England cricket legend Darren Gough completed a key chapter in his summer of Bennetts Biking Dream Challenges yesterday after fulfilling a lifetime dream to experience the thrill of the Isle of Man TT.

Gough was given the ultimate ‘access all areas’ TT experience, the highlight being to ride a lap of the famous 37 ¾ mile Mountain Course under the guidance of TT star ‘Milky’ Quayle. To cap it off, Gough got up close to the Superbike TT race with a grid walk, a place at the very best race vantage point at the bottom of Bray Hill, and a ‘closed lap’ of the Mountain Course in the official course inspection car.

Gough’s weekend was organised by Bennetts, the UK’s No.1 Bike Insurance Specialist, who are also an official sponsor of the Isle of Man TT. His TT experience is part of a series of Biking Dream Challenges which have been set up for him by Bennetts this summer after discovering that Gough harboured a dream to learn to ride different types of motorcycle.

Having undertaken further bike training with the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) and out on the TT track on a sports bike, Gough will soon take on his next challenge on an altogether different type of motorcycle.

Reflecting on his TT experience, Gough, said: “I’ve always been a fan of watching sports bikes but it’s always been BSB, WSB and MotoGP. To come here and take in the TT has been amazing. I take my hat off to these guys. You can imagine that’s what motorcycle racing was like 100 years ago - just pure skill and guts.”

Hannah Squirrell, Bennetts Marketing & Ecommerce Director said, “The Isle of Man TT is a completely unique event and we are extremely proud to support it, so when we heard of Darren’s Biking Dream, we knew we could help him fulfil it.  He is an excellent ambassador for motorcycling and we’re glad he is able to spread a positive message.”