Isle of Man Post Office has issued special celebration products for Joey Dunlop’s achievements at the TT in collaboration with Honda, and also a 90th birthday sheet to celebrate Geoff Duke’s illustrious career.

Kevin Quirk, Trustee of the Joey Dunlop Foundation said: “We are delighted to have teamed up with the Post Office to promote these very special items in addition to our own Joey Dunlop memorabilia and motorcycle tombola which is synonymous with the TT. We were at the North West 200 in the paddock area and will be at the back of the TT Grandstand during TT fortnight. The stand will be run by Joey Dunlop Foundation volunteers and we hope to see friends old and new.”

Maxine Cannon, General Manager, Isle of Man Stamps and Coins, added: “For many years the Isle of Man Post Office has supported the TT with a retail presence and our association with the Joey Dunlop Foundation will ensure this continues for many years to come. The charity’s specialist accommodation at Braddan Bridge is a wonderful holiday complex that caters for people with a wide range of disabilities. With plans to construct two extra apartments by TT 2014, a huge amount of income needs to be generated in 2013 to ensure both the construction and equipping of the apartments. The support of all Joey Dunlop and in particular TT fans is paramount to its continued success.

“We have worked with Honda and Joey’s family on the new product and we are delighted to have one of Joey’s red trademark t-shirts, kindly donated by the family, which forms part of the limited edition Joey folder. The limited edition is 300 and they are selling fast – there’s only one T-shirt so we cannot repeat the collection. Don’t forget all our products are also on sale at Regent Street Postshop in Douglas town centre, just off the promenade”

To view the Geoff Duke and Joey Dunlop special products and to order now please visit the website.

The world’s greatest motorcycle road race returns to ITV4 in early June as riders from across the globe gather on the Isle of Man for 2013 TT Races.

This legendary event has attracted teams, riders and fans from around the world for more than 100 years and 2013 will be no
exception with a truly international line up assembled once more.

ITV4 will dedicate its prime time schedules to a raft of new documentaries, special features and extensive highlights of every race during the final week of this year’s event, which runs from May 25 to June 7.

The Isle of Man TT is unquestionably the most thrilling, most demanding and just plain terrifying motorsport event in the world.

It has been a firm fixture on the calendar for millions of bike fans since the beginninng of the 20th centruy and draws tens of thousands of fans to the tiny island in the Irish Sea every June.

With a course that has remained largely untouched since 1911, the 37-plus miles of public roads captures the imagination like no other motorcycling venue can.

Whether it is the tight and twisty roads through tree-lined glens, the narrow villages with their pubs, telegraph poles and phone boxes, or the open spaces of the Mountain tops, the TT Course never ceases to amaze and astound.

Forget smooth circuits with comfortable run-off areas, this is a 37 and three quarter mile rollercoaster ride on public roads, flanked by formidable stone walls, starting at the island’s capital of Douglas and rising into the mountains at speeds of more than 200 miles an hour.

Even negotiating villages and 200 tight, twisting bends the average lap record stands at an astonishing 131.5mph, ensuring its place as the ultimate test of both man and machine.

Legendary names like Agostini, Hailwood, Dunlop and McGuinness have all tasted their fair share of TT victories down the uears and the race continues to churn out new stars.

Despite the frustrating cancellation of the flagship Senior Race due to poor weather, last year’s Isle of Man TT Races saw some of the best racing ever seen on the legendary circuit and 2013 promises to be no exception.

With 19-time TT winner John McGuinness joined at the new Honda TT Legends team by Michael Rutter and young-gun Michael Dunlop, the Japanese marque are mounting a major assault on the TT silverware.

They will not have it all there own way in what looks set to be a classic year of TT racing as Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Aprilia, BMW and even MV Agusta weigh-in to a heavyweight title fight.

Familiar names such as Conor Cummins, Guy Martin, Dan Kneen, James Hillier, William Dunlop and Simon Andrews, amongst others, are still looking to take their maiden TT wins.

Meanwhile, former TT winners Gary Johnson, Bruce Anstey and Cameron Donald will also be returning to the island with aim of adding another winner’s replica to their trophy cabinets.

The most high-profile new entrant this year is leading British Superbike Championship racer Josh Brookes, who makes his debut at the Isle of Man TT for the Tyco Suzuki team and is, without doubt, one of the most exciting newcomers to have graced the Mountain Course in recent years.

Runner-up in last year’s BSB title race, the Australian burst onto the racing scene when he won a World Supersport round at Phillip Island as a wildcard in 2004.

After winning the Australian Superbike and Supersport domestic titles in 2005 before spending three further seasons in the World Superbike  Championship, a year later he moved to BSB and has since racked up 11 race wins and 50 podiums being a championship contender in each season.

The 29-year-old first visited the TT in 2009, but after experiencing the atmosphere during the TT in 2011 and 2012, and participating in parade laps on the Mountain course, he now feels the time is right to add his name to the entry list.

The thrilling sidecars category also features heavily in TT week and the legendary Dave Molyneux and Patrick Farrance were unstoppable in 2012. They are favourites to repeat that performance in 2013.

Tim Reeves, still with Dan Sayle in chair, is looking for the elusive first win and promising that this year will be his annus mirabilis.

Back from injury, John Holden is confident he has the right package to repeat his 2011 win and certainly few crewmen know the course better than evergreen passenger Andy Winkle.

With podium finishes in both races in 2012 the Birchall brothers, Tom and Ben, are strong contenders for the top step this year, especially with the continued backing of former TT winner Klaus Klaffenbock.

Riders from all four corners of the globe will again be tackling the near 38-mile Mountain Course in June with entries received from all bar one of the seven continents in the world, with some of the countries having representation at the TT for the very first time in its 106-year history.

Full details of how to follow the 2013 Isle of Man TT below:

…

You can follow all the drama and excitement from the 2013 Isle of Man TT Races with ITV4′s daily coverage.

The channel has an exciting schedule bursting with documentaries, special features and extensive race coverage which will keep fans glued to the screen throughout the fortnight.

Craig Doyle leads the ITV on-screen team which also includes former racers Steve Parrish and James Whitham, plus 2009 TT champion and two-time race winner Steve Plater, who will again be part of the team.

All the action will be screened in high-definition on ITV4 HD and available to view online shortly after broadcast via the catch-up service ITV Player.

Experience motorsport production firm North One TV will again be the host broadcaster for the event and are responsible for producing all of ITV4′s coverage.

…

Monday 27th May

A profile of the rider Conor Cummins who was born and bred on the Isle of Man where the world famous TT Races are a way of life.

Cameras follow him as he prepares to try and win his first TT this year, and looks back at his career so far including his massive crash on the Mountain Course in 2010.

…

Tuesday 28th May

The Isle of Man TT’s Mountain Course is widely regarded as the toughest challenge in motorcycle racing, and the lap record is one of its greatest prizes.

As well as meeting legendary holders of that title including John Surtees, Mick Grant, Carl Fogarty, and John McGuinness, TT: The Perfect Lap seeks to create the ‘perfect lap’ by joining together the six fastest ever split times for the six sectors of the 37.73 mile course.

The programme hears from the riders who set those extraordinary times.

…

Wednesday 29th May

A look behind the scenes as the Isle of Man prepares for its legendary TT races that begin this weekend.

This involves turning 37 miles of public road into the race circuit that is the world famous Mountain Course.

The island also has to prepare for the huge influx of spectators and competitors from around the world.

…

Thursday 30th May

The ITV team look ahead to the legendary Isle of Man TT Races that get underway on Saturday.

Craig Doyle meets the leading contenders while commentators Steve Parrish, James Whitham and Steve Plater guide viewers around the famous Mountain Course, as well as the machines that will tackle it.

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Friday 31st May

The first chance to see how the bikes and riders tackle the challenge of the 37-mile Mountain Course, as the ITV team look back at the last six days of practice and qualifying – an indicator to the form of the riders going into event.

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Saturday 1st June

In a change to the race schedule, racing gets underway at the Isle of Man TT with the first Sidecar race around the Isle of Man’s Mountain Course.

Local legend Dave Molyneux will be looking to take his 17th victory on three wheels.

..

Sunday 2nd June

Highlights of the Superbike TT Race, held over from Saturday, where the 1000cc machines will top speeds of 200mph around the Mountain Course.

Honda’s John McGuinness will be the man to beat as he attempts to retain the title he won last year.

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Monday 3rd June

Craig Doyle presents highlights of the first Supersport race at the Isle of Man TT.

The 600cc bikes provide some of the closest racing around the Mountain Course with Bruce Anstey, Cameron Donald and Michael Dunlop amongst the leading contenders.

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Tuesday 4th June

1000cc bikes tackle the famous Isle of Man TT circuit, which includes the climb and descent of Snaefell.

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Wednesday 5th June

The Supersport bikes tackle the Isle of Man’s Mountain Course for the second time this week.

The 37 mile road circuit is one of the toughest tests in motorsport and the 600cc bikes always provide some of the most exciting racing at the famous TT.

…

Thursday 6th June

More 600cc three wheeled action from the Isle of Man TT as the Sidecars tackle the 37 mile Mountain Course for the second time.

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An intimate documentary about one of the most remarkable sportsmen of all time – Joey Dunlop the pub landlord and rider who won Isle of Man TT a staggering 26 times.

In 2000, a few weeks after winning the TT Joey died in a freak accident in the woods of Estonia. This is the incredible story of how one determined middle aged man pushing 50 beat the odds, only to be cut down in tragic circumstances.

With contributions from John McGuinness, Phil McCallen, Brian Reid, Mick Grant, Ron Haslam, Roger Marshall, Jim Dunlop and Neil Tuxworth.

…

Friday 7th June

In a change to scheduled programme due to an incident in the Senior TT race, Friday’s highlights show features extended coverage of the the Lightweight TT Race.

…

Saturday 8th June

Craig Doyle presents delayed coverage of the big finale at the Isle of Man TT Races, the Senior TT.

Riders on their 1000cc machines face six laps of the legendary 37 mile Mountain Course. Analysis comes from Steve Parrish, James Whitham and Steve Plater.

…

Monday 10th June

…

I last stayed on The Island three (or four?) years ago, we stayed at the Legendary Sulby Glen Hotel, where during race fortnight the quick lads pass here at 200MPH plus. My fascination with this brutal, tortuous race began whilst growing up in and around the village of Knott End On Sea, I befriended a local family who owned a garage in the middle of the village, in late May and Early June the radio was always on Manx Radio. We’d listen to the commentary from the reporters at their various vantage points around Ellan Vannin, taking in the sound of the approaching bikes as they screamed over the mountain, past Glen Helen, hanging on the every word of the commentators who described the action. I learned the corners of the Island without ever seeing them, I am a TT anorak and proud of it!

It may seem a little crazy to some people that these nutters perch on a 200 horse power missile and hurtle around public (albeit closed) roads, but it’s in time trial format. Sure, if a rider is quick he/she will catch up with the previous rider, there may be some contact as the lines are tight but as a rule, there is ten seconds between each bike as they set off.

As stated above I was last on The Island with Wendy, we got engaged at Brandywell, which is the highest part of the mountain course, so now this magical place has even more meaning to me. My favourite parts of the close are two totally different places. Keppel Gate to Brandish is the first section I adore. The fast right then left at Keppel Gate drops slightly on camber as you then go straight into a slight blind crest into left hander at Kates Cottage. Dropping steep down hill the world famous “Creg-Ny-Baa” pub is in view, flat out downhill there is a bump in the road the gently lofts the front wheel into the air at over 130 MPH, power on and tip in to the right hander at The Creg. From here there is a straight known locallyas Gob-Ny-Greay which opens up into the eyeball popping left curve of Brandish.. This is a fast and open section, only the straight at Gob Ny Greay  has very high walls and bushes to enclose it slightly and further enhance the sensation of speed.

The second section is the start from Glencrutchery Road in Douglas through to Quarterbridge and Union Mills. Here the riders receive their “TEN SECONDS” command, and go with a tap on their shoulder… Off the line and pin the throttle, the bikes front wheel will go light, sit over her lad, keep her down as you hurtle through St Ninian’s crossroads to the blind crest… ” Bullet Fast and tear down Bray, the twisting serpent waits” sing Redline in their anthemic tribute to the competitors “King of the Mountain”, Bray is a steep drop, right handed in the bottom and on to “Ago’s Leap” a power wheelie here and also at Selbourne drive sets you up as you drop into Quarter Bridge. two roundabouts, keep right and follow on through the sweeping bends charging through Braddan Bridge and into Union Mills. This is a total contrast to the mountain section as you are in between hedges, houses and buildings, proper balls out stuff. This video shows travelling Marshall Dick Cassidy taking the course in prior to the newcomers speed controlled lap and shows the section above

The goosebumps I experience during TT week are just amazing, I love The Island and the bikes and riders that race there, true heroes and heroines.

So yesterday saw me have a bit of a fall, I fell off the back of a wagon and skinned myself a bit, spending most of Thursday in Whiston hospital. I’m ok, but very fortunate I wasn’t seriously injured. Makes you realise that you have to enjoy life as you never know when summat bad is going to happen.

I swindled a luxurious all areas pass for the Vauxhall International 2013 North West 200 this year. Unfortunately the video is short as the weather didn’t allow anyone to have any fun this year.

25th of May the madness begins. It’s the start of this years Isle of Man TT race.

I’ve already started watching videos on youtube from the previous races. Oh, and of course the movie TT3D: Closer to the Edge is a must see for every racing fan: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1698010/?ref_=sr_1

The movie is a story about freedom of choice, the strength of human spirit and the will to win. It’s also an examination of what motivates those rare few, this elite band of brothers who risk everything to win. Featuring my all time favorite Isle of Man TT racer Guy Martin.

There is nothing on Earth quite like the Isle of Man TT Races. These racers certainly live a High Octane Lifestyle… and they have balls the size of melons, I honestly don’t know how they fit in their leathersuits. No other motorcycle race is held on such a challenging track as the 37-mile plus Mountain Course with its seemingly never-ending series of bends, bumps, jumps, stone walls, manhole covers and telegraph poles.

The skill, bravery and concentration levels required are immense, with speeds approaching 200mph, and, while difficult to learn and even harder to come first, the rewards for winning on the world famous course are like no other.

No other motorsport event can boast more than 100 years of such illustrious history, rich in tradition and legends, and to have your name inscribed on a TT trophy is to sit with the gods.

TT racing captures the imagination in a way no other race can and its sheer spectacle and uniqueness ensures thousands of fans flock to the Island every May and June for their annual fix.

No other motorsport event attracts people in great numbers for an entire period of two weeks except the world famous TT Races, where fans can revel in the Island’s special mix of incredible racing and world class entertainment – and all set amongst the beautiful scenery of the Isle of Man.

“I have huge respect for the racers who ride this circuit flat out on a Superbike as it requires massive courage and concentration. It’s dangerous and unbelievable fast and entirely different from the track I am used to racing on” -Valentino Rossi

“The reason I do it is because if you get it wrong, it’ll kill you. If you think it’s too dangerous then go home and cut your grass and leave us to it” -Guy Martin

But I’ll finish writing now so you can go ahead and click on the youtube links I’ve posted. Enjoy!

• Entries for the TT closed with all solo classes except Superstock over-subscribed and the Sidecars showing the largest entry since Centenary year 2007. Very sadly, the entries do not include Ian Hutchinson as he continues his fight to recover from injury. They do include Dave Madsen-Mygdal who could become the first rider to complete 100 races.
• Hutchy will be on the island hosting his Let’s Talk Bikes show, which will be a treat but not exactly where we want to see him.
• Cameron Donald withdrew from the Honda TT Legends endurance team because it takes him away from Australia too often. He will though ride the NW200 and the TT.
• ITV4’s documentary series following the Honda TT Legends reached the Isle of Man with highlights of the SBK TT and insights behind the scenes. They’re back at the TT in next Monday’s episode.
• 25 riders showed up for the first tour of the Mountain Course this year for Manx Grand Prix newcomers. They included a team of four from the British Army.
• Manxman Gavin Hunt, son of ‘Big H’ Paul, will make his TT debut. The 26-year old will campaign a ZX-10R Kawasaki in the Superbike, Superstock and Senior.
  

  Gavin Hunt at the 2010 NW200. Photo: Kirth Ferris

• Blackpool’s Roy Richardson announced his retirement from the TT but will continue at the Classic TT in August where he has 10 victories under the old MGP Classic banner.
• Guy Martin announced his 2013 schedule which starts at Cookstown on April 26 and includes NW200, TT and Southern 100.
• Olie Linsdell will again ride the SMV Engineering R6 in the Supersport races, and the Steve Bond / Flitwick Motorcycles Fireblade in the three larger capacity classes, and the Suzuki V-Strom racer in the lightweight race. For the inaugural Classic TT, Olie will ride all three races.
  

  Experts on and off the bike: Olie Linsdell and dad Steve

• Olie’s former team boss Ian Lougher will join the team at the Classic TT riding the Royal Enfield that Olie took to second place last year.
• KMR Kawasaki, run by Ryan Farquhar, announced that former Irish Superbike champion Brian McCormack will be joining the squad for the International and National road races. The deal was announced a day after KMR signed MGP Newcomers winner James Cowton who will contest the NW200 and MGP among other meetings.

• 

  Farquhar and McCormack do some blue-sky thinking. Photo: Stephen Davison

• It’s been just over a year since Keith Amor announced his retirement from road racing due to injury but the Scot hasn’t been idle and can now be found in Cyprus running ‘Enduro Paphos’, his own off road/adventure business. Further details can be found at www.enduropaphos.com
• Kawasaki all-time great Kork Ballington will be at the Classic TT in August, riding in the lap of honour and appearing at the Festival of Jurby on a Kawasaki H2R 750 triple. This will be part of a spectacular contribution to the Classic TT by Team Collins and Russell (Des Collins and Ronnie Russell) who are bringing up to 12 classic Kawasakis to the island.
• Former MGP Lightweight winner Tony Duncan has been appointed chief travelling marshal for all Mountain Course events.
• And finally, last Monday would have been Joey Dunlop’s 61^st birthday meaning thousands of people worldwide spared more than few thoughts for the modest genius from Ballymoney.

,

Motorcycles News has received fifth highest number of votes for the poll on All-time Greatest Motorcycling Icons for Dunlop brothers in 2005. Joey in fact was the only motorcyclist that has run risk of drowning while on board a small boat called the “Tornamona” to reach Isle of Man TT.

Such were the accomplishments of Joey Dunlop that Isle of Man has started awarding successful riders each year with the trophy dedicated in his name and called the “Joey Dunlop Cup”.

The respect and humility of Joey’s fans didn’t just rested at that and they have erected statutes of the speed rider in his hometown of Ballymoney as well as the Isle Of Man circuit.

The high points for Robert Dunlop in his motorcycling career took place in the Cookstown 100 race of 1985, where the rider has clocked an average speed of 88.57mph in the 250cc category. Robert was riding on an ECM in this race and left Gary Cowan (EMC) and Noel Hudson (Rotax) behind respectively. In 1987, the rider was at his prime and shocked everybody by registering victory in race formats like 125cc, 350cc, and 1000cc. He received the highly coveted “Man of the Meeting title” for achieving this rare feat. Robert also stood first in 125cc category for 1988, 1989, 1991 and 1993 and took his tally of total wins at the event to eight.

Source: Belfast Telegraph

Photos: Belfast telegraph, visitballymoney, joeydunlop

From Wikipedia: (this is tense man, want to get this right out of respect to one of the greatest riders that ever lived)

Snaefell Mountain Course is a road-racing street circuit used for the Isle of Man TT and Manx Grand Prix Races held in the Isle of Man from 1911 and 1923 respectively.  The racing is held on public roads closed for racing by an Act of Tynwald (the parliament of the Isle of Man).  It is the oldest motor-cycle racing circuit still in use.

The course is 37.733 miles (60.73 km) in length and the start-line is situated on the A2 Glencrutchery Road in the town of Douglas.  The racing circuit is based on a number of public roads on the Isle of Man including the primary A2 Douglas to Ramsey road, A1 Douglas to Peel road, A3 Castletown to Ramsey Road and the primary A18 Snaefell Mountain Road. The highest point of the course is situated on the primary A18 Mountain Road between the Bungalow and Hailwood’s Height at spot height 422 metres (1,385 ft) above sea level.

In the early 21st century, the premier TT racing bikes complete the Snaefell course at an average speed exceeding 120 mph (190 km/h).  Record holders include David Jefferies who set a lap record of 127.29 mph (204.85 km/h) in 2002. This was surpassed by John McGuinness during the 2004 TT on a Yamaha R1 setting a time of 17 min 43.8 s; an average lap speed of 127.68 mph (205.48 km/h). McGuinness lowered this even further at the 2007 TT, setting a time of 17:21.99 for an average speed of 130.354 mph (209.784 km/h) becoming the first rider to break the 130 mph limit on the Snaefell Mountain circuit.   The most successful rider was Joey Dunlop who won 26 times in various classes from 1977 to 2000.

Joey Dunlop died in Tallinn, Estonia, in 2000 while leading a 125cc race (he had already won the 750cc and 600cc events) on Pirita-Kose-Kloostrimetsa Circuit.  He appeared to lose control of his bike in the wet conditions and was killed instantly on impact with trees.  As a mark of respect, the Estonian government’s official website was replaced with a tribute to Dunlop within hours of his death.  Northern Ireland television carried live coverage of his funeral. Fifty thousand mourners, including bikers from all parts of Britain and Ireland and people from all backgrounds in N. Ireland, attended the funeral to Garryduff Presbyterian church and his burial in the adjoining graveyard.

The most successful overall rider at the annual TT races is awarded the “Joey Dunlop Cup”.  A memorial statue was erected in his home town of Ballymoney.  On the Isle of Man, a statue of Dunlop astride a Honda overlooks the Bungalow Bend at Snaefell and the 26th milestone area of the TT course has been renamed “Joey’s”.  Irish publishers The O’Brien Press published a full-colour pictorial tribute to Joey following his death.  Northern Ireland band Therapy? made a song in memory of Dunlop, called Joey; it appeared on the album Shameless, released in 2001.

The future of the TT is always in doubt with regard to the safety, especially “Mad Sunday” when any member of the public can ride the mountain section of the course which is open one way from Ramsey to Douglas (although since 2005 this section, the mountain road is one way during the entire fortnight from hairpin to creg-ny-baa).  The TT races are extremely dangerous because of the high speeds on very narrow, twisting streets, roads and lanes flanked by stone walls and even buildings.  Between 1907 and 2009 (at the end of 2009 TT races period) there have been 237 deaths during official practices or races on the Snaefell Mountain Course (this number includes the riders killed during Manx Grand Prix and the Clubman TT races).

Video uploaded by U Tube user  lockk9

Go for a Ride with Joey

One less well known aspect of Dunlop’s life was his tireless work for charity. He made endless trips to Romania, bring vanloads of aid to orphans and their carers in that country.  These were undertaken mostly by Dunlop himself on condition that it would take place before each racing season started.  Dunlop stated that his proudest award was his OBE for charity rather than any achievement in his very successful racing career.

This guy was not only a racer he was a saint,  watch how he blows by the other riders!

R.I.P. Joey Dunlop

Video uploaded by U Tube user neoland93

On 31 December 2009 Joey Dunlop was voted 3rd greatest Irish sportsperson ever.

Joey Dunlop

“Joey was THE MAN. He was the one every other rider looked up to, and all the other road racers wanted to beat. Some people just wanted to be able to say ‘I raced against Joey’. He was so cool, so laid-back and he did it his way. It’s one thing to be known by everyone, but it’s another to be respected by everyone, and that’s what Joey had – respect.”

Jeremy McWilliams

Seeley in front of Wilson. The two riders had a battle royale at the Swanley venue.

“I really enjoyed that with Ben. There was some contact but it wasn’t dangerous. It reminded me of my motocross days. I’m now looking forward, keeping the pressure on. This championship is far from over yet.”

Alistair after Race One.

Seeley’s win will give him even more belief that the British Supersport Championship is not out of his reach this season and he will be delighted with the manner of both victories.

Carrickfergus’ Seeley won on his TAS Relentless Suzuki after two thrilling rides, and the spectators at Brands Hatch were definitely treated to their money’s worth.

Gearlink Kawasaki rider Wilson played his part in both races as the two riders battled it out around the famed circuit, with the Antrim man coming home ahead of his rival by just 0.019 and 0.030s in Saturday and Sunday’s races.

Alistair is one of the most exciting Irish racers in years, and is also a very composed road racer having competed with distinction in the North West 200 and Ulster GP.

He was performing well at the North West this year before the unfortunate oil spill left the racemeet in tatters on May 21st.

Seeley had won the opening race from Australian Cameron Donald and who knows, could have had the day of his life and emulated Philip McCallen‘s 5 timer although the oil accident has robbed us of such knowledge.

The Irishman was understandably delighted with the manner of both wins, and this is yet more proof that Irish racing is in it’s healthiest state in nearly a decade, although Ulster is firmly ahead in terms of being able to boast such international stars as the Laverty brothers, the Dunlop brothers and Seeley himself.

Seeley was on course for a North West 200 to remember before the cancellation.

This new generation of riders in all forms of the sport is a welcome sight, with Ireland not having a world presence since Jeremy McWilliams‘ problems with Ilmor Moto GP in 2007.

Eugene Laverty has taken up McWilliams mantle and made it his own, surpassing his fellow northerner’s achievements with some fantastic race wins in the past few years in World Superbikes.

The new generation is also great to see for Irish racing fans following the loss of some true legends in just 10 years. Ambassadors such as Joey and Robert Dunlop, Martin Finnegan, Richard Britton and Darran Lindsay all lost their lives on the fantastic machines that give us spectators such joy.

We should never forget such riders, and we never will, but hopefully Seeley and his compatriots at the top will continue to stay safe, ride hard, ride fair, and thrill fans on both sides of the border for years to come.

Irish motorcycling is in a great position at the moment, and let’s hope we can get on Pole before too long. It will not have come soon enough for the men who went before their time.

Here is some onboard action of Alistair at the North West a few years back, as he gets some magnificent sound out of his machine around the coastal circuit.

The start of a new millennium. We were all happy and the only way was up. We had no war on terror, our pay was only going up and the world was a sunny, sunny place.

I won’t bore you with the details on the job. From now until about 2005 my job generally involved me shouting at people, them digging holes and building stuff and me paying them. I got quite good at this and having just finished building my house extension I can’t believe I forgot most of it in so little time.

2000 saw two major events in my life. One happy and one sad.

I’ll do the sad one first, just so you can juxtapose it to the happy one and realise how the mind of a man is really just the mind of a big boy.

As a little boy I had a fascination with motorbikes. I liked scramblers, choppers and all things two wheeled and petrol.

There was one person who embodied my complete fascination with motorbikes and that was Joey Dunlop. In May 2000 I went north with a bunch of lads to the northwest 200 where we watched him work the course on a VTR SP2 – The bike was a dog and he had to do plenty of work on it to get it ready for the TT.

Cool - in leather

The TT went well for him and I made it back from the Northwest in one piece. Quite a feat as I had made it back from Dublin (before the motorways) at an average speed of 100mph. Horribly irresponsible.

Then one sunny day at the start of July I was sitting on my front step drinking a cup of coffee with the radio droning on in the background. Would I wash my GLXi? Would I cut the grass? Would I have another cup of coffee? Life was so full of complicated decisions back then.

The announcer finished up the news report by ‘just mentioning’ that Joey Dunlop had been killed in a race in Estonia. That was my JFK moment. I never understood what a JFK moment was until then. I can remember the whole scene vividly. Sitting on the step, watching the world go by and nobody caring a jot.

Things were never the same after that and I really felt that my dreams of boyhood started to end then and there.

But not before I bought a Joey Dunlop Arai and replaced the Blackbird with a newer version of the same thing.

Race fit

Now for the good bit of 2000. We went on a great holiday in 2000. We flew to Nice and drove around the south-east of France. We made it from Nimes to Florence and all points in between.

To put the following in context we’d been going out together now for about 10 years and the chances of making a decent woman of her were as far away as they had been 10 years previous.

We were having dinner in a beautiful restaurant in a little village in Provence called Saint Rémy de Provence and the conversation turned to ‘the future’. Now, if you’ve never been in a long term relationship any reference to ‘the future’ is to be avoided at all costs. It is like being handed a grenade in one hand and a pin in the other and being told to re-insert the pin.

As a famous blogger from Saff Lahandan would say – I was sweating like a gerbil in a gay bar.

I had 3 options – Say I’d marry her there and then. Looking back on it this seemed like the sensible option but back then that was (for me) akin to volunteering to to sing the national anthem to Ian Paisley.

Say I wouldn’t marry her? No, that wasn’t on either as I did (still do) really love her.

No I did what any good politician would do – I came up with a 5 year plan.

I agreed, there and then, that within 5 years we’d be married, living together (you’d think that would be part of the first one, wouldn’t you?) and have kids. I thought 5 years was a fair enough time-line for this sort of thing and it seemed to calm the other half. As far as I was concerned from that point on we were engaged. Little did I know that I had to get down on bended knee, with t’ring and do the ‘will you marry me?’ bit. I got the hint in August when I got a week of ‘picture, no sound’.

If you ever do feel romantic my only advice about dinner in Saint Rémy de Provence is to avoid Lavender Creme Bruleé.  If you like chilled toilet duck flavoured custard then order away.

Otherwise avoid.

The Honda TT Legends team will compete on the legendary Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade machinery in the 2011 FIM Endurance World Championship, together with world famous road-race meetings such as the Northwest 200 and the Isle of Man TT. Honda TT Legends encompasses the greatest endurance races in the world, on road and on track and represents a new challenge for 3 already very accomplished and extremely popular riders.

The team will comprise TT legend, John McGuinness – winner of no fewer than 15 races around the demanding Isle of Man TT course, and second only to former Honda hero, the late, great Joey Dunlop.

The Morcambe-based McGuinness, 38, is a former British 250cc champion and also has experience with Honda in the World Supersport championship. But it is for his remarkable exploits and consistency at the Isle of Man TT – including the first 130mph lap of the 37.73-mile (60.37km) Mountain Circuit – that he is most renowned.

McGuinness will be joined in the new Honda team by Steve Plater, who was British Supersport champion with Honda in 2009, to contest the full 2011 FIM Endurance World championship.

Plater also has a great deal of experience in Endurance World championship racing, including victory in the Albacete 6 Hour. The 40-year-old Englishman has also scored podium finishes at Le Mans, the Bol d’Or and competed at the prestigious Suzuka 8 Hour race in Japan.

The English duo will be joined by Scotsman Keith Amor for 24hr endurance races at Le Mans and the Bol d’Or. The 30-year-old Scot, who is a roads specialist, has two TT podiums, and a Northwest 200 victory to his name. Alongside McGuinness, he will also contest selected road races, under the banner of Honda TT Legends. However, Plater will concentrate solely on the FIM Endurance World Championship series.

The Honda TT Legends team will be run from Louth in Lincolnshire – the same UK base that operates Honda (UK)’s British Superbike championship team and managed by the experienced former TT and endurance racer, Neil Tuxworth.

John McGuinness, Honda TT Legends
I did the Le Mans 24 hr race about seven years ago, when we finished eighth. It was exciting at the end but pretty hard work in the middle! But I’m really looking forward to a full season. I was a little surprised when we first started talking about it but when Honda explained the thinking behind it, it floated my boat straight away. I’ve raced in a lot of classes over the years, and of course I’ll continue with the Northwest and the TT, but to be in a team capable of winning a world championship can’t be bad! I still get the buzz of anticipation and nerves jangling on the roads, and I certainly want to win more TTs before I finish. And I’m really excited about the idea of a British round of the Endurance World championship at Donington – we really want the British fans to get behind us and to give endurance racing more kudos in the UK. If everything goes to plan, we’ll be there or thereabouts – there is no reason why we can’t do the business!

Steve Plater, Honda TT Legends
I’ve been riding in the World Endurance championship for something like 12 years and finished runner-up twice so it’ll be good to go back there and win it with a good team! I won’t be doing any road racing next year – that’ll just be John and Keith – but I’ll still be involved with the team and helping wherever I can. I wanted to concentrate on the endurance side of things for 2011 and it’s great that Honda Motor Europe has come in to explore and this side of racing too.

Keith Amor, Honda TT Legends
It’s certainly going to be a challenge combining the roads with World Endurance racing, but I think it’ll be fun and I can’t wait to get going. There’ll be some new tracks to learn, and I’ve never done any endurance racing before so there’ll be a lot to take in. But I rode for Honda on the roads last year and there’s really no better team in the paddock. It’s a huge opportunity for me to be more involved with Honda and the TT Legends World Endurance team, and I’m really looking forward to it.

Neil Tuxworth, Team Manager, Honda TT Legends
The idea of this team came from Honda Motor Europe, who wanted to promote the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade in another class at world championship level. TT riders are older, more experienced and generally safer, which is what you want in endurance racing – you need to keep that little bit in reserve. The bikes will be different, too, for the roads and WEC, where reliability becomes an issue, as well as speed. We’re particularly excited about the British round at Donington, where there will be a real festival atmosphere.

Robert Watherston, Manager Motorcycle Sport, Honda Motor Europe
Great World Endurance events and great road race meetings hold the same sense of festival – big, one-off events which attract people not just to watch the racing but to enjoy the whole sense of occasion. The TT Legends name invites people to look back at Honda’s great heritage of road racing and put it in the context of the present.  Honda’s main promotional asset has always been racing, going right back to that first race at the TT, and the first win, whose 50th anniversary we will celebrate next year. Racing the Fireblade is an important element of the team’s identity because of the unique heritage and iconic status of the machine in itself.

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Who is your favourite TT rider?

This is one of many illustrated classic motorcycle guides I’ve created for the community. I hope you enjoy it. If you wish to find out more about the TT rider art featured in this guide please click here.

This guide features several legendary TT riders.

Joey Dunlop

This quietly spoken Ulsterman, known to his fans worldwide as “Yer Maun” is the most successful TT rider ever. From his first win on a Yamaha in 1977 through to 1998, Joey won 22 TTs on all sizes of bikes from 125cc upwards. He had triple TT wins in 1985, 1988. Joey has also won the F1 Championship five times. Virtually unbeatable on closed roads circuits for 20 years, Joey has earned his title “King of the Roads”.

Stanley Woods

Stanley Woods was the pre-war star of the T.T. , winning 10 times in total on a variety of machines. His record of ten wins stood from 1939 (his last win) until it was broken by Mike Hailwood in 1967. Stanley Woods’ first TT win was in 1923 on a Cotton at the tender age of just 19.

Bob McIntyre

Scot, “Bob Mac” will always be remembered as the first man in history to lap the TT course at over 100mph in 1957 on the 500cc Gilera. Another rider that was an excellent engineer, Bob was also superb on the Honda 250 “4s” and 500 and 350 Nortons at the TT and a very tough competitor.

Mike Hailwood

Mike Hailwood is probably the finest racer ever. His ability to switch to any machine, on any circuit, and win is without parallel. His record includes 14 T.T. wins (inc. 2 trebles in ’61 and ’67). His battle with Agostini during the Senior TT of ’67 was awesome. On the 297cc Honda “6″ Mike shattered his own lap record from a standing start. After 11 years absence, Mike came back to TT in 1978 and won on a Ducati. In 1979 he repeated his win on a Suzuki.

Bill Ivy

Bill Ivy was only 5’2″ tall but was one of the bravest TT riders. His finest hour at the T.T. was the 1968 125cc race, when he became the first rider ever to lap the course at over 100mph on a 125cc machine. At this time Bill was the current 125cc World Champion. Spectators talk of Bill kicking himself off grass banks and clipping walls during his 100mph lap even today with awe.

Giacomo Agostini

Agostini first saw the TT in 1965 but with Mike Hailwood to show him the way, was quickly able to learn this most demanding of tracks. Smooth and stylish, Ago pushed Hailwood to the limit in the 1967 Senior until the MV’s chain broke with one lap to go. After Honda’s withdrawal from racing in 1968, ago had the Senior and Junior TT virtually to himself until 1972. In total he gained 10 TT victories to add to the 15 World Championship he was to win.

Peter Williams

Peter did not always have the success at the T.T. his talent deserved. A superb engineer as well as rider, he was chief engineer for the development of the Norton Twin. This machine in its 1973 form, with a Monocoque chassis designed and developed by Peter, got its reward with a win in the Formula 750. The second Norton ridden by Mick Grant was runner up. Peter spent most of his TT career on his Matchless, battling against the might of Agostini on the MV.

Mick Grant

Yorkshireman Mick had a long and successful TT career on a variety of machines including Yamahas and Suzukis. Although later in his racing career Mike became a works rider for Honda and Kawasaki in GPs, he’s best remembered on the Kawasaki 500 and 750 “Triples” of the mid-70s. Mick was also the man to break Mike Hailwood’s lap record in 1967. The Kawasaki was timed at 191mph in 1977, still a fantastic speed even by today’s standards. Won 7 TTs.

Thank you for reading my guide and I hope you found it interesting!

I picked the name for little reason at all really.  It just sounded a bit flash, a bit catchy, but tough at the same time, like a film noir detective of irish descent.

McGuinness, this year, has continued to make inroads on Joey Dunlop’s record of TT wins.  Joey is legendary, a household name.  Mike Hailwood, the same.  Fogarty and Hislop too.  John McGuinness?  Not so…

But why?  He’s admired within the biking community, and rightly so, with talent, courage and dedication worthy of a footballer’s salary.  He remains the official lap record holder.  While mere mortals might average 50mph point to point on a good day, he can consistantly lap the Isle of Man TT course at 125mph and above.

Perhaps what sets him apart from the other riders, who posess skills similarly exclusive, is perhaps his cool nerve and modesty.  After Michael Dunlop’s heart-wrenching win in the 250 race at the NW200 a little over a year ago, you got the feeling that while McGuinness’s fight was as genuine as it gets, he was still proud to come second in that race.  The search for TT wins seems more on an individual basis, rather than fighting for Joey’s record.

Perhaps this modesty is what deprives him of the notoriety of riders past, although I’m sure his reputation and admiration for him would soar if only the coverage improved.

The BBC managed to cover the Cookstown 100 and the North West 200 this year, but TT coverage is limited to highlights on ITV4.  There will also be programmes covering historic races and such, including a show titled The Race that Time Forgot.

The IoM official website is somewhat superficial, with links to its pages doubled up.  It looks flash and comprehensive, but when you find yourself struggling to find the results page (is there a results page) then there must be, in words of Lionel Mandrake, something very wrong somewhere.  You can download videos (at a price) and subscribe to the TT radio station (at a price).  I understand they have to make money somewhere, but not at the expense of a results page.

There’s also a significant deficit in information coming from Motorcyclenews.com, where most headlines seem to be promoting their own appearance at the island meeting.  Maybe I should have predicted that.

That the race has slipped under the radarof mainstream television, I’m sure, has something to do with the moniker ‘road race’, and doesn’t really surprise me.  Does this congure images of start/finish lines, spray-painted hastily on high streets at night, for Corsa-driving idiots?  Probably.  Even if the connection is made to motorcycle sport, a sport in which feats of skill and a cool head are king, there is a risk (it can be argued) that the races could encourage dangerous riding on public roads.  The mainstream, rightly or not, is reluctant to embrace the sport in case it validates this kind of reaction.

But this year, the motorcycling community itself seems to have dried up, as if cutting communication to a minimum to avoid detection by ‘the screws’.  There are plenty of guides to this years’ event being offered in the press, but where’s the raving?  The racing is as close as it’s ever been, and faster too, so where are the stars?

I happen to believe that McGuinness could be an excellent spokesperson/figurehead for motorcycling.  But, unfortunately, 2009 could be the TT that time forgot.  2008, and McGuinness, had their 130mph lap record.  But as the man gets closer and closer in success to Joey the legend/hero/etc, I have to ask, without even the support of the motorcycling media, will he ever cut the same figure in TT history?

For those really not in-the-know, the Isle of Man is a small island country in the Irish Sea, off the north west coast of England. The racing has been going on since 1907 and for many years it was the location of the British Grand Prix until it was dropped from the calendar in 1976 when the circuit was deemed too unsafe for the vicious two-stroke GP bikes. The course itself runs through quaint villages, over Mount Snaefell to an altitude of 1400 ft, through stone wall lined streets and through the tree and hedge filled Manx countryside. It is, by anyone’s description, an incredibly challenging course.

It is the ultimate test for the testosterone fuelled bikers and legends have been born. None more so than Joey Dunlop, he won a record 26 TT races and was world champion for five consecutive years from 1982 to 1986. Somewhat ironically he died in Estonia whilst leading a 125cc race in wet conditions when he lost control of his bike and crashed into a tree, being killed instantly.

The video below, courtesy of the brightstuffdotcom, will give you a taste of The Isle of Man TT races – it shows sections of the race which you will be able to identify from the map below, it clearly shows how tight the ‘track’ is, leaving no room for error and possibly explaining why there are so many fatalities and it also demonstrates that the week is not only for the serious stuff – there is a lot of fun to be had too.

Map of the TT Course