Category: IOM TT - Manx Grand Prix

1. Foggy and Whit return to The Isle Of Man with popular Chat Show for Manx Grand Prix Festival

   Posted on 12:00am Friday 12th Aug 2011

   Two legends of motorbike racing, Carl Fogarty and James Whitham, are bringing their popular chat show 'Givin It Gas' to the Isle of Man. The popular pair will be appearing at the TT Grandstand's VIP Club on the evening of Wednesday 31st August.

   Opinionated and hilarious, this is four-times WSB champion, Carl Fogarty, with his good friend and former British champ, TT Races ITV pundit James Whitham, at their irreverent best - live and uncut.

   Both have competed on the Isle of Man with Carl a three-time TT Races champion and Jamie also recording podium finishes. They enjoyed contrasting fortunes at the Manx Grand Prix with Carl winning the 1985 Lightweight Manx Grand Prix Newcomers Race, while Jamie recorded a DNF in the same race.

   With their own unique brand of verbal sparring, Carl and James provide insight into today's world of racing, recall former glories and disasters, and discuss the burning issues of the day.

   Carl said: "I've got loads of happy memories of the Isle of Man, both on and off the track and I'm really looking forward to coming back to the Island during the Manx Grand Prix, where it all really began for me. There's always a good bit of banter between us but it's also a opportunity for fans to say hello and ask their questions."

   James added: "I have known Carl for many years and this is a good opportunity for a lot of individuals, who don't really know what he is like in private, to see the real Foggy. He is a lot more relaxed these days and the chat shows we have done previously have been a right good laugh."

   The evening event, which will start at 8pm, will run for about 2 hours and will feature on-stage chat and a question and answer session and fans will also have a chance to get autographs from Carl and James. Tickets priced £25 can be bought at www.mgpfestival.com or via official Manx Grand Prix Travel Agency Regency Travel on 01624 694455

2. TT RIDERS TO THE FORE AS SOLO AND SIDECAR CHAMPIONS

   Posted on 12:00am Wednesday 29th Jun 2011

   ...RETURN TO THE ISLE OF MAN FOR THE SOUTHERN 100 MEETING

   2010 Southern 100 Solo and Sidecar Champions Ryan Farquhar, Klaus Klaffenböck and Dan Sayle head an impressive list of competitors entered for the 2011 Steam Packet Southern ‘100’ International Road Races, which commence on Monday 11th July on the Billown Circuit on the outskirts of Castletown, Isle of Man. Billed as ‘the Friendly Meetings’, the 4.25 mile circuit in the South of the Island features mass start road racing at its finest.

   The current champions certainly won’t have their own way with no less than four former champions in contention to prevent them from retaining their much coveted titles won 12-months previously!

   Leading TT Races riders Guy Martin, Solo Champion in 2009, Cameron Donald (2006) and Ian Lougher a five time champion (2002/04/05/07/08) will provide serious opposition to current champion Ryan Farquhar, as will Michael Dunlop, fresh from his Royal London 360 SuperstockTT Race win and Manx Telecom Post TT victory less than a month ago on the same Billown circuit. Include William Dunlop, along with other course specialists, Roy Richardson, Mark Buckley, John Burrows and ‘Spirit of the TT Winner’Conor Cummins and the prospect of some close exciting racing is mouth-watering!

   Equally exciting is the Sidecar line-up, with current champions and Sure Race 1 TT winners Klaffenböck and Sayleresuming their battle with Sure Sidecar Race 2 winners John Holden and Andy Winkle. Three-time Southern 100 champions Ian Bell, with son Carl in the chair, will also be throwing the gauntlet down.

   Four-time Sidecar Champion Nick Crowe, will be willing his crew of Simon Neary and passenger to the top step of the podium. Add in Greg Lambert, Gary Bryan and the ever-young Roy Hanks and the racing will be dramatic to say the least!

   In the smaller capacity classes, rivalry will be renewed between Chris Palmer, William Dunlop, Ian Lougher, Dan Sayle, Barry Davidson, Roy Richardson, Phil Harvey, Lee Vernon, Nigel Moore and Chris McGahan to name but a few.

   The 2011 Steam Packet Southern 100 International Road Races get underway on Monday evening 11th July, with Roads Closing at 6.05pm until no later than 9.40pm. Tuesday 12th and Wednesday 13th will be at the same times. The meeting reaches a climax with ‘Championship Day’ on Thursday 14th July between 9.50am and 12.15pm then 1.00pm until 5.45pm at the latest.The event culminates with the unique Prize Presentation in picturesque Castletown Square on the evening of Thursday 14th July from 7.00pm to Midnight

   www.southern100.com

3. Honda TT Legends ready to fight on familiar ground

   Posted on 12:00am Monday 30th May 2011

   After contesting the first two rounds of the Endurance World Championship as an all-new outfit, the Honda TT Legends team heads to more familiar ground next week for its namesake event – the Isle of Man TT.

   Fifteen-times TT winner and outright lap record holder John McGuinness and teammate Keith Amor are both bike fit and mentally prepared having completed hundreds of superbike laps a piece during the Bol d’Or 24-hour race in France in April, and more recently at the Albacete 8-hour in Spain.

   McGuinness’s 15-year knowledge of the circuit cannot be underestimated as he aims to defend his title as the fastest man around the Isle of Man TT lap. Relative newcomer Amor is hoping that his EWC experience, combined with the unrivalled knowledge of the Honda TT Legends team and the dynamic capability of the CBR1000RR Fireblade will help him bring home some solid results.

   Following a week of practice sessions from Monday 30 May, McGuinness and Amor will compete for the Honda TT Legends in the Dainese Superbike race on Monday 6 June and the Pokerstars Senior Race on Friday 10 June.

   Neil Tuxworth, team manager

   We’re sticking to basic principles for the Isle of Man TT – a proven formula for preparing the bikes as we always have, with performance and reliability in mind. The specification of the bike is virtually the same as we ran in 2010. Under the new Honda TT legends livery, we are of course aiming to win both superbike races and have both our riders on the podium.

   John McGuinness

   Endurance has been really good for me – it’s completely different and it has definitely improved my fitness – but I am so excited to be back at the TT. There’s a buzz about it that you just don’t get anywhere else. I think we have all the right ingredients this year – the team, the bike, the tyres – it’s all there. There are some very competitive riders though and you just never know what will happen – what will be will be but of course I want to win!

   Keith Amor

   Racing in the endurance championship with the Honda TT Legends means that I have spent more time on a superbike than ever before this year. It has not only provided great experience getting to grips with a superbike but it’s also increased my fitness level. I have the benefit of a brilliant team with years of TT experience behind them and a bike that is a legend in its own right so everything is in place. I’m not stressing about getting my first win, but hopefully we can get on that podium.

   For further information on Honda TT Legends visit the website www.hondattlegends.com.

4. Honda TT Legends focus on the positives

   Posted on 12:00am Monday 23rd May 2011

   The Honda TT Legends team is keeping its focus firmly on the positive elements of last night’s Albacete 8-hour race despite being forced to retire from the event in the final 50 minutes.

   The team had performed an almost faultless race, saving valuable time during pit stops due to an excellent fuelling strategy. By the six-hour stage, it was leading cumulative pit stop time challenge. Steve Plater and John McGuinness were both showing pace and the team was sitting strongly in its target position of fourth with under an hour to go.

   McGuinness was in the last seconds of his final stint when the Fireblade lost the back end on the in lap. He was uninjured but unfortunately it was impossible to bring the bike back to the pits to attempt a recovery and therefore the Honda TT Legends team was forced to retire.

   While the team is obviously disappointed with the result of the race, the progress made during the second round of the 2011 Endurance World Championship cannot be underestimated. The Honda TT Legends will now move on to more familiar territory – the Isle of Man TT from 30 May-10 June – before taking part in the Suzuka eight-hour race in Japan in July.

   Neil Tuxworth, race manager

   We have made an awful lot of progress with both the bikes and the team. The fuelling, the brake pads and the tyres are all working well, the team has bonded and the riders are doing a great job. We were only an hour from the end and we were within our target position of top four so we have many positive things to take away with us. Most importantly, we are thankful that John is ok.

   Steve Plater

   We’re disappointed but that’s endurance racing. We were setting a good pace and holding fourth position with one hour to go when John had an unfortunate crash. This year is a big learning curve for the team and we’ve learned a huge amount again this meeting. We are more competitive than we were at the Bol d’Or which we’re happy about and we aim to move forward at Suzuka.

   John McGuinness

   I am massively disappointed. We’ve had a good weekend as a team and things were looking good in the race. I was holding the fourth spot and only had one or two laps to go before handing the bike back to Steve, but in the end it didn’t go our way. All we can do now is use what we have learned for Suzuka - and of course look forward to the TT.
   

5. McBride to retire from Privateer Racing

   Posted on 12:00am Monday 21st Feb 2011

   Kettering’s pure road racer James McBride has decided to bow out of the sport he loves whilst on a high. In 2010 he won the inaugural Isle of Man TT Privateer’s Championship and amongst other superb achievements throughout last season he joined the elusive 130mph club at the Ulster Grand Prix.

   McBride was awarded a commemorative 130mph medal at the Adelaide Motorcycle Festival in Belfast last weekend by road race legend Raymond McCullough. With a plethora of 2010 results under his belt McBride felt it was time to step back and let this be the final accolade.

   McBride said: “I’ve been thinking about this for quite a while but I made my decision whilst travelling back home from the Belfast Bike Show. I have been truly really humbled and flattered by my Irish fans and sponsor support from the weekend but after receiving my award I felt it was time to retire my own efforts.”  

   This doesn’t mean James is hanging up his leathers he is still keen to take part in the racing he loves, and should a suitable team offer appear from a competitive team looking to employ a very capable racer  he would certainly consider it. However running himself and keeping the team at a high level is a big job and one he wants to back off from.

   He said: “To improve on last season’s riding I would almost certainly need a stronger budget and dedication from everyone involved, but life is getting busy right now in a number of ways and to retire my own personal efforts would free me up to cope. However it would allow room for improvement to my own riding performance with much less energy and focus spent on managing a team and more time to focus purely on my racing.  So be it if I don’t get to race much in 2011 but I am currently enjoying riding Enduro on my 450 Yamaha regularly and I will still structure a return to Macau in November.”

   To better his 2010 season would take a lot of time and investment in new machinery as well as plenty of organisation to ensure McBride can perform at the high level he is used to. So as things currently stand McBride will be stepping out of the lime light and spending time with partner Dorothy and daughter Molly.

   James would like to take this opportunity to thank all of his sponsor’s friends and family members whom have helped him achieve all the successes racing has to offer. These people have stood by from the early days in 1998 with the Club Championships which he won, to the lows of 2000 and 2008 where he was side lined through injury and now to the heights of 2010.

   McBride finished on this note: “Without my sponsors, some of whom are no longer with us, today wouldn’t be so poignant in terms of racing for 13 consecutive seasons. Racing became an interest back then but spare money just wasn’t available and it took three to four years before support came along. I’m very grateful to anyone who has helped with costs or support from day one to year 13. I salute you all....”