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Category: IOM TT - Manx Grand Prix
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Nothing will compare to the thrilling sights, sounds and smell of some of the world's most exotic classic bikes at this year's inaugural Classic TT event on the Isle of Man and you can be within ear splitting distance of the best action as well as be part of the world's leading Classic Motorcycle event with race day and special events tickets now on sale.
VIP, Platinum VIP and Grandstand tickets are all now available for the two Classic TT race days - Saturday 24th and Monday 26th August. VIP and Platinum VIP hospitality tickets offer unrivalled access to the event from the comfort of the 'VIP Club'. You'll be sharing the complimentary bar, breakfast and buffet with heroes from the TT past and present as well as some of the greatest names in the history of motorcycle racing.
Grandstand tickets will give you a great view of the start and finish straight and the iconic pit lane as the world's leading classic racers go head to head with the modern TT stars. John McGuinness and Michael Dunlop are set to renew their rivalry from this year's TT and battle for the 500cc crown
Other leading TT stars including Conor Cummins, Cameron Donald, William Dunlop, James Hillier, Gary Johnson and Bruce Anstey are all confirmed to appear on some of the greatest and most iconic machines of the last century including bikes from Paton, Matchless, Norton, MV Agusta, BSA, Moto Guzzi, Ducati, Vincent, AJS, Aermacchi and the established Japanese manufacturers, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki..
Grandstand tickets are priced at just £10 for Saturday's 500cc Classic TT Race with the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company '67 Senior TT Reenactment Lap featuring John McGuinness and Giacomo Agostini also scheduled for that day. Monday's action includes the combined 350cc and 250cc Classic TT Races as well as the Formula 1, 2 and Formula Classic TT Race.
Monday will also feature the Classic Racer Classic TT 'Lap of Honour'. Riders already confirmed to take part include 15-time World Champion Giacomo Agostini, 20-time TT winner John McGuinness, 11-time TT winner Philip McCallen, 16-time TT sidecar race winner Dave Molyneux, 7-time TT winner Mick Grant, 4-time World Champion Kork Ballington, double World Champion Carlos Lavado, Ralf Waldmann, winner of 20 Grand Prix, Formula 750 World Champion Steve Baker, triple world champion Freddie Spencer and 2003 World Superbike Champion Neil Hodgson.
The action doesn't just take place on the track this year as London's iconic Ace Cafe will be taking over the VIP Club and recreating their unrivalled experience on Saturday 24th August with an Ace Cafe Classic TT Party. Expect tub-thumping rock and roll from the sixties with live music, DJ's and special guests. Tickets are priced at just £20 for an evening of fun and nostalgia.
The following evening, Sunday 25th August, TT fans will get the chance to meet some of the greatest names in Motorcycling history at the 'Classic TT Heroes Dinner' in the VIP Club. Compered by Neil Hodgson and with a plethora of World Champions, national champions and a stunning line up of TT riders past and present with over a hundred race victories and numerous podiums, it promises to be an unforgettable and exclusive evening. Tickets are priced at £100 each plus VAT
Grandstand, VIP and Platinum Hospitality and the Ace Cafe Classic TT Party and Classic TT Heroes Dinner are all available on the www.officialiomtt.com website or by phoning Duke Marketing on +44 (0) 1624 640 000.
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Three time motorcycle Grand Prix World Champion Freddie Spencer is the latest star name to be added to a glittering cast list for the inaugural Classic TT Races due to be held in August this year.
The American will ride his 1987 500cc, 3 Cylinder Rothmans Honda that he is currently parading in Europe at the Festival of Jurby on the 25th August and again in the Classic Racer Magazine Lap of Honour on Monday 26th August.
He will also be a guest in the official VIP Hospitality Club and will host a table at the Classic TT Legends Dinner on the evening of Sunday 25th August.
'Fast Freddie' first came to prominence in 1978, winning the 250cc US National Road Racing Championship and gained international recognition at the 1980 U.S. versus Britain Trans-Atlantic Match races when he won two legs, defeating World Champions Kenny Roberts and Barry Sheene in the process.
He was promoted to Honda's Grand Prix team in 1982 and in 1983 he won his first 500cc World Championship at the age of 21, becoming the youngest person to win the title, a distinction previously held by Mike Hailwood.
The 1983 season is remembered as one of the most dramatic title chases in the history of Grand Prix racing; Honda's Spencer and Yamaha's Kenny Roberts fighting for the points lead throughout the championship with each of them earning six victories. The season culminated at the penultimate round in Sweden when Roberts ran off the track on the last lap leaving Spencer to sprint to the finish line and victory. Roberts won the last race but Spencer finished second, securing his first world title by two points.
Teething problems with Honda's radically new V4 NSR500 coupled with injuries from crashes hindered Spencer's title defense in 1984 but 1985 proved to be an historic year for him. He won both the 250cc and 500cc Grand Prix World Championships, the last rider to achieve such a feat. His career was cut short by wrist injuries and he retired from Grand Prix racing at the beginning of 1988.
Commenting on his appearance at this year's Classic TT he said: "The Isle of Man TT is one of the great event's in motorsport and to get the chance to be involved in the inaugural Classic TT is a real honour. I'm really looking forward to experiencing the place where so many great names have competed and to meeting the fans."
Other legendary names from the past already confirmed to attend the Classic TT include Giacomo Agostini, Phil Read, Mick Grant, Phillip McCallen, Kork Ballington and Steve Baker.
To book tickets for the Classic TT Legends Dinner, Platinum or VIP Hospitality places or Grandstand tickets for the Classic TT Races go to www.iomtt.com or contact Duke Marketing on +44 (0) 1624 640 000.
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TT fans will get the chance to meet some of the greatest names in Motorcycling history at the 'Classic TT Heroes Dinner’ on Sunday 25th August during this year's inaugural Classic TT Races event.
The evening will take place in the prestigious new TT 'VIP Club' facility, situated at the heart of the race paddock. It will be 'sandwiched' between the two race days for what is already building up to be the World's leading Classic motorcycle race meeting.
With a plethora of World Champions, national champions and a stunning line up of TT riders past and present with over a hundred race victories and numerous podiums, it promises to be an unforgettable and exclusive evening.
The 'Who's Who' of motorcycle racing includes modern TT stars John McGuinness, Conor Cummins, Ian Lougher, Bruce Anstey, Dave Molyneux, Conor Cummins, Cameron Donald, James Hillier, Michael and William Dunlop and Gary Johnson - all of whom raced at this year's TT.
Joining them will be some of the most successful Mountain Course competitors of yesteryear including Mick Grant, Phil McCallen, Brian Reid, Ryan Farquhar and Phil Read while Italian legend Giacomo Agostini, fresh from his parade lap with John McGuinness recreating the unforgettable '67 Senior TT duel with Mike Hailwood, will also be at the event.
Other World champions due to appear include four time GP title winner Kork Ballington, American Freddie Spencer, Venezuelan Carlos Lavardo, the double 250cc title winner, Steve Baker, the first American to win a road racing world championship and Australian Kel Carruthers, a double Lightweight TT Race winner including his victorious 1969 World Championship winning year.
Former British and World Superbike champion Neil Hodgson will be compering the evening and interviewing each of the stars during the evening. Every table will be hosted by one of the legendary names so you'll also get the chance to ask your own questions and get memorabilia personally autographed. The riders will be switching tables after each of the three courses so you'll get your own experience and interview with many of the greatest names in racing history.
Tickets are £100 each plus VAT which includes a three-course meal and complementary, limited edition gift or you can block book tables of eight for £800 plus VAT. Tickets are available on the official www.iomtt.com website or by phoning Duke Marketing on +44 (0) 1624 640 000.
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IT WAS an opportunity to get up close and personal with a true sporting great at the weekend, and thousands of people made the most of it at the brand new Carole Nash Newark Bike Bonanza.
John McGuinness, fresh from completing a remarkable 20th TT victory at the Isle of Man event, spent hours meeting fans as well as participating in fascinating Q&A sessions with Newark Bike Bonanza compere Steve Plater on Saturday and Sunday (June 22-23).
The ‘Morecambe Missile’ told organisers how great it was to be taking part: “I’ve had a fantastic time here in Newark. “I’m especially pleased to see such a varied crowd; we have the older, established bike fans as well as the new generation who are coming through, and that really is what it’s all about.”
Along with McGuinness, the show featured many other top names from both road-racing and track disciplines with local riders Alex Lowes and Ben Wilson, TT starlet Conor Cummins and Samsung Honda ace Jason O’Halloran completing a superb line-up. The Classic TT, a much-anticipated event heading for the iconic island this August, also came in for discussion among the competitors.
McGuinness shared his thoughts: “I’m looking forward to celebrating the history of the TT with this fun new event.
“It wouldn’t do the TT justice if there wasn’t any competitiveness though and I know when I pull that helmet on the race instincts are bound to kick in.”
The special guests also lent a helping hand at the Newark Bike Bonanza awards presentation where Chris Thompson’s 1981 250 Yamaha RD250 took the Best In Show accolade.
Thompson and his Yamaha will now go into the Classic Bikers Club Bike of the Year 2013 online vote, which will be decided later in the year. The high-octane action came thick and fast throughout the weekend with champion-stuntman Steve Colley and extreme-mountain bike rider Danny Butler wowing the crowds with breath-taking displays.
Ken Fox’s world-famous Wall of Death was on top form also, as the incredible team of dare-devils defied gravity to keep onlookers thoroughly entertained. Many worthy causes were highlighted too; the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance, Nottinghamshire Fire Brigade, the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership and Lincolnshire Blood Bikes were all at Newark Showground over the weekend, showcasing the vital work they undertake in road safety.
A special charity auction held on Saturday evening saw more than £1300 raised, with the money being shared between the ambucopter and the TT Riders’ Association. With all of this and much more aside, the Carole Nash Newark Bike Bonanza lived up to high expectations and looks set to establish itself as a top summer event in the East Midlands region for many years to come.
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AFTER POKERSTARS SENIOR TT IS RESTARTED FOLLOWING BRAY HILL INCIDENT
After the initial race was red flagged due to an incident at Bray Hill involving rider Jonathan Howarth in which ten spectators were injured, the race got underway at 4.30pm and the first few laps were nothing short of superb as the gaps between the leading riders were minimal. It was Gary Johnson who grabbed the lead at Glen Helen by 0.5s from William Dunlop with Michael Dunlop just 0.05s further back! Michael Rutter slotted into fourth as McGuinness found himself down in fifth.
It was all change at Ramsey though as Michael Dunlop hit the front for the first time, Johnson now second and McGuinness third. At the end of the lap, the order was still with the first five riders all over 130mph and only seven seconds between them, Dunlop leading from McGuinness, Johnson, Rutter and Guy Martin.
McGuinness began to make his move on the second lap and, after edging ahead by just five hundredths of a second at Ballaugh, he completed his second lap at 131.272mph to open up a 2.4s lead. Dunlop was 4.8s ahead of Martin with Bruce Anstey up to fourth and ahead of Rutter as Johnson was forced to retire with a broken foot assembly.
Another slick pit stop by McGuinness’ Honda TT Legends crew saw him leave the pits with a bigger lead but by Glen Helen the gap was down to half a second although McGuinness had doubled this by Ramsey. It was nip and tuck all the way and at half race distance there was two seconds between the duo, Anstey in third ahead of Martin and Hillier, who had relegated Rutter to sixth.
On the fourth lap, McGuiness appeared to have broken Dunlop slightly and, for the first time, his lead increased the whole way round. Leading on the road with Hillier right in his wheeltracks, the pair lapped at over 131mph as they came into their second pit stop and whilst it allowed McGuinness to go seven seconds clear of Dunlop, it also allowed Hillier to not only move up to fourth but also close up on Anstey.
Fifth time around and McGuinness’ lead crept up to the ten second mark, Hillier continued to have a great education behind the current King of the Mountain whilst the thousands of fans around the track were also being treated to an on-track duel between Anstey and Donald. McGuinness and Dunlop looked safe but third place was anyone’s and as the riders headed into their sixth and final lap, Hillier had nosed ahead albeit by the tiny margin of 0.16s!
The final lap saw the leading four riders all lap in excess of 131mph, Hillier and Anstey both setting personal best laps, but it was McGuinness who was celebrating the most as he took his 20th TT win, and his 41st podium, by 10.1s. Dunlop ended his phenomenal week with a second place and, in a thrilling last lap, Anstey set the fastest lap of the race, 131.531mph, to get the better of Hillier for third.
Martin took fifth with Rutter in sixth, the Midlands rider delighted with his first 130mph+ laps. William Dunlop took seventh from Dean Harrison and Dan Stewart with Australian David Johnson securing his best TT result in tenth.
Lee Johnston was the best of the Privateer’s in 11th and that allowed him to take that particular Championship by ten points from Dan Kneen, who took 12th in today’s race.
The race was delayed by 3 1/2 hours following the incident on Bray Hill. The Race organisers issued the following statement:
"ACU Events Ltd can confirm that 10 spectators were injured during an incident in the Senior TT Race. The rider Jonathan Howarth sustained a minor fracture. The race was red flagged and emergency services were immediately in attendance at the scene.
The ten spectators and the rider were taken to hospital with injuries ranging from slight to serious but not life threatening. Four of the spectators have been discharged, five of the injured have been kept in hospital and one remains under observation in the emergency department."
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