Two of the Isle of Man TT’s leading racers will again be in action in this year’s Isle of Man Classic TT, presented by Bennetts, with James Hillier and Daniel Cooper riding for Somerset-based CSC Racing, firmly signalling the team’s intentions for this year’s event.

Hillier, who achieved two more podiums at this year’s Isle of Man TT Races, has been a regular at the Classic TT on board the CSC Racing Honda machines since the inaugural year in 2013. 

The 33-year old took sixth in the 2013 Bennetts 500cc Classic TT Race and although he was out of luck in subsequent years, he was back on the leaderboard twelve months ago with eighth place on the team’s 500-4 cylinder Honda when he posted a new personal best lap in the class at 105.940mph.

Cooper lines up for Steve Caffyn’s team for the third successive year having finished fifth and 11^th in the 2016 and 2017 Junior Classic TT Races respectively. He’ll again ride a 350cc Honda in this year’s race and will join Hillier on a 500-4 for the Bennetts Senior Classic TT.

The Stroud rider previously rode the Molnar Manx Nortons between 2013 and 2015 and regularly challenged for the race victories, finishing second behind Ian Lougher in the 2014 500cc Race and third in the 2013 350cc Race. He also led the 2015 350cc Race before being forced to retire on the third lap.

Classic TT Grandstand tickets are available now starting from as little at £5 with race day tickets priced at £30. VIP experiences, tickets for the Classic TT Party on Saturday 25th August and the RST Classic TT Heroes Dinner on Sunday 26th August are all available to buy now at iomtt.com or via our sales hotline on (00 44) (0) 1624 640011.

The world’s premier Beatles tribute act ‘The Bootleg Beatles’ are bringing their remarkable four-part show to the Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts. Tickets go on sale on Thursday for this exclusive appearance in the TT VIP Hospitality Suite on Saturday 25th August.

In a near forty year career The Bootleg Beatles have played to packed audiences worldwide, headlined Glastonbury’s acoustic stage, supported Oasis at Earls Court and Knebworth and shared stages with the likes of David Bowie, Bon Jovi, Rod Stewart, Manic Street Preachers and Iggy Pop.

The Bootleg Beatles were formed from the original cast of London’s West End multi-media stage show ‘Beatlemania’ and have become an institution with their note-perfect recreation of the hits from the world’s most famous songbook. Every tiny detail is meticulously covered from costumes to authentic period instruments; from their witty ‘Liverpudlian’ banter to their ‘inflection perfect’ vocal mimicry. But it’s not only their sound that is so authentic but also their uncanny resemblance to the original Fab Four.

The show features distinct eras that encompass some of the most definitive moments in rock history and many of its most memorable songs – from the early days of Beatlemania, the Shea Stadium appearance and the psychedelic phase, including mini orchestral accompaniment to recreate the distinctive sound, through to the White album, Abbey Road and the final rooftop appearance at Saville Row.

Tickets, priced at £40, for the Bootleg Beatles at the Classic TT Party will go on sale from 9am on Thursday 16th August via iomtt.com or via our sales hotline on (00 44) (0) 1624 640011. 

Two of the UK’s most popular motorcycle festivals are set to join forces in 2019 with the announcement that the Prescott Bike Festival will now incorporate The Kickback Motorcycle Show - The National Custom Show & Championships. The exciting new collaboration will take place at the famous Gloucestershire hill climb and festival on the weekend of the 15th and 16th of June 2019.

As part of a family friendly programme that incorporates everything from trade stands and live entertainment to parades and the opportunity for riders to ‘Run the Hill’, the Prescott Bike Festival also showcases more than 100 ‘Paddock Specials’ each year. This focus on engineering excellence makes it a natural fit with Kickback, which celebrates not only the finest street customs, modified classics and DIY builds but also hosts the National Championship of Custom Bike Building.

More than 80 UK based finalists will take part in the National Championships, held under cover in a huge marquee. Showcasing the skills of emerging talent as well as experienced custom builders. There are no corporate mega budgets here; the focus is squarely upon craftsmen with wild imaginations and dirty fingernails!

The result is two shows for the price of one and a spectacular day out for enthusiasts and industry alike. Even better is the fact that, as with previous Prescott Bike Festivals, all proceeds will go to the Blood Bike charities

Celebrity guests such as Carl Fogarty and Charlie Boorman have made the pilgrimage to the historic venue in previous years and for 2019 racer turned broadcaster Steve Parrish will be joining the judging and commentary team. Parrish will bring his own brand of expertise and irreverent humour to the occasion.

Gordon Downie, Director of the Prescott Bike Festival, said: “We are delighted to be working with Lorne at Kickback and bringing The National Custom Show & Championships to Prescott Hillclimb next year. It’s a perfect fit and complements our core values – motorcycles across the spectrum, engineering excellence and a great family day out. We look forward to welcoming Kickback visitors to Prescott.”

Lorne Cheetham, Director of Kickback, added: “Bringing Kickback and the National Champs to a venue as prestigious as Prescott was a no-brainer – two great shows in one magnificent venue is good for us and our visitors. We’re excited!”

Classic Racing specialists Laylaw Racing will again field two riders in this year’s Dunlop Lightweight Classic TT race at the 2018 Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts.  

10-time TT winner Ian Lougher will line up for the team for the fourth consecutive year, but the Southern Ireland based team has made a major statement of intent by adding one of the stars of this year’s TT Races, Dean Harrison to their line-up.

The Bradford rider is a three-time winner at the Classic TT with victories in the 2013 Formula Classic, 2015 Bennetts Senior and 2017 RST Superbike Races with the latter seeing him lap in excess of 127mph. However, 2018 will see him contest the Lightweight race for the first time and he will make his first competitive outing in the class on a 250cc TZ Yamaha.

Winner of the second Supersport Race at this year’s TT which he followed up by finishing runner up in the PokerStars Senior TT, the 29-year old is sure to be among the race favourites, particularly riding the immaculate machines fielded by Southern Ireland’s Eddie Laycock and Gerry Lawlor for Laylaw Racing.

Laycock, himself a double TT winner with victory in the 1987 Junior and 1989 Supersport 400cc Races, and Lawlor will also field a second, identically-prepared TZ 250cc Yamaha for Lougher. The Welsh veteran won the corresponding Lightweight Classic TT race in 2014.

The ten-time TT winner has had to give second best to Bruce Anstey in each of the last two years, finishing runner-up twice but with the Kiwi sadly absent in 2018 due to illness, Lougher will have high hopes of another Classic TT victory,  especially having lapped at 117.742mph twelve months ago.

Classic TT Grandstand tickets are available now starting from as little at £5 with race day tickets priced at £30. VIP experiences, tickets for the Classic TT Party on Saturday 25^th August and the RST Classic TT Heroes Dinner on Sunday 26^th August are all available to buy now at iomtt.com or via our sales hotline on (00 44) (0) 1624 640011.

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