Category: IOM TT - Manx Grand Prix

1. SUZUKI CELEBRATE 50 YEARS IN GRAND STYLE AT THE TT

   Posted on 12:00am Saturday 12th Jun 2010

   The 2010 Isle of Man TT races finished in grand style today - quite literally, as the Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Team came to town to celebrate Suzuki's 50th anniversary of International Racing, with Italian legend Loris Capirossi and the GSV-R 800 MotoGP machine.

   With Capirossi making his maiden visit to the Island, the MotoGP rider, who started his 300th Grand Prix in Qatar at the start of the season, arrived on Thursday to acclimatise himself with the Isle of Man before riding the 37.73 mile course.

   On the final, Dainese Senior Race day, Capirossi lead away the Suzuki parade on a Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000 for his first ever lap of the famous TT course and afterwards commented, "This place is incredible. I've seen the TV footage before, but nothing prepares you for the TT course. The surface is much bumpier than I imagined and when you see the speeds that these guys run at, it is simply amazing. It's a fantastic event that you could never replicate anywhere else in the world."

   As the final race of the week concluded, Suzuki signed-off the 2010 racing fortnight, with the first ever lap of the TT course by a MotoGP machine, with Relentless Suzuki by TAS TT racer Cameron Donald riding the GSV-R and setting a fastest top speed down Sulby straight at 202mph.

   Donald commented, "Man, that was just amazing. I thought the bike would be really difficult and twitchy to ride, but it was great. I was expecting to ride a steady lap, but it was so good that I was able to get a great rhythm going and pick up a fast pace. In fact, it was so good, I reckon we need to get some regulation changes for next year as this thing with a few more laps on it, would really fly here."

   Despite not looking to smash any records, Donald still managed to set a highest top-speed, with 202mph recorded on the Rizla Suzuki GSV-R down Sulby straight.

2. SAD NEWS TT 2010

   Posted on 12:00am Friday 11th Jun 2010

   The Auto Cycle Union regret to announce that Paul Dobbs, 39, from Onewhero, New Zealand, was killed during the Supersport 2 race at the TT races in a racing incident at Ballagarey.
   
   Paul was an experienced TT competitor with a best finish of sixth in the 400cc lightweight TT race in 2000. He first competed in the Isle of Man TT Races in 1999.
   
   He was married with two children. The ACU wishes to pass on their deepest sympathy to the rider’s family and friends.
   
   Jim Parker, Chairman, ACU, commented: “Paul was a really popular rider in the paddock and was a great competitor. He was a very talented rider who made many friends in the racing community. He will be sorely missed.”

3. Moto Czysz confirm position as favourites for Isle of Man TT Zero Race with unofficial lap record for electric bikes

   Posted on 12:00am Monday 7th Jun 2010

   Portland based team Moto Czysz and their rider Mark Miller confirmed their position as race favourites for the 2010 TT Zero Electric bike race at the Isle of Man TT races with a lap of 94.664mph.

   The team recorded the fastest ever lap – albeit an unofficial lap record as it is not recorded during a race - for an electric bike around the famous mountain course, beating the 2009 race record of their closest challengers Team Agni who recorded 87.434mph average lap speed in winning the 2009 race.

   Moto Czysz lead from the start of the practice and were already over 17 seconds ahead of their nearest challengers ManTTx (James McBridge) at Glen Helen with defending champion Rob Barber and Team Agni third fastest. Martin Loicht’s HTBLAUVA - XX Project, Kingston University (George Spence) and Mark Buckley and Team Ecolve were also timed at over 60mph. Team Agni passed the Manx team before Ballaugh but were unable to match the speeds of the MotoCzysz team who were clocked at 102.566mph to Ramsey, having been recorded at a speed of 131.1 through the Sulby Speed Trap. Barber’s Team Agni also clocked over 100mph at Sulby.

   The Americans continued their impressive charge and were still just below the 100mph (99.974mph) at the Bungalow and eventually finished over 3 minutes ahead of their nearest challengers. Team boss Michael Czysz believes that the team could still claim the £10,000 prize that the Isle of Man Government will award if a team can break the prestigious 100mph average lap speed around the course but acknowledges that it is an uphill task. Reflecting on their success to date he said: “I’m really confident now with the bike and will happily not touch it now until the race. I think that the bike is capable of achieving the 100mph lap as we still have something in reserve but it will require everything going right on race day.”

   Ten teams are participating in the 2010 TT Zero with SERT, the Swedish Electric Race team, unable to practice tonight due to a malfunctioning engine. New parts are being rushed to the Island ahead of Wednesday afternoon’s race.

4. MCGUINNESS STATES HIS CASE WITH FASTEST QUALIFYING LAP TO DATE

   Posted on 12:00am Thursday 3rd Jun 2010

   Gorgeous sun and blue sky met the competitors for Wednesday evening’s practice session and conditions were perfect for the third night of the 2010 Isle of Man TT Races. Indeed, the biggest problem was going to be the ever present Manx population of flies who were again out in force!

   Riders were warned of a few damp patches at Quarry Bends and Governor’s Bridge but with close to ideal conditions, it was almost inevitable that the 130mph would be broken and so it was but, surprisingly, only by John McGuinness on his second lap.

   It was William Dunlop and Bruce Anstey who got the session underway promptly at 6.20pm, the Northern Irishman on his 600cc machine and the Kiwi on his Superbike. Following them were John McGuinness and Michael Dunlop, Ian Lougher and Cameron Donald, Keith Amor and Daniel Kneen and Adrian Archibald and Carl Rennie, all Superbike mounted with the exception of Kneen who was out on his 600.

   McGuinness was the first to complete a lap at 129.265mph with Anstey and Donald not too far behind at 127.915mph and 128.011mph respectively. Michael Dunlop, Lougher, Amor and Archibald were all above 126mph but Guy Martin was close to McGuinness’ pace at 129.145mph, Ian Hutchinson also going well at 128.018mph.

   Second time around and McGuinness really showed his class with a lap of 130.242mph, Hutchinson increasing his speed to 128.735mph and Archibald to 128.618mph. Martin had called in to the pits at the end of his first lap but got no further than Quarter Bridge on his second before pulling off, eventually going back out on his Superstock bike. Davy Morgan was also in trouble retiring at Sulby Bridge.

   McGuinness and Hutchinson both swapped to their 600cc Supersport bikes, the latter going second quickest on the night with a lap just over 125mph. It was that man Michael Dunlop who was quickest here and he was marginally faster than Hutchinson at 125.087mph. Meanwhile, Amor posted an impressive time on his BMW Superstock bike at 127.525mph.

   Most of the riders were able to get back out for a fifth lap and Hutchinson went back out on his Superbike recording a lap of 129.164mph to go second quickest on the night. Amor was close to 128mph on the HM Plant Honda but Ryan Farquhar was flying on his Superstock Kawasaki and a lap of 128.076mph saw him go quickest, that speed also the Northern Irishman’s fastest ever lap of the Mountain Course, albeit unofficially.

   Conor Cummins posted a late lap of 127.010mph with Gary Johnson also having a better run after problems earlier in the week, the AIM Racing rider lapping at 126.488mph, just quicker than Dan Stewart, who also recorded his fastest ever lap.

   The newcomers again continued to make good progress and this time it was Stephen Thompson who was quickest at 115.114mph. Herve Ganther and James Hurrell both lapped in excess of 111mph with Clinton Pienaar also over 110mph for the first timer whilst former British 125cc Champion Dan Cooper impressed on the 600cc Suzuki at 111.026mph.

   In the sidecars it was Dave Molyneux and Patrick Farrance who again led the field away from John Holden/Andy Winkle and Klaus Klaffenbock/Dan Sayle but Tim Reeves and Dipash Chauhan were again in trouble on the opening lap, stopping at Kirk Michael to make adjustments. Molyneux’s first lap was 113.917mph but went quicker second time around at 114.748mph whilst Klaffenbock’s impressive week continued with a best lap of 113.576mph, another, unofficial, personal best. Holden and Simon Neary were again above 112mph with Reeves able to get going to lap at 109.028mph on his second lap. Gary Bryan and Roy Hanks were two more retirements.

   Brian McCormack, Scott Wilson and Paul Shoesmith were all involved in an incident at Waterworks but were reported as OK, Jenny Tinmouth’s bike ended up in a hedge at Sulby Bridge, Takahiro Itami came off at Braddan Oak, Brendan Cretu at Nook and Steven McIlvenna at Governors Bridge but all were reported as OK. In the Carl Fenwick’s passenger Keir Pedley sustained leg injuries at Cruickshanks and was taken by airmed to hospital.

   Provisional Times:

   Poker Stars Superbike TT
   1 John McGuinness (1000 HM Plant Honda) – 130.242mph
   2 Ian Hutchinson (1000 Padgetts Honda) – 129.164mph
   3 Guy Martin (1000 Wilson Craig Honda) – 129.145mph
   4 Adrian Archibald (1000 AMA Racing Suzuki) – 128.618mph
   5 Cameron Donald (1000 Relentless by TAS Suzuki) – 128.011mph
   6 Keith Amor (1000 HM Plant Honda) – 127.925mph

   Monster Energy Supersport TT
   1 Michael Dunlop (600 Street Sweep/Hardship Racing Yamaha) – 125.087mph
   2 Ian Hutchinson (600 Padgetts Honda) – 125.020mph
   3 John McGuinness (600 Padgetts Honda) – 123.128mph
   4 William Dunlop (600 CD Racing Yamaha) – 122.639mph
   5 Conor Cummins (600 McAdoo Kawasaki) – 122.554mph
   6 Adrian Archibald (600 AMA Racing Yamaha) – 122.300mph

   Royal London 360? Superstock TT
   1 Ryan Farquhar (1000 KMR Kawasaki) – 128.076mph
   2 Keith Amor (1000 WA Corless/Jackson Racing BMW) – 127.525mph
   3 Guy Martin (1000 Wilson Craig Honda) – 127.503mph
   4 Ian Lougher (1000 Blackhorse Kawasaki) – 126.216mph
   5 Cameron Donald (1000 Relentless by TAS Suzuki) – 126.012mph
   6 Michael Rutter (1000 HM Plant Honda) – 125.495mph

   Sure Sidecar TT
   1 Dave Molyneux/Patrick Farrance (600 DMR Kawasaki) – 114.748mph
   2 Klaus Klaffenbock/Dan Sayle (600 Manx Gas/A&J Racing Honda) – 113.576mph
   3 John Holden/Andy Winkle (600 Holden Racing/TAS Suzuki) – 112.737mph
   4 Simon Neary/Paul Knapton (600 Dave Hudspeth Carpets/Nick Crowe Racing Honda) – 112.071mph
   5 Conrad Harrison/Kerry Williams (600 Printer Roller Services Honda) – 110.810mph
   6 Tony Elmer/Darren Marshall (600 Croc a Tile Yamaha) – 109.253mph

    

   www.iomtt.com

5. KTM enter Isle of Man TT Races for the first time

   Posted on 12:00am Thursday 25th Feb 2010

   Iconic Austrian brand to debut at TT 2010 with Redline Motorcycles and James Edmeades

   Austrian manufacturer KTM are set to increase the levels of official manufacturer participation at the 2010 Isle of Man TT Races with the news that Redline Motorcycles will be entering one of the flagship KTM RC8R Superbike machines in the Superbike, Superstock and Senior TT Races.

   The off-road giants have been increasing their road racing efforts in recent years with 2009 seeing official participation in both the Austrian and German Superbike Championships and it is anticipated that the machine on the Island will mirror those in specification in what will be KTM’s first ever TT appearance.

   The man given the task of riding the bright orange bike will be Loughborough’s James Edmeades. The 26-year old is no stranger to the TT having ridden in the 2006, 2007 and 2008 events. The former Virgin R6 Cup rider narrowly missed out on his first 120mph lap in 2007 and has already picked up two bronze replicas from his nine races whilst he also took a strong fifth in last season’s RC8 Super Cup Championship.

   In addition to the TT outing, Edmeades will campaign the bike in this year’s British Superbike Evo Championship and he is eagerly looking forward to his return to the Mountain Course.

   “The opportunity to become the first KTM rider at the Isle of Man TT Races is a tremendous honour for me and after the three great years I enjoyed between 2006 and 2008, I can’t wait to get back on the Island. The KTM RC8R is a superb bike and I’m sure it will perform well around the course with its excellent handling qualities.

   He continued: “I was carrying an injury when I was last at the TT and didn’t perform as I would have liked which is something I’m keen to put right this year. I’m sure both myself and the team will give a good account of ourselves and further prove the capabilities of the KTM Superbike machine.”

   KTM will join Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki with their official manufacturer supported efforts at this year’s TT whilst discussions with other leading manufacturers not currently represented at the TT are close to being finalised.

   Hon Martyn Quayle, MHK, Minister for Tourism and Leisure, Isle of Man Government commented:

   “It will be fantastic to see KTM competing for the first time on the Isle of Man and how appropriate that they will be lining up on the grid with Suzuki who are celebrating their 50^th anniversary of racing at the TT. It shows the continued strength and enduring appeal of the TT Races and I hope that KTM will have a long and successful TT history.”