Isle of Man TT – The Ultimate Test

There are certain events in the motorsport calendar that everyone has heard of, whether a fan of racing or not. The Monaco Grand Prix, for instance, or the Le Mans 24 Hours. But there’s another. A certain race that is centred around two wheels not four that has the same impact, the same gravitas as those mentioned above. One that commands a huge level of respect from both participants and spectators alike. Yep, we’re talking about the Isle of Man TT, which makes a welcome return in 2022 after a two-year hiatus.

AS you might have guessed, this annual motorcycle road race takes place on the Isle of Man. That tiny little island that sits midway between Britain and Northern Ireland. Widely regarded as one of the most dangerous races in history the TT, or Tourist Trophy, is notorious for high profile crashes and even deaths. But let’s not take focus away from what is a truly thrilling spectacle that attracts the very best of the best of motorcycle racers from around the world to compete at the very top of the sport. At the time of writing this year’s TT is in full swing so join us as we take a deep dive into this most legendary of competitions.

So What Is It?

The Isle of Man TT is a time-trial event run on the public roads around the island every year in May and June. Riders race against the clock to try and set the best time possible over the gruelling 37.73 mile course and yes, the roads are closed to the public. Traversing the route at average speeds of over 130mph is one thing but to do it avoiding Karen on the way to Aldi for a weekly shop in her Nissan Note is quite another. The event consists of a week of practice followed by a week of racing, divided by ‘Mad Sunday’ whereby everyone and their dog gears up for a mass ride out alongside myriad meets, events and parades across the island and it’s this carnival-like atmosphere that helps to elevate the TT above other motorcycle events.

The competition is currently split into six categories racing various different specifications of bikes: Senior, Lightweight, Junior/Supersport, Superbike, Superstock and Sidecar. With the main differences relating to engine size and capacity this mix of classes brings a welcome level of diversity to proceedings, making for a much more interesting spectacle from an observer’s perspective. Beginning in the town of Douglas the route takes riders on a clockwise direction through urban streets and villages, then on to glens, mountain roads and beautiful countryside, finally arriving back in Douglas for the finish line.

Not that the competitors can really enjoy the scenery. The TT requires 100% focus and attention as speeds can often crest 200mph and it’s the pure excitement of that speed combined with such a diverse and treacherous course that makes the TT such a thrilling event.

Where It All Began

The inaugural TT was held in 1907 and was quite a bit different to the modern day race we know now. The event was held on the much sorter, 15 mile St John’s Short Course with riders on their road-legal bikes completing ten laps each. The actual race came about after road racing in England was forbidden by an Act of Parliament, and combined with the introduction of a 20mph speed limit in 1903 Sir Julian Orde – the Secretary of the Automobile Club of Great Britain and Ireland – subsequently travelled to the Isle of Man in an attempt to subvert this new ruling.

Thankfully the Manx authorities were much more lenient with regards to racing on public roads and the Highways Act of 1904 allowed for the Gordon Bennett Car Trial to be held on the island. This opened the gates, so to speak, for the first motorcycle race there the following year and subsequently the first official Isle of Man TT another two years later.

These initial races included just two classes of road-going bikes; single-cylinders and twin-cylinder machines, but as was the nature of motorcycles at the time the mountain route was impassable due to the meagre power output of the bikes and so that’s why the short course was utilised. It wasn’t until 1911 that the full ‘Snaefell Mountain Course’ was raced with Indian Motorcycles taking the first three places that year.

Infamy

As we touched upon earlier the Isle of Man TT has had its fair share of tragedies. There’s a reason why it is considered to be one of the most perilous races in the world and unfortunately has an air of notoriety about it regarding rider accidents. The first fatality was during that very first mountain course in 1911 and set the precedent for over 150 deaths since. Whilst greater safety measures were introduced in 2007, including safety fencing, air-fencing and the introduction of restricted areas, the TT course is still far more dangerous than any circuit course. There are no gravel traps or run off areas and it can take marshals and the emergency services much longer to arrive at the scene of an accident.

As horrendous and tragic as it is this increased level of danger is part of what makes the TT the incredibly exciting prospect that it is. The sheer speeds at which the riders travel, in incredibly built up areas, as well as through sweeping mountain roads, is a sight to behold and one that keeps people coming back year on end to witness the magic first hand.

The Riders

Winning the Isle of Man TT is a huge deal in motorcycle racing circles with massive amounts of kudos points and respect going to those riders who successfully navigate the course in the fastest time. The likes of Joey Dunlop, John McGuinness and Ian Hutchinson have become household names thanks to their multiple wins at the Isle of Man, and not just in the realm of motorcycle racing either.

Amassing 65 wins between them, the three racers mentioned above are considered to be some of the best when it comes to motorcycle road racing. A number of corners throughout the Snaefell Mountain Course are named after these legendary riders, both living and dead and is quite the honour.

It’s not just about the winners, however. Just to take part in the TT is a significant achievement. Take Guy Martin, for example. Widely regarded as the best rider never to have won at the Isle of Man TT he has brought a lot of attention to the event with his quirky personality and sheer, relentless ambition to win. Even though he has now thrown in the towel with regards to racing the TT his prominent role in the documentary film ‘TT3D: Closer to the Edge – about the 2010 Isle of Man TT – brought a new legion of fans into the fray.

The Bikes

The TT is a hugely significant event for manufacturers too. Winning at such a high profile and esteemed event will do wonders for whichever team’s machine crosses that start/finish line in Douglas in the fastest time. That means a lot of time and effort is put into developing the bikes to compete at this most prestigious of races. It’s serious business.

All of the usual suspects are present, from the Japanese manufacturers such as Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha and Kawasaki, to the British representatives Triumph, the German BMWs and Italian Aprillias and Patons, all keen to get that all-important podium finish and the publicity and fame that follow.

There is a rich and varied history of these competition motorcycles. There’s the very first bike to win the TT back in 1907 – the single-cylinder Matchless Jap ridden to victory by Charles R Collier. Then there’s the Manx Norton which was named for the very event it was built to race at. An iconic, single-cylinder bike that was perfectly suited to the TT course. And who can forget Honda’s 1000cc Fireblade? A bike that both John McGuinness and Ian Hutchinson rode not only to victory but also straight into the history books as the former set the first 130mph lap in 2007 whilst the latter won both the Superbike and Senior TT in 2010, going on to become the only rider ever to win five TT Races in a single week. Incredible. Car & Classic auctions is no stranger to iconic TT bikes either having had the pleasure of featuring Mick Grant’s very own competition Suzuki XR69 TT racer earlier this year.

The Isle of Man TT is more than just a bike race though. It has transcended its modest beginnings to become one of the most revered events in motorsport, attracting the cream of the crop of motorcycle racers and a huge fan base that grows year-on-year. With a festival-like air to proceedings and a genuine feeling of camaraderie between racers and spectators alike it really is a highlight of the racing calendar that everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime.