TT Tales

The Isle of Man TT course has seen it all: from the very first running, back in 1907, it has crowned heroes and has mourned plenty of them too.

It took a breath during wartime, again for foot and mouth in 2001 and with the 2020 and 2021 TT races cancelled, along with the Manx GP/Classic TT, it looks like we won’t see any racing on Mona’s Isle until 2022 at the earliest…

So let’s recount some tales from the great, the good and those that simply do it for the challenge and not necessarily the start money.

The Tourist Trophy remains synonymous with names cemented into folklore, like Phil Read, Mike Hailwood, Giacomo Agostini, Steve Hislop, Dave Molyneux and of course the Dunlop dynasty. The technology has moved on in leaps and bounds, average speed lap times continue to increase. The risk factor is always there and whilst the bikes get faster, the scenery remains largely the same.

Competitors aren’t always keen to acknowledge the dangers, particularly in the midst of a racing season. They skirt around the topic if at all possible, but what goes through the mind of a racer when they stare down the Glencrutchery Road?

We wanted to look at a few of the stars and get their take on racing, but also chat to the odd privateer or two. Here’s part one and what better place to start?

John McGuinness MBE

Will the greatest livingTT racer be able to equal Joey Dunlop’s 26 TT victories? Will time run out for the Morecambe Missile as he tries to get those three extra wins to match ‘The King of the Mountain?’ With Covid-19 scuppering 2021 and 2022’s TTs, does John still love