Hickman and Dunlop eyeing more records in 2024 Isle of Man TT

And they do it at speeds approaching 200mph. Spectators watch on grass banks and behind walls just metres away. No wonder motorsport fans from all over the world flock to the island in the Irish Sea in their tens of thousands every June.

A single lap takes between 16 and 18 minutes. A six-lap race lasts just under two hours. At their fastest, bikes hit 200mph on the Sulby Straight. And on Superbikes, the leaders lap the track at average speeds of 135mph plus – six times around. This is why the TT is known as the ultimate test of man and machine. 

The roll call of past winners is a who’s who of the greats of the sport. Current heroes Peter Hickman, Michael Dunlop, John McGuinness and Josh Brookes are dotted among the likes of Duke, Hailwood, Agostini and Dunlop in the record books. 

Running since 1907, the TT is the oldest race in the world. And the hot talk going into 2024 is the record book is about to be completely rewritten. Peter Hickman (Monster Energy by FHO Racing BMW) is the fastest TT rider in history. But the Englishman is out to break his own lap record after achieving the quickest ever lap of the track last year – a blistering average of 136.358mph average in the 2023 Superstock race. That’s not all; Michael Dunlop (MD Racing Honda) is one victory away from equaling the all-time record for TT wins, currently held by road racing legend – and uncle – Joey Dunlop, who scored 26.

The two-week event is as awesome as the TT course itself. Spanning over two weeks, competitors have five days of practice to dial bikes – and brains – into this truly unique track and its pupil-dilating speeds. Then comes race week, starting on Saturday June 1st. A total of ten races, consisting of two Superbike, Monster Energy Supersport, Superstock, Supertwin and Sidecar events, span six action packed days which climax with the six-lap Senior TT on Saturday 8th June. 

Hickman comes into the fortnight as the favourite to win big. Since the Englishman’s debut on the island in 2014, he’s become a serial winner, cementing his legend at the event year on year by notching up 13 wins in the process. He won two races in 2018, three in 2019 before becoming the first name in history to take four wins in a week in back-to-back years (2022 and 2023). And returning to race aboard the Monster Energy by FHO Racing BMW, he’s tipped to take further successes in the Superbike and Superstock classes. 

But ‘Hicky’ knows he won’t have it easy. Since his debut in 2008, Dunlop has amassed 25 victories. He’s the rider everyone’s betting on for success in the Monster Energy Superport races after he scored a staggering double victory in last year’s event, when he defied logic by becoming the first rider in history to lap the course over a 130mph average on 600cc machine. And last year’s races showed he is still a force to be reckoned with in the Superbike category, when he scored one win.

Dunlop is only marginally ahead of McGuinness (Honda Racing UK) in the list of all-time race winners. ‘McPint’ has won 23 TTs since his debut in 1996, and has amassed an incredible 47 podiums in that time, and will carry the much feted #1 plate in this year’s races. He warmed up for the TT fortnight by scoring a brilliant third place in the Superstock race at the North West 200 earlier in May, underscoring he is still a podium bet for both that class and the Superbike. Not bad for a 52-year old. 

After becoming the fastest newcomer at TT 2013, Brookes (Monster Energy by FHO Racing BMW) returned to race on the island four further times. The double British Superbike Champ had his best TT fortnight to date last year, when he scored a maiden podium at the event in the second Supertwin race. Unlike last year, the Australian will compete in the Supersport class this year, as well as the Superbike, Superstock and Supertwin categories. 

The Monster Energy Supersport TT Race 1 kicks off race week on Saturday 1st June at 11:45. Don’t bet against records falling from the very first race. 

As if ten races over eight days aren’t exciting enough, Monster Energy is injecting even more excitement to the show. Keep an eye on the fan zone in the paddock, where artist Mica Dori will be doing live engravings. You’ll also find a tattoo parlour and barber shop within, as well as a Monster Energy sampling zone and viewing rig to watch all the action from above! And it doesn’t end there; American stunt riders Unknown Industries and professional drift driver Baggsy will be entertaining crowds on the start line.