Get Up to Speed on The Insanity Of The Isle Of Man TT

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Story by Stewart Smith

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The Isle Of Man TT is one of the most exciting motorcycle races in the world, taking place on actual roads around the circumference of an island between England and Ireland. This time-trial race is known more for its danger than the actual competition. How dangerous? No international body wants to sanction it, and it’s even received the Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel “Wagging Nanny Finger of Disapproval.” They’ve been running practice and qualifying laps since Saturday, and the racing starts June 1st.

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The History

At the start of the 20th century, they were racing both cars and motorbikes around the island, but the official Isle of Man TT started in 1907. The racing started with just two classes, one- and two-cylinders, but over the years have expanded into seven, with the biggest being the Senior TT. After taking off for World War II, the event returned as a round of the FIM World Championship. This stood until the 1970’s, when championship riders began boycotting the race. The FIM dropped the race in 1976, and it’s been run as an independent event by the British Auto-Cycle Union since. In it’s 106-year history, 420 riders have died on the course, including Japan’s Yoshinari Matsushita, who crashed at Ballacrye Corner on Monday. Adding to the danger is “Mad Sunday,” a day when anyone with a motorbike is allowed to run the course.

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The Players

If you’re looking for the most wins, that was Northern Ireland’s Joey Dunlop, who won 26 races between 1976 and his death in 2000. Next is England’s John McGuinness with 19, and he will be running a Honda in the Superstock, Supersport, and TT Zero rounds. England’s Ian Hutchinson made a name for himself three years ago by being the first to sweep the 5 races he entered, and has 8 wins total, but will not race this year due to injury. If you’re looking for Americans, Mark Miller and Brandon Cretu will be racing in the 1000cc races, and Chris Sabora will be racing in the Supersport and Lightweight classes. Miller will also be defending his TT Zero title from last year.

But the fan favorite is Guy Martin, a 31-year-old Lincolnshire man who’s never won a TT race despite placing on the podium every year from 2007-2011. In 2010, he had a time that could’ve ruined Ian Hutchison’s sweep, but he crashed so severely he was hospitalized with bruised lungs and a fractured spine. But it’s his outspokenness and eccentricity that’s made him a favorite. He’s made documentaries on the Industrial Revolution, restores antique engines, and has an obsession with making the perfect cup of tea.

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The Track

The Snaefell Mountain Course is over 37 miles long, and uses public roads with little modification. The only place built specifically for the race is the pit lane in the town of Douglas. It’s estimated there are about 200 corners, with only 60 having names, and there’s about a quarter of a mile of elevation change. There’s no retaining walls, no runoff areas, and maybe a hay bale or two if you’re lucky. Riders speed past stone walls and buildings, and fly through the mountains with nothing but a chain-link guardrail. While Formula One insists on football fields of runoff area, riders have to worry about manhole covers and sewer drains. John McGuiness holds the track record at 17 minutes, 12.3 seconds in the Senior TT – an average speed of 131.578 mph.
If you’d like to see a full lap, Guy Martin narrated his lap of the Senior TT in 2007 for Irish Racer Magazine.

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The Races

There are currently seven categories of racing for the TT. For 1000cc, there’s the Senior TT, Superbike, and Supersport. There’s the production based Superstock, the 650cc Lightweight, and the zero-emission TT Zero. But if you really want to go nuts, there’s the Sidecar class.

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When And Where

Practice and qualifying have been ongoing since last Saturday, but the races will begin this Saturday with the Superbike and the first Sidecar race. The Senior TT is the last on the bill, and that will be Friday. The races air on ITV in the UK, and Discovery’s Velocity will have one-hour day-after shows starting Sunday, June 2nd, at 10pm ET, and will run through the following Saturday.

For more info, you can go to the official Isle of Man TT website at iomtt.com.

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