The Isle of Man Government Department of Economic Development, the rights holder of the TT Races, is progressing its plans to develop a TT Races World Series.

The TT Races have been running on the Isle of Man since 1907 and is one of the world's oldest continuous motorsport events.  It currently attracts around 40,000 visitors to the Isle of Man annually contributing £25 million to the local economy and generates over £2 million in gross commercial revenue.

The TT Races had an audited worldwide TV audience of over 23 million viewers in 2012 with leading broadcasters including ITV in the UK, Australia's Channel 10 and Discovery Velocity in the USA taking the eleven one hour TT highlights shows produced by North One TV. The official iomtt.com website has over 2 million unique users annually.

The Isle of Man Government has completed an initial feasibility study, carried out by London based agency The Sports Consultancy, into the formation of a World Series of Motorcycle Races based around the original TT concept.

The initial feasibility study included a review of the intellectual property rights, suitable venues, commercial contracts and income opportunities, marketing and promotion, safety and risk management and logistics as well as team, manufacturer and competitor involvement.

The Department is now investigating the option of attracting a commercial partner to develop and promote an international series of races based on the Isle of Man TT concept that leverages the Isle of Man TT brand. It is anticipated that such a delivery partner would be responsible for all operational aspects of the Series including the Isle of Man round.

Laurence Skelly, Isle of Man Government Department of Economic Development Representative with responsibility for Motorsport and Tourism commented:

"We have re-established the TT profile worldwide and are now ready to capitalise on the brand's strength by working with an external partner to take the event to the next level."

He continued:

"We have already received positive feedback and interest from a number of international partners and potential hosts who believe in the concept of a TT World Series."

Ends

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There’s no sporting event on earth that enables fans to get as close to the action and its stars as the Isle of Man TT. For Island resident, Chris Magill, it reached a whole new level this year, as he popped in for a pint with his idol John McGuinness during TT race week, courtesy of Bennetts Biking Dreams. 

Chris submitted his dream to have a couple of pints with McGuinness www.bennetts.co.uk/dreams and was astounded when he got the call to say he would be meeting the down-to-earth 20-time TT-race winner. The pair enjoyed a drink together in Sir Norman’s Bar at the Sefton Hotel on Douglas Promenade during a short break in the racing schedule. 

Chris said: “I’ve watched John racing on the Island for years and he is an absolute hero, but he also seems like a really great down-to-earth bloke that you could enjoy a pint with in the local. To actually do that this year was unbelievable. It was surreal to be watching him race around the roads I use every day and then just hours later sitting down in the pub for a pint with him. That really was the stuff of dreams!” 

John added: “The TT is a very special place and what makes it so unique is how close the fans are to the action. At the end of the day, we’re just normal people and it’s really important that we remember that a big part of our success is down to the fans. I was pleased to be asked by Bennetts to help out with this dream and I enjoyed a lemonade or two with Chris!” 

Bennetts was also able to bring together another dream meeting at the 2013 Isle of Man TT. Fifty years on from taking his first double win on the Island, Jim Redman MBE returned to the races – this time to make someone else’s dream come true. He accompanied his nephew, Mark, on his first visit to the TT after the younger Redman uploaded his dream t owww.bennetts.co.uk/dreams. 

Mark said he dreamed of seeing the Isle of Man TT races because his Uncle Jim won there six times in his racing career. 

So Bennetts arranged for Jim to act as Mark’s ultimate tour guide as they experienced the racing and VIP hospitality together. 

South Africa-based Jim understands the dream-like qualities of the Island more than most after securing double victories for Honda in the Lightweight and Junior TT races from 1963 to 1965. 

Mark said: “I’ve heard so many stories about how incredible he was as a racer, so to enjoy a trip to the TT together is…one of the best experiences of my life – truly unforgettable.” 

Bennetts Marketing Director, Hannah Squirrell, said: “As a bike insurance specialist it’s really important to be at the heart of the biking community and there is nowhere that enables us to do that better than the TT. To be able to help people meet their idols and make an otherwise ordinary experience extra special for them is amazing and one of the reasons that Bennetts Biking Dreams was initially created.” 

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Fresh from their Isle of Man TT Races campaign, SMT Racing’s successful 2013 season continued at Knockhill at the weekend with Tim and Tristan Reeves winning both of the British F1 Sidecar Championship races to extend their title lead.

Heavy rain saw Saturday’s Sidecar race postponed due to large amounts of standing water around the 1.27-mile circuit but conditions were far more favourable on Sunday morning and a perfect start saw Tim and Tristan grab the holeshot from Sean Hegarty/Calum Lawson. The Kent duo promptly pulled away from the rest of the field and for much of the race there was only half a second between them. However, Tim was just biding his time and towards the end of the 10-lap race, he edged clear to run out victor by 2.126s.

It was a similar story in the second, longer race later in the day where the siblings again took the lead at the first corner. Holding a slender advantage over the same Hegarty/Lawson combination in the early stages, they upped the pace in the second half of the race and, aided by a fastest lap of 52.076s, they ran out comfortable winners by three and a half seconds to complete their third double of the season and maintain their 100% winning record from the six races contested.

Speaking after the race, team owner Robin Croft said, 'After our TT exploits, it was good to see Tim bounce back from his second race retirement there with a double victory this weekend. It was business as usual for him and Tristan and a double victory was the perfect tonic and extended their title lead so we’re delighted with how the season’s going.'

The next round sees both the Reeves brothers and Adam back in action with the Snetterton circuit in Norfolk hosting the meeting on July 5-7.

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 Michael Dunlop’s early dominance of the Isle of Man TT Races continued on Monday morning when he made it two wins from two in the first 4-lap Supersport race. Riding his own MD Racing Honda, technically supported by PTR, the 24-year old almost beat his own lap record with a second lap of 127.525mph and once he’d caught second placed rider Bruce Anstey on the roads, he was able to circulate with the Kiwi for the final two laps and take his fifth TT victory, matching the total of his late father Robert.

“I struggled a bit with the bike in the first few miles as it was all over the road but after that I just got my head down and gave it my all on that first lap,” said Dunlop afterwards. “I knew it was Bruce in second so once I’d caught him on the road on the second lap I knew what I had to do. We caught James Hillier, Cam Donald and John McGuinness so it was good craic out there but it also helped me stay focussed. The wee girl was spot on and it’s great to have taken my second win of the week and give PTR their first TT win too.”

It was brother William who made the early running, leading through Glen Helen on the opening lap by 1.6s from Anstey 1.6s with Michael a further 0.1s back. However, as the rest of the race unfolded, Michael turned his deficit into a lead and by the Grandstand, an opening lap of 126.431mph extended his lead to 4.2s. Anstey had moved back into second by two seconds with Cameron Donald in fourth, just ahead of Guy Martin and a flying Dean Harrison.

On the second lap, Dunlop went even faster, his lap of 127.525mph only a fraction outside his own lap record, and having now caught Anstey on the road, he could afford to sit with his fellow Honda rider for the second half of the race. William was still holding onto third although the rest of the leaderboard was shuffling somewhat with Martin up to fourth ahead of Donald, John McGuinness, Harrison, Gary Johnson on the MV Agusta and James Hillier.

As they left the solitary pit stop, Dunlop, Anstey, Donald, McGuinness and Hillier were together on the road giving the thousands of fans around the course a tremendous sight and the dice allowed the last two riders to not only overhaul Martin but also close in to Dunlop in third.

However, the Milwaukee Yamaha rider responded and with Michael and Anstey secure in first and second, he was able to take the final podium spot by over seven seconds. The result meant it was the first time the two siblings have shared a TT rostrum.

McGuinness took a strong fourth with Hillier having another excellent ride into fifth as he overhauled Martin on the final lap. Donald slipped back to seventh with Harrison, Dan Stewart and Dan Cooper rounding out the top ten.

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