Category: IOM TT - Manx Grand Prix

1. TAS RACING LAUNCH TYCO BMW FOR 2015 SEASON

   Posted on 7:03am Thursday 18th Dec 2014

   TAS Racing along with title partner Tyco Security Products will join forces with BMW Motorrad for the 2015 road racing season, becoming the German manufacturer's official representatives for the 2015 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy and the other international road races.

   Guy Martin and William Dunlop have been retained and will spearhead Tyco BMW's assault at the 'big three' international road racing events as well as selected national races. The team will campaign the BMW S1000RR in the RST Superbike, RL360 Superstock and PokerStars Senior TT.

   Guy Martin achieved two podiums in the 2014 TT Races, finishing second in the Superbike race and following it up with a third place finish in the PokerStars SeniorTT while William Dunlop was running in a podium place in the Senior before crashing on the third lap.

   William Dunlop:

   "Moving to BMW Motorrad is an exciting change and one I'm looking forward to. We all saw what the BMW S 1000 RR was capable of achieving this season, so with the expertise of the guys at TAS Racing, I'm pretty sure we can do a good job in 2015. I got my first international Superbike win last year and I'd really like more next year as it's the class to do it in. We have a top team and I'm happy to be working with Guy again at the TT, where I think together we can be even stronger with this exciting new package."

   Guy Martin:

   "Moving to BMW Motorrad machinery is the reason I'm still racing next year and not retiring. I'll always give it my all and to be with a quality manufacturer like BMW is mega. I'm looking forward to getting on the bikes as soon as possible. It's a new bike and I've never ridden it before, but we all know its pedigree. TAS are the best team I've ever ridden for; they get me and I get them and we meet in the middle, which is why we've been successful and this new venture with BMW is just what we need going into next season."

   Philip Neill - Team Manager:

   "It really is a great honour for TAS Racing to be chosen by BMW Motorrad to spearhead their official racing efforts in 2015, and everyone involved has been very supportive in helping us put the correct package together. Although our agreement is with BMW Motorrad in the UK, the support we have received from BMW in Germany is already very encouraging. We will have full support from the factory both technically and personnel-wise next season to help us achieve our goals. On the rider line-up for 2015 TT Races, the Tyco BMW team manager added: "We put a lot of thought into our rider line up for 2015 and as always the goal is to win races both in British championship and also at International level on the roads. We fully expect to be championship contenders in British Superbike and the National Superstock class next season racing BMW's S 1000 RR, and on the roads I've every confidence that William and Guy will also benefit from riding top class Tyco BMW machinery."

   "The TT is extremely important to BMW, TAS Racing and all our sponsors, and of course we want to be successful on the Island. It has been a few years now since we have had a rider on that coveted top step of the podium and as you might expect that will be our goal in June with William and Guy. I don't want to build all our expectations around Guy and a TT win, although it is fair to say 2015 will give him a great chance of achieving his goal on the Tyco BMW. TT races are not easily won these days so I know Guy will be applying a one-hundred percent effort just as he does every year. Fingers crossed 2015 will be his year. On the other hand William has come of age on a Superbike and I wouldn't bet against him either at the TT next June."

   Lee Nicholls, BMW Motorrad Marketing and PR Manager, said:

   "It is with great pleasure that we can finally announce BMW Motorrad's support of the TAS Racing team for the 2015 Road Racing season. In 2014, BMW Motorrad had its most successful season of racing ever in the UK, which has enabled us to increase our support to both the British Superbike and Road Racing paddocks for 2015. The TAS Racing team will spearhead our assault on track, and on the roads, and will receive the full technical support from BMW Motorrad Motorsports in Munich within the framework of the BMW Customer Racing Strategy. As a company we are very much looking forward to working with Hector and Philip and his team and we are confident that together with the all-new S 1000 RR we will challenge for podiums and wins next year."

2. NORTON TO BE KEY FEATURE OF 2015 CLASSIC TT RACES

   Posted on 4:41pm Wednesday 26th Nov 2014

   Iconic British Motorcycle brand Norton is set to be a key part of the 2015 Isle of Man Classic TT presented by Bennetts.

   The marque's development has been inextricably linked to the Isle of Man TT Races from the races inception in 1907 through to its modern day appearance with Cameron Donald setting the manufacturer's fastest ever lap of the TT at the 2014 meeting.

   Rem Fowler's inaugural TT winning bike from 1907 will be returning to the Isle of Man as part of a unique pop up museum in the paddock that will also feature the greatest collection of factory Rotary Norton's ever seen on the Isle of Man, courtesy of the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham.

   Eighteen original factory Rotary Nortons, including Steve Hislop's 1992 TT Race winning ABUS sponsored machine, a large number of the iconic JPS liveried machines and the Duckham's sponsored bikes from the latter part of the Rotary era will all feature in the paddock display which will run from Friday 28th August to Tuesday 1st September 2015.

   The Classic TT Parade lap - Norton the Rotary Years sponsored by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company - will run on Monday 31st August. It will tell the story of the Rotary Norton during the 1980's and 1990's and will, where possible, feature original bikes and riders including the likes of Trevor Nation, Ian Simpson and Steve Cull. John McGuinness, one of Steve Hislop's biggest fans, will ride the 1992 ABUS in the parade.

   The cultural focus for this year's Classic TT meeting will be centred around the late 1950's and early 1960's rocker years with music, fashion and other activities the backdrop of an era when the Norton brand was achieving iconic status away from racing. A large scale Café Race Concourse D'elégance will add to the hive of activity in the paddock with Ace Cafe, a driving force of the period, bringing the evocative era back to live behind the grandstand in 2015.

   The 2015 Classic TT includes two race days on Saturday 29th and Monday 31st August 2015 and the paddock carnival on Friday 28th August. It is part of the Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling, which runs from 22nd August to the 4th September and also includes the Manx Grand Prix, the Classic and Two Day Trials and the VMCC's rally and Festival of Jurby.

3. TICKETS GO ON SALE FOR 2015 ISLE OF MAN TT RACES

   Posted on 3:27pm Friday 21st Nov 2014

   Tickets for the 2015 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy will go on sale from this Saturday.

   Tickets can be purchased by visiting the TT stand at the Motorcycle Live show in Birmingham, on-line via the official iomtt.com website or by calling Duke Marketing on 00 44 (0) 1624 640000. Phone lines will be live from 10am (GMT) on Saturday 22nd November and fans are advised to book early to avoid disappointment.

   Every fan experience for both events is catered for from the exclusive 'Platinum' tickets with course car lap and VIP hospitality packages through to the much in demand reserved grandstand and fanzone seats. This year's 'Platinum' and 'VIP' tickets will include a new grandstand overlooking Glencrutchery Road and the exit of pit lane.

   The VIP Club package gives guests all day access to the hospitality suite with complimentary bar, breakfast and a gourmet hot and cold buffet as well as the opportunity to meet stars past and present behind the scenes. The Platinum package will also see a former TT legend host your guests throughout the day as they give a personal tour of the world's leading road races.

   Tickets for all four TT Race days for the famous Glencrutchery Road grandstand as well as the final three qualifying sessions can be purchased from Saturday 22nd November through the official channels and at the NEC Motorcycle Live show, priced from £5 to £50, while the Fanzones at Ballacrye, Creg Ny Baa and Nobles Park, each offering unrivalled views, dedicated parking, public conveniences, catering, Wi-Fi and live Manx Radio TT commentary, will also be on sale at the same time.

   As well as the race days, this year's calendar of special events during the two meetings also includes the TT preview night on Friday 7th June hosted by Charlie Williams during final qualifying, 'Lunch with the Stars' on Sunday 9th June which will include a Q&A with many of the leading TT riders, who will be sharing their thoughts after the first race.

4. Nick Crowe Racing Confirm Hegarty and Neave with Triumph package for 2015 TT Races

   Posted on 10:02am Thursday 20th Nov 2014

   Nick Crowe of NCR and Nick's long term sponsor Dave Hudspeth of Dave Hudspeth Carpets, have signed a deal for their 2015 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy campaign. The 2 year deal includes current Eastern Airways F1 Sidecar Champions Sean Hegarty and James Neave as Driver and Passenger to the team.

   The team will be running a 675 Triumph in the all-new HC Race developments chassis. Not only are they bringing another manufacturer into the growing Sidecar paddock but this will be slotted into a new brand of sidecar that is being developed by Nick himself, and built by ex. F1 guru Phil Wall who is also based on the Isle of Man. Mal Curnin of Yorkshire Engine Supplies has pledged his support to the quest, and joins the Team as one of the main sponsors.

   Sean has not competed on the Isle for the last 19 years so both he and passenger James are looking to spend as much time as their 2015 race schedule allows ahead of the 2015 meeting doing 'the laps' of the Mountain circuit, under the expert guidance of lap record holder Nick Crowe. With the deal confirmed, the team will look to be ready for testing and shaking the bike down early in the New Year before the main event.

   Commenting on the 2015 plans, Nick Crowe said:

   "British Champions on a Manx chassis built with the input of the current TT lap record holder, then put a British Engine in the mix and you get,...Awesome - both for the TT and even more so for the Sidecar class. This year will be all about stretching theirs and the bikes legs, so the pressure is clearly off the pairing. The team would be over the moon with if they can secure a top ten finish in the first year. Sean will be more than happy with that as, in 1996, despite running in a strong 6th as a newcomer, he is yet to see the chequered flag as mechanical failure resulted in DNF's in both races that year."

5. EXTRA TT SAILINGS CONFIRMED AS STEAM PACKET COMPANY SECURES P&O EXPRESS CHARTER

   Posted on 2:38pm Tuesday 28th Oct 2014

   The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company has chartered additional P&O Express sailings to assist with demand for TT 2015.

   The charter has allowed the Steam Packet Company to revise its schedule and increase the number of sailings. An extra four return sailings have been added to the schedule from the Northern Irish port of Larne while Manannan will operate an additional five Liverpool returns during the TT.

   Bookings for the additional sailings open at 8.30am on Monday, 3rd November, and demand is expected to be high.

   The Steam Packet Company had already increased capacity for motorcycles to travel to the Island for the annual road racing festival with the announcement earlier this year that a specially-built mezzanine deck will be in place on the Manannan during the TT. These extra spaces have proved very popular, with many peak days already sold out.

   Chartered freight vessel MV Arrow will also once again be in service during the TT, freeing up Ben-my-Chree to accommodate additional vehicles.

   Steam Packet Company Chief Executive Mark Woodward said: 'We are constantly looking at ways we can help the TT grow as an event by working round the clock during the event and ensuring we do everything possible to meet as much demand as we can.

   'There was a marked increase in demand when bookings for the 2015 TT opened in May, with first day bookings up 41% on the previous year and many sailings for the period virtually sold out within just days.

   'One of the biggest areas of demand is from people wanting to bring their motorcycles, and we have responded to that by making a substantial investment in a mezzanine deck which will increase motorcycle capacity on Manannan by 30%.

   'We have been in discussions with P&O for several months awaiting the finalisation of their schedules before confirming the charter of Express and completing our TT timetable.

   'We are delighted that the charter of P&O Express has allowed us to add additional sailings from Northern Ireland and on the popular Liverpool route.'

   He added: 'The extra sailings will be available to book on Monday 3rd November and we will have as many staff as possible available to deal with inquiries to assist passengers secure their travel so they can come and experience the unique action and atmosphere of the TT.'

   To book visit www.steam-packet.com or call 661661 (Isle of Man), 08722 992 992* (UK) or 0044 8722 992 992* (ROI & Outside UK). *Calls to these numbers are charged at 10 pence per minute including VAT from a BT landline, calls from other networks and mobile operators may vary.