Island Life…
Pull in at any motorcycle event around the country, take off your helmet and it’s soon revealed that the majority of the players on the scene are now men and women of a ‘certain age’ ! Age and economics have a bearing and we have all found a way of spending our spare time on two wheels, whether ‘born again’ or those who ‘never gave up’, and it’s a busy, vibrant and varied bunch to be sure.
Growing unhappy at running outside evey time my neighbour warmed up his 350cc two stroke before a spin, and standing in the garden deeply inhaling that heady exhaust aroma, knowing I had that exact bike in mothballs in the garage , made me take action and get back ‘fully’ on the road, although the weather forecast has more influence on my riding these days.
My younger days centred around following the Irish road racing scene, South and North, mostly getting drenched ( I have the creaky knees to prove it ) – and hopping over on the annual pilgrimage to the Isle of Man every June for the Tourist Trophy (TT) races. The Island, slap bang in the middle of the Irish Sea, has a rich history for motorcycle fans, and is well known for the races which still draw spectators and competitors from all over the world. I’ve missed the TT in recent years as family and business commitments expanded to fill every second, but like a lot of my mates time is now returning to me, and it would be a shame to waste it. For a recent ’roundy’ birthday I was gifted a trip to the Classic TT by my long suffering better half . I only wish I could be as inspired. And quite the job she had organising it too – the access routes are a lot more restricted than I remembered. Ferry bookings that suited the dates were few and far between, only really possible with a trip via Belfast. So it was to be a bikeless visit this time – flights, hotel and car hire were duly booked, and the brother travelled along for ‘safety’!
It took longer to get to Dublin airport, through security, and board than it did to actually take off and land. Out we bounded to take on the Island…in our three cyclinder Toyota hire car – I hope nobody recognised us. A quick-ish ‘lap’ of the course brings all the memories flooding back, ‘do you remember this, and that, and him, and her?’, and a realisation that a lot of our old haunts were gone, closed, shuttered and disappeared. We’d have to find some more, and thankfully, we did.
Ramsey in the sunshine
As we’ve also lost so many Irish events that breed road racing specialists, due to ongoing insurance problems, the Island’s Manx Grand Prix, at the end of summer, has assumed more and more importance. I’ve always regarded it as the ‘apprentice’ TT but closer inspection confirms it’s more relaxed air makes practice for the TT races easier, the more miles you put in on this varied closed road circuit the better. And that’s an important point, you battle this circuit lap by lap, against the clock – riders set off at 10 second intervals – and experience flat out speed through towns, villages, countryside and up and down a mountain before reaching the finish line – a test not just of riders’ skill but of the machinery preparation a whole team, big or small, pour into every bike.
The Classic is less crazy, not as crowded and a more relaxed destination compared to it’s ‘full on’ cousin, yet it still attracts the top rank competitors that regularly line up in June. Dovetailed into the Manx Grand Prix in recent years the Classic TT has been a nod to the more historically interested riders and fans, those that would have attended the June TT in it’s heyday during the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. Racing spans multiple eras, with decades of machinery on display – from 1990s superbikes, two-stroke GP machines, and historic bikes from the ’60s and ’70s. The sights, smells and sounds of the bikes heading out are enough of a memory refresher for motorcyclists of that ‘certain age’.
Michael Dunlop preparing the tribute bike to commemorate his uncle Joey’s win in 2000
This year marked the first time since 2019 that the event returned as a standalone competition with qualifying from mid August and racing kicking off on Wednesday, August 27th. It also played host to a number of off-track activities, designed to celebrate the heritage of the 37.73-mile public roads Mountain course. A pop-up exhibition and cinema in the Classic TT Fan Zone marked 25 years since the passing of 26-time TT winner, Joey Dunlop. The exhibit celebrated his historic win in the 2000 F1 race, which those of us that were there on the day remember fondly and still marvel at.
Of course the Island has a lot more to offer visitors and for weather affected days (more of that later) I can heartily recommend a trip to the Isle of Man Motor Museum in Jurby, on the north of the Island. The 6,500 sq. metre building houses over 500 vehicles. It has become a petrolhead’s paradise with something for everyone to enjoy – I reckon two full days there still wouldn’t be enough.
In the evenings we roamed Douglas town in search of a dining experience befitting gents of our age, and after exhaustive research happened upon a real gem, visited twice in the week. Wine Down on Duke St is a hidden delight, a restaurant within a wine merchants, so you dine between shelves of well stocked wines from around the world. Worth a look, but book ahead.
Isle of Man Motor Museum in Jurby – well worth a visit
The weather
I’ve attended my fair share of TT’s over the years and you develop patience to say the least. This years’ Classic didn’t disappoint. It’s a given that weather controls all aspects of racing on the island. Much needed practice and set up sessions were pushed around due to regularly changing conditions, taken with the usual approach from riders, teams, sponsors and spectators – quiet frustration. The days were like the pre D-Day weather checks to Blacksod Point lighthouse! Weather is of such importance as it not only affects the course conditions on the ground – it also prevents air medical support being in place in recognition of the specific dangers related to racing on public roads. After the usual postponements and cancellations, where we had ample chance to travel the length and breadth of the Island in search of nonsense, which doesn’t take long I’ll grant you, it went like this..
Thursday August 27, 2025
The Lightweight Classic TT was brought to a halt on the opening lap which resulted in the race being red-flagged. The restart got underway at 6.30pm, with earlier rain giving way to dry, sunny conditions – though damp patches remained around the course. Michael Dunlop claimed yet another victory on Wednesday evening, dominating the two-lapper from start to finish. Riding his MD Racing Honda, he won by 47.1s from Ian Lougher (Deadline/Danfay Yamaha/Laycock Racing Yamaha) with Adam McLean (Laylaw Racing Yamaha) completing the podium in third. So Irish teams to the forefront in this much loved class again.
Friday August 29, 2025
Historic Senior Classic TT race
Corkman Mike Browne won Friday lunchtime’s shortened Historic Senior Classic TT by only 0.2 seconds from Adam McLean!. The tightest of margins there. He brought home the Peter Lodge Racing Norton 500 just ahead of his rival on the Royal Enfield after two laps round the Mountain Course in damp conditions.
Historic Junior Classic TT race
Cut to one lap due to rain showers around the course after the preceding Historic Senior Classic TT race. Paul Jordan claimed victory in Friday afternoon’s single lap Junior Classic TT race, the Davies Motorsport Honda rider getting the better of Dean Harrison (Craven Classic Racing/Ted Woof Honda) by nine seconds. Harrison’s team-mate Jamie Coward completed the podium in third.
Disruptions and cancellations
Earlier in the week a decision was taken to cancel the Formula 1 Classic TT race following weather disruption. The Senior Classic TT and Joey Dunlop tribute lap on Friday were also similarly cancelled, a lack of volunteer marshals also contributing. In a statement on Friday evening, Clerk of the Course Gary Thompson said: “We had been monitoring conditions closely throughout the day, but the later showers left parts of the course damp and unpredictable. While some sections were drying, others remained unsuitable, and it was clear the course was not at the level required for a safe Senior Classic TT.’
With teams having spent so much to be there specifically for this last race (the ‘big’ one) and then not get to compete was a terrible blow. It’s a big responsibility to dictate the running of the event but the Island on Friday evening was awash with discussions of wasted time and feelings of frustration for both spectators but especially the teams. Mike Browne was amongst the favourites but instead the team had to catch the ferry – and that’s part of the problem – on the Island time is finite because the entire paddock have to pack up and be on their scheduled ferries home, no rescheduling on that score. Behind the high profile semi-works teams there is a large backbone of privateers who’s life is all about racing and who make massive sacrifices year round just to attend and participate, improving personal bests, or machine performance, in slow, year-on-year increments. They arrive off ferries in the dead of night, sleep in vans and line up at every race, only to depart with personal goals reached, or dashed. For enthusiasts of a certain age I couldn’t think of a better place to be come August, but plan now if you want to pin down ferry and accomodation that suits your timing before it’s too late.
SAVE THE DATES
Classic TT: Wednesday 19th – Friday 28th August 2026
Manx Grand Prix: Sunday 16th – Monday 24th August 2026
USEFUL CONTACTS
Ferry bookings: The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company
Web: steam-packet.com Email: reservations@steam-packet.com
Phone: +44 8722 992 992
Flight bookings: www.aerlingus.com www.manxflights.com
Tourist office: ww.visitisleofman.com @visitisleofman #IOMSTORY Phone: +44 1624 686801
Wine Down 24 Duke St, Douglas, Isle of Man IM1 2AY,
www.winedown.im Phone: +44 1624 624777
