Why the Isle of Man TT is the pinnacle of Road Racing

We as humans love to push the boundaries. Go faster, be tougher, go larger, too be better than the “Limit” and to not only face fear down but to conquer it in our ever lasting fight to shatter the boundaries and be the best. And in no place is that more apparent than the Isle of Man TT.

The Isle of Man Tourist Trophy better know the Isle of Man TT or simply The TT is a motorcycle road race held each year in May or June since it’s start in 1907. Traditionally a time-trial the Isle of Man TT consist of seven classes run on the 37.73 mile Snaefell Mountain Course consisting of public roads on the Isle of Man. You read that right over 200 corners at mind boggling speed requiring super human reflexes, skill, a pair of big ones and anti freeze running through your veins.

"So what makes it the pinnacle of motorcycle road racing?"

Well for starters men and women clad in leather riding 200 hp machines down country roads and through towns in excess of 180mph often exceeding 200mph in frightening proximity to both spectators and obstacles alike not to mention frequently lifting the front tire and catching air on the many crests.

So surely there are sand traps, tyre walls and catch fences to ensure that a bike will never reach the crowd. Nope feel free to sit on a stone fence or stand inches from the pavement as these mad men fly past at breakneck speed.

The combination of all this has lead to countless crashes and claimed the lives of 250 riders and 14 bystanders. In fact it’s only the end of Practice Week in the 2016 TT and already the grueling course has claimed the lives of two riders. But time after time, year after year the riders and fans literally put their lives on the line in the never ending quest for speed. And in a way it makes the TT even greater, not to devalue human life but watching the race you know that the very present element of danger is huge, it makes the race real in a uncensored way. Brings out a kind of passion you just can’t get at any kind of established track.

As for the rest of the course it is purely legendary, with corners such as the wild Ballagarey to Quarter Bridge, the course cuts through towns, along perilous cliff sides, splits fields and parts forests. And they do it at unbelievable speed, the official course record stands at 16 minutes and 58.254 seconds at an average speed of 133.393 mph (214.675 km/h) set by Michael Dunlop during the 2016 Superbike TT Race and the unofficial top speed 206 mph (332 km/h) by Bruce Anstey in 2006

Despite it’s many technical sections, extreme length and many hazards it still leads to some of the closet racing you can find in ANY motorsport. In 2012, Bruce Anstey took victory over Cameron Donald by the narrowest of margins, a mere 0.77 seconds separated the two. More astonishingly the pair was that close after one hour and twelve minutes!

Even more impressive is that much of the racing is done of bikes that you and I can go out and buy right now. While some classes involve highly modified bikes or even pure race bikes classes like the Superstock TT is a event for production based motorcycles racing with treaded road tyres, based on the FIM Superstock Championship specifications.

As put best by CT's own Neil Winn "You could be the biggest Manchester United fan in the world, but the chances of you having a kick-about at Old Trafford are slim to none. At the TT, however, you can ride the same circuit as the racers. And not only that, thanks to the Manx parliament, there are no speed limits once you’re out on country roads."

That’s right you can get out on the famous course and navigate the same corners the racers do at what ever speed your skill, balls and or fear push you too. Plus during the TT the roads all become one way so you can make use of every inch of glorious asphalt. In fact one day has become incredibly popular out of the two weeks. A time for mere mortals like you and me to venture onto the 37.73 mile course, on two-wheeled missiles capable of 200 mph pretending we are the great Michael Dunlop 18 times on the podium with 12 wins, the current lap record holder and the first man under a 17 minute lap, or Guy Martian 15 time podium finisher. Maybe even imagining yourself up there celebrating a great finish.

The TT is the greatest road race there is, were everything from the newest tech in bikes or demo cars, to batsh*t crazy riders and fans and a beast of a course come together to in perfect mix of harmony and chaos.

"The North West didn't quite go to plan, I dono what the plan was, to get out in one piece? In which case, it did go to plan." -Guy Martian

Practice Week and the first day of Race Week has already passed in this year’s TT but incase I peaked your interest here is the schedule for the rest of the 2016 Isle of Man TT Race Week

RACE DAY 2
Monday 6th June

• 10:45hrs Monster Energy Supersport TT Race 1 4 laps
• 12:25hrs – 13:05hrs Sidecar Qualifying (2 laps)
• 14:00hrs RL360 Superstock TT Race 4 laps
• 16:07hrs TT Lightweight Qualifying (1 lap)
• 16:28hrs TT Zero Challenge Qualifying

RACE DAY 3
Wednesday 8th June

• 10:45hrs Monster Energy Supersport TT Race 2 4 laps
  -12:35hrs Sidecar Qualifying (1 lap)
• 13:45hrs Bennetts Lightweight TT Race 4 laps
• 15:40hrs – 16:00hrs Senior TT Qualifying
• 16:25hrs SES TT Zero Race 1 lap

RACE DAY 4
Friday 10th June

• 10:15 hrs Sure Sidecar TT Race 2 3 laps
• 12:45hrs Pokerstars Senior TT Race 6 laps