Category: IOM TT - Manx Grand Prix

1. Honda TT Legends achieve world-first with Combined ABS

   Posted on 12:00am Saturday 1st Oct 2011

   The Honda TT Legends achieved a world-first last weekend, completing the Le Mans 24-hour aboard a Combined ABS-equipped CBR1000RR Fireblade to become the first team to run the system at World Championship level.
     
   The Endurance World Championship contenders have been testing Combined ABS throughout the 2011 season, working towards a potential launch at the 8-hour race in Qatar in November. Development has gone so well that the team decided to bring forward the introduction of the system and run it during the ultimate challenge of the Le Mans 24-hour.
    
   The Combined ABS system ran smoothly throughout the demanding race, which saw the Honda TT Legends place fifth in a field of 62 teams to rise to ninth in the 2011 Endurance World Championship standings.
    
   Honda pioneered the introduction of ABS on road-going motorcycles and the manufacturer has already experienced racing success at national level when a Combined ABS-equipped Fireblade ridden by Karl Muggeridge won the 2010 German Superbike Championship. The Honda TT Legends team will now continue to run Combined ABS for the remainder of the 2011 season – which concludes in Qatar– and into 2012.
    
   Neil Tuxworth – Honda TT Legends team manager
    
   Our plan was always to develop ABS during the 2011 season and we’ve done a lot of work at various tests. We were very confident that we were ready to go out and race it so we took the risk to use it at Le Mans. Honda has a long history of proving its technology in the ultimate competitive environment and what could be more testing that the Le Mans 24-hour race. We are over the moon with the performance and we had no problems with it whatsoever. The riders were very happy and while we’ll obviously keep developing the system, for this first time being used in World-level racing everything has certainly gone very well.

   John McGuinness
    
   We had no problems with the Combined ABS system at all. It’s still in the early stages and there are lots of sophisticated parts on the bike, but the brakes were fantastic for the whole of the 24-hours. There are certainly no complaints from me. To get fifth place on the first outing for the system is mega and hopefully we’ll get on the podium with it at some stage.
     
   Cameron Donald

   Having Combined ABS on the bike was definitely a benefit. I’m sure it got me out of trouble more than once, especially late on the race when fatigue was kicking in. The system ran so smoothly throughout the entire race and I can’t wait to see how it will develop. It’s definitely an exciting prospect.

   Keith Amor

   We didn’t really know what to expect when the team took the decision to run the Combined ABS bike. It’s pretty much brand new, so to come here and for the bike to last and do what it’s done is fantastic. 24 hours is a long time to race around here on any bike and to finish the race and place fifth on the new ABS machine is brilliant.

2. Honda TT Legends to run Combined ABS at Le Mans 24-hour

   Posted on 12:00am Saturday 24th Sep 2011

   The Honda TT Legends will today become the first team to run electronically controlled Combined ABS at World Championship level. The World Endurance contenders will use an ABS-equipped CBR1000RR Fireblade for the Le Mans 24-hour race, which begins today at 3pm (Central European Time). 
    
   The team has carried out extensive testing of the system over the past few months with a view to introducing it to the race bike in 2012. The results have been so successful however that the decision has been made to run Combined ABS at the penultimate round of the 2011 EWC season at Le Mans, France.
    
   Honda pioneered the introduction of ABS on road-going motorcycles and the manufacturer has already experienced racing success at national level when a Combined ABS-equipped Fireblade ridden by Karl Muggeridge won the 2010 German Superbike Championship. This is the first time that Honda has used the system during a World championship. 
    
   Neil Tuxworth – Honda TT Legends team manager
    
   Our plan was always to develop ABS during the season and we’ve done a lot of work at various tests. We are now very confident that we are ready to go out and race it. All the riders are happy with the system, we’ve encountered no problems whatsoever during our test period and in fact the riders have lapped quicker here in Le Mans on the ABS bike than on the non-ABS bike. It’s certainly our plan for next season to run ABS continually. We have to make that move at a certain point and this seems the ideal event to introduce ABS. The fact that it is a 24-hour race means it will be an extra long test for the system and Honda has a long history of proving its technology in the ultimate competitive environment. I have no real worries from a racing point of view – the system has more parts so it might take a bit longer in the pits in the event of crash damage – but I think that is a small price to pay for the fact that the ABS system is very, very good.

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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.