222 replies to this topic

[milestone 11]

Here we go, The Greatest Show on Earth, Two Weeks in June (Soichiro Honda 1954), it is something of a misnomer though, because it never is. Mad Sunday, the middle Sunday of the event, is always the first Sunday in June.

Practice kicks off tomorrow at 6.45 with newcomers practice. Sadly this year we'll still be minus one of of TT's greatest stars in Bruce Anstey, still in recovery from his chemotherapy, John McGuinness is back riding a Norton. It's doubtful that he'll add t his tally with the possible exception of TT Zero.

Major players to watch this year are,

Peter Hickman and Dean Harrison. Michael Dunlop is still nursing a wrist injury but he may be ok for racing next week.

 

Even the GOAT loves it.

 

The circuit, 37and 3/4 miles

Current lap record Peter Hickman, 135.452mph (217.988 kph) 16.42.788 minutes riding a BMW S1000 RR.
An on board with Peter Hickman,




OK everyone the greatest show on earth's fantastic live timing should go Live this afternoon, just sign in and you're off. There are links there where you can follow your favourite rider, interactive maps, photos, YouTube, Downloads, The TT shop, Twitter and the brilliant Radio TT, beware though, you have to become an outright rocker for two weeks to enjoy the experience fully. Get down by the Bushy's tent if you get the lust after a few days and watch topless guys and gals doing strange things on motorbikes, get into Sam Webb's in the evening and watch live bands with a fairly good chance of seeing one of the local police inspectors giving it loads on stage in uniform. Not to be missed.

If you want to keep up minute by minute, the first-class Radio TT will broadcast excellent full commentary live and keep you musically entertained. Great station. Just be sure to click on the AM link not FM, that's where all the fuddy duddies hang out, you'll find nothing there that even indicates that it's TT, starts today for this evenings practice and fully live from Monday at 7.30 am until conclusion of TT '18.

Here, you can find the excellent IOMTT where all the news, results, starting lists, and a fantastic TT database etc. can be found.

If, unlike me, you're capable of restraining yourself in your posting manner, you have to be very, very good, there's a TT forum here. The old one unfortunately got closed down 'cos all the glasses got smashed when the joint was wrecked one night. And again this year!!! Autosport TT

Hot links should work when up and running tomorrow, I will replace with functional ones Sat afternoon 25th.

 

Schedule practice week,

Saturday 25th May,



18:20 - 18:45 Solo Newcomers’ speed controlled lap
18:35 - 19:00 Sidecar Newcomers’ speed controlled lap
18:45 - 20:50 Lightweight TT / Supersport / Newcomers (all solo classes)

Monday 27th May,



18:20 - 19:50 Superbike / Superstock / Supersport / Newcomers (except Lightweight)
19:55 - 20:50 Sidecars

Tuesday 28th May,



18:20 - 19:25 Superbike / Superstock / Supersport / Newcomers (except Lightweight)
19:25 - 19:55 Supersport / Lightweight / Newcomers (all Solo classes)
20:00 - 20:50 Sidecars

Wednesday 29th May.



18:20 - 19:40 Superbike / Superstock / Supersport / Newcomers (except Lightweight)
19:45 - 20:35 Sidecars
20:35 - 20:50 TT Zero

Thursday 30th May,



18:20 - 19:15 Superbike / Superstock / Supersport / Newcomers (except Lightweight)
19:20 - 19:45 Supersport / Lightweight / Newcomers (all Solo classes)
19:50 - 20:35 Sidecars
20:35 - 20:50 TT Zero

Friday 31st May,


18:20 - 19:35 Superbike / Superstock / Supersport / Newcomers (except Lightweight)
19:35 - 19:45 TT Zero
19:55 - 20:50 Sidecars

And the Race Schedule,

Saturday 1st June,



12:00 RST Superbike TT Race (6 Laps)
15:00 Locate.im Sidecar TT Race 1 (3 Laps)
16:35 Superstock / Supersport / Lightweight Qualifying
17:10 TT Zero Qualifying (1 Lap)

Monday 3rd June,



10:45 Monster Energy Supersport TT Race 1 (4 Laps)
12:25 - 13:05 Sidecar Qualifying (2 Laps)
14:15 RL360 Quantum Superstock Race (4 Laps)
15:55 TT Lightweight Qualifying (1 Lap)
16:15 TT Zero Qualifying (1 Lap)

Wednesday 5th June,



10:45 Monster Energy Supersport TT Race 2 (4 Laps)
12:45 SES TT Zero Race (1 Lap)
14:10 Bennetts Lightweight TT Race (4 Laps)
15:55 Sidecar TT Qualifying (1 Lap)
16:10 Senior TT Qualifying (1 Lap)

Friday 7th June, Senior race day,



10:15 Locate.im Sidecar TT Race 2 (3 Laps)
12:45 PokerStars Senior TT Race (6 Laps)



A few highlights from last year.



For those that can access ITV4 in the UK or even with Nigerian help,

Monday 27th May 21:00
One Three Five - Breaking The Barrier

 

Tuesday 28th May 09:00 One Three Five - Breaking The Barrier (repeat)
Tuesday 28th May 21:00
The Greatest Race - Hislop vs Fogarty

 

Wednesday 29th May 09:00 The Greatest Race - Hislop vs Fogarty (repeat)
Wednesday 29th May 21:00
TAS - TT Winning Formula

 

Thursday 30th May 09:00 TAS - TT Winning Formula (repeat)
Thursday 30th May 21:00
TT Preview Show

 

Friday 31st May 09:00 TT Preview Show (repeat)
Friday 31st May 21:00
TT Qualifying Highlights

 

Saturday 1st June 08:00 TT Qualifying Highlights (repeat)
Saturday 1st June 21:00
RST Superbike Race Highlights

 

Sunday 2nd June 08:00 RST Superbike Race Highlights (repeat)
Sunday 2nd June 21:00
Locate.im Sidecar TT Race 1 Highlights

 

Monday 3rd June 09:00 Locate.im Sidecar TT Race 1 Highlights (repeat)
Monday 3rd June 21:00
Monster Energy Supersport TT Race 1 Highlights

 

Tuesday 4th June 11:30 Monster Energy Supersport TT Race 1 Highlights (repeat)
Tuesday 4th June 21:00
RL360 Superstock TT Race Highlights

 

Wednesday 5th June 11:30 RL360 Superstock TT Race Highlights (repeat)
Wednesday 5th June 21:00
Monster Energy Supersport TT Race 2 Highlights

 

Thursday 6th June 10:00 Monster Energy Supersport TT Race 2 Highlights (repeat)
Thursday 6th June 21:00
Bennetts Lightweight TT Race & SES TT Zero Race Highlights

 

Friday 7th June 10:30 Bennetts Lightweight TT Race & SES TT Zero Race Highlights (repeat)
Friday 7th June 21:00
Dunlop Senior TT Race Highlights

 

Saturday 8th June 08:30 Dunlop Senior TT Race Highlights (repeat)
Saturday 8th June 19:00 One Three Five - Breaking The Barrier (repeat)
Saturday 8th June 20:00 The Greatest Race - Hislop vs Fogarty (repeat)
Saturday 8th June 21:00
Locate.im Sidecar TT Race 2 Highlights

 

Sunday 9th June 11:25 Locate.im Sidecar TT Race 2 Highlights (repeat)

 

Wednesday 12th June 21:00
TT 2019 Review Show - Part 1

 

Thursday 13th June 21:00
TT 2019 Review Show - Part 2

Enjoy everyone, looking forward to a great, safe TT.

Edited by milestone 11, 27 May 2019 - 10:15.

[messy]

Highlight of the racing year. Love everything about it, just always hope everyone makes it off the island in once piece.

Last year felt like a changing of the guard somehow with Hickman and Harrison to the fore and their battle for victory in the Senior was amazing. I was cheering Harrison, but Hickman's win was brilliant.

For me the TT heralds the start of the summer, too. Everything looks so lush and green.

[RacingGreen]

Awesome post!

I'm very excited about this and more determined than ever to watch as much as I possibly can, because I fear for the future of the TT, I am scared that 2-3 yrs down the line it's going to be banned by some damn snowflakes moaning about it.  So I want to watch as much as I can now.

 

Hope we have a safe race, I think we are due one. Bring on the racing!

 

also Go Dean Harrison!!

 

I have just been discussing the TT on the Indy Aero-screen thread in the context of riders still being free to accept to compete in an event where there is obviously a high level of risk but I fear for the TT's future too and am hoping for a safe couple of weeks. 

 

Let's enjoy while we can.

 

 

...and great OP Milestone.

Edited by RacingGreen, 25 May 2019 - 06:57.

[sopa]

Is there a real risk that TT could get banned or where do the fears come from? Some discussions going on behind the scenes?

[hodgy21]

I can appreciate the bravery and nerves of steel to do this, but when avid supporters are talking about making it off the island in one piece it sounds like Battle Royale where all you ‘win’ is your own life.

Good luck to all involved I hope you ALL make it off the island in one piece.

Yours sincerely

Mr snowflake

[Ghostrider]

I just love seeing videos from these races. 

 

One of few instances of real racing still existing today...

Edited by Ghostrider, 25 May 2019 - 09:09.

[PlayboyRacer]

These blokes carry their balls around in wheelbarrows. Need a new word for bravery.

[Vitesse2]

Rather than go down the 'snowflake' route, please just stick to discussing the racing. We all know there is a lobby which would like to see the end of road racing on two wheels, of course, but let's just enjoy the spectacle and leave the politicking for another day. Bike racing isn't normally my cup of tea, but I do usually try to catch some of the TT and the North West 200, not least for the scenery!

[milestone 11]

Tonight's practice cancelled due to wet weather. Session now taking place tomorrow at 1.30pm. Even I'm not likely to hear much of that.

[Ellios]

Be safe to all involved, hopefully no deaths this year. 

[milestone 11]

Lewis Duncan's first practice report here. Unsurprisingly, Dean Harrison topped the time yesterday in the Supersport class. Tonight, brings out the Superstocks and Superbikes as well.

Edited by milestone 11, 27 May 2019 - 10:21.

[w1Y]

What is the prize for winning it. I hope its worth it.

[jonpollak]

Bucket list race.
Jp

[AlexPrime]

Truly an amazing race, riders are so brave it is unbelievable.

[milestone 11]

Sadly, the weather has beaten us again, very wet. Tomorrow looks OK but Wednesday looks shite again. Let's hope Thursday and Friday are good, we have the Superbike race on Saturday. All riders have to complete at least 6 laps on each bike before race.
 

What is the prize for winning it. I hope its worth it.

 
Nowhere near what it should be, these figures are from 2018.
 
Superbike and Senior have same prize money but the real prestige is winning the Senior.
 
 

Both sidecar races have the same prize money.

 
Both Supersport races have the same prize money,
Lightweight, (650 Twins) has just one race. Mostly Kawasaki ER650 and Paton machines, Prize money below.
 

 
Just one Superstock, (As BSB championship rules)
 

Edited by milestone 11, 27 May 2019 - 18:01.

[paulb]

Thank-you to whoever removed the extraordinarily offensive post.

Edited by paulb, 27 May 2019 - 19:34.

[Counterbalance]

There's a good article in this month's edition of Motorsport magazine with Peter Hickman. Well worth a read.

[loki]

Been an IOMTT fan for several years.  Didn't realize the prize money isn't all that much.  I had to look twice to make sure that payout wasn't a per day rate.  Yikes that's slim.  We're going to try and go in the next few years.  Doesn't look that difficult to get accommodations on the island.  I didn't realize they brought a bunch of temporary pods in for the event.  I've wanted to sit at that pub on the outside of the hairpin Creg-ny Baa for a while.

 

EDIT: didn't realize the pub was closer to start finish, thought it was at the top of the island.

Edited by loki, 28 May 2019 - 02:57.

[Risil]

The money is likely to be much more than what McGuinness, Dunlop etc would be earning in national racing. As it should be (after all, who should be getting the money instead?), but there has been friction in the BSB paddock about riders with fairly mediocre records in short circuit racing out-earning their peers because they are perceived to simply be accepting a much higher amount of risk.

[milestone 11]

The money is likely to be much more than what McGuinness, Dunlop etc would be earning in national racing. As it should be (after all, who should be getting the money instead?), but there has been friction in the BSB paddock about riders with fairly mediocre records in short circuit racing out-earning their peers because they are perceived to simply be accepting a much higher amount of risk.

Not sure what it is that you are trying to say here. Are you implying that the likes of Peter Hickman, Josh Brookes, Ian Hutchinson, Steve Plater, Michael Dunlop, John McGuinness, Joey Dunlop, John Surtees, Giacomo Agostini, Mike Hailwood among many others, are not and were not worthy of a BSB ride?

[milestone 11]

All systems go! Superbikes and Superstocks off at 18.20.

[milestone 11]

Top 20 seeds who will retain this start No. all week.

[Bob Riebe]

I hope dearly I can scrounge enough green backs together to get there  before the years over here they put you in a nursing home roll you in the corner while you drool on yourself but I am not sure whether to aim for the spring race or make the Classic my goal.

 

Either way for me this is the greatest spectacle in racing now and signals, for me,  the end of the spring sporting events that have made  spring the best time of the years.

 

It still amazes me how long Hailwood's record stayed at the top, then I was really wowed when they got into the 120 mph range , now it is in the 130s, absolutely incredible.

[milestone 11]

Disappointed with this new timing relative to the previous. Hope that it's not as quirky when racing starts. The commentary team will struggle to understand what's going on. I imagine they'll make an appearance on Thursday to get some learning time under their belts. Deano fastest currently on the Superstock 129.34mph

[milestone 11]

Tonight's session cancelled due to poor weather. Two sessions now scheduled for tomorrow weather permitting, details below.

 

There will now be two practice sessions held on Thursday 30th May - an afternoon session in addition to scheduled evening session. Thursday's schedule is now as follows:

11:15: Mountain Road closed

12:30: All roads closed

13:00: Superbike/Superstock/Supersport/Newcomers Qualifying

15:00: Sidecar Qualifying

16:30: Roads open except the Mountain Road

18:00: All roads closed

18:20: Superbike/Superstock/Supersport/Newcomers Qualifying

19:35: TT Zero Qualifying

19:55: Sidecar Qualifying

21:30: Roads open except the Mountain Road

22:30: All roads open

[messy]

Never like it when too much practice is cancelled. Feel like the risks are potentially a lot higher of accidents when there's been less practice time. But that's the British weather, I guess.

[paulb]

Hoping for good weather tomorrow then.

[milestone 11]

Sadly, tomorrow doesn't look good until late afternoon. Friday looks better.

[sportyskells]

Erm, has anyone seen the Autosport news page?

[LittleChris]

Fingers crossed for next week.  I'll be over for the day on Wednesday, 1st plane out of Gatwick to IOM and last one out of Ronaldsway   

[milestone 11]

Disastrous start to proceedings. Currently looking at racing on Sunday though some of the Irish teams may not be prepared to do that. If the weather continues to disrupt, there's a possibility that racing may not start before Tuesday, then run every day. See http://classic.autos...t.php/id/143753

[milestone 11]

Fingers crossed for next week.  I'll be over for the day on Wednesday, 1st plane out of Gatwick to IOM and last one out of Ronaldsway

Have a great day Chris.

[milestone 11]

Try again tomorrow, same as today should have been.

11:15: Mountain Road closed

12:30: All roads closed

13:00: Superbike/Superstock/Supersport/Newcomers Qualifying

15:00: Sidecar Qualifying

16:30: Roads open except the Mountain Road

18:00: All roads closed

18:20: Superbike/Superstock/Supersport/Newcomers Qualifying

19:35: TT Zero Qualifying

19:55: Sidecar Qualifying

21:30: Roads open except the Mountain Road

22:30: All roads open

[Risil]

Not sure what it is that you are trying to say here. Are you implying that the likes of Peter Hickman, Josh Brookes, Ian Hutchinson, Steve Plater, Michael Dunlop, John McGuinness, Joey Dunlop, John Surtees, Giacomo Agostini, Mike Hailwood among many others, are not and were not worthy of a BSB ride?

 

It was Guy Martin I had in mind, funnily enough. My story is a bit out of date now, as certainly Hickman and Brookes are strong contenders in BSB. Hutchinson iirc was a top 6 rider in British Supersport, Plater was a frontrunner and I believe won a few races in BSB. Hard to compare as the TT is probs more similar to endurance racing than a 25 minute race around Oulton Park. Surtees, Agostini, Hailwood and Joey Dunlop (Carl Fogarty and Steve Hislop too, for that matter) belong to different eras.

 

The point I was making was that for me, the prize money at the TT cuts both ways. I'm uncomfortable if the riders risking their lives aren't seeing the money that their heroism makes for the TT. But I'm also uncomfortable if a semi-professional rider feels like they need to go to the TT in order to pay for a full season of racing.

 

Anyway, here's hoping for a safe week of racing. The TT is the ultimate challenge in road racing and the TV pictures are always spectacular.

[milestone 11]

It was Guy Martin I had in mind, funnily enough. My story is a bit out of date now, as certainly Hickman and Brookes are strong contenders in BSB. Hutchinson iirc was a top 6 rider in British Supersport, Plater was a frontrunner and I believe won a few races in BSB. Hard to compare as the TT is probs more similar to endurance racing than a 25 minute race around Oulton Park. Surtees, Agostini, Hailwood and Joey Dunlop (Carl Fogarty and Steve Hislop too, for that matter) belong to different eras.

The point I was making was that for me, the prize money at the TT cuts both ways. I'm uncomfortable if the riders risking their lives aren't seeing the money that their heroism makes for the TT. But I'm also uncomfortable if a semi-professional rider feels like they need to go to the TT in order to pay for a full season of racing.

Anyway, here's hoping for a safe week of racing. The TT is the ultimate challenge in road racing and the TV pictures are always spectacular.

Guy Martin. The best known TT rider of the modern era. His TT win tally? Zero! Sadly though, that belies his talent. He deserved TT wins but has failed for a number of reasons, including politically.I admire and take my hat off to anyone that is prepared to race the TT, Guy Martin included. I like the man.

The BSB riders, and road racers for the most part, don't like Guy. Those that don't like him, are, in a nutshell, jealous. They're jealous of the quite ludicrous sums of money that he's earned on television. They're jealous of the Aston Martins and Porsches that he has in the garage, not bought with the pittance that he's won at TT, nor, the huge money that he's been astute enough to make with his television and book deals. The Astons and Porsches came from the money that he made from his trade whilst supping a brew. Long before his stardom. They're jealous of the fact that after editing, he became the star of Closer to the Edge, the finest TT inspired film ever. Some huge road racing stars that I am a massive fan of have decried their limited time on screen relative to what ended up on the cutting room floor.

I deliberately didn't mention Carl Fogarty and Steve Hislop because, some say, the greatest TT ever was the '92 Senior which was a toe to toe battle between them which Hislop ultimately won despite Fogarty having set a lap record on the final lap.

Lots of riders of course would never have made it without help. People like the late DJ and John McG, along with many others, have done a lot more for young TT riders. A lot more than the casual fan realises. These same people have worked their nuts off to do TT, they certainly, many of them, don't go home showing a profit, quite the reverse.

Edited by milestone 11, 30 May 2019 - 22:22.

[LittleChris]

Have a great day Chris.

Cheers. Did the same last year and had a great day out until it came to leaving the island. Incoming plane had hit a bird and due to the curfew they couldn't send an engineer over from the mainland to do the required safety checks so no plane home & of course no hotels available so 50 of us slept in the airport.  A few beers later and the airport trolley races started. Felt a bit rough at 5 am the next morning when we all had to get up as the airport was opening...……..  

[milestone 11]

Opening TT postponed until Sunday. Frankly, I don't know what is likely to happen. The weather doesn't look like changing much before next Wednesday.

 

Whilst it's not carved in stone, since Gary Thompson became CoC (2012),  there's been no wet racing. Gary Thompson is the best CoC that TT has ever had, secretly, I believe that he will never sanction a wet race again. I agree. It's too bloody dangerous. You run slicks, find it's wet under the trees or raining at Kirkmichael or over the mountain, tip it in and you're on your arse heading for a wall, a tree or even a drop off the side of the mountain, (a la Conor Cummins). Run wets and they're not going to do a lap if it's dry in parts of the circuit. The sheer size of the course and the typical Manx weather leaves us with this conundrum annually. Sadly,maybe, conditions will ultimately see its demise, I sincerely hope not. A meeting has never been abandoned, with the exception of the 2001 edition being cancelled in the April due to the UK foot and mouth outbreak. This year's weather so very easily could set a precedent.

The previous CoC, Eddie Nelson would force the riders to run in any conditions and would insult the riders as well as the marshalls if there was any reluctance to race. He was fired, thankfully, after the debacle of 2011 when riders were falling like nine pins. Gary Thompson has got it right!

Edited by milestone 11, 31 May 2019 - 08:39.

[milestone 11]

Ominous is a frequently used buzz word round these parts, It describes  TT 2019 perfectly. I had high hopes for this evening's session, it's sunny in Douglas, sadly, thick fog on the mountain has ruined this session too. As yet, no further information on tomorrow.

 

Stop press.

[Jambo]

This weather has been a bit of a nightmare

[HammyHamiltonFan]

anyone know the best place to watch the races in the UK? ITV showing some again?

[milestone 11]

This weather has been a bit of a nightmare

Hi Jambo, wondered when you'd show up.

[milestone 11]

anyone know the best place to watch the races in the UK? ITV showing some again?

Check OP all television times are there on ITV4.

[milestone 11]

Isle of Man TT Races‏ @ttracesofficial 13m13 minutes ago

 

 

We have a further delay to today's schedule, with the afternoon sessions cancelled. We will have a further update at 4pm - roads will remain open. #LoveTT

[sopa]

Could weather cancel this year's IOM TT altogether? Is there a precedent for that?

[Jambo]

Hi Jambo, wondered when you'd show up.

Am always about somewhere!

 

And tonights practice is cancelled, reset the clocks, we try again tomorrow...

Edited by Jambo, 01 June 2019 - 15:06.

[BuddyHolly]

Damn weather is getting annoying now.

[milestone 11]

Revised schedule for tomorrow (Monday) if qualy and practice go as planned this afternoon,

12:00 Mountain Road Closes 

12:45 All Roads Closed  

13:30 RST Superbike TT Race        6 Laps

15:50 Sidecar TT Race 1 3 Laps

17:30 All Roads Open Except Mountain  

18:30 All Roads Open

Edited by milestone 11, 02 June 2019 - 10:09.

[milestone 11]

We're off at 2.00 Chairs 2 laps qualy

[thegforcemaybewithyou]

There might be a private stream for a single spot later here: https://www.facebook...tedIsle/videos/

 

This is live right now: https://www.facebook...87376714671692/

Edited by thegforcemaybewithyou, 02 June 2019 - 12:53.

[milestone 11]

30 minute delay.