2018 Isle of Man TT races

[Big Gordy]

I see John McGuiness has signed to ride the Norton at this years TT :yes nod:....hope he's fit in time. Josh Brookes did well on it last year and he'd been away on WSB duties for a few years so it will be interesting to see how it fares with John on board :thumbs up:

[Mon the fish]

I need to get over and see this at some point, it's on my bucket list. Always seems other things get in the way

[badwolf340]

I always enjoy watching the TT

[Crombers]

I'd love to get over one of these years. Seems like ferry prices & accommodation 'sky rocket' for the 2 week period & are booked up 'yonks' in advance.

Bit of a Michael Dunlop fan, wonder what bike he'll rip round on this year :biker:

[Big Gordy]

Bit of a Michael Dunlop fan, wonder what bike he'll rip round on this year :biker:

Think he's still on the Suzuki Alan :thumbs up: His reward for doing well last year was a test at Sapang of the Suzuki MotoGP bike and by the pictures he's lost a fair bit of weight so he will be quicker round the mountain this year for sure :yes nod:

[Crombers]

Think he's still on the Suzuki Alan :thumbs up: His reward for doing well last year was a test at Sapang of the Suzuki MotoGP bike and by the pictures he's lost a fair bit of weight so he will be quicker round the mountain this year for sure :yes nod:

Cheers G, was just reckoning that the 'maverick' in him would take him in another direction 'yet again'

[Big Gordy]

Latest news on Michael Dunlop.....looks like he's sticking with the Suzuki GSXR1000 for the big stuff and going back to a Honda CBR600RR (which he won on in 2013) for the supersport races.... :thumbs up: There were rumours going about that he was going to Tyco BMW....:shut up:

[Crombers]

Yup that's what I'd read re Tyco BMW. I didn't know he'd been out at Sepang so I checked it out on YT & yup he's looking lean

Will be strange seeing John without a Honda after all those years but great that he's now on a Norton

[mini mad andy]

An alternative to the Isle of Man is the Ulster GP at Dundrod, just outside Belfast. It's on between the 8th & 11th of August. If your worried about it not being fast have a wee look at this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQUMbCEQ3RE

The only downside is you miss out on the TT's atmosphere, but it is easier to get to and there are plenty hotels in Belfast, you also don't need to get up at silly o'clock to get a good place to watch the racing.

[Big Gordy]

Southern 100 is another one....9th to 12th July....the track layout is like a giant square with 4 bends at each corner.....crazy fast ........everybody slipstreaming everybody else :thud:

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Bit closer to home is Olivers Mount in Scarborough......20-22nd April (Spada Spring Cup), 5-7th May (Festival of Speed) and 22-24th June (Cock-o-the-North) :Whistle:

[mini mad andy]

Southern 100 is another one....9th to 12th July....the track layout is like a giant square with 4 bends at each corner.....crazy fast ........everybody slipstreaming everybody else :thud:

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Bit closer to home is Olivers Mount in Scarborough......20-22nd April (Spada Spring Cup), 5-7th May (Festival of Speed) and 22-24th June (Cock-o-the-North) :Whistle:

Yeah I was at the Southern 100 last year, great racing and the sidecars were crazy. As you say there are 4 main corners but there are also some very fast bends which have good vantage points.

Olivers Mount is good and its easy to get to.

Also if you want to go to watch racing on the Isle of Man Mountain Course the Festival of Motorcycling (Classic TT/Manx GP) is excellent especially if you like bikes from the 1980's back to some of the very first bikes, unfortunately like the TT you have to book your accommodation and ferry about a year in advance to get what you want.

[Big Gordy]

Well.....Micheal Dunlop has not signed with Suzuki this year after all :thud:According to reports when he tested the 2018 GSXR at Sepang it was slower than the 2017 model.....!!!
The Tyco BWM seat vacated by Ian Hutchisons move to Honda might be on the cards now :thumbs up:

[mini mad andy]

Well.....Micheal Dunlop has not signed with Suzuki this year after all :thud:According to reports when he tested the 2018 GSXR at Sepang it was slower than the 2017 model.....!!!
The Tyco BWM seat vacated by Ian Hutchisons move to Honda might be on the cards now :thumbs up:


I agree Tyco must be favourite as he likes the BMW and Tyco want him, also Dan Kneen is the only full time rider with Tyco on the roads next year, you do wonder if the second bike has been being kept in the hopes of getting him.

Time will tell though, he's likely to do something nobody has thought off!

[Big Gordy]

I also read that Hutchy was "unfit" for the first offical Honda test :confused:
He says April is the cut off point for him as after that he won't have enough saddle time on the bike.
I'm a bit worried that he gonna come back to soon and hurt himself again cause I think that will be game over for him :frown:
I worry about John McGuiness with the same thing......I know they love there road racing but not at the cost of never being able to walk again. Mike Doohan still struggles all these years later....his leg is like a banana...!!!

[mini mad andy]

I also read that Hutchy was "unfit" for the first offical Honda test :confused:
He says April is the cut off point for him as after that he won't have enough saddle time on the bike.
I'm a bit worried that he gonna come back to soon and hurt himself again cause I think that will be game over for him :frown:
I worry about John McGuiness with the same thing......I know they love there road racing but not at the cost of never being able to walk again. Mike Doohan still struggles all these years later....his leg is like a banana...!!!


Hutchy still has the cage on his leg, the North West 200 is mid May so he does not have much time to get fit. Apparently his leg is still needing lengthened a bit, after the accident his ankle was removed and his leg had to be lengthened by about 40mm i don't know if that means his ankle is solid now ie. it doesn't bend. I was surprised at Honda signing him unless it's more for next year.
I know what you mean about him coming back to soon especially when he hates to be beaten, in my opinion Hutchy is prepared to do some sketchy riding to win and that's bad enough when your fit.
I don't think John McGuiness will do anything he does not feel comfortable with but he will be good for Norton bringing so much experience and he will give Josh Brookes a lot of help.
Should be a good year Dan Kneen, Peter Hickman and Dean Harrison were all going really well at the end of last year and Bruce Anstey & Padgetts are getting the RCV sorted out.

[Big Gordy]

Think his ankle is solid. He needs the gearshifter on the right and a thumb back brake now...ala Doohan :thud:
i agree with your comments on McPint.....he's alway ran his own race and said that if anyone came past him they were riding faster than him and taking bigger risks than he was prepared to take.....fair play to the guy.
I really rate Peter Hickman.....him and Josh Brookes are the only two who can do the island and the short circuit stuff with any great success. Rutters good as well but not quite in the top flight now.
Dean Harrison seems to be an Olivers Mount specialist as he completely obliterated the opposition, apart from Dan Kneen, last year. Don't think he's quite mastered the 37.5 miles of the mountain course just yet but he's young and will get better.

[Crombers]

MD changes saddle (again), who'd have thunk it :Whistle::rolleyes:

Tyco BMW for sure ............. then again :idunno:

PS really rate Peter Hickman, I predict a win this year after last years outstanding TT

[mini mad andy]

Yeah Peter Hickman could be a class act this year, last year he had a great TT and an incredible Ulster GP, he nearly won all the main races, he was just beaten by Bruce Anstey on the RCV in the first superbike race and in the main superbike race his bike broke when he was leading.

Dean Harrison has won a lightweight race and had quite a few top 3 finishes at the TT, he has also won some classic TT races so I would not rule him out.

If Bruce Anstey is in the right mood he is hard to beat and if they can get the RCV sorted it could be on for a superbike win.

Personally Id like Dan Kneen to win on the big bikes, William Dunlop to win the 600 races and Micheal Rutter to win the lightweight on the gorgeous Patton.

[Big Gordy]

Saw a picture of Michael Dunlop taking delivery of a stock BMW S1000RR that he's going to run under his MD Racing team in the superbike race......:Whistle:
BMW Germany want him to race their carbon fibre framed HP4 in the superbike race. Suzuki have no top name representing them at the Island so far.
Honda seemingy want him as well as they don't think Hutchy will be fit enough to race....its only 7 weeks to the NW200 and chances of him racing are diminishing rather quickly.

[mini mad andy]

Micky D is making an announcement this evening. If the rumours are right he will be on a factory BMW looked after by Tyco and in Carl Cox colours.


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[mini mad andy]

Your always guaranteed the unpredictable from Micky D, nothing about what he is riding but he’s announced that McPint is riding a MD racing Supersport Honda 600.

John also announced that he is racing one of Ryan Farquhar’s supertwins in the Lightweight.


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[mini mad andy]

Michael Dunlop has signed for Tyko, he is also going to be riding the Paton in the lightweight.

Reading between the lines it is looking pretty unlikely that Hutchy will be racing at the NW200 or TT.

[Big Gordy]

Ohh well thats Rutters chance of another win oot the windae then :p

[Big Gordy]

See Bruce Anstie is going to miss this years TT due to being diagnosed with cancer....:thud:what a bummer :sad:
That's another awesome character missing this year :frown:

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he’s announced that McPint is riding a MD racing Supersport Honda 600.

John also announced that he is racing one of Ryan Farquhar’s supertwins in the Lightweight.



That's if McPint races......seems he's had a "setback" with the healing of the leg :frown:

[Crombers]

Gutted for Bruce Anstey, having beaten cancer before it's come back again with avengence.

We are now looking at 3 top riders potentially missing out this year :frown:

[Big Gordy]

Gives Hickman, Jackson and Harrison a better chance of taking their first win I suppose.....that's if MD doesn't just take them all to the cleaners :Whistle:
MD could be on for winning everything he enters :thumbs up: Could be more than Hutchys 5 wins in one TT......now that would be something :yes nod:

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Ohhh and we shouldn't rule out Josh Brookes either on the Norton as he's bloody quick :yes nod:

[mini mad andy]

John McGuinness's setback was that his leg broke again when he was walking.

There are a lot of good bikes looking for riders, it will be interesting to see if there are some last minute team changes. Steve Mercer has been testing the HRC UK bikes, presumably to replace Hutchy if he does not ride, which has to be quite likely given whats happened to McPint. Maybe Padgetts will give Connor Cummings the RCV instead of his Fireblade, will have to wait and see but it would be a shame if the RCV doesn't get used. Mugen have lost two of their three riders, maybe Mickey D will get a ride on one to give him a chance of winning all the solo races!!!

[Big Gordy]

maybe Mickey D will get a ride on one to give him a chance of winning all the solo races!!!

I actually think that's a strong possibility....he's that good/crazy enough/fearless*....delete as you see fit :p

[Big Gordy]

Rutters got the Mugen ride :yes nod: strong possibility he'll take the win :thumbs up:

[mini mad andy]

Rutters got the Mugen ride :yes nod: strong possibility he'll take the win :thumbs up:

Absolutely and he has previously won some TT Zero races on the Moto Czysz bikes.

Hutchy is going to be racing at the TT, he is practicing at the NW200 just know, I am not a Hutchy fan but I do respect his determination but you do have to wonder how sensible it is as McPint stated that he did not want to get to the bottom of Bray Hill and find his leg wasn't strong enough. Unless you've been to the Isle of Man you can not believe how steep Bray Hill is, what you don't realise watching the TT on the TV is the amount of time the fast riders are partially standing up to let the bike jump about underneath them without throwing them of the bike.
Hutchy has HRC UK fireblades for both the Superbike and Superstock races, Padgetts Honda 600 for the Superstock races and a KMR Supertwin for the lightweight.

Unfortunately it looks like the Padgetts Honda RCV will only be on show, Connor Cummings tried it but was to tall to fit it.


Some upcoming TV coverage.

The Cookstown 100 highlights are on the BBC iplayer, under BBC One A-Z look for Bikes.
The Tandragee 100 highlights are on BBC One NI on Wednesday night at 22:40.
The NW200 is on BBC Sport NI Bikes live on Thursday from 10:00 and 17:30 & Saturday from 10:00.
The NW200 highlights on BBC One NI on Sunday night at 22:30 & Monday night at 22:40.

[Big Gordy]

Well.....Mr Dunlop has "unofficially" set a new lap record on the Paton in the lightweight class at 120.87mph and its the first time he's sat on it
If this weather keeps up I think the records will tumble :yes nod:

[Big Gordy]

Practise times so far.......

Supersport Top 10 – Saturday Evening


Dean Harrison – Silicone Engineering Kawasaki – 125.797mph
Michael Dunlop – MD Racing Carl Cox Honda – 125.741mph
Conor Cummins – Padgetts Honda – 125.152mph
Dan Kneen – Jackson Racing Honda – 124.703mph
Peter Hickman – Smiths Trooper Triumph – 124.447mph
Lee Johnston – Padgetts Honda – 123.245mph
James Hillier – Quattro Plant JG Speedfit Kawasaki – 122.967mph
William Dunlop – Temple/Caffrey Yamaha – 122.755mph
Josh Brookes – McAMS Monster Yamaha – 122.109mph
Ivan Lintin – Dafabet Devitt Kawasaki – 121.918mph

Lightweight Top 10 – Saturday Evening


Michael Dunlop – Paton/MD Racing – 120.87mph
Ivan Lintin – Dafabet Devitt Racing – 120.66mph
Derek McGee – IEG KMR Kawasaki – 117.57mph
Peter Hickman – IEG KMR Kawasaki – 117.51mph
Stefano Bonetti – Paton – 117.12mph
David Johnson – Kawasaki – 117.03mph
Ian Lougher – Paton Team ILR – 116.54mph
Michael Rutter – Paton – 115.42mph
Danny Webb – IEG KMR Kawasaki – 116.10mph
Daniel Cooper – KW Electrical Kawasaki – 115.02mph

[Crombers]

TV coverage every night from tonight (qualifying) at 9pm on ITV4 with the real deal starting on Saturday :thumbs up:

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Well.....Mr Dunlop has "unofficially" set a new lap record on the Paton in the lightweight class at 120.87mph and its the first time he's sat on it
If this weather keeps up I think the records will tumble :yes nod:

1st time on the bike ........ unbelievable

[Big Gordy]

Practice halted tonight as police apprehend some edjit wandering about on the track.....:thud::ragin::nag::knife::argh:

[mini mad andy]

TV coverage every night from tonight (qualifying) at 9pm on ITV4 with the real deal starting on Saturday :thumbs up:

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1st time on the bike ........ unbelievable


You can also listen to the practice and racing live on Manx Radio TT. You can get it by either logging onto Manx Radio AM or you can get the Manx Radio app.. Because of the size of the course the commentary is done by radio, this works for the Classic TT/Manx GP and Southern 100 as well.

You can also get live lap timings, sector timings and speeds at Sulby and the Grandstand on the TT live website.

[mini mad andy]

Practice halted tonight as police apprehend some edjit wandering about on the track.....:thud::ragin::nag::knife::argh:


The guy was 67 years old and got jailed for 4 weeks today and banned from the IOM for 5 years, you'd think at that age he would know better!

Forgot to say the guy looked like someone whacked him in the face as well, think he would have a nice black eye this morning to show the judge!

[Big Gordy]

I see from last nights practice times that Dean Harrison became only the second rider (Michael Dunlop being the other) to dip below the 17mins a lap with a 133.462mph lap....now thats going some:yes nod:

Provisional Tuesday Superbike Times


Dean Harrison – Silicone Engineering Kawasaki – 133.462mph
Michael Dunlop – Tyco BMW – 133.140mph
Dan Kneen – Tyco BMW – 132.319mph
Peter Hickman – Smiths BMW – 132.169mph
Conor Cummins – Padgetts Honda – 129.756mph
Michael Rutter – Bathams BMW – 129.583mph
David Johnson – Gulf BMW – 129.360mph
James Hillier – JG Speedfit Kawasaki – 129.181mph
Josh Brookes – Norton Motorcycles – 128.590mph
Philip Crowe – Phil Crowe Racing BMW – 128.472mph


Provisional Tuesday Superstock times


Peter Hickman – Smiths BMW – 130.619mph
Dean Harrison – Silicone Engineering Kawasaki – 130.553mph
Dan Kneen – Tyco BMW – 129.140mph
Lee Johnston – Honda Racing – 128.288mph
Conor Cummins – Padgetts Honda – 128.154mph
James Hillier – JG Speedfit Kawasaki – 128.110mph
David Johnson – Gulf BMW – 127.719mph
Philip Crowe – Phil Crowe Racing BMW – 125.564mph
Ian Hutchinson – Honda Racing - 125.196mph
Sam West – PRL/Worthington BMW – 124.950mph

[mini mad andy]

Another edjit was arrested last night for overtaking the roads open car!

[Big Gordy]

Bugger....sad news that Dan Kneen has been killed at the TT. Such a nice guy who finally got a works ride on the BMW....the TT can be a cruel mistress

[Big Gordy]

Yeah....seperate incidents.

[mini mad andy]

Bugger....sad news that Dan Kneen has been killed at the TT. Such a nice guy who finally got a works ride on the BMW....the TT can be s cruel mistress

It's tragic.

[mini mad andy]

Steve Mercer was the other rider that was involved in a collision with a course car, which was responding to Dan Kneen's incident. It's a shame as he retired last year for family reasons but was tempted back this year by Honda as a stand in if Hutchy didn't race. He has been transferred to a Liverpool hospital so hopefully he will make a good recovery.

[Big Gordy]

Seems the riders were sent back to the pits in an anti-clockwise direction while they tended to the aftermath of the Kneen crash and that's when he hit the course car coming the other way. Questions will be asked on how that happened that's for sure.....its dangerous enough without that happening :frown:

[Big Gordy]

Bugger :sad: Press release from the TT website......

ACU Events Ltd regrets to confirm that Adam Lyon, 26, from Helensburgh in Scotland was killed in an incident during the Supersport 1 Race today at the Isle of Man TT Races. The accident occurred at Casey’s, just after the 28th mile of the course, on the 3rd lap of the race.

Adam was a newcomer to the TT this year. He qualified in 24th place for today’s race with a fastest lap of 122.261 which he improved to 122.636mph on the opening lap of today’s race. His fastest lap of the TT course – 123.443 - was in Friday’s Superbike qualifying session.

Adam lapped at 122.499 as a newcomer at the Ulster Grand Prix in 2017, finishing 11thin the second Supersport race. He finished sixth in the 2010 Pirelli National Superstock 600 Championship with podiums at Croft and Silverstone.

ACU Events Ltd wishes to pass on their deepest sympathy to Adam’s family and friends.

[mini mad andy]

Bugger :sad: Press release from the TT website......

ACU Events Ltd regrets to confirm that Adam Lyon, 26, from Helensburgh in Scotland was killed in an incident during the Supersport 1 Race today at the Isle of Man TT Races. The accident occurred at Casey’s, just after the 28th mile of the course, on the 3rd lap of the race.

Adam was a newcomer to the TT this year. He qualified in 24th place for today’s race with a fastest lap of 122.261 which he improved to 122.636mph on the opening lap of today’s race. His fastest lap of the TT course – 123.443 - was in Friday’s Superbike qualifying session.

Adam lapped at 122.499 as a newcomer at the Ulster Grand Prix in 2017, finishing 11thin the second Supersport race. He finished sixth in the 2010 Pirelli National Superstock 600 Championship with podiums at Croft and Silverstone.

ACU Events Ltd wishes to pass on their deepest sympathy to Adam’s family and friends.


Yeah it's tragic, just living his dream.



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That's four races run all in good conditions and the lap records have been tumbling.

Both todays Supersport and Superstock races were very fast close races with very close finishes, less than 5 seconds covering the first three in the Stock race!

Two people having an excellent TT are Davy Todd (a new comer) and Davo Johnson on the Gulf BMW (has to be the nicest looking bikes).

Worth watching ITV4 to see the races, don't want to spoil the races by telling you the results.

[Big Gordy]

Racing this year has been fantastic so far :smilewinkgrin:
ITV4 coverage has been brilliant as well....not sure on Jody Kidd but Cam Donald is superb as a race commentator IMO
Just shows how good stock bikes are these days when they can run to within 1 to 2 mph of the superbike lap times :thud:

[Big Gordy]

Michael Rutter has just done a 121mph lap of the TT course on the Mugan electric bike....wow.....yet another lap record broken :yes nod:
Every race this year has seen the lap record broken.....what a week so far :smilewinkgrin:

[mini mad andy]

Michael Rutter has just done a 121mph lap of the TT course on the Mugan electric bike....wow.....yet another lap record broken :yes nod:
Every race this year has seen the lap record broken.....what a week so far :smilewinkgrin:


It is amaizing how quick the leccy bikes are now and it was good the University of Nottingham bike gave the Mugan some competition, shame though that the Bath University bike went on fire in the back of their van while being charged destroying the van, bike and all their equipment on the first Sunday of practice week before they had even done a lap.

The Supersport & Lightweight races today were also cracking races breaking more lap records!

Whats going on with people nowadays, on Monday someone throw a chair onto the track, an American at Bradden Bridge cycled across the track during the sidecar race and tried to cycle along to Quarterbridge, today between races people would not get off the track even although the Marshals asked them to and at the Bungalow people were doing something on the footbridge even although Marshals had asked them not to. Why can people not be sensible and respect the Marshals!

[Big Gordy]

Watched the superstock race last night.....OMG :thud:..... Peter Hickman, Michael Dunlop and Dean Harrison going at it hammer and tongs on what is basically a standard road bike and lapping at close to superbike lap times on treaded tyres....outstanding :popcorn:

[Big Gordy]

Well thats the TT over for another year......and what an event it was. Every race saw a new race and lap record. So pleased Peter Hickman won the senior. His last lap was outstanding and sets the new lap record at just over 135mph and that included having to deal with back marker in the run down from the mountain. Incredible :thumbs up:

[Crombers]

A brilliant TT :clap::clap: