Here's some info and vids to wet your appetite.
(IOM Official Video)
The IOM TT is by far, the most technical and dangerous road race track in the world.
37.73 Miles, 219 turns. 146 Deaths (correct up to 2016)
Current lap record set in 2016 : 16:53.929, 133.962mph (average speed) Held by Michael Dunlop on a BMW S 1000 RR.
History :
The IOM TT was first held in May 1907, originally it was 10 laps of the Isle of Man St John's Short Course of 15 miles 1,470 yards. Then from 1911 the Isle of Man TT transferred to the much longer Snaefell Mountain Course of 37.40 miles (current length 37.73 miles).
History : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_of_Man_TT
Giacomo Agostini :
Raced at the TT. he made his debut in 1965, in 1967 he smashed the outright lap record from a standing start in the 1967 Senior TT and won 10 titles in total.
"With MV Agusta dominating the Grand Prix scene, he took a Senior-Junior double for the next three years, won the Senior in 1971 and then did another double in 1972. This proved to be his final year of racing at the TT as his good friend Gilberto Parlotti tragically lost his life in that year’s 125cc race. Ago refused to race again on the Mountain Course but has continued to support the event and is a regular participant in the popular Parade Laps on one of his beloved MV’s."
https://www.iomtt.com/history/hall-of-fame
Mike Hailwood OBE, GM
"In many people’s eyes, whether they are young or old, Mike Hailwood is regarded as the greatest motorcycle rider of all time and the way he scorched around the Isle of Man TT Course certainly lends sufficient weight to that theory. It was 1958 when he made his TT debut at just the tender age of 18 but his talent was there for all to see as he claimed a first time podium in the Lightweight 250cc race held on the smaller Clypse Course.
His first win came just three years later and not only did he win the Lightweight 125cc race (Honda’s first ever win) he also took the Lightweight 250cc and Senior victories to claim an unprecedented hat trick, the first time this feat had ever been achieved. By 1962 he had become a works MV Agusta rider and he rewarded the Italian concern with four straight victories in the Senior race although he was out of luck in the other classes during this period.
A switch back to Honda came in 1966 and he immediately chalked up a Lightweight/Senior double chalking up even more lap records. At home on any machine, he added another treble to his name in 1967 to become the most successful rider ever and set a new outright lap record that wouldn’t be bettered until 1975."
https://www.iomtt.com/history/hall-of-fame
The Dunlop family :
You cant talk about the TT without including the Dunlop family. Racing is in their blood, Joey and Robert were the first generation, and now Roberts son's William and Michael carry the name forward. currently Michael is the fastest man round the TT.
Joey Dunlop O.B.E , M.B.E. 1952 - 2000
AKA "King of the Roads"
Joey , a down to earth, working class Irish lad had his first race when he was 19.
"His 'King of the Roads' title came after he won five consecutive TT Formula 1 World Championships from 1982 to 1986 inclusive. For his achievements he was awarded the MBE. He's been Irish Sports Personality of the Year. He's taken van loads of food and medical supplies to children in Romania, Albania and Bosnia. But essentially he's a motorcycle racer - and a TT fan." (quotes from his biog)
http://www.joeydunlop.co.uk/biography.htm
Joey's "achievements include three hat-tricks at the Isle of Man TT races (1985, 1988 and 2000), where he won a record of 26 races in total. During Joey's career he won the Ulster Grand Prix 24 times and the North West 200 13 times. In 1986 Joey won a fifth consecutive TT Formula One world title. In 2005 he was voted the fifth greatest motorcycling icon ever by Motorcycle News. "
http://www.joeydunlop.co.uk
Unfortunately joey died on Sunday 2 July 2000 when he crashed at the ‘Pirita-Kose-Kloostrimetsa’ circuit, in Estonia on a very wet track.
Robert Dunlop (25 November 1960 – 15 May 2008)
TT record : "A winner on the course at his first attempt, Dunlop won the 1983 Newcomers 350cc Manx Grand Prix. In 1989 he scored his first TT win in the 125cc Class with a new lap record at 103.02 mph. In 1990 he repeated his success in the 125 with a new lap record at 104.09 mph, and third place in the Formula 1 TT on the Norton Rotary. In 1991 he scored a double victory taking the 125cc Race for the third year in succession at a record 103.68 mph with a new lap record at 106.71 mph and won the Junior TT at 114.89 mph. In 1992 he finished 2nd in the 125 and 3rd in the Junior and Senior and in 1993 he finished 2nd in the 125."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Dunlop
Robert also died racing. He was killed on 15 May 2008 when his engine seized at over 150mph during a practice session at the North West 200 road race in Northern Ireland.
Then there is the next generation
Michael dunlop, son of Robert dunlop :
http://www.michaeldunlopracing.com/
photo by 4SR - For Street Racing
https://www.flickr.com/photos/forstreetracing/22878179137
Michael is currently the fastest man EVER to race the IOM TT. Setting a record of 16m:53s.929, in 2016 on his BMW S 1000 RR. giving him an AVERAGE speed of 133.962mph round the 37.73 mile track.
(IOM Official Video)
William Dunlop, son of robert Dunlop :
http://www.williamdunlopracing.co.uk/
TT Record
Debut in 2006 | Best finish 2nd (2016 SES TT Zero)
Fastest Lap
130.853mph
(from IOM TT official site) https://www.iomtt.com/competitors/solos/william-dunlop
John Mcguinness
https://johnmcguinness.co.uk/
en:User:Agljones [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], from Wikimedia Commons
"McGuinness, started his winning ways at the Isle of Man TT in 1999 and 2013 saw him add his 20th victory to the record books.
After taking number three last year to honour Joey Dunlop’s first TT win for Honda, he will revert back to number one on the grid for this year’s Races.
He has won in just about every solo class from 250cc to Superbike and everything in between with only the TT Zero title eluding him thus far.
The Morecambe native recorded the first 130mph lap in 2007 and pushed the absolute lap record up to 131.671mph in 2013."
(from IOM TT official site) https://www.iomtt.com/tt-database/competitors?ride_id=4307&filter=M
Guy Martin :
Unfortunately Guy martin will not be racing this year.
"Guy made his debut in 2004 and has so far accumulated five podiums and is currently the second fastest man to have lapped the TT Course with a speed of 129.816mph.
Riding for Wilson Craig in 2010, Guy was runner-up in the first Supersport race, taking fourth in the second, with a similar position in the Superbike TT. In the Superstock race, he came home in fifth, before his well publicised incident in the Senior TT, which caused the race to be red-flagged.
Since 2011, the TV and 3D film star has been aboard the Suzuki by TAS Racing machines, currently under the Tyco Suzuki banner and will be challenging for his first TT win.
Website: http://www.guymartinracing.co.uk/"
(from IOM TT official site)
https://www.iomtt.com/tt-database/competitors?ride_id=8430
Duke video official channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZkjakEhu1YItgYDKpjFGaQ?sub_confirmation=1
Ian Hutchinson :
"Hutchy had one win under his belt and for 2010 had joined forces with the Padgett’s of Batley outfit and was capable of adding to his single victory and seven podiums, which he did in style, taking all five solo TT wins, including two lap records in the Superstock and Senior TT’s.
The Milwaukee Yamaha rider has been to hell and back since achieving that magnificent feat and will be determined to get back to winning ways immediately.
He will be pushing for his ninth TT race win with his first chance in the Dainese Superbike Race."
(from IOM TT official site)
https://www.iomtt.com/tt-database/competitors?ride_id=8379
official Isle of Man TT site
https://www.iomtt.com/
Hall of fame
https://www.iomtt.com/history/hall-of-fame
Videos to check out :
Joey: The Man Who Conquered the TT
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4247724/
Road (2014)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3546370/
preview
Ok there are many more great riders and links, hopefully this will be enough to get you started.
Get ready for the greatest race on Earth!!!!
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