved quickly to replace the injured Cameron Donald for this month’s Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts with the news that Manxman Dan Kneen will take over the machines vacated by the Australian.

   Donald, who took second in last year’s Okells Brewery 350cc Classic TT Race was ruled out of action recently with two broken wrists sustained in a training accident and Kneen, who will be having his first ever outing on Classic machinery, will now line up on the G50 Seeley Matchless and 350cc 7R AJS machinery and he’s sure to be among the pre-race favourites.

   Kneen, who will also contest the Motorsport Merchandise F1 race on the RLR Motorsports GSXR750 Suzuki, has had a stellar year on the roads with the highlight clinching the Irish Superbike Road Race Championship at the recent Armoy Road Races. The Manxman has been making his debut appearances at the majority of the Irish National road races this year yet has still been victorious at the Cookstown 100, Tandragee 100, Skerries 100, Walderstown and Kells Road Races.

   The 27-year old Braddan rider also enjoyed one of his best year’s at the TT with three top ten finishes and two more finishes inside the top fifteen. His best result was seventh in the RL 360º Superstock Race while he also became the 17th fastest rider of all time around the Mountain Course with a lap of 129.360mph.

   Tickets are now on sale and selling fast for the 2014 Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts. VIP experiences, Grandstand tickets, Classic TT Heroes Dinner and Classic TT Party tickets can be purchased from www.iomtt.com or by phoning 00 44 (0)1624 640000.

   Travel and accommodation packages to suit all budgets and requirements are available from Official Classic TT Travel Agency Regency Travel 

2. Michelin Rider Richard Charlton takes on the Manx Grand Prix

   Posted on 9:58am Wednesday 30th Jul 2014

   Michelin’s Richard Charlton will once again compete in this year’s Manx Grand Prix in both the Junior and Senior races hoping to make 2014 his year for victory.
   
   The 36-year-old coal merchant from County Durham has spent a lifetime riding bikes, starting at the tender of age of three on motocross machines and moving onto road bikes and eventually racing in 2008. Following his dream to compete in the TT, Richard first raced on the famous Isle of Man course in the 2011 Manx Grand Prix.
   
   Richard says: “There is nothing like racing on a 37-mile circuit of public roads and with no warm-up laps you have to be completely focussed. Compared to track racing, you have to use your head a lot more to prepare for what’s ahead and that also means you’re always learning. It took me at least three years racing in the Manx before I felt like I really knew the circuit.”
   
   Richard ensures he keeps bike fit by racing his Yamaha R6 in the Motogrande Powersport Tour run by Hottrax Racing. Although the track racing doesn’t compare to what the Manx will throw at riders, it does ensure Richard is in tune with his bike and tyres – so he doesn’t have to worry about them when on the Isle of Man.
   
   Having used Michelin Power Cup tyres since 2009, Richard is always confident in his tyre choice when it comes
   to the start line. Recently setting blisteringly fast lap times in the Hottrax series, the Michelins have consistently proved Richard right in his choice of tyre.
   
   When asked what goes through his mind when he races in the Manx GP, Richard admits “There is a certain amount of fear, just the sheer speed you’re riding at. There’s one point where you have the throttle open and you’re giving it everything for nearly two miles – it’s moments like that when you have to have confidence in your bike and your tyres.
   
   The Power Cup tyres I use have proven to be stable in fast corners and over the bumpier sections of the route – to get the best grip out of them I always make sure they’re warm before setting off. They’ve never let me down and I wouldn’t consider racing on anything else.”
   
   This year the Manx Grand Prix takes place from 16 – 29 August. Follow Richard’s progress at www.manxgrandprix.org
   
   Find out more about motorcycling with Michelin at moto.michelin.co.uk

3. ALL-STAR LINE UP FOR OKELLS BREWERY 350cc CLASSIC TT RACE

   Posted on 9:00am Monday 28th Jul 2014

   Like the Bennetts 500cc Classic TT Race, the Okells Brewery 350cc Race is set to be a thrilling affair and it could well be even more closely contested with evenly matched machines and a stellar line up of riders offering the potential for a close race. The class, like all races at the 2014 Classic TT presented by Bennetts, was oversubscribed with a full grid of almost 90 entries eventually accepted.

   With last year's race winner Chris Palmer absent from the field, a new winner will be garlanded but Roy Richardson on the FCL Racing/Bullock Motorsport Aermacchi, will be one of the favourites having won numerous 350cc Classic races at the Manx GP. The opposition is strong though with anyone in the top 20 more than competitive and capable of standing on the podium.

   Honda lead the way in terms of numbers with Jamie Hamilton, Olie Linsdell (Flitwick Motorcycles), William Dunlop and Alan Oversby (both Davies Motorsport), Jamie Coward (Ted Woof), Chris McGahan (Hales Honda), James Hillier (CSC Racing), James Cowton and Nigel Moore all electing to ride the iconic Japanese marque.

   The British challenge is more than considerable though with AJS and Norton having numerous potential race winners, none more so than last year's podium finishers Cameron Donald (Ripley Land Racing AJS) and Dan Cooper (Molnar Manx Norton). Cooper is joined in Andy Molnar's team by the man who dominated this years TT Races Michael Dunlop while another top TT runner, Keith Amor, will ine up on Tony Dunnell's rapid Manx Norton.

   Italy has representation in the form of Dean Harrison and Lee Johnston (Black Eagle Racing MV Agusta), Chris Swallow (Mike Fawcett Aermacchi) and Doug Snow (Ducati Sebring) and all three will be pushing hard at the head of the field while other names expected to feature include Mark Herbertson (AJS), Alex Sinclair (Honda), Paul Coward (Honda), Dave Madsen-Mygdal (Honda), Ken Davis (Honda) and Chris Petty (Honda).

   Although there isn't a separate race this year, there are still numerous 250cc machines spread through the field aiming to win the new Phil Read Trophy to recognise the class win, with multiple Manx Grand Prix race winner Bill Swallow back for another outing around the Mountain Course, this time on Phil Price's Velocette. The T20 Suzuki's will be expected to be the highest placed though particularly in the hands of Alan 'Bud' Jackson, Karl Fox, Tom Jackson, Jeff Ward, Maria Costello, Dan Sayle and Billy Cummins.

   Dave Edwards (TD1C Yamaha) and Pete Symes and David Crussell (both Kawasaki) add further variety to the 250cc field.

4. TT LEGEND LOUGHER AND YOUNG GUN COWTON SET FOR HEAD TO HEAD

   Posted on 9:08am Thursday 24th Jul 2014

   ... IN MOTORSPORT MERCHANDISE FORMULA 2 CLASSIC TT RACE
   
   

   The Motorsport Merchandise Formula Two Race will be the final race to get underway at this year’s Classic TT presented by Bennetts. Last year's race featured a battle royal between eventual race winner Chris Palmer and runner-up James Cowton and this year's race promises to be another thrilling contest.

   Although Palmer has now hung up his leathers, Cowton, one of the sport’s brightest young talents, will be back for another try, again mounted on one of Peter Berwick’s TZ250 Yamaha’s. He'll face tremendous opposition from two of the sport’s true stalwarts and most successful riders.

   Ten times TT winner Ian Lougher has a record that speaks for itself. The Welshman may have retired from the TT and other International road races but he remains a formidable competitor, particularly on the two-strokes where he made his name.

   Classic racing legend Roy Richardson was forced to retire from last year’s race but won the corresponding event at the 2011 and 2012 Manx Grand Prix, lapping in excess of 111mph in 2011, so is sure to be challenging for the honours on the FCL Racing/Bullock Motorsport Yamaha. Phil McGurk, a regular on both the Classic scene and MGP, will certainly pose more than a threat on his Springcourt Motorcycles TZ Yamaha having finished third last year with the similarly mounted Chris Moore, fourth in 2013, also likely to challenge.

   Stuart Garton is always a force to be reckoned with in the class on the Haskell and Co 250cc Yamaha while regular TT competitors David Hewson (250 Obsession Engineering Yamaha) and Grant Wagstaff are also likely to be in the mix, the latter on one of the few TZ350 Yamaha’s on the entry list. Tom Snow, on a second FCL Racing/Bullock Motorsport Yamaha, is also expected to feature.

   2012 Supertwins Manx Grand Prix winner Nigel Moore cannot be ruled out on his OW47 250cc Yamaha with class regulars Ewan Hamilton, Neil Chadwick, Chris Barratt, Dean Martin and Tom Jackson just some of the other riders in the 30-strong field.

   It’s not all about the two-strokes though with a handful of four-strokes in the field, most notably four GPZ 600 Kawasakis in the hands of TT ace Shaun Anderson, Derek Glass, Stuart Noon and Peter Gibson.

5. League set to become youngest American to tackle IMGold Manx Grand Prix

   Posted on 2:32pm Sunday 20th Jul 2014

   Charlotte-based motorcycle racer Aaron League is set to become the youngest American to tackle the IMGold Manx Grand Prix next month. The 23-year-old will join Lancashire-based Rea Racing to pilot a Suzuki SV650 in the Newcomers B and Supertwin classes.

   League will make his debut on the Isle of Man at this year’s IMGold Manx Grand Prix ahead of a planned assault on the 2015 Pirelli National Superstock 600 Championship, as he bids to break onto the British short circuit racing scene. He began racing in the US Championship Cup series at the beginning of 2013, and so far this year has racked up 12 podiums and six race victories in the Lightweight division, and is currently the points leader of the GTL class on a Suzuki SV650.

   However he has always wanted to tackle the gruelling 37.73mile Isle of Man Mountain Course, and this year has been given the chance to contest the event. The IMGold Manx Grand Prix runs as part of the Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling which includes the Classic TT which this year will feature some of the biggest names in road racing including Michael Dunlop, John McGuinness and Bruce Anstey.

   “I’ve been wanting to race on the Isle of Man for years now, and I finally created the right opportunities to make it happen,” said League. “It’s not going to be easy, and the work is going to continue full-stick until the very end of the fortnight, but I am absolutely up for the challenge. Huge thanks go out to Ben Rea and Rea Racing for setting me up with a top-notch Supertwin. With a great machine under me, I’ll be able to focus solely on learning the course and getting around quickly and safely.”

   Following the IMGold Manx Grand Prix, League will be pursuing a ride in the UK’s National Superstock 600 Championship. Considered by many to be a hotbed of upcoming superbike talent, his aim is to break into what he believes is the best domestic racing series in the world.

   “The Manx is my priority at this point, but I do want to use this as a potential springboard into the British series because I think the UK’s racing scene is the best in the world, and as I still plan on pursuing the short circuit route, racing in the UK is vital to the direction I want my racing career to go. I want to take this opportunity to thank my sponsors for the continued support and guidance - Cornerspeed/Cornerspin, Willow Downs Performance, Spyke, LS2 Helmets and Zoeburn.com.”