· Museum sees a 246% increase in visitors following re-launch last month

· Educational visits up 77%

· Increase heralded as an “encouraging result” for the West Country economy

Haynes International Motor Museum has announced an impressive 246% increase in its visitor numbers since its re-launch last month (period 16 April-21 May 2014) – a record in its history. It has also reported a 77% year on year increase in the number of educational visits.

The Museum, which has a collection of over 400 of some of the greatest cars and motorcycles from around the world, last month saw over 500 guests come to see Culture Minister Ed Vaizey MP open the brand new facility and praise it for the prominent role it plays in the Somerset and West Country economy.

The £5 million project included the creation of three new exhibitions halls, modernisation of three other halls, creation of Haynes Motorland for children, the development of new function room facilities, new shop, café and entrance foyer and also included the introduction of new interactive exhibits.

Marc Haynes, Managing Director of Haynes International Motor Museum, said: “We are delighted to have welcomed such an increase in visitors over the last month since our re-opening. This is fantastic news for us and importantly also for the local economy, particularly after a difficult winter when the region was devastated by flooding. All our facilities are fully operational and we look forward to further establishing ourselves as a gateway destination for tourism in the region.

We are also pleased to see the uplift in visitors for educational reasons. As an educational charitable trust, we have always prided ourselves on providing a fun experience, yet one where visitors can discover the evolution of the car and engineering through the generations, encouraging the young to take an interest in our heritage in an authentic interactive way. Our family friendly exhibits and the new ‘paint a car’ are proving to be particularly popular with our younger – and some of our older! – guests.”

The most successful Superbike racer of all time, with 59 victories and four world titles, took to the Donington Park track over the weekend to mark the 20th anniversary of the first of his four World Superbike championships.

"Foggy" rode the Leicestershire track over the thrilling race weekend lapping on a specially painted Ducati 988 - the same livery as his famous 916 from 1994.

Dainese, his long-term, leathers, boots and gloves supplier made him a special suit to mark the occasion. The 48-year-old from Blackburn enjoyed entertaining the crowds at the UK's sole round of the FIM World Superbike championship.

Carl Fogarty commented: "It was a great weekend and fantastic to be back on a bike I love at a track that means so much to me in front of fans who gave me such great support over the years, and showed so much appreciation yesterday. He continued: "I have always wanted to work with the best and the partnership I've had with Dainese continues today. They were class leading when I was riding and they still are today."

It was fitting that the fifth round of the championship saw a double win from reigning World Superbike Champion and Dainese-protected, Tom Sykes. The British rider now heads the championship by 26 points.

Clear blue skies and sunshine on Monday evening meant the 2014 Isle of Man TT Races, fuelled by Monster Energy, got underway at last and Bruce Anstey set the pace at 127.473mph just edging out fellow Honda rider John McGuinness whose best lap was 126.355mph.

Action around the Mountain Course commenced at 18.25 with the newcomers completing their controlled laps after the cancellation of Saturday’s session. Richard Quayle led the first group of three away, Peter Hickman, Laurent Hoffmann and Martin Jessopp, followed by the recently retired Ian Lougher with Phil Crowe, Vick de Cooremeter and Alan Bonner, and finally John Barton with Danny Webb, Dan Kruger and Callum Laidlaw for company.

Shortly before 7pm it was the turn of the ‘big boys’ with William and Michael Dunlop leading the field away followed by Michael Rutter and Guy Martin, Dan Kneen and James Hillier, Ian Mackman and Josh Brookes, David Johnson and Steve Mercer and Lee Johnston and Ian Hutchinson. All were on their Superbike machines with the exception of William Dunlop and Mackman  who opted for their Superstock mounts.

McGuinness left the line in the 11th pairing but two men who ran into trouble on their opening laps were Martin who was soon back in the pits and going out on his Superstock machine and Dan Stewart who wasn’t so fortunate, being stuck out at Douglas Road Corner, Kirk Michael for the session.

Michael Dunlop was the first man to complete a lap at 125.265 followed by brother William (122.461), Rutter (122.789) and Kneen (123.580). McGuinness was on the pace at 123.641 as was Gary Johnson, who left the line mid-pack, at 124.513.

Second time around and McGuinness and Anstey went top of the timesheets at 126.355 and 126.299, the duo circulating in close formation, with Johnson also going quicker than his opening lap at 125.686. The newcomers were also picking up their speed on their second official laps, Jessopp on 109.674 and Hickman 109.039.

With conditions remaining perfect, save for a few reported damp patches at Stella Maris and Ramsey Hairpin, the riders were taking full advantage and getting in their full quota of laps.  Anstey made the most of the opportunity, increasing his pace slightly to 126.513mph on his third lap before putting in a late flyer of 127.473mph to go comfortably clear on the opening night

McGuinness remained second on the leaderboard followed by Johnson, William Dunlop (125.400), Michael Dunlop (125.335) and Rutter (124.740). Impressive laps continued to be posted by the newcomers, none more so than Hickman whose lap of 115.103 was the quickest ever by a debutante on their opening night of practice. Fellow BSB rider Jessopp wasn’t too far behind on 113.293 but sandwiched in between was Belgian Hoffmann on 113.354.

The Dunlop brothers topped the Superstock times, Michael’s lap of 123.239 seeing him seven seconds clear of William at 122.461. Aussie David Johnson and Austrian Horst Saiger made it an International top four while Gary Johnson was quickest in the Supersport class after a late lap of 122.619mph, a solid start for the Smiths Triumph concern.

The solo session finished at 20.05 and, with their newcomer laps safely completed at the beginning of the evening, the Formula Two Sidecars first official session was soon up and running with Dave Molyneux/Patrick Farrance, Ben and Tom Birchall and John Holden/Andy Winkle first away.

Molyneux was first back, and comfortably quickest, at 112.278 followed by the Birchalls (108.690), Karl Bennett/Lee Cain (107.452), Frank Lelias/Paul Knapton (107.035), Gary Bryan/Jamie Winn (105.835) and Conrad Harrison/Mike Aylott (105.366). Tim Reeves, on a DMR outfit for the first time and with Frenchman Gregory Cluze for the first time since 2012, had a steady opening lap of 103.766.

Molyneux and Farrance really upped the pace on their second lap with a speed of 114.350, their quickest opening night speed ever, whilst the Birchalls quickened their tempo also with a 110mph+ lap. Equally impressive was the lap by the father and son pairing of Ian and Carl Bell, a speed of 107.254mph placing them fourth on the leaderboard while Carl Fenwick/Phil Knapton (106.532) slotted into sixth behind Lelias.

Tony Thirkell/Nigel Barlow were reported to have had an incident at Sulby Bridge and while Thirkell was unhurt, Barlow was taken by airmed to Nobles Hospital with reported ankle injuries.

Despite the earlier optimistic predictions of the meteorological centre, TT Races Clerk of the Course Gary Thompson was forced to cancel tonight's first scheduled practice for the 2014 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy at 18.25 shortly after it was due to start due to heavy rain on the Isle of Man.

This means that Monday's schedule has been amended to accommodate the solo and sidecar newcomer's laps. 

The revised schedule will see the solo newcomers speed controlled untimed laps away at 18.15 with the sidecar newcomers starting their first lap at 18.30.

Monday's session will then run as planned from 18.45 with a full solo session for Superbike, Superstock and Supersport machines and a sidecar qualifying session from 19.55.

Clerk of the Course Gary Thompson said: "It's unfortunate but the conditions were not conducive to any laps on the course this evening so the only sensible course of action was to cancel the session.  I'm conscious that the Lightweight machines have lost time at this stage and I'll be looking to make it up ahead of their race on Friday week."     

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The 2014 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy gets underway this evening (Saturday 24th) and as is now a well-established practice the newcomers are first away for their speed-controlled lap.

High profile riders to look out for include Danny Webb, Martin Jessopp and Peter Hickman who are scheduled to get their first closed road lap of the course shortly after 18.20 (GMT). Sidecar newcomers will also get their first Mountain Course laps in when their speed controlled lap gets away at 18.35. Experienced ex-competitor Ian Lougher, a ten time TT race winner, and TT rider liaison officers John Barton and Richard 'Milky' Quayle are due to show the riders round.

Tonight's timed session is due to start at 18.50 with the Lightweight class. Interest is undoubtedly growing in the SuperTwin class, which was introduced in 2012. The returning Keith Amor and Ryan Farquhar, representing Farquhar's SGS International/KMR Kawasaki outfit get their first Mountain Course laps for three and two years respectively, while the newcomers across all classes will also get their first chance of an officially timed lap in the same session.

James Hillier, Michael Rutter, Gary Johnson, Guy Martin, Dean Harrison, Lee Johnson, Michael Dunlop and Ivan Lintin, who has the honour of carrying the number 1 plate in the Lightweight class, are all expected to be race win contenders and will be looking to get some quality laps under their belts.

The sidecar qualifying session will then begin at 19.55 and it will be the first chance to see how the change back to open regulations is going to affect the lap times. Sixteen time race winner Dave Molyneux and his passenger Patrick Farrance are the pre- race favourites but last year's winners Tim Reeves, with passenger Greg Cluze and the Birchalls will be keen to establish their credentials although there'll be missing from tonight's action due to contesting the World Championship round at Donington Park.

John Holden and Andy Winkle, popular winners in 2011, the returning 2003 champion Ian Bell, racing with son Carl, and Conrad Harrison/Mike Aylott are also expected to feature high up on the qualifying leader board.

Monday's session, again due to start at 18.20, will feature the Supersport, Superstock and Superbikes for the first time of the 2014 festival and attention will undoubtedly be focused on the appearances of Michael Dunlop on his factory backed BMW and the start of his head to head with Honda Racing rider John McGuinness, the latter eager to prove his fitness after his recent wrist injury. The leading pair will both be looking to put down early markers in the Superbike class after their respective Dainese Superbike and PokerStars Senior TT wins last year.

Other contenders due out for their first laps on Monday include Milwaukee Yamaha rider Ian Hutchinson, who returns to the Mountain Course after missing the 2013 meeting, Tyco Suzuki's William Dunlop, fresh from his Superbike race win at the North West 200, Bruce Anstey and McGuinness's Honda Racing teammate Conor Cummins.

You can keep up to date with all the on track action via the iomtt.com's live timing service or via the TT App and you can also listen live worldwide via Manx Radio TT's on-line commentary.

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