Jutting rockily from the Irish Sea lies a culturally unique island which has intertwined itself with motor racing for 117 years.
Le Mans and Nürburgring deliver challenges, but with 264 unpredictable corners, 37.73 miles of rough, derisive pavement, the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy event confronts riders with whipsaw light-and-shadow straightaways, squelchy leaves camouflaged in gloom, seaborn monsoon winds, and oblivious wildlife. They’ve been racing motorcycles here since 1907.
Visiting NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kurt Busch described his experience on Twitter: “Isle of Man! This is absolutely insane.” Spectators can view the race from most corners or bends, a friend’s balcony, verdant hillsides, or a town square. Paddocks are unrestricted.
The Snaefell Mountain Course elevates danger in a smirking reminder of mortality. Pheasants and wild hares lunge into front wheels spinning at over 150 mph, and local birds crash into riders’ visors. Yet for the price of a pint, you may, at arm’s length, watch motorcycles and sidecars ripping by, and those living trackside serve tea à la mode—racing fuel.
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This year’s race, held this past weekend after more than a week of practice and qualifying runs, saw riders in four motorcycle classes (and one for sidecars) from England, Isle of Man, and Ireland, as well as Australia, Italy, Czech Republic, Spain, France, Japan, South Africa, Serbia, and Slovakia.
Perhaps hardest to understand from an American perspective is that riders may mount a Honda in one race and a BMW in another—and with factory backing in each. Imagine a Chevrolet, Ford, or Toyota NASCAR driver competing in another brand. Riders are tapped off individually at 10-second intervals to virtually eliminate starting line incidents, though favored heroes and rivalries dominate paddock chatter.
Atypically for Great Britain and the Isle of Man, sunshine prevailed this year and with a warm track, expectations mounted for record speeds. Peter Hickman appeared the man to beat in Superbike, Superstock, Supertwins, and the all-important Senior TT on Saturday as his lap record of 16:42.778, 135.452 mph was set during the 2018 Senior TT.
Indeed, Hickman on Friday smashed the outright TT lap record with a speed of 136.358 mph in the second Superstock race, his 11th TT win (BMW M1000RR) and later that afternoon narrowly defeated Michael Dunlop to capture his 12th win (Supertwin Race 2) on his Yamaha R7. This built anticipation for Saturday’s Milwaukee Senior TT, the ultimate prize at the Isle of Man.
The Milwaukee Senior TT Race, which began this year with a sidecar parade lap commemorating 100 years, was a six-lap, 226.38-mile event that challenged Superbike riders from BMW, Honda, Kawasaki, and Yamaha, now with two races and multiple laps beneath their wheels.
Dean Harrison in second Superbike TT at the Gooseneck.
Hickman and Dunlop, who captured all seven prior races, were favored. Ultimately Hickman, riding the Monster Energy FHO Racing BMW 1000RR, took the checkered flag, finishing 19.9 seconds ahead of Dean Harrison’s DAO Racing Kawasaki ZX-10RR with Dunlop trailing by 20.4.
Hickman demolished the Senior TT record at 135.507 mph on lap two. This puts Hickman, with 13, one win behind legendary Mike Hailwood. Connor Cummins in 4th was the highest place native rider.
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Sidecars, completely dominated by brothers Tom and Ben Birchall, obliterated sidecar lap and race records with the first-ever 120-mph lap, then in the second sidecar race established a 120.65-mph benchmark, again winning. Note that top trap speed for these custom-built machines is barely 130 mph.
These purpose-built sidecars are more open-wheel race car than motorcycle, with the driver positioned over the engine and a passenger providing moveable ballast. TT sidecars are powered by 600cc 4-cylinder, 675cc 3-cylinder, and 900cc parallel-twin engines.
Human ballast helps keep the sidecar steady.
Honda’s dominance in Superbike, many based on MotoGP RC213V-S’, delivered 11 of the top 20 riders including John McGuinness and Dunlop, while Hickman and Harrison remained committed to BMW and Kawasaki respectively. Superbike differs, where Yamaha is the choice for Dunlop and Harrison with Hickman switching to Triumph. Favored Supertwin machines include Paton, Yamaha, Aprila, and Kawasaki.
Although there’s a long history of motorcycle racing on the Isle of Man, it wasn’t until 1959 that an unknown Honda came, understanding the TT was the most important motorcycle race in the world. Honda won the team prize that year and by 1967 prevailed in every class.
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