Isle of Man TT anyone?

I've always been put off by the ferry price, but I'd love to go

 

I would love to go over for TT week as a keen photographer i would love the challenge of photographing the supperbikes on the mountain, i will struggle at the moment as i am still working and holiday time is a t a premium and i already take a week at Fairford for the international air tattoo so taking another week out of my leave allocation for another lads week might not go down to well

i may get to do it one day but for this year i will be watching on the TV

 

Not going this year, unfortunately, but I will be watching all the action on ITV 4.
Still the greatest motorcycle event in the World IMO.

Hutchy did well last year, until he crashed in the Senior. He's really back on form after his devastating accident in 2010.

 

Yes. That's the only downside. The IOM Stream Packet company really milk it for those 2 weeks. Accommodation is also expensive and has to be booked 2 to 3 years in advance ideally, unless you're camping of course.

 

A good day for BMW Motrrad on the isle of man today

A stunning ride by Peter Hickman saw him win on his Smiths BMW SS1000RR and sett a new lap record for the senior TT and become the fastest man around the TT course with a new lap record of 135.492 mph

Well done Peter Hickman

 

all in all a good week for BMW but i must also mention the sad loss of Manx man Dan keen who died after an accident in practice whilst riding his Tyco BMW, the sad side of the racing on the isle of man

 

Yes, it was a tragedy about Dan Kneen, and there was also another lesser known rider that died. But all the competitors know the risks and dangers, but still choose to race. If you've never seen it, the film "Closer to the Edge", explains why.

I've just watched the Senior and it was fantastic. What a battle between Peter Hickman and Dean Harrison. Amazing that they were only a couple of seconds apart after 6 laps of the course (226 miles), and what a way to win - with a 135 Mph lap record. Just sorry that I wasn't there to watch it.
Michael Dunllop must have had serious issues with his bike to be so far back.

It was a shame to see Hutchy struggling - still recuperating from his broken leg from last year. Hopefully, he'll be back with a vengeance next year.

 

Many many years ago, several mates and I would catch a bus into the city, down a few pints, then head for the ferry. A day-return on Friday, leaving the Pier Head just after midnight, and returning later that evening let you watch the senior and some other race (I think - it's a long time ago). The sun would be up on arrival, the prom deserted except for others from the ferry. A stroll into town and find a cafe. Usually there would be one opening within half an hour or so. Big English breakfast then off to find a coach to get to vantage point. The Creg was a favourite, not least because the pub was open all day.

In later years things became more civilised: a couple of weeks in a hotel and a motorbike for transport. Somehow it wasn't quite the same.

Now I can take my pick. Either ride through France etc, and use that awful Manx ferry service - if service is an appropriate word, or catch a plane from my local airport to Ronaldsway, via Liverpool. Whichever way I do it I'm fortunate to have free accommodation, and the use of a car if need be.

Whether or not I'll bother to watch the TT again only time will tell. It's six or seven years since I last bothered. However, I will be visiting the island again, and may take the BMW. Car not bike; the only BMW bike I like is the S1000RR and the idea doesn't sit well my wife. The last two 1000's I've owned helped me visit the local A&E. Wrote one of them off, three months old it was, ouch. So now it's my sedentary R6 I have fun with.

But back the island. My wife fell in love with the place and may make it her home one day. It's very lively (read crowded) during TT week in June, and quite lively (not so crowded) during Manx GP week in September. It's never hot, but rarely very cold. It's often wet but TT week is usually dry.

If you haven't been, you'll find it's well worth a visit. No, I don't work for the islands tourist board.

 

Adam Lyon age 26 and it was his first time racing on the island

I was surprised to see Hutchy riding this week as he was struggling to walk let alone ride a bike around the mountain

John McGuinness was signed to ride for Norton in the 2018 IOM TT but for some reason it never happened, that again is unbelievable as i spoke to him last July shortly after his accident on the Honda at the NW200 he had a frame on his leg that he was adjusting twice a day trying to stretch the bones in his leg by 2 inches and he is in the same boat as hutchy in that he is struggling to walk but cant wait to get back on a bike

 

That lad is nothing, if not determined. Considering the horrendous injuries he received at Silverstone in 2010 after his historic 5 TT wins earlier in the year, I'm surprised that he ever got on a bike again. The surgeons were all for amputating his leg, but Hutchy wouldn't let them, and insisted they did whatever it takes so he could race again. And he proved the doubters wrong in 2017 when he won the opening Superbike race, but sadly crashed on the Senior at the end of the week.

He'll be back though - you can bet on that.

 

in July I will be going to Tonfanau road races in tywyn, it is a clubman event organised by crewe and south Cheshire motor club and every year the july meeting has a parade of racing exotica, this year they have old timers like charlie Williams, Stan woods, Tommy robb, and nick jefferies, with a special guest appearance By Peter Hickman Now 2 times TT winner

I think it is great that we get to meet the star from years gone by along with the superstars of today coming together to support grass roots motorcycle racing