The 60th anniversary of the first 100mph lap of the iconic TT Mountain Course, one of the most historic moments in the Isle of Man TT Races history, will be celebrated at next year’s Classic TT presented by Bennetts, with the achievement providing the platform for a weekend of motorcycling themed nostalgic entertainment.

On Saturday 26th August, the clock will be turned back to the time when Scotsman Bob McIntyre made history, recording the first 100mph lap of the 37¾ mile TT Course on his way to victory in the 1957 Senior TT Race.

Appropriately Michael Dunlop, fresh from the first sub 17-minute lap at this year’s TT, which he improved to a remarkable 133.962mph later in the week, will pay tribute to McIntyre’s achievement with a celebration lap, complete with replica kit and on board an identical dustbin faired Gilera which has been meticulously recreated by Kay Engineering.

The tribute lap is set to be the highlight of a packed weekend of entertainment with a heady mix of Castrol induced nostalgia, ear-splitting noise and breath-taking racing, coupled with a packed programme of special events, retro entertainment and classic tunes.

After a week of qualifying which gets underway on Saturday 19th August, concluding on Friday 25th after the Classic TT Paddock Carnival, the race action kicks off with the curtain raiser – the Bennetts Senior Classic TT - on Saturday 26th August. The corresponding race last year memorably not only saw John McGuinness break his Classic TT hoodoo after four years but also saw Maria Costello MBE joining him on the podium in third place.

Saturday’s Race programme concludes with the distinctive sound of the 250cc Lightweight machines as they take to the Mountain Course again in earnest.  Last year’s race was dominated by Bruce Anstey and the New Zealander will undoubtedly be the man to beat again, although a number of rivals are expected to emerge in the coming months following the interest that 2016’s inaugural race generated. Saturday’s schedule will also feature a stunning parade of pre-1975 vintage machines.

Racing rivalries will then be put aside on Saturday evening as the riders mingle with fans at the Classic TT Party. Held in the VIP Hospitality Suite at the TT Grandstand, this year’s event will be all about vintage tea dresses, swing skirts, classic suits and nerd glasses, as the calendar goes back to the 1950s and celebrates the era of Bob Mac. Back by popular demand, the Blue Jays will be providing an authentic soundtrack guaranteed to have fans beating a path to the dance floor, playing all the hits from Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly and many more.

Sunday sees attention switching from the Mountain to the north of the Island and the VMCC Festival of Jurby. Now firmly established as a highlight of the weekend, the Festival regularly attracts 10,000 fans, many astride a heady mix of unusual, iconic, long forgotten or instantly recognisable bikes as they put their machines on show alongside some of the greatest names in motorcycle racing history.

Held in the VIP Hospitality Suite, Sunday evening’s RST Classic TT Legends Dinner sees today’s leading TT riders joined by a whole host of legendary names from the world of motorcycling as well as Isle of Man TT history. With tickets now available for either individual seats or complete tables, this is perhaps the ultimate chance for fans to join with so many famous names for an unforgettable evening.

The action returns to the Mountain Course on Monday 28th August with two more thrilling races: the Okells Junior Classic TT Race and the Motorsport Merchandise Superbike Classic TT Race. Bank Holiday Monday also boasts the colourful Classic Racer Magazine parade of post-1974 classic machines, sure to bring back many golden memories, before the festival concludes with the closing party and prize presentation in the VIP hospitality suite.

I set off from Barnstaple at 1:00pm on Friday heading to Glasgow and arrived at 11:30pm.

Set off from Glasgow at 8:20am on the Saturday morning and arrived at John O'Groats at 9:30pm Saturday.

On the Sunday morning after a photo shoot at the John O'Groats sign I left at 9:30am and arrived home in Barnstaple at 2:30am on the Monday morning. That was 17 hours with only comfort breaks.

Why?!?!

Because it was there.

Marc Kent

Derek Sheils, the man who won two Irish and one Ulster road racing titles this year, has agreed to ride for John Burrows' Tyrone based road racing outfit again for the 2017 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy and other road races. Another great fillip for the team is the confirmation that Cookstown will continue as title sponsor for an amazing seventh consecutive year.  

John Burrows said:

"I'm extremely happy to announce that Derek Sheils will be the lead rider for Cookstown Burrows Engineering Racing in 2017. I'm delighted to have him back as it gives us continuity that we didn't always have in the past. We know Derek, he know the team and the bikes so we are ready to go already.

"Derek will have Superbike, Supersport 600, Superstock and Supertwins machinery at his disposal for the Isle of Man TT, Ulster GP and the Irish Championship meetings. It has yet to be decided if we will compete at the North West 200. We may field a second rider at certain events if the opportunity arises.

"Derek won the Irish and Ulster Superbike titles in 2016 as well as the Irish Supertwins crown and also claimed his first International rostrum when he finished second in the UGP Supertwins race. Next year Derek and the team will focus on gaining more International success and we will have a crack at the Irish Superbike, Supersport and Supertwins championships - that would be a difficult hat-trick to achieve but it's a challenge we are up for.

"Derek joined the 130 mph club at Dundrod this year and I'm confident he can rise to the same mark at the TT in 2017. At both International events Cookstown Burrows Engineering Racing will be aiming to be at the top end of the result sheets.

"Finally, it's marvellous to have Cookstown giving us their backing once again. Their continued support has helped us go from strength to strength during the last seven years. We will also have substantial support from Hagan Homes and NMT Shipping. Thanks to all the team's supporters without whom our successes would not be possible."

Conor Cummins, William Dunlop, Steve Mercer and David Johnson rounded out the top ten, having missed out in the morning’s race.

Hutchinson has now moved to the top of the race for the Joey Dunlop Championship with 70 points and with Dunlop retiring, Harrison movea up to second on 47 points with Dunlop remaining on 45 in third.

Meanwhile, Dan Hegarty was again the top privateer in an excellent 11th place. Horst Saiger was the second privateer home in 13th overall with Jamie Coward third and 14th overall.

Hegarty leads the overall privateers table on 50pts followed by Coward on 47 and Saiger 46.

Dubliner Sheils commented:

"I had a great year with Cookstown Burrows Engineering Racing in 2016 and I'm delighted to be staying with the team for another campaign. John Burrows has assembled a great crew who are very professional and keep on top of things, when I go out on track I know I will have a great bike underneath me. Winning three titles last year was good but the most satisfying thing for me was my improved International performances and my 131 mph lap at the Ulster GP.

"Next year my focus will be on getting near the sharp end in every International race I take part in. At the TT I'm aiming for top ten finishes but with the quality in every race I know that won't be easy. I know my package will be good enough but sometimes at the TT you need a bit of luck as well.

"At home it would be nice to retain the titles I won in 2016 but I will just take each National meeting as it comes. If I win races every weekend then the championships will take care of themselves."

Derek Sheils will ride the Cookstown Burrows Engineering Racing Suzuki GSXR 1000 Superbike in the 50th Macau GP on November 19th. It will be Sheils' first appearance at the famous Far East race.

Mitas, part of Trelleborg Group, is extending its adventure tyre range by adding two new sizes to TERRA FORCE-R and two sizes to E-10 tread patterns.  

In addition, TERRA FORCE-R is featuring the all new Optimum Steel Cord Technology (OSCT), which ensures optimal contact area between the tyre and the surface in all driving conditions. All innovations from the adventure, on-road and off-road Mitas tyre ranges will be displayed at the Mitas stand, L52, in hall 10 of EICMA fairground.

Ksenija Bitenc, Director of Motorcycle Tyres and Tubes Product Area, said: “Our aim is to strengthen Mitas in the adventure segment by offering riders complete range of tyre sizes. The extension of TERRA FORCE-R and E-10 tread patterns demonstrates our strategy.” 

The Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy will be taking centre stage at Motorcycle Live held at the Birmingham NEC from the 19th to the 27th November, with the final day being billed as a special TT Day.

Visitors to the Isle of Man stand 3H30 in Hall 3 will have the chance to hear the intimate thoughts of some of the leading TT stars as they personally talk through stunning on board laps of the course from this year’s races on the stand’s HD big screen in real time.

The highlight will undoubtedly be Michael Dunlop who will be voicing his incredible outright lap record from this year, which saw the Northern Irishman become the first rider to post a sub seventeen-minute lap of the TT Mountain Course.

Others who will be sharing their tricks of the trade include 23 time race winner John McGuinness, Ian Hutchinson, who will talk through his remarkable Superstock lap record lap from this year’s meeting, as well as TT race winners Ivan Lintin and James Hillier. 

And if you ever wondered what it feels like to race a sidecar around the 37¾ mile course, you’ll get the chance to get up close and personal with the Birchall brothers Ben and Tom, as well as veteran campaigner, and current overall sidecar Champion John Holden, as they give their unique perspective on race winning laps from 2016.

Signing sessions are planned every day of the show on the Isle of Man TT stand and you will be first to hear the latest news and announcements about the 2017 TT Races and Classic TT Races with many of the riders who made the Mountain Course headlines in 2016 appearing in chat shows with ITV4 commentators James Whitham and Steve Parrish. 

You’ll also get the chance to discuss tickets, travel and accommodation packages with Regency Travel, the TT’s Official Travel Partner and you can also book your grandstand, hospitality and special event tickets on the newly designed iomtt.com website which will launch on Friday 18th November, ahead of the first day of the show.

The stand will also have many of the TT and Classic TT winning bikes including Michael Dunlop’s double TT race winning Hawk Racing BMW Superbike, and the Team Traction Control R6 Yamaha machine on which Ian Hutchinson won both of this year’s Monster Energy Supersport Races. The lap record-breaking sidecar machine that the Birchall brothers raced in winning this year’s Sure Sidecar Race 2, will also be on the stand.

Belgian team Sarolea’s 2017 spec TT Zero machine will be representing the latest technology while nostalgia fans will undoubtedly enjoy the chance to see Team Classic Suzuki’s Classic Superbike TT winning Suzuki XR69 GSXR100 and Valvoline Racing by Padgett’s Motorcycles 250 Honda ridden to race wins by Michael Dunlop and Bruce Anstey respectively at this year’s Classic TT meeting.

The centrepiece of the stand will be the iconic Senior TT Trophy that has been awarded at every TT since 1907. The trophy’s base is engraved with the names some of the most legendary riders in motorcycle racing history including Stanley Woods, John Surtees, Geoff Duke, Mike Hailwood, Giacomo Agostini, Joey Dunlop, John Surtees, David Jefferies and John McGuinness and you’ll have the chance to have your picture taken with this stunning piece of history.

The full list of confirmed TT riders to appear during the show is:

SATURDAY 19th NOVEMBER / OPENING DAY
Michael Dunlop - James Hillier - Dean Harrison - Josh Brookes - Maria Costello MBE

SUNDAY 20th NOVEMBER - CLASSIC TT DAY
Michael Dunlop - James Hillier - Dean Harrison - Josh Brookes

MONDAY 21st NOVEMBER
William Dunlop - Lee Johnston

TUESDAY 22nd NOVEMBER
Lee Johnston - Carl Fogarty    

WEDNESDAY 23rd NOVEMBER 
Carl Fogarty - Michael Rutter - Ian Hutchinson - Maria Costello MBE

THURSDAY 24th NOVEMBER
Bruce Anstey - Dan Hegarty

FRIDAY 25th NOVEMBER
Steve Mercer - Jamie Coward

SATURDAY 26th NOVEMBER
John McGuinness - Ian Hutchinson - Dean Harrison - Conor Cummins - Ivan Lintin - Dave Molyneux - Tim Reeves - Ben and Tom Birchall - John Holden - Steve Mercer - Maria Costello MBE

SUNDAY 27th NOVEMBER- TT DAY
John McGuinness - Ian Hutchinson - Dean Harrison - Conor Cummins - Ivan Lintin - Dave Molyneux - Tim Reeves - Ben and Tom Birchall - John Holden - Maria Costello MBE

www.iomtt.com