Category: IOM TT - Manx Grand Prix

1. New Classic TT Trophies named after iconic TT riders created for this year's Classic TT Races

   Posted on 2:41pm Thursday 17th Jul 2014

   New Classic TT Trophies, named after four of the greatest names in TT history, have been created for this year's Isle of Man Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts.

   The illustrious riders - Joey Dunlop OBE (26 wins), Geoff Duke OBE, (6 wins), Mike Hailwood MBE (14 wins) and Phil Read MBE (8 wins), have accumulated a total of 54 TT Race victories between them.

   The trophies will be awarded to recognise class wins within the races where there is more than one class competing in the race and fastest single cylinder machines in a race.

   'The Joey Dunlop Classic TT Trophy' will be awarded to the rider of the first 750cc machine to finish the Motorsport Merchandise Formula 1 race on Monday 25th while 'The Phil Read Classic TT Trophy' will go to the first 250cc machine in the Monday's Okells 350cc Classic TT Race.

   The other awards - the 'Mike Hailwood Classic TT Trophy' and the 'Geoff Duke Classic TT Trophy' will be awarded to the first single cylinder 500cc machine in the Bennetts 500cc Classic TT race and the first single cylinder 350cc machine in the Okells 350cc Race respectively.

   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 on +44 (0)1624 694456 or [email protected] 

2. STUNNING ONE-OFF COLLECTION OF JOEY DUNLOP RACE MACHINES TO BE EXHIBITED AT 2014 CLASSIC TT RACES

   Posted on 2:41pm Tuesday 15th Jul 2014

   A stunning collection of Joey Dunlop race machines will be exhibited in the race paddock at the 2014 Isle of Man Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts.

   The exhibition is part of the Isle of Man Classic TTs Joey Dunlop Road Racing Legend tribute theme, which also includes a parade lap featuring his greatest rivals and an '80s themed fancy dress paddock carnival and party.

   The free pop up exhibition, which runs from Friday 22nd to Monday 25th August, will feature 25 authentic machines raced by Joey Dunlop in his 24 year career, including a number of his Isle of Man TT winning machines. Collectors, friends and members of Joey's own family have loaned the machines to the Classic TT Race organisers.

   As you would expect Honda, the marque synonymous with Joey Dunlop, dominate the exhibition including iconic RC45s, RC30s, RS250s, RS125s, CBR 600's and his 1986 Senior TT winning RS500. However, the exhibition, will also feature other machines from earlier in his career including Yamaha's and Suzuki's along with the 350cc Aermacchi he rode in the Classic MGP Races.

   David Cretney, the Isle of Man Government's Minister for Fun, who will open the exhibition ahead of Thursday's qualifying session, commented:

   "We wanted to pay an appropriate tribute to one of road racing's greatest names and what better way than to assemble the finest collection of his race bikes for the first time."

   He continued:

   "We have had a brilliant response from the bike owners in loaning their machines and are very grateful for their generosity. From a personal point of view, as someone who was involved in the TT races during Joey's career, it will bring back many great memories and I hope that as many fans as possible visit the exhibition."

   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 on +44 (0)1624 694456 or [email protected].

3. CAMERON DONALD CONFIRMS CLASSIC TT RETURN WITH RIPLEY LAND RACING

   Posted on 7:35am Friday 11th Jul 2014

   Two time TT Race winner Cameron Donald will make his return to the Mountain Course in August for the Isle of Man Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts with the Australian ace contesting both the Bennetts 500cc Classic TT and Okells 350cc Classic TT Races for Ripley Land Racing. Donald will line up on the team's 500cc Seeley G50 and 350cc 7R AJS as he did in 2013

   36-year old Donald, who rode the factory Norton at this year's TT, enjoyed a strong Classic TT meeting twelve months ago, with the highlight his second place overall in the 350cc Classic TT Race. The Melbourne rider was the winner of the 350cc GP1 class last year and became the first rider to break the 100mph barrier on a standard frame AJS 7R.

   He was also the fastest 500cc two valve single through the speed trap and was lying in fourth place in the race after an opening lap of 106.861mph before being forced to retire a lap later.

   Ripley Land Racing have been stalwarts of the classic scene for numerous years and Chris Palmer gave them the overall victory in last year's overall 350cc Classic TT Race, giving them a superb 1-2, and he also took the corresponding race at the Manx Grand Prix in 2012. The team, owned by Ian Garbutt, still hopes to secure the services of a leading TT rider to ride the same 350cc Honda ridden by Palmer.

   Speaking about his Classic TT return, Cameron Donald commented:

   "I loved every minute of last year's Classic TT and I am delighted that I have the chance to go back and get involved in some more racing around the TT Course. The atmosphere was fantastic last year and I love the whole classic racing scene. It is an honour to ride motorcycles as well prepared as the ones Ripley Land Racing provide me with and hopefully we can break a few more records and get ourselves back onto the podium."

   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 on +44 (0)1624 694456 or [email protected]

4. Excitement building with only fifty days to start of 2014 IMGold Manx Grand Prix

   Posted on 9:24am Monday 30th Jun 2014

   This year's event has a headline sponsor, IMGold, for the first time in the event's 91 year history.

   Competitors representing eighteen countries will line up on Glencrutchery Road, including riders from destinations as far flung as the United States of America, Australia and the Faroe Islands as well as Germany, France, Italy, Finland, Sweden, Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland and Austria. Great Britain, the Republic of Ireland and the Isle of Man are all well represented.

   Entries are at their highest number since 2003. The five race programme - Newcomers (A, B and C) Race, the Junior, the Supertwin, Lightweight and the Senior - was oversubscribed with multiple entries for each class.

   Following a week of qualifying, which starts on Saturday 16th August 2014, the racing gets underway in earnest with the now traditional curtain raiser, the Newcomers Race, which this year runs on Monday 25th August. This year 76 newcomers will line up in the three category races - up to 750cc, 650cc and 125/400cc.

   Wednesday's double-header race day opens with the Junior Manx Grand Prix and front runners confirmed to take part include Wilson and Collins rider Mike Moulai and Loughborough's Andy Soar, who finished second in a remarkable race in the 2012 MGP Senior, his debut year. Manchester rider Anthony Redmond has the prestigious number 1 slot and is also one of the expected front-runners as are Manx riders Glen Harrison and Paul Smythe and the 2012 Newcomer A race winner Kamil Holan from the Czech Republic.

   The Raceday concludes with the SuperTwin Race for 650 machines and the Lightweight Race for 125/400 machines. This exciting class, which was introduced in 2011, boasts an increased entry of 65 riders including 1993 F1 TT Race winner Nick Jefferies. Rob Hodson, from the Wigan racing dynasty, Andy Farrell and Joe Phillips are all expected to challenge for honours while 2013 Newcomers B Race winner Callum Collister from the Isle of Man will also be looking to get on the podium this year. In the concurrent 400cc class Alex Sinclair, Ben Rae, the 2013 newcomers C race winner and Isle of Man riders Dave Corlett and Dave Taylor are among the pre-race favourites.

   The meeting concludes with the prestigious Blue Riband Senior TT, which is sponsored this year by Martin Bullock's Full Factory - Winnerswear. Past winners of this iconic Race include Harold Daniel (1933), Geoff Duke (1949) and Phil Read (1960). None of the confirmed starters has ever won the race before so a new name will be inscribed on the trophy. As well as the stunning trophies, this year's race winners will each also receive a silver ingot from MGP sponsor IMGold.

   Harvey Garton, Chairman, Manx Motorcycle Club commented:

   "We are delighted to have such a high number of entries for this year's Manx Grand Prix from all around the world, testament to the event's growing appeal. For many of our competitors appearing in the Manx Grand Prix represents a huge personal and financial commitment and I would encourage everyone to come and support these remarkable individuals and celebrate their achievements."

   www.iomtt.com

5. TT Riders Association Honorary Secretary Frances Thorp wins PokerStars Spirit of the TT Award

   Posted on 9:55am Thursday 12th Jun 2014

   Douglas, Isle of Man. Frances Thorp, the Honorary Secretary of the TT Riders Association for the past eleven years, has been awarded this year's PokerStars Spirit of the TT Award. The position is unpaid and subject to an election every year.

   Ex-racer Freddie Frith formed the charity, which provides funds for old and injured riders and their families, in 1953. All current and former TT riders are eligible to join. Frances' husband Tom, who passed away in 2012, competed at the TT and MGP from 1956 to 1962 and was a TTRA member.

   The charity is made up of an Honorary Secretary and Treasurer, four committeemen and a President with a new president elected each year. Current president is Mortons Media Publisher Malcolm Wheeler while previous presidents have included Phillip McCallen, Mike Hailwood MBE, John Surtees MBE, Joey Dunlop, Stanley Woods and Geoff Duke OBE.

   The TTRA operates a number of fundraising events in the UK and worldwide through the year including their high profile annual lunch at the NEC in Birmingham during Motorcycle Live. The charity has helped hundreds of riders and their families past and present over its sixty-year history but never reveals individual details. Frances is regularly seen operating and managing the '38th milestone', the meeting point behind the grandstand for ex-riders during the TT Races and Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling.

   David Cretney, Isle of Man Government Political Member with responsibility for Tourism and Motorsport said:

   "Frances is a worthy recipient of this year's award. The incredible work that she puts in to fundraise for the TT Riders Association is second to none and many riders past and present have benefitted from her efforts."

   Representatives from the Isle of Man Government's Motorsport team including David Cretney, the Isle of Man Government representative with responsibility for Motorsport and Tourism, TT rider liaison officers Richard Quayle and John Barton, ACU Clerk of the Course Gary Thompson and PokerStars Head of Corporate Communications Eric Hollreiser judged the award. Nominations were invited from members of the public and from officials associated with the TT.

   The award is given to the person or team who best represent the ethos and values of the TT Races including decency, honesty, generosity, courage, compassion, integrity, respect, teamwork and commitment to the development of the races.

   Previous winners of the award have included Paul Owen in 2010, Conor Cummins in 2011 and sidecar duo Ben and Tom Birchall who won the award in 2012. Longest serving TT Marshal Eric Alexander, 81, who first marshalled at the TT in 1952, won the 2013 award.

   PokerStars Director of Corporate Communications Eric Hollreiser commented:

   "The TT Riders Association is a tremendous charity that does incredible work behind the scenes and is a hugely important and relevant part of the overall TT organisation. We are delighted to be able to recognise both their efforts and Frances' work with this award."