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Category: IOM TT - Manx Grand Prix
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Over 1,400 TT fans have already cast their vote in a poll to discover the greatest TT rider of all time.
The search takes in riders from almost every era of the Isle of Man TT’s 110-plus year history from pre war hero Stanley Woods to current stars such as Michael Dunlop and Ian Hutchinson.
The results of the public vote will be announced on a special programme made by new TT TV host broadcasters Greenlight Television, to be aired on ITV4 at 9.00pm on Monday, 28th May.
Fans wanting to take part in the poll can do so by visiting iomtt.com/vote, reviewing the videos of the top twenty suggestions and submitting their choice, or nominating another name if they feel they have been overlooked.
The question of ‘greatest’ TT rider of all time is a sticky one that has been debated for almost as long as the races have been run.
Some names on the list will be very familiar to fans of the TT: such as John McGuinness, Ian Lougher, Bruce Anstey, David Jefferies, David Molyneux and the previously mentioned Hutchinson and Dunlop – all of whose achievements speak for themselves.
Other names from the TT’s past need little introduction to today’s audience, especially Joey Dunlop whose 26 wins makes him the most successful TT rider ever.
Carl Fogarty and close rival Steve Hislop are well remembered for the record-breaking clashes the pair engendered in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s culminating in arguably the greatest race in TT history, the 1992 Senior TT Race, which saw Hislop win by just four seconds despite Fogarty setting a new absolute lap record on the final lap.
Again, Mike Hailwood and great rival Giacomo Agostini are names that no TT spectator can fail to recognise. Two supreme talents that lit up the Mountain Course in the 1960s and provided equally spectacular entertainment to Foggy and Hizzy’s later antics. Hailwood’s comeback in 1978 sealed his reputation with another generation of TT lovers and will make him a strong contender.
Dubliner Stanley Woods took an early lead in the ‘greatest ever’ battle by becoming the first man to win 10 TT races, a figure not eclipsed until Mike Hailwood’s ascendency in the 1960s.
Before Mike ‘the Bike’ hit the roads, two formidable competitors stake strong claims to last fame at the TT in the early years of it being the most prestigious race on the World Championship calendar: Geoff Duke’s sublime style and innovative approach contrasted strongly with pugnacious Glaswegian Bob McIntyre. Duke had more success and renown but McIntyre took the coveted 100mph lap record.
Uniquely, John Surtees followed up his incredible success at the TT and in motorcycle world championships by becoming the only man to date to also win a Formula One World Championship.
Phil Read’s long career saw him racing against Mike Hailwood in the 1960s and still being on the scene when Hailwood made his famous return in 1978 – indeed Phil was Mike’s closest challenger in that 1978 Formula 1 TT Race.
When Agostini’s career took him in a different direction, Charlie Williams was just on the rise. Through the 1970s he notched up a formidable tally of 8 wins, when just finishing the race on fragile two-strokes was an achievement in itself.
Although David Molyneux will be the most familiar sidecar name on the list it is hard to forget just what a competitor Rob Fisher was: from 14 finishes he took ten wins and three second places.
With the option to vote for other riders not mentioned on the top twenty list, voters have the chance to add names such as Harold Daniell, Jim Moodie, Bill Ivy, Adrian Archibald, Jimmy Guthrie, Jimmy Simpson, Freddie Frith or anyone else they feel deserves the accolade.
The poll, at iomtt.com/vote, is open until 01:00am on April 1st.
The results will be declared on ITV4 from 9.00pm on Monday, 28th May.
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Tyco BMW have today confirmed a new partnership with fifteen-time Isle of Man TT winner Michael Dunlop for the 2018 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy and the other International Road Races.
The 28 year old Northern Ireland rider will campaign the TAS Racing-prepared Tyco BMW S1000RR in the RST Superbike and PokerStars Senior Races at the Isle of Man TT and further International road racing events including the North West 200 and Ulster GP.
With multiple race wins and lap records under his belt since his TT debut in 2007, Michael's skill and determination is without doubt and he remains the first and only rider to lap the 37.73mile Mountain Course in less than 17 minutes. His passion for road racing is mirrored by that of father and son pairing - Hector and Philip Neill - team owner and manager of TAS Racing. The Northern Ireland-based team have to date secured 27 International North West 200 victories and 18 race wins at the iconic Isle of Man TT.
The team's official full road race schedule will be announced in the coming weeks.
Philip Neill – Team Manager:
“It has taken some time for this to come together and I’m very happy to confirm Michael Dunlop and TAS Racing/Tyco BMW will finally work together in 2018. Michael and I have discussed options to work together on various occasions and I honestly believe this is a partnership that simply had to happen at some point. My father and I, together with all the guys at TAS Racing, are excited and looking forward to the challenge. We would not be in this position without the support of our partners Tyco and BMW Motorrad and both are extremely happy to reach agreement with Michael for the 2018 season”
Michael Dunlop:
“Tyco BMW and I have spoken many times but nothing ever came of it, but this year everything fell into place. I think it’s a good time for us both to work together and I think both of us can bring something to the table. I’m looking forward to seeing the outcome”
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Jodie Kidd and Matt Roberts will lead the new presenting line up for the Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy TV broadcasts this year.
The TT is broadcast worldwide with 15 one hour preview, highlights and review shows screened on ITV4 in the UK and eleven available through international broadcasters including Discovery Channel in the USA and Fox Sports in Australia.
The pair will be supported by former leading TT competitors Cameron Donald and Steve Plater with Cameron providing race commentary alongside experienced motorsport commentator Dave Moore.
Previously Jodie Kidd has fronted Channel 5’s The Classic Car Show alongside Quentin Willson as well as hosting CNN Equestrian for CNN International and participated in Tour de Celeb which saw her tackle epic cycling event L’Etape du Tour in France. A petrol head at heart, Jodie has extensive racing experience in four wheel motorsport and raced some of Europe’s most prestigious circuits in the Maserati Trofeo Series.
Jodie Kidd said:
“I’m so excited to be presenting this year’s Isle of Man TT Races broadcast for ITV4. I’ve followed the remarkable TT Races for a number of years and the event is undoubtedly one of the iconic events in world motorsport. It’s going to be an incredible experience to see it first hand and it’s a real honour to be asked to present the programmes.”
Matt Roberts, who currently fronts Eurosport’s coverage of the World Superbike and British Superbike Championships, was also part of the Eurosport team covering this year’s Winter Olympics in South Korea. His motorcycle presenting experience also includes being the BBC’s anchor for their MotoGP coverage.
Matt Roberts said:
“There is a huge amount of respect for the TT riders in every race paddock I’ve ever been to. Anyone who understands and appreciates motorsport knows the skill, dedication, application and focus that is required to race around the Mountain Course and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to tell the story of this incredible event.”
Cameron Donald and Steve Plater need no introduction for TT fans with the pair having both stood on the top step of the podium on the Isle of Man – Donald memorably winning two races in 2008 while Steve Plater’s career included victory in the 2008 Supersport and 2009 Senior TT Races.
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In an unprecedented move, two of the Isle of Man TT’s greatest ever riders will join forces at this year’s Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy with John McGuinness set to ride for Michael Dunlop’s MD Racing team in the two Monster Energy Supersport races. 
McGuinness, who will be making his return to the TT this year after missing the 2017 meeting due to injuries sustained at the North West 200, will ride a similar CBR600RR Honda to team owner and rival Dunlop in the four-lap races, which will be held on Monday 4th and Wednesday 6th June.
Dunlop and McGuinness both have an excellent track record in the class with the Northern Irishman winning last year’s four lap race when Yamaha-mounted while 23-time winner McGuinness was victorious in both 2005 and 2006 for Yamaha and Honda respectively. Riding for the latter exclusively since 2006, the Morecambe Missile added further Supersport podiums to his haul in 2007, 2008, 2011 and 2013.
Since 2010 McGuinness has lined up in the colours of Padgetts Racing and, more recently the Jackson Racing team, finishing in the top five on no less than eight occasions with his most recent outing in 2016 seeing him finish fifth. His fastest lap in the Supersport category, 127.210mph, came in 2013 when he made his last visit to the podium in the class which makes him the fifth fastest rider ever to have lapped the Mountain Course on a 600cc machine.
Dunlop still holds the lap record for the class having lapped at 128.667mph on his way to a double victory in 2013 when riding the CBR600RR. MD Racing will be making their return to Honda for the two Monster Energy Supersport Races for the first time since 2015.
Speaking about the tie up, John McGuinness commented:
“I’m excited to be riding Michael’s bike at this year’s TT. It’s started off as a bit of a joke conversation between us both and has developed into him going off and building me a bike. I’m a big fan of Michael’s both as a rider but also for what he has done in terms of running his own teams and winning races out the back of his van against the factory teams over the years. The Dunlop name means so much to TT fans and as a fan myself, I can’t wait to represent that name at this year’s event. We’ve won 38 TT’s between us so together we know what needs to be done and I am sure we will be right at the sharp end.”
Michael Dunlop added:
“I hadn’t ever really planned on building another bike, but when John started talking to me about it, I thought it was a great idea and I couldn’t really say no. It’s good for me, it’s good for my team and no matter who you are, the man has won 23 TT races so there is always going to be something that can be learnt by having him in working alongside you. People don’t see him as a 600cc rider, but he’s won races and had lots of podium finishes on a 600cc bike and I will give him a bike capable of winning on.”
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Welshman Rhys Hardisty has joined The People's Bike team for the 2018 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy. The Isle of Man based rider will be teammate to TT newcomer David Jackson.
Rhys has a number of years’ experience now on the roads and has a good record of finishes at the Manx Grand Prix. His highlights include an 11th place in the Senior MGP last year where he lapped at 118.343mph, following a 12th place in the Junior race earlier in the week. He also finished third in the Formula 2 Classic TT Race in 2015 lapping at a more than impressive 111mph on a 250cc Yamaha.
He also plans to step up to the big bike class at the TT this year on a BMW S1000 but has competed at other circuits already in the 1000 classes including the Southern 100 where he lapped at almost 105mph in 2017. He will run on a Reps Motorcycles R6 Yamaha in the two Monster Energy Supersport Races.
Rhys Hardisty commented:
"Racing at the TT has been a dream of mine since watching Joey Dunlop there as a young child. I'm really excited to finally be able to ride at the TT and am so grateful to The People's Bike team for giving me this opportunity. I'm really looking forward to working with them as I make the step up to the TT. "
Team Manager Janice Thompson said,
"We are very excited to welcome Rhys into the team. We have been following his career over the last couple of years and TT 2018 seemed like perfect time to step him up from the Manx GP. Rhys is a very talented rider and we believe he has the ability required for future success on the mountain course."
The People's Bike team, now in their tenth year, provide all sponsors with an official sponsors t-shirt, together with a goodie bag containing a team lanyard and stickers. All sponsors have the opportunity to add a photo of their choice to the livery on the bike's fairings which will then feature on the bikes during race week.
Check out the team's website thepeoplesbike.com and keep up to date with their news at this year's TT and also see how you can become part of this unique team.
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