Practice Has Already Started For The 100th Year Of The Isle Of Man TT
May 27, 2007, ©Copyright 2007, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
ISLE OF MAN TOURIST TROPHY FESTIVAL
26 MAY - 8 JUNE
McGUINNESS EXPECTS RECORD SPEEDS IN CENTENARY TT
Some of the biggest names in motorcycle racing will be converging on
the Isle of Man for this year's Centenary TT Racing Festival - among
them will be the sporting icons Giacomo Agostini, Carl Fogarty, Phil
Read, John Surtees, Phillip McCallen and Charlie Williams, all taking
part in parade laps, while with the modern day heroes will aiming for
special place in the sporting annals by taking race victories on this
special milestone for the 37.73 mile Mountain Course.
Leading the entry is the eleven times TT winner and outright lap
record holder John McGuinness, riding the powerful HM Plant Honda
Fireblade, and eager for an action replay of his successes in the two
'big-bike' events, the opening Superbike TT (Saturday 2 June) and the
prestigious finale, the Senior TT (Friday 8 June), both decided over
six gruelling laps of this public roads course that winds around the
Island, through towns and villages, and over the heights of Snaefell Mountain.
The Lancastrian dominated them both, winning the Superbikes at an
average speed of 124.76mph, and then in the Senior shattering the
outright record with a remarkable lap of 129.45mph, and a race record
speed of 126.17mph. "I didn't think that was possible, and some say
the speeds are insane but I felt that I had a bit in reserve on the
Superbike. Last year the conditions were perfect." McGuinness recalled.
"People are going to push on this time because it is such a special
year - we are there for 100 years and won't be back for the 200 year
celebrations which is why everyone will want to win. It is going to
be intense. The riders are better, the teams stronger, the tyres
improved and I am certain that the racing will get faster. "If the
conditions are good, the 130mph lap will be broken. It is going to
happen and I will just be concentrating and enjoying it. There is
pressure but once you put your helmet on it is me, the bike and the
road, and it will take a good man to beat me," said a confident
McGuinness who is gunning for his fourth consecutive Superbike
victory and third Senior success." He concluded.
Ian Hutchinson rides the second HM Plant Honda while Ian Lougher,
aiming to take his first ever 'big-bike' victory on the Island rides
a Honda in Stobart Motorsport colours while Guy Martin riders for
Hydrex Honda, Cameron Donald is aboard the Robinson Concrete backed
Honda and there is Mark Johns Motors Honda for Ryan Faquhar.
The Honda mounted entry will face stiff opposition from
several-seasoned road racing specialist who have all tasted success
around the formidable circuit. Michael Rutter returns to ride the
event for the first time in seven years aboard a Kawasaki, as does
Raymond Porter, while Adrian Archibald and Bruce Anstey are on
Suzuki's but Paul Hunt and Steve Plater, who makes his debut on the
Island are aboard Yamahas.
McGuinness, again riding in HM Plant Honda colours, will be bidding
to end the two-year reign of Anstey in the Superstock TT (Monday 4
June). Then the rider whose love affair with the event began as a
schoolboy when he accompanied his father on trips from their
Morecambe home to watch the races, rides a Honda CBR600RR, in
Padgetts colours, as he bids for a repeat of his victory in last
year's Supersport TT, (Wednesday 6 June), again over four laps. The
entry for both of those events mirrors that for the two feature solo events.
Sidecar racing has always been key to the Tourist Trophy races and it
is a Manx rider who is again favourite to add to his record tally of
victories. Dave Molyneux, passengered by Rick Long, rides the HM
Plant Honda Windle outfit, engineered by the driver, against a strong
field that includes last year's Honda powered double race winners,
also Isle of Man residents, Nick Crowe and Daniel Sayle.
Former World Champions Klaus Klaffenbock and Christian Parzer are
back for more aboard their Honda powered outfit while long time
campaigners Roy Hanks and Dave Well rely on Suzuki power, with Yamaha
driving the hopes of Steve Norbury and Scott Parnell. They have two
races, each over three laps on Saturday and Wednesday.
Around the races, there is time for nostalgia with a TT Lap of
Honour, led by Jim Redman, riding a 1964 250cc Honda and a TT
Centenary Parade of Champions on the closing afternoon of the festival.
Practice begins on Saturday 26 May, with further sessions daily from
Monday 28 May through Friday 1 June, with the race programme
beginning on Saturday 2 June with the Superbike TT over six laps and
the first of the two sidecar races over three laps.
Race and events programme.
Saturday 2 June:
12.00. Superbike TT - 6 laps.
15.00. Sidecar Race A - 3 laps.
Monday 4 June:
10.45. Superstock - 4 laps.
15.00. TT Century Parade Lap of Honour
Wednesday 6 June:
10.45. Supersport - 4 laps.
13.15 Sidecar Race B - 3 laps.
Friday 8 June:
12.00. Senior TT - 6 laps.
The Senior TT Race is followed by the Parade of Champions.
