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Category: IOM TT - Manx Grand Prix
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Named this week by the Daily Telegraph as ‘one of the best biking events on the planet’, the 2017 Classic TT presented by Bennetts, part of the Isle of Man Festival of Motor Cycling, sealed its reputation as a nostalgia inspired, forward thinking sports and lifestyle event to rival any in the annual worldwide Motorcycling calendar. 
The event saw the best motorcycle racers tackle the TT Mountain Course on machines rooted in the Isle of Man’s rich heritage, interspersed with a packed schedule of sold out events that supported the high quality entertainment.
The Classic TT centres round a four-day programme of entertainment across the August Bank Holiday weekend, which sees some of the world’s most valuable motorcycles being raced around the 37 and ¾ mile TT Mountain Course.
Stand out performances included a brace of lap records for the evergreen Bruce Anstey from New Zealand. Anstey smashed the previous best speeds in both the Motorsport Merchandise Superbike Race where he finished runner up to Bradford’s Dean Harrison, and the Dunlop Lightweight Race, which he won convincingly including the first 120mph lap of the Mountain Course on a 250cc machine. 2015 British Superbike Champion Josh Brookes won the Bennetts Senior Race on his Classic TT debut while TT veteran Michael Rutter took the honours in the Sure Junior event, a race he had previously won back in 2015.
For 2017 the entertainment on track also included a recreation of Bob McIntyre’s first 100mph Mountain Course lap by leading current TT racer Michael Dunlop on an exact replica of the Gilera machine McIntyre used 60 years previously as well as an appearance from one of the most technically advanced machines ever to race in the TT – the priceless ‘Honda 6’ owned by New York based Team Obsolete and demonstrated by former Honda TT factory rider Steve Plater.
Away from the race track this year’s entertainment included the now traditional Classic TT Paddock Carnival which drew large crowds, a vintage car and motorcycle Concours d’Elegance competition, an outdoor cinema screening iconic motorcycle themed films, live music from the award winning '50s act the Bluejays, stunt shows from the iconic Purple Helmets and the Vintage Motorcycle Club’s Festival of Jurby with thousands of fans visiting the event at Jurby Aerodrome.
This year there were sold out notices posted for the grandstand seats for all of the Classic TT Races while tickets for the Classic TT Party and RST Heroes Dinner also both sold out in advance.
The Department of Economic Development, promoter of the Classic TT, has commissioned a visitor survey to review the economic contribution that the event makes with the results expected to be available in October. The early indications suggest another significant increase in the number of air and ferry visitors, with the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company reporting a 5.6% increase in the number of motorcycles carried for the Festival of Motorcycling this year.
TV highlights of the Classic TT will be aired on ITV4 this Thursday at 9pm featuring highlights of the four races as well as coverage of the Festival of Jurby. The programme will also go behind the scenes and look in depth at some of the bikes making the headlines at this year’s event. A number of international broadcasters are also expected to carry the programme.
Vince Chaney, Managing Director, commented:
“Bennetts have proudly title sponsored the Classic TT since its inception in 2013 and have enjoyed watching it grow at a rapid pace in such a short period of time. The event offers fans a unique blend of high-speed racing and a varied mix of off track entertainment whilst drawing in the most wide-ranging mix of classic and vintage motorcycles you will find anywhere in the world. The Classic TT is a great platform for us to engage with our customers and we look forward to seeing it develop and grow in the years to come.”
Laurence Skelly MHK, Minister for Economic Development added:
“We believe that the Classic TT has reached a tipping point in terms of awareness and interest and is now firmly established in the eyes of classic and vintage motorcycle fans around the world as the premier event in its genre after just five years. We will continue to build on this interest to grow the event’s contribution to the Island’s economy through increased visitors and spend as well as maximising the significant commercial opportunities and growing the media profile of the event.”
The Festival of Motorcycling also includes the Manx Grand Prix which concludes this week with the Senior MGP on Friday after three exciting race days including some stand out performances from newcomers to the TT Mountain Course in Monday’s Newcomers race and Wednesday’s Junior and Lightweight MGP Races.
Rob Callister, Isle of Man Government Political Member with Responsibility for Tourism and Motorsport commented:
“We owe a huge debt of gratitude to everyone that has supported the Festival of Motorcycling including all of the volunteers, the dedicated marshals and medics and officials of the Manx Motor Cycle Club, the organisers of the event who have helped us to established a really vibrant two week festival.”
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Bruce Anstey shattered a number of records on his way to repeating last year’s victory in this afternoon’s Dunlop Lightweight Classic TT Race, the second race in the 2017 Isle of Man Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts. 
The flying Kiwi started by breaking the outright 250cc lap record on his opening lap, becoming the first rider to do a 250cc lap under 19 minutes which he followed up by becoming the first 250cc rider to post a 120mph lap on his second lap and he also broke his own race record by over a minute.
In the winners enclosure Anstey revealed that the team had been specifically targeting the 120mph lap;
“Clive [Padgett] ’s done brilliantly getting the bike up to spec over the winter. We have been targeting the 120mph lap so it’s great to get it in the bag. I used Ian as a bit of a target and went flat out for the first two laps.”
In a day when the clock was turned back on the Isle of Man it was clearly a day for the veterans with the top three riders – Anstey, Michael Rutter and Ian Lougher - all having made their Mountain Course debuts in the 1980s and 1990s.
Lougher on the Laylaw Racing Yamaha was first away and the Welshman lead on the road at Glen Helen at the opening checkpoint but Anstey had already taken 9 seconds out of him on the clock with Dan Sayle riding the Steelcote Solutions Yamaha the Kiwi’s nearest challenger, four seconds behind the race leader at Glen Helen.
Anstey moved in front on the road at Ballaugh on the opening lap and extended his race lead over the Mountain section before posting an opening lap of 119.888mph/ 18:52.960, the fastest ever lap by a 250 machine, and the first under the 19 minute barrier – all the more remarkable as it was set from a standing start.
Behind the Kiwi Dan Sayle was trying to give the Padgetts Motorcycles rider some competition but the Manx rider was already 25 seconds down with his opening lap of 117.225 with Michael Rutter on the Red Fox Grinta Racing Ducati, a tribute to his father Tony, completing the top three in 116.903. Lougher (116.657) was maintaining a podium challenge just over two seconds behind Rutter with Ivan Lintin (114.950) completing the top five.
That remained the order on lap 2 with Anstey breaking his own lap one record with a lap of 120.475/ 18:47.438, the first 120mph 250cc lap in the history of the Mountain Course with the New Zealander slowing down for his pit stop.
Anstey’s record breaking opening two laps gave him a lead of over fifty seconds from Dan Sayle (117.740) with Michael Rutter maintaining his podium challenge only five seconds behind Sayle. Lougher and Ivan Lintin held fourth and fifth places respectively going into the third lap.
Dan Sayle was reported as a retirement at Garey Ford near Kerrowmoar which saw Michael Rutter move into second place at Ramsey with Lougher slotting into the final podium position but Anstey’s lead at the end of lap three after a lap of 113.233mph was a decisive seventy seconds ahead of Rutter with Lougher (111.580) a further thirteen seconds back in third place.
That remained the top three at the finish with Anstey taking the race in a new record time of / 117.853/ 1:16:50.072. Rutter’s final lap of 116.662 saw him finish in the runner-up up slot in 115.723/ 1:18.14.929 with fellow veteran Ian Lougher third in 115.665 1:18.17.289. Stuart Hall riding for Martyn Nelson Yamaha (109.416/ 1:22:45.565) was the leading privateer in eighth place.
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The Classic TT presented by Bennetts is set to burst into life on Friday 25th August with the now traditional ‘Paddock Carnival’ at the TT Grandstand ahead of the evening’s final qualifying session and the two race days on Saturday 26th and Monday 28th August.
Eight time TT Race winner Charlie Williams will be the host for the day, which will feature upbeat music from local Jazz combo the Manx Jazz Aces and fifties tribute band ‘The Blue Jays’, who will be performing two shows on the purpose built stage behind the grandstand.
The packed line up, which is free to attend, will also include regular appearances throughout the day from Graeme Hardy who will be performing his uncanny George Formby tribute, complete with ‘Shuttleworth Snap’.
The stage behind the grandstand will also play host to a series of chat shows with motorcycling legends who will be on the Island for the Classic TT including twenty three time TT race winner John McGuinness who will be updating fans on his recovery from injury earlier in the year.
The Team Obsolete crew and Steve Plater will be talking about their upcoming Honda 6 parade lap, while a man inextricably linked to the Honda 6 – six time world champion Jim Redman MBE, will be on hand to share his experiences of racing the bike.
Other notable guests appearing include Stuart Graham, the 1967 50cc TT race winner, who also raced the Honda 6 as a teammate of Mike Hailwood.Current TT stars Dean Harrison, James Hillier, Josh Brookes, Lee Johnston and Michael Dunlop will also be appearing in the chat show during the day, previewing their Classic TT Races ahead of Saturday’s first race day.
The Purple Helmets stunt show will be bringing their riotous antics to pit lane with their heady mixture of the spectacular and farcical while Bruce Anstey has been known to join their ranks for guest appearances.
Visitors to the Classic TT celebrations will have the chance to enjoy the spectacular Concours d’Elegance, which will be held in Nobles Park, with both cars and bikes on display.
Categories include ‘Best Racing Motorcycle and Best Classic and Vintage Road Motorcycle as well as three categories for cars - pre 1946, 1946-68 and 1969-86). Anyone wishing to enter should bring their machine to the grandstand from 12 noon on Friday.The evening’s entertainment will be winding down with an outdoor screening of TT3D: Closer to the Edge in the paddock at the ‘Sundown Cinema.’
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This year’s Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts will be brought to a thrilling climax on Bank Holiday Monday 28th August with the four-lap Motorsport Merchandise Superbike Classic TT Race closing the 2017 race programme. And with a top quality line-up, it is expected to be another record-breaking affair.
Michael Dunlop, the winner of this race in 2013, 2015 and 2016, leads the entry on the 1100cc Team Classic Suzuki and with a near 127mph lap twelve months ago; it would be a brave man to bet against the Northern Irishman who again has the number three plate.
That will see him set off ten seconds behind 2014 winner and, arguably, his biggest rival - Bruce Anstey. The Kiwi has lapped at over 126mph on the Padgett’s Motorcycles YZR500 Yamaha and although he was out of luck last year, further refinements to the two-stroke machine should see him on record-breaking pace.
Just like this year’s Isle of Man TT Races, David Johnson will set off at number one with the Australian lining up on the 1100cc Team York Suzuki with his team-mate and namesake Gary Johnson hoping to make up for a disappointing season at number seven.
A significant threat to Dunlop’s dominance comes at number 9 with Dean Harrison on the Silicone Engineering Kawasaki looking to make amends for last year when he finished second only to be removed from the results due to a technical infringement.
The race is packed with potential race winners and podium finishers - none more so than at numbers four, five and six where Michael Rutter, James Hillier and William Dunlop line up. Rutter finished second last year but switches from the Winfield Yamaha to the Red Fox Grinta Racing Ducati he rode in 2015 whilst Dunlop, third in 2016, remains with the Herheim Racing Kawasaki team.
Meanwhile, Hillier lines up on the Oxford Products Ducati made famous in 1992 and 1993 by Trevor Nation, Mark Farmer and Robert Dunlop.
Conor Cummins, fresh from a strong outing at the Ulster Grand Prix, reverts back to his usual number ten on the Padgetts Motorcycles OW01 Yamaha with Josh Brookes ten seconds behind the Manx racer on the Advanced Performance Coatings Norton, arguably one of the most intriguing combinations in the entry list.
Double Lightweight TT winner Ivan Lintin (12), who was running in the top six last year before retiring, returns with the Kraus Racing Kawasaki ten seconds ahead of Team York Suzuki’s Lee Johnston at 13 while two more potential podium finishers, at least, are also Kawasaki-mounted in the shape of the Mistral Racing pairing of Dan Kneen (14) and Jamie Coward (15), both of whom are enjoying excellent seasons.
Greenall Racing will field Horst Saiger (16) and Derek Sheils (18) on a pair of Kawasaki’s with Danny Webb (17) sandwiched in between them on the Team Classic Suzuki while Andrew Dudgeon (19) and Dan Hegarty (20) complete the top twenty on Kawasaki and Suzuki machinery respectively.
There are a whole host of privateers confirmed to race outside the top twenty who will be looking to impress including Phil Crowe, James Cowton, Michael Russell, Timothee Monot, John Barton, Dan Stewart, Dan Cooper and Michael Sweeney while David Madsen-Mygdal, Kiaran Hankin and Nick Jefferies are set to be the leading runners on the iconic RC30 Honda.
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Classic TT Grandstand tickets are available now starting from as little at £5 with race day tickets priced at £20. VIP experiences, tickets for the RST Classic TT Legends Dinner on Sunday 27th and the Classic TT Prize giving on Monday 28th August are all available to buy now at iomtt.com or our sales hotline on (00 44) (0) 1624 640011.
The first qualifying session for the Classic TT takes place this Saturday 19th August with live timing available via iomtt.com for all qualifying sessions and races.
Saturday’s schedule is as follows;
Roads Close at 1700 hrs until no later than 2100 hrs
1720 - 1745hrs: MGP & Classic TT Newcomers (speed controlled)
1730 - 1825hrs: MGP Senior /Junior /CTT 250/Superbike (No MGP/CTT Newcomers)
1830 - 1925hrs: Classic TT 350/500 / MGP Lightweight (No MGP/CTT Newcomers)
1930 - 2000hrs: All MGP Newcomers & CTT Newcomers (untimed)
Manx Radio will be live 7.30am on Friday 25th August with full coverage of the Festival of Motorcycling 2017 including Classic TT and Manx Grand Prix live commentary service. The station will also have practice reports each evening from Monday. You can listen online at manxradio.com, via the MR Smartphone app and via AM1368, 87.9FM in Douglas and 100.6FM in the north on Island.
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Motorcycling fans can now pre-order the definitive guide to the 2017 Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling with the release of the 2017 Official Programme.
The full colour 92 page glossy publication previews the four main events that comprise the 2017 festival – the Classic TT presented by Bennetts, the Manx Grand Prix, the Manx International Classic Trial and the Vintage Motorcycle Club’s Festival of Jurby.
This year’s feature packed programme includes a nostalgic look back at Bob McIntyre’s 100mph Mountain Course milestone, sixty years after the Scotsman’s iconic lap and ahead of Michael Dunlop’s tribute parade lap on a replica Gilera.
There’s also a profile of one of the TT’s young guns – cover star Dean Harrison – who talks about the enjoyment he gets from riding Classic machines while at the other end of the age scale Nick Jefferies, who has been competing on the Mountain Course for 42 years, reveals what makes him keep coming back ahead of his Classic TT and Manx Grand Prix campaign.
The programme also profiles Maria Costello, now in her 21st year of competing around the Mountain Course since her 1996 Manx Grand Prix debut. The Northamptonshire based rider talks about her early days on a Honda Melody scooter through to last year’s memorable Classic TT campaign that saw her stand on the podium alongside John McGuinness in the Bennetts Senior Classic TT.
As well as the profiling the leading riders there’s also an in-depth look at two of the most remarkable machines in the TT’s history, the Britten V1000 and the iconic Honda Six, which will both feature at this year’s event.
As well as the glossy feature magazine this year’s programme pack includes detailed race guides for both the Classic TT and Manx Grand Prix featuring the complete entry list for every race, the complete list of ‘Vintage’ and ‘Retro’ parader’s as well as the full qualifying, race and parade schedule. The programme is an indispensible guide to some of the best entertainment on the island so that you don’t miss anything off the track either.
The programme is available to pre-order now via iomtt.com priced £10 with UK delivery scheduled from 12 August and international distribution to most destinations also possible. Customers can also collect their copy from the Duke Grandstand shop during the festival.
It is also available from many of the Isle of Man's leading newsagents.
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