
At the end of May each year, just as the summer sun starts to heat up, business as usual resumes for a handful of motorcycle racers.
That is to say, business as usual at 200mph, on the Isle of Man. On public roads. Dodging stone walls, kerbs, and just about any other street furniture you can think of. Make no mistake about it; this is no ordinary race.
The annual Isle of Man Tourist Trophy - TT for short - are held over a fortnight between May and June, and since their inception in 1907 have represented the absolute pinnacle of motorcycle road racing; and an unique test of rider and machine.
Whereas most circuits are around three miles (4.8km) long and comprise between 10 to 20 corners, the TT’s Snaefell Mountain Course is somewhat different. A single lap of the TT course spans 37.73 miles (60.7km), and has 219 corners.
Nine-time motorcycle World Champion Valentino Rossi visited the Island during race week of the 2009 TT, and witnessed 23 time Isle of Man winner, John McGuinness, break the then outright lap record, as well as win TT 09’s opening Superbike race.