Downloaded from YTS.MX
[IMPERCEPTIBLE]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]
Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX
[IMPERCEPTIBLE]
COMMENTATOR 1: Peter Hickman through the Bungalow.
Dean Harrison has got through.
Peter Hickman leads!
Peter Hickman leads
a tenth of a second ahead of Dean Harrison.
He's five seconds inside the lap record,
so 135 miles is on.
COMMENTATOR 2: I think they've both have been hurt by lap traffic,
but now it's down to them.
They've both got a clear run off the Mountain.
How are these cards going to fall?
COMMENTATOR 1: I think it's gonna go at this pace,
it has to go 135 miles an hour.
[ENGINE REVVING]
We count them as fives now, don't we?
His lap 120,
Dave Jefferies 125,
John McGuinness 130.
Will it be Dean Harrison?
Will it be Peter Hickman with 135 miles an hour?
Oh!
COMMENTATOR 2: Dean Harrison using all the road on the way into Governor's Dip.
He can't waste a second.
He will have his teeth grit,
he won't be blinking, he won't be taking a breath
as he crosses the line to finish his Senior TT.
COMMENTATOR 1: Dean Harrison crosses the line.
We've got to wait for Peter Hickman.
COMMENTATOR 2: Peter Hickman, traffic again.
This could cost him dearly.
COMMENTATOR 1: Not only just one, but he's got two.
This could be Dean Harrison's race.
Oh, Hickman out from under the trees.
COMMENTATOR 2: Oh, no, that's a cruel blow for Pete Hickman.
COMMENTATOR 1: Here comes Peter Hickman across the line.
He wins the Senior TT
at 135.4 miles an hour!
We've witnessed history!
NARRATOR: And history is something
the Isle of Man TT races have plenty of.
Even the names associated with the course
have a special ring about them.
Bray Hill, Quarterbridge,
Ballaugh Bridge, to name but a few.
As well as the landmarks,
there are the legends who are synonymous with the TT.
Woods,
Duke,
Surtees,
Hailwood,
Agostini,
Dunlop,
Hislop,
Jefferies,
and McGuinness.
The oldest sporting event on the motorsport calendar,
it's also one of, if not the most dangerous.
At 37.75 miles in length,
there is nothing else on the planet quite like it.
Even the purpose-built Nurburgring in Germany,
which was inspired by the TT,
measures just 14 miles in comparison.
With something like 250 bends,
corners and kinks to negotiate
at speeds approaching 200 miles an hour,
it is the ultimate test of man and motorcycle.
Creating the most famous bike race on the planet
wasn't on the agenda when the Auto-Cycle Club met
early in 1907 to lay out plans for the first TT.
In Britain at this time,
the Red Flag Act had been repealed
and motorcycles had the freedom of the highways,
as long as they didn't go faster than 20 miles per hour.
Naturally, many motorcyclists, as well as car drivers,
wanted to exceed this speed
and also compete against each other in races.
So, apart from a couple of special racing circuits
and the use of private land like airfields,
most racing took place on the continent,
where there were few restrictions.
The Isle of Man was already a popular tourist location,
but many in the island believed
they could attract even more visitors
due to the speed rules
which were in place across the UK.
The Manx authorities had already allowed the RAC
to hold car races in 1905.
The tranquility of Douglas Harbour was disturbed
by this first invasion of the racing fraternity.
These were tests to choose who would represent Britain
the international Gordon Bennett races
which were to be held in France.
The actual circuit used most of the decent roads
in the Isle of Man,
and attracted the rich and famous.
The cars at first were mostly Napiers,
Wolseleys and Dereks.
Freddie Straight was the leading light of the ACC
and was one of the main organizers of the motorcycle races,
and decided the full course used by the cars
would be considered too tough for the bikes.
So a shorter layout in the west of the island was chosen.
Starting at St. John's,
there would be two separate races,
one for single-cylinder machines
and one for multi-cylinders.
That first event attracted an entry of 18 singles
and seven twins.
The single race was a battle
between the Triumphs of Hulbert and Marshall,
and the Collier brothers on their Matchless machines.
The multi-race was a much more open affair.
It would prove to be dusty, noisy,
and accompanied by a series of falls and breakdowns.
And when the dirt settled,
Charlie Collier, one of the organizers of the event,
had managed to pedal his way ahead of the two Triumphs
who didn't have this extra foot power.
There were eight single finishes,
but only three twins managed to finish,
with Rem Fowler first across the line on his Norton.
He had to stop to change plugs on 12 occasions.
Rembrandt became quite the celebrity.
The following year, pedals were removed
and because of clashes with normal traffic and pedestrians,
marshals were sworn in
as special constables to help with the course safety.
By 1909, the TT was now one combined race
for singles up to 500cc,
and twins up to 750cc.
Speeds and reliability were improving,
and Harry Bowen on his BAT twin
increased the lap record to 53.15 miles an hour
before crashing on the newly-erected
wooden boards at Ballacraine.
They were put there supposedly
to help riders negotiate the bend.
1911 was a milestone in TT history
with the introduction of the four-inch course
which saw bikes race over the Mountain for the first time.
Control of the event was also handed over to the ACU.
The following year saw a number of manufacturers
threaten to boycott the races
after the death 12 months earlier of Victor Surridge.
However, the riders themselves insisted on racing
and by 1912, the Scott team
were just one of the manufacturers
realizing the impact TT results were having on motorcycle sales.
Special race shops were now a feature
in most factories.
The works teams were out in force again in 1914,
and because of the previous fatalities,
crash helmets were now compulsory.
The start was moved to the top of Bray Hill,
a short distance from where it starts today.
That year will also be remembered
for Frank Walker being killed
when he crashed after finishing third in the Junior.
He turned the corner onto Ballanard Road
and bravely laid his bike down
with fatal consequences
when he saw the road blocked by people
celebrating Cyril Pullin's victory in the Senior.
Oliver Godfrey was another star who'd fought many TT battles
since his first ride in 1907,
but now had a much bigger fight on his hands
as war was declared.
Sadly, he was one of the many brave young men
who gave their lives for their country
in the hell that was the 1914-18 war.
Racing resumed in 1920
with a new Mountain circuit layout,
including, for the first time,
the section from Cronk-ny-Mona
to the new start-finish line on Glencrutchery Road
via Signpost and Governor's Bridge.
A telephone link had also been laid around the course
to report more accurately on the riders' progress.
Cyril Williams, who had been second in 1914
looked to have the race sewn up,
but lost his transmission at the top of the Mountain.
By a combination of freewheeling,
pushing, and sheer guts,
he still managed to push over the line to win.
And, not surprisingly,
more sprightly Jack Watson-Bourne was second
while the Senior was won by Tommy DeLaHaye
on a Sunbeam.
As the Auto-Cycle Union officials pose for a picture,
the Sunbeam machines, one of twelve works teams,
are busy preparing the bikes for Alec Bennett.
1922, and the Scott riders arrive on the island
with a new young rider in the team, Jimmy Simpson.
This was also the first time
the circuit we know today was used.
Previously, bikes left Parliament Square via Albert Road,
but now they used May Hill for the first time
when the owner of Cruickshank's
finally allowed racing through his land.
Making his TT debut that year
was Stanley Woods on a Cotton.
WOODS: The first year I went there,
the Mountain Road from Ramsey
as far as Creg-ny-Baa was sand...
and gravel.
And on that upper reach it was sand only,
rutted, with grass growing on the top of the ruts.
And there was no fencing on either side of the road.
I would say it was hardly more than ten feet wide.
If two cars met, it was a job to pass.
You had to get down to virtually no speed.
NARRATOR: Stanley Woods won the Junior TT of 1923
while Freddie Dixon, third in the Senior,
added a chair, a wheel and a passenger
to contest the first-ever Sidecar TT.
His Douglas outfit was a revelation.
The 14 outfits who competed were an instant hit
with the thousands of spectators who lined the Mountain Course
for the three-lap race.
Victory for Freddie Dixon and passenger Walter Perry,
and a celebratory cigarette.
1925 was the debut year for Tommy Bullus
when Wal Handley became the first rider
to win two races in a week.
BULLUS: I came to know Wal in about 1927
when we were at Brooklands together for a long period.
Hey was a very nice man
and a very fine rider,
inclined to break machines rather than finish.
He was a very, very good rider indeed.
Eventually, of course,
Wal, he was killed in an airplane crash
during the early part of the war.
NARRATOR: The Senior race, 1926,
and number one Howard Davies, last year's winner
on the HRD machine he designed himself.
It was the year of the first serious foreign challenge
with Bianchi, Garelli, and Guzzi all taking part.
The Lightweight race produced
one of the first major international incidents of the TT,
when Pietro Ghersi was excluded
for using an illegal sparkplug.
The race winner was Paddy Johnston.
Tragedy struck in 1927 when Archie Birkin died,
having collided with a delivery cart
at the bends now named after him.
So, come the following year,
the roads were closed to normal traffic.
Consequently, practice speeds rose considerably.
The 1930s began with total domination by the Rudge factory,
while the international flavor expanded
with entries from 20 countries.
Murray Walker's father, Graham,
cleans up winner Tyrell-Smith before planting a smacker,
while second man Ernie Nott keeps well clear.
It's a Rudge one-two-three.
The Senior proved to be a similar story
with a win for Wal Handley
from the boisterous Graham Walker.
The Lightweight saw the first TT win
for popular Scotsman Jimmy Guthrie.
Incidentally, the money on offer
for winning the Senior in 1930
was 200 pounds,
a figure which didn't increase by a single penny until 1971
following the formation
of the Grand Prix Riders' Association.
Jimmy Simpson achieved his own personal record
by becoming the first man to lap the island
at 60, 70, and 80 miles an hour.
1932 had a royal visitor
with Prince George talking to Wal Handley,
who was later to crash on the corner named after him.
He retired from racing after riding in 28 races
over a period of 13 years.
Both Junior and Senior races fell to the combination
of Stanley Woods and Norton,
despite yet another lap record by the unlucky Jimmy Simpson.
Here's Woods, 19,
on the Norton at Governor's Bridge,
on his way to completing the double.
Woods chose to ride Husqvarna the following year,
but Norton continued their winning ways
with Jimmy Guthrie completing his first double.
Woods had run out of fuel
while leading just eight miles from the finish.
So a great win for Jimmy Guthrie
and an even more popular victory for another Jimmy,
Simpson, in the 250.
12 months later, and Woods was on a V-twin again,
this time the Moto Guzzi.
He trailed Guthrie by 26 seconds
after the penultimate lap,
and it looked like the race was over.
However, the Irishman had gambled with a one-pitstop strategy,
and crossed the line without pulling over for his final circuit.
By this point,
Guthrie was already halfway around his lap,
having started with a much higher number.
When he finished the race, he was declared the winner
as no one could see him being beaten.
Woods, though, had other ideas
and crossed the line
with a record speed of 85.53 miles an hour
to take victory by just four seconds.
It was also the first time a twin had won
since Scott in 1913.
Stanley was a great hero at the time,
and a certain Lancashire comedian
also turned his attention to the Isle of Man
by way of the pictures.
♪ Coming on the TV
♪ Riding in the TT races
♪ Easier than hopscotch
♪ Meeting all the top-notch aces
♪ I've been riding all me life
♪ I started quite small
♪ I've ridden...
NARRATOR: George Formby's film No Limit
confirmed the ever-increasing popularity of the TT,
which was indisputably
the world's premier motorcycle race.
♪ Down the hill I go
In 1936, Freddie Frith and Jimmy Guthrie
took the Junior and Senior on their Nortons,
with roles reversed the following year,
as Frith won the Senior and Guthrie the Junior.
Sadly, Jimmy was killed later that year
at the Sachsenring,
and such was his popularity,
a memorial was created in his honor
on top of the mountain he so loved.
1938 saw Woods win the Junior
and Harold Daniell, the Senior.
And Ewald Kluge took the German DKW to victory
in the Lightweight.
As usual, success was toasted in the magazines,
but as the 1939 races approached,
a dark shadow was creeping over Europe.
The German challenge in the races was very strong,
with NSU, DKW,
and BMW works machines out in full force,
as well as a strong Italian presence.
Stanley Woods flew the flag for Britain
and, of course, Ireland with a win in the Junior,
his tenth victory.
But Benelli took the Lightweight honors
with Ted Mellors.
while Georg Meier and Jock West took their super-charged BMWs
to first and second place in the Senior,
a victory subdued by the death in practice
of teammate Karl Gall.
After the Second World War,
motorcycles were taken out of mothballs.
Petrol was scrounged from wherever possible
and as normal service resumed,
the thoughts turned to what lay across the Irish Sea.
So the Isle of Man was back in action
with first, the Manx Grand Prix in 1946,
and the following year, the TT races proper.
As the 1947 race week started,
there was a happy mixture of new and old faces,
but of course, sadly, many were missing.
Low octane petrol,
which was pooled by all the major oil companies
meant lower speeds,
but no lack of effort,
with the Clubman's TT introduced for the first time.
Two years later, and the TT hosted the British round
of the newly-formed world championships.
1950, and former TT winner Graham Walker
was now a racing commentator.
[GRAHAM SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]
GRAHAM: And here is Quarterbridge.
The bottom of Bray Hill,
the same long, long right-hand sweep.
He tried to take a slightly different line.
The ideal is to just almost touch the curb...
on the first section.
Too late or too early, and it puts him off his actual cornering line.
Signpost Corner now.
A very tricky point.
You approach it uphill,
and suddenly over the brow, you start going downhill
and into this right-hand bend.
Yes, that's Cromie McCandless
on the special built Norton.
See how the road is blackened up there with the braking.
And here's Harry Hinton. Harry Hinton, the very hectic Australian.
Geoff Duke coming over the line with...
There's Gilbert Smith, managing director of Norton
shaking hands with Geoff.
He's in the one-piece leather suit.
Joe Craig standing between Geoff and Artie Bell there on the right.
NARRATOR: In the Lightweight race,
Dario Ambrosini won by just two-tenths of a second
on his way to becoming 250cc World Champion.
1951 saw the beginning of the TT Riders' Association,
plus the introduction of a new race for 125cc machines.
Over two laps of the course,
it was won by Cromie McCandless on a Mondial.
He was also third in the Senior.
But will probably always be remembered
for the development work he carried out for Norton
on their new featherbed frame,
which helped Duke achieve a Junior-Senior double.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
In 1952, Geoff Duke made it four wins in a row
winning the Junior,
but retired after leading the Senior
to allow Reg Armstrong to hold off
Graham's determined challenge on the MV Agusta.
Duke's effort and his world championships were rewarded
by his becoming the Sportsman of the Year.
Cecil Sandford won the 125 race
to give MV another TT victory.
Bill Lomas and Cecil Sandford prepare for the 1953 races
which boasted many exotic Italian machines.
MVs were to lead the way,
providing eight of the first ten places
in the 125 race.
For Guzzi, Fergus Anderson won the 250
and was third in the Junior.
But the big talking point
as the fans crowded back to the Isle of Man
was the fact that two of the island's favorites,
Geoff Duke and Reg Armstrong
had been lured by the lira
and were to be mounted on factory Gileras.
Ray Amm slid off at Sarah's,
breaking a footrest in the process,
but went on to win the Senior,
smashing Duke's 1952 lap record by almost three miles an hour,
pushing the figure up to 97.
The 125 race provided Les Graham
with his first and sadly last TT win,
as he crashed flat out in the Senior
at the bottom of Bray Hill.
He was the first ever 500cc World Champion in 1949
and had been leading the Senior that year,
but broke down at Cronk-ny-Mona,
eventually pushing in for a tenth place finish.
The boats steam into Douglas Harbour
at the start of the 1954 TT fortnight
with some different motorcycles in the hold.
Sidecars were back,
and along with the 125cc solo machines,
they would race around the new Clypse Course,
which was less demanding than the full Mountain circuit.
The Sidecar race was expected to be a great battle,
with world champion Eric Oliver and passenger Les Nutt,
pitted against the German BMW might
of Hillebrand, Noll, and Schneider,
and that's just what it turned out to be.
COMMENTATOR: Lap two, Willaston Corner,
No. 12 Hillebrand is harried by Pip Harris for third place.
He makes it behind, the issue in the balance.
NARRATOR: Restricted to 500cc,
the sidecars would race around this new layout until 1959.
The big question as the riders warmed up
for the 125 race around the Clypse Course was,
Could Carlo Ubbiali on his MV Agusta
stave off the formidable challenge
of Hollaus and Haas on their NSUs?
It turned out to be one of the closest races
the island had ever seen,
and the mass start meant that the main combatants
were locked in battle from flag to flag.
[ENGINE REVVING]
After 107 miles of fierce, no-holds-barred racing,
the diminutive German managed to pip the Italian
by a mere four seconds
to help Rupert Hollaus become world champion
at the expense of teammate Haas.
1955, and Geoff Duke recorded his first Senior win
since 1951,
and the first for Gilera.
The victory was helped by the fact
that both Norton and AJS
had withdrawn their works machines.
[APPLAUSE]
[IMPERCEPTIBLE]
In the Senior TT of 1956,
John Surtees' talents had been spotted by MV Agusta
and a great battle was hoped for between the Italian giants,
but it didn't happen,
as the Gilera riders were banned
after they boycotted the Dutch TT.
The race was won by Surtees on his spare machine
after he crashed in practice
and unfortunately hit a cow.
John Hartle had a great ride
to finish second on his Norton.
[APPLAUSE]
The newsreel cameras were out in force
for the 1957 Golden Jubilee races,
with Surtees up against Scot Bob McIntyre
on a four-cylinder Gilera capable of 10,500 revs,
producing 70 brake horsepower
and a top speed of 160 miles an hour.
Right from the start, the huge crowds
basking in perfect weather
could see that Bob really lived up to the "Flying Scotsman" tag
as he screamed the Gilera around the Mountain circuit.
A 99.99 mile an hour lap from a standing start
meant everything was set for that magic first-ever
100 mile an hour lap next time around.
Down past Signpost,
and the countdown was on.
Seven, six, five, four.
And he'd done it!
101.03 miles an hour
and the noise from the thousands of cheering fans
could probably be heard on the mainland.
Always modest, Bob hardly lets his face slip
as he's told the news at his fuel stop,
and promptly sets off to do it again...
and again, and again,
in fact, four times at over 100 miles an hour.
On the final two laps,
Surtees had a point of honor battle with McIntyre.
But with over a minute in hand,
Bob was going to enjoy his cruise down to victory
and the place forever in the record books.
At eight laps in length
and over 300 miles in distance,
it would be the longest-ever Grand Prix.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
A year later, and somewhere amongst all the big names
was a young rider showing great versatility.
12th in the Junior, seventh in the 125,
third in the 250 and 13th in the Senior.
Quite a debut for Stanley Michael Bailey Hailwood.
That year's Senior TT winner John Surtees,
here congratulated by teammate Hartle.
1959, and Geoff Duke started his last TT,
which was to be another double for Surtees.
But the Senior race was anything but easy for John.
SURTEES: '58, '59, when we had that dreadful weather,
and when the hailstones were so bad over on the Mountain
that the fairing on the bike started off as being all red,
and when it came in, it had been sort of like shot-peened,
and down to aluminum in places.
And I couldn't, in fact, operate any controls
except by using my hands like this
because I lost the feel of my fingers.
NARRATOR: The 125 race saw a debut
by some rather ancient-looking Honda machines.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
The Japanese were quick learners
and by 1961, they were back
with a well-organized team of riders and mechanics
and, just as, if not more important,
some very quick and reliable machines.
[ENGINES REVVING]
Those who had laughed a couple of years before,
and there'd been many,
were forced to wipe their smiles away
as Honda took the first five places
in both the 125 and 250 races.
And in each case, first across the line had been Mike Hailwood.
But the week didn't end there,
and as Honda didn't yet have a big bike,
Mike took out his trusty Norton for Friday's Senior.
But the hot favorite was Rhodesian Gary Hocking on an MV.
McIntyre, Hailwood, Hocking, at Ballaugh Bridge.
But the extra power of the MVs
soon pushed Hocking to the front of the pack.
[ENGINE ROARING]
Hailwood wasn't giving up,
and produced the fastest lap ever on a single-cylinder machine
to keep the MV in sight.
At the refueling, Hocking gives Hailwood
a cheery come-and-get-me wave.
Counting and chickens spring to mind,
as Hocking's MV struck trouble,
enabling Hailwood to press on to his third TT win of the week,
the first-ever TT hat-trick.
COMMENTATOR: And Hailwood wins.
Only two minutes later, in comes McIntyre.
[APPLAUSE]
NARRATOR: 1962, and a new noise echoed around the island.
Tiny 50cc races which were to amaze everyone.
The Senior race brought a win for Hocking
and the Junior, a victory for Hailwood.
And another Honda benefit in the smaller classes,
with wins for Luigi Taveri and Derek Minter.
And East Germany's Ernst Degner
brought a first win for Suzuki
in the 50cc class.
Start money was introduced in 1963,
with up to 25 pounds on offer,
and it was the first year of the rescue helicopter.
Here's Murray Walker describing the Senior race.
MURRAY: Next man away, the much fancied
Mike Hailwood on his MV.
Ten seconds behind and a half miles out at Ramsey.
But look at this. John Hartle, number four on the Gilera
at Ballacraine and he's leading on the roads.
Fine road racing.
Up into the Gooseneck goes the Gilera.
He's... And look at Hailwood.
Hailwood right on Hartle's tail.
NARRATOR: The Gileras were really no match
for the MV of Hailwood or the Honda of Redman.
And Rhodesian Jim Redman made it
six wins on the charts for himself and Honda
in the Lightweight classes with new lap records.
If all was peace and joy in the Honda camp,
it was a slightly different story
over at Yamaha, where rumors of squabbles,
riding to team orders and not riding to team orders,
somewhat spoiled the great achievements
of both Phil Read and his arch rival, Bill Ivy.
You know, I nearly leapt the Isle of Man
at 100 miles an hour, but Ivy just topped me there.
NARRATOR: In the bigger classes, a new star had emerged
to make his mark on the island.
The young Italian, Giacomo Agostini.
AGOSTINI: Isle of Man, I think is
one of the best for driving.
But you do have to think
about the life, about the safety,
because Isle of Man is very dangerous.
But for driving it's, I think it's as much pleasure
you can have with the motorbike.
NARRATOR: Now one of the great TT races,
the 1967 Senior
and the undisputed King of the Mountain
at that time was Mike Hailwood.
COMMENTATOR: Two world champions of today.
You have just created history
by winning 11 TTs and beating Stanley Woods.
Now what does this mean to you?
Uh... [CLEARS THROAT]
[CHUCKLES]
Well, I'm very proud to have done it, naturally,
but, uh, it doesn't worry me all that much really.
COMMENTATOR: Now, number four, Mike Hailwood.
A superb start.
[ENGINE REVVING]
Thirty seconds later, Agostini,
with his MV3,
all tensed up for one of the most
important races in his career.
And another scintillating get-up.
Hailwood rounds the tricky right hander in superb style.
But from here on, he'll have his work cut out
to stave off Agostini's better handling MV.
And here's Ago still 30 seconds behind Mike,
but that's with only a mile gone
and another 225 to go.
The famous Ballaugh Bridge
and Hailwood arrives first,
but 23 seconds later, it's Agostini.
Ramsey, Hailwood through Parliament Square
to start the Mountain climb.
Agostini.
Thirty-six miles gone, and here's Hailwood.
And 19 seconds later, Agostini.
So Ago's leading Mike by 11 seconds.
But now, this pit stop's losing him valuable time.
He's away.
His stop, 47.8 seconds.
Now what about Agostini's time? More or less?
He's off after 37 seconds.
So as he starts his fourth lap,
Agostini leads Hailwood by 12 seconds,
but with 113 miles still to go.
Ramsey Hairpin,
Hailwood absolutely on the limit, almost beyond it, in fact.
Away up to Waterworks on the Gooseneck
and Mike's inspired.
Only he could ride the big Honda like this
on a course that's tough enough on any bike.
Agostini, his riding, too, is inspired.
No one has ever given Hailwood
such a hard ride in the Senior.
NARRATOR: Had Ago's chain not broken on the Mountain,
it would definitely have been a fight to the finish.
COMMENTATOR: So it's victory again for Mike Hailwood,
a magnificent victory,
but victory partly through the misfortune of a brilliant rival.
How do you feel now?
-Knackered. -MAN: Well done, Mike.
NARRATOR: 1968, Suzuki and Honda pulled out.
Hailwood retired,
so there really was nothing left
to touch the Agostini-MV Agusta combination.
And the Italian did the Junior-Senior double
for three years on the trot.
Tony Jefferies was one of the many riders
to be tempted to the island
by the popular Production races,
which had been introduced in 1967.
It meant racing was within more people's reach.
JEFFERIES: The most satisfying win, without a doubt,
was the Junior in 1971.
And that was particularly satisfying
because of the standard riding was
in that particular race.
Mainly Giacomo Agostini.
And to beat Ago in the Isle of Man
was something that hadn't been done
for a long, long time.
NARRATOR: It also gave a chance
for the more famous
British manufacturers to get back into the public eye.
And probably, the biggest effort was put in by Triumph,
with three factory machines.
The scrutineering which takes place
before every race on the island
does not merely monitor regulations,
but acts as a double safety check
by these expert examiners.
Once given the okay, the machines
were then kept overnight in aparc ferme
to be released just prior to the race.
Prince Philip was again a visitor
to the island in 1969
to witness the Le Mans style start
to the Production race
with the 750s first away.
Five minutes later, the 500s
followed at the same interval by the 250s.
The sidecars were now contested by 500cc
and 750 machines,
with each class given their own three-lap race.
Two men on a machine to several.
The Marines put on a display
prior to the 1971 Junior race,
which was to bring a temporary halt
to Agostini's air of invincibility.
Agostini would take victory in the Senior
with the prize money for winning
increased to 750 pounds,
the first increase in over 40 years.
The following year,
there were two extra MV Agustas in the paddock,
one for Alberto Pagani and the other for Phil Read.
MAN: You've always been a critic, haven't you,
of the Isle of Man circuit?
You think it's rather dangerous?
Yeah. I think so.
Then why do you keep coming back?
Because it's the racing for the World Championship.
It's necessary for the points.
COMMENTATOR: First away in the 350, Chas Mortimer,
and last year's winner, Tony Jefferies.
NARRATOR: As the previous year's winner,
Tony Jefferies got the Junior race started,
it was obvious that conditions today
would be more in favor of Agostini.
COMMENTATOR: Agostini pulls away with Jackson...
Phil Read called in to strengthen the MV team
sets off alone as Pasolini is a non-starter.
The Isle of Man Mountain circuit
is 37.75 miles long.
And the 350s have to cover this five times.
Six miles out, Greeba Bridge,
and Agostini sweeps through clipping the banks.
[ENGINE REVVING]
Then the rapid descent to Signpost
less than two miles from the finish.
For MV, Read is out with gearbox trouble,
but Ago presses on.
Governor's Bridge, the last corner on the circuit.
And Agostini has only half a mile to go
to win his ninth TT.
[INDISTINCT ANNOUNCEMENT]
He crosses the line with a new five-lap
race record to his credit.
Finishing in second place comes Tony Rutter
on a privately entered Yamaha.
He's clocked his first-ever 100 miles an hour lap.
NARRATOR: Agostini took the Senior
and Junior races yet again,
so another win and another World Championship.
Miserable conditions for Friday's 125cc race.
Gilberto Parlotti's Morbidelli
was up against Chas Mortimer's Yamaha
as they both battled for World Championship points.
[IMPERCEPTIBLE]
But with driving rain and mist on the mountain,
it was with some reluctance
that the riders pushed off their machines.
COMMENTATOR: Fifty seconds later,
it's the turn of his main rival.
Gilberto Parlotti on the Morbidelli.
NARRATOR: Splashing around the island,
Mortimer leads on the road,
but Parlotti, the race.
Up and into the clouds
and definitely a need for caution
as the mountain echoes
to the sounds of exhausts.
[ENGINE REVVING]
Down out of the mist comes Chas Mortimer.
But the unfortunate Parlotti
lost his way on the Verandah,
and, sadly, his life
as he crashed in the swirling mist.
Mortimer carried on,
aware that Parlotti was out of the race, but not why.
The word victory was rather meaningless
to someone who'd lost a good friend
in such tragic circumstances.
Parlotti's crash prompted many riders
to vow never to race on the island again,
and some were openly critical of the TT.
As the fans arrived for the 1973 races,
there were many of the Grand Prix stars missing.
Any fears by the Manx tourist trade
that visitors would be down were soon calmed,
as record attendances were the order of the day.
Hotels and boarding houses were full
and spectators squeezed into
all the favorite points around the island.
And the racing was as close
and exciting as ever.
Peter Williams won the increasingly popular
Formula 750 race on the John Player Norton.
Enders and Schauzu was first and second
in both Sidecar races.
Tony Rutter took the Junior honors,
Charlie Williams, the 250
andContinental Circus star, Jack Findlay, won the Senior.
And he was one of the riders to benefit
from the TT's new payment structure.
It has been done by taking away
the assistance to every rider
that up to now has been given.
So it will mean the top riders
will have enhanced earnings
and the beginners, shall we say, much less so.
MAN: So the beginners are getting nothing,
the winners are getting more,
-is that the case? -Yes.
MAN: Geoff, could I come to you on this one?
How do you view this, as a former rider,
the fact that the youngsters now, up and coming boys,
are not going to get anything at all
for starting in the race?
Well, I think this is a pity in a way,
but I think it will tend to improve
the quality of the race, you know.
I think we were getting
quite a lot of riders
whose place really was either
in lesser important events
or in the Manx Grand Prix, you know.
NARRATOR: 1975, and a new finale
to the week, the TT Classic.
I'm confident.Look, on paper, I should win it,
but so far around the thing's so unpredictable
that I would never be very confident.
NARRATOR: Mick Grant certainly had a capable machine
in the big Kawasaki
and the necessary skill to handle that power
as he shattered Mike Hailwood's
eight-year-old lap record
before his chain broke,
leaving John Williams to win the race
on his Yamaha.
COMMENTATOR: ...course record. Mike Hailwood's eight-year-old record
has been beaten, 20 minutes 36.8,
109.82 miles an hour,
a new course record by Mick Grant.
NARRATOR: Williams was the man on form,
and the following year he was able
to repeat his victory, this time on a Suzuki.
And also raised the lap record
to over 110 miles an hour.
The TT was under threat
with a move by the world body of the sport,
the FIM, backed by many top riders
and manufacturers
to strip the TT of its World Championship status.
Clifford Irving was pleading the Isle of Man's case.
There has been a suggestion
by the FIM,
which is the world body
controlling motorcycle racing,
that perhaps the TT should not
have World Championship status.
I don't think, even if we lose the points,
don't think it's going to stop people coming to the races.
This last year, for example,
we had more people at the TT than ever before.
Now we, we may lose the championship points,
but they'll still be the greatest free show in the world,
and there will be thousands of people come.
Certain riders at the time,
many of them were a bit more interested
in starting money
than the safety of the course.
NARRATOR: Despite their best efforts to stop the TT
from losing its World Championship status,
the FIM got its way, and the British Grand Prix
was switched to Silverstone, in Northamptonshire.
The Isle of Man increased its race budget
to £150,000,
with two thirds going to teams and riders,
making it the richest motorcycling event in the world.
Plus, they began their own series,
the Formula World Championships
for F1, F2 and F3 road-based machines.
As the current King of the Mountain,
Mick Grant prepared for practice,
there was a familiar helmet alongside,
one of the TT's biggest critics, Phil Read.
REED: I refused to ride because not only did
Count Agusta say that MVs wouldn't race there again,
but I felt there was a lack of support
and consideration for the riders,
and just the attitude of the organizers
was, you know, "This is it.
"Take it or leave it, it's a mountain circuit.
"The throttle goes both ways."
Anyway, I didn't ride then for five years.
And then the TT lost its World Championship status
and, uh, I understood
that they were paying a lot better,
sort of start money, or expense money.
NARRATOR: Phil Read's return may have been
clouded by controversy,
but the 1978 return of the island's favorite son
was sensational.
Mike Hailwood back after an 11-year gap.
HAILWOOD: I was asked by so many people why didn't I
ride again in the Isle of Man and they were saying,
"I think you ought to have another go."
And I thought, "Well, why not?"
So we got things rolling and there we are.
NARRATOR: Mike's machine was a Ducati of unknown quality.
And Phil Read was expected
to take the honors on the Honda.
From the start line, Mike shows
he's in a class of his own.
As the race progressed,
the fans began to believe in fairy tales,
as Mike "The Bike" gradually closed the gap
on his old adversary
until he had him in his sights.
Next he was ahead on the road
and the fans were ecstatic.
But would the machine hold out?
COMMENTATOR: Mike Hailwood... Can he have this win?
NARRATOR: The answer was yes.
And the dream return was complete
as Hailwood stood on the winner's rostrum
he last saw in 1967
when he then beat Agostini.
Another popular win was in the Senior
by unassuming Irishman Tom Herron.
But sadly, serious injuries
to American Grand Prix star Pat Hennen,
and the deaths of Mac Hobson,
Kenny Birch and Ernst Trachsel
cast a gray cloud over the proceedings.
Around this time, another top name rider
was invited to try his hand at the TT.
The new 500cc World Champion, Kenny Roberts.
Bike's better with the gas shock
or with the other one?
ROBERTS: This bike is not so fast.
This bike seems to be running better today.
NARRATOR: The American ace was keen to have a go,
but was talked out of it by his right-hand man,
another ex-champion and TT racer, Kel Carruthers.
CARRUTHERS: The people from the Isle of Man came to Kenny
and offered him a whole bunch of money,
and Jan and I sat him down
and said, "Kenny, you're not going.
"Right. They'll expect you to win.
"There's no way you'll win, like, some guy
"you never heard of is gonna beat you easy."
MAN: Yeah.
And I said, "You just come in.
"You shouldn't go. It's just..."
So he took some notes and we didn't come...
NARRATOR: Snaefell echoes the sound
of early morning practice,
and the fans were back again in force and in good humor,
for 1979, the Isle of Man millennium year.
I would say brilliant atmosphere. Superb.
Couldn't ask for anything more.
Motorbikes, women, everything, great.
[IMPERCEPTIBLE]
NARRATOR: Hailwood was back for more.
The Senior race was made a little easier for him
by the fact that Mick Grant was riding in great pain
from injuries received two weeks earlier.
COMMENTATOR: Chas Mortimer and Mike Hailwood.
NARRATOR: Grant was allowed a pusher
as the race got under way.
As Hailwood charged over the Mountain,
Grant appeared to show no sign of his injuries
and lead the race by three seconds
and was closing in on Hailwood on the road.
COMMENTATOR: Mike Hailwood and Mick Grant.
Alex George, Tony Rutter.
Grant leads the race from George and Hailwood,
with Charlie Williams in fourth place.
Guthrie.
Hailwood.
Grant.
Denis Ireland, Joey Dunlop
and Ian Richards in close company.
But it's Hailwood, the race leader.
Hailwood, who first raced in the island
back in 1961, is in magnificent form.
No one can stay with him,
and this time he cracks the lap record
at a speed of 114.02 miles an hour.
[INDISTINCT TALKING]
NARRATOR: As the race reaches the closing stages,
Hailwood begins to pull away from the tiring Grant,
who eventually has to give up due to the pain.
But his brave efforts were appreciated
by a sympathetic crowd.
COMMENTATOR: Hailwood really quick through Hillberry.
NARRATOR: So for Mike, it's down through Hillberry
and onto the finish for win number 14.
COMMENTATOR: Mike has made it 14 wins now
and the crowd go wild.
[INDISTINCT ANNOUNCEMENT]
-MAN: You know you've done the lap record. -Really?
-MAN: 114. Yeah. -No!
-You're joking. -MAN: No, you did it.
HAILWOOD: I wasn't even trying very hard.
NARRATOR: Despite another race start delay, this time in the F2,
Charlie Williams is a man in a hurry,
and in no mood to hang about.
COMMENTATOR: He's already gained 20 seconds by Ballacraine.
By the end of Cronk-y-Voddy,
Charlie leads the field.
[ENGINES ROARING]
Charlie.
A winning debut for the new Yamaha.
Charlie gets his just rewards from his wife Anne.
A quick change of machine
and Charlie's away again.
NARRATOR: The Formula 2 event was merely a dress rehearsal
for the 250 race in the afternoon,
where the Yamaha, with the extra special racing bits added,
was around seven miles an hour
a lap faster than the Production bike,
and provided Williams with his second win in the same day,
a rare occurrence on the island.
COMMENTATOR: To win two TTs in a week is remarkable.
To win two on the same day
is a fantastic achievement.
NARRATOR: Two months before TT 1981
and the world of motor sport was rocked
when Mike Hailwood was killed
in a car crash near his home.
It's a double tragedy as his young daughter loses her life as well.
Controversy at the TT,
this time involving Suzuki and Honda,
with Graeme Crosby, the rider,
feeling he'd been hard done by.
It just goes without saying that anybody
that goes around here, you race against the clock.
You know, and, uh, whenever you start
and whenever you finish, that's the time.
And I went around in, I think, two minutes faster
than everybody else and got the lap record,
so I don't see anybody can argue against a win like that.
NARRATOR: As a result, Honda carried out what became known
as the Black Team Protest, when their objections
to Crosby's race times were overruled.
Ron Haslam took the Formula One honors
in 1982, but in '83,
the hot favorite, as the bikes lined up
along the Glencrutchery Road,
was the Ulsterman Joey Dunlop,
riding number three for Honda.
COMMENTATOR: Hiscock at Braddan Bridge.
[ENGINE REVVING]
NARRATOR: The big, powerful machines were thirsty beasts,
and fuel stops by now were of major importance to the outcome.
A few vital seconds dropped here
could totally eliminate miles of flat-out riding.
But nothing ever seems to worry Joey.
The TT, this year, believe it or not,
I had no trouble at all,
especially the Formula One race.I could've rode around all day, I think.
[CHUCKLES] That was perfect.
NARRATOR: No trouble either at the start of the week
in '84 for Joey in the Formula One race.
But it was a different story
in the Senior and classic races
where Suzuki rider Rob McElnea did the double.
Oh, fantastic. Thanks, mate.
Yeah. Yeah.
It's nice to beat Honda now and then.
NARRATOR: Honda had their own cause
for celebration the following year
as they chased the win
that had eluded them since 1967.
Junior race saw Joey Dunlop
on an unfamiliar 250cc machine.
[INDISTINCT ANNOUNCEMENT ON PA]
INTERVIEWER: Well, you've taken the title
for Honda for the first time
since, what, 1967?
That must feel good.
I don't reckon if I ever knew that.
It really went in the 250.
I'm really pleased.
INTERVIEWER: You were looking for the Senior on Friday as well?
I hope it's easy.
[MAN LAUGHS]
NARRATOR: Easy or not, he won it.
And the Formula One race on the RVF Honda,
which was a real handful.
By now, the big bike classes
were no longer the domain
of two-stroke 500cc machines
with the Honda RVF 750 BForce
the bike to beat in the hands of Joey Dunlop,
and Senior race winner in 1986, Roger Burnett.
1987 and the Senior reduced to four laps,
but still plenty of time for Joey Dunlop
to prove his superiority.
However, a newcomer was waiting in the wings.
A young Scotsman called Steve Hislop,
who was to win the Formula 2 race
and prove he was a quick learner.
1988 was yet to be another record year for Joey Dunlop.
It all started with a win in the Formula One race.
Win number two came in the Junior.
And to round the week off, a win in Friday's Senior,
a new lap record and another hat-trick of victories.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
1989, and the Honda tradition
is proudly carried on by Steve Hislop,
who became one of the elite
to win three TTs in a week,
which as often happens in the Isle of Man,
started off brightly
and finished in darkness.
Hislop's new record of 121.34 miles an hour
will be remembered by all who saw and witnessed it.
The dark side of racing, too, was evident,
as five more riders lost their lives,
including two of the island's favorites,
Phil Mellor and Steve Henshaw.
The deaths stunned everyone,
but many believe Phil, Steve and others before them
would want their friends to continue racing in the sport
and the place they all loved.
Into the 1990s and Norton are back.
This year, a number of things had changed.
There were no Production races.
The sidecars conform to Formula 2 standards
and the Senior was for Formula One machines.
[ENGINES REVVING]
The second year for the Supersport 400 race
and an expected clash between Carl Fogarty
and a far from confident, Steve Hislop.
Yeah, I'm very happy now. I got the...
I've won the main one of the week, so I'll just be
sitting back and have a good ride,
I think, in this one.
Ah, I'll see how it goes. I hope it's quick enough.
I doubt it, but we'll see.
COMMENTATOR: And there's an amazing sight for the spectators.
Carl Fogarty, Jefferies, Leach and Hislop,
all together through the bend, with Leach starting to move up through the group.
[ENGINE REVVING]
And that order on the road and in the race remains
as the leaders pass through Ramsey on the final lap.
Carl Fogarty, Jefferies, Leach and Hislop,
with just 14 miles of the race left to run.
[ENGINE REVVING]
It's over the final time, they come out of Governor's
into view of the Grandstand.
And as they take the checkered flag, it's Fogarty
first over the line.
But Leach takes the title on the Yamaha by 8.2 seconds.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
NARRATOR: Next chance for Fogarty was the Junior,
which had now reverted to its original upper limits of 350ccs,
but still dominated by the super quick and easier-to-handle 250s.
The first Junior TT was held here in 1911,
but 14 years ago,
the capacity was reduced to 250cc.
Well, that decision was reversed in 1987.
Well, ironically, every Junior since
has been won by a 250 machine.
No.17, Ian Lougher, with a flying Yamaha
over Ballaugh Bridge and towards Sulby,
and another bridge and tight right-hander combined.
COMMENTATOR: It's Hislop.
He's just about to break the lap record
with a scorching 114.93 mph.
Hislop is flying as he passes through Brandywell
on the way down off the mountain.
Another lap record less than 20 minutes old.
[INDISTINCT ANNOUNCEMENT]
NARRATOR: Lougher too was really going for it
and isn't about to say, "After you."
On a flying last lap, Lougher takes the lap record
and the race from Hislop
and was pleasantly surprised at the finish.
I'm not sure if I'd won it when I came in, I just... [INDISTINCT]
Just kept going hard at it, you know.
NARRATOR: Hislop was naturally disappointed
to have been pipped at the post.
It's the way it goes.
I think, uh, I had a two-second lead
until I came into the pit.
They dropped the filler cap and that was it.
I'm never getting that.
I couldn't even get that two seconds back,
so...
[ENGINE REVVING]
NARRATOR: The Sidecar boys have had two races to go at since 1969,
and the current super chair men, Dave Saville and Nick Roche
with their 350cc powered Yamaha.
I tried to go as hard as I could to start with.
I wanted to be first to do a 100 mph lap officially, you know.
So... I know I got a signal
at Glen Helen on second lap and it said 100.
So, I was quite happy.
NARRATOR: The Supersport 600 race
and Steve Cull leads Johnny Rea,
Brian Morrison and Nick Jefferies around Ballacraine.
[ENGINE REVVING]
But away on his own over the Mountain
is race leader, Brian Reid,
like the others on a 600 Yamaha.
Around Governor's for the last time
and across the line for Brian Reid
to notch up his first win since 1986.
It was really good because, uh,
-you know, the first lap I was... -[KISSES]
I was eight seconds or something behind and...
And, you know, having to put in a big effort
to try and stay in contention,
but, uh, then after that I got a signal.
I was 33 seconds in front
and after that it was really just a matter of
trying to keep your concentration in.
[CLANKING]
NARRATOR: On now to 1991
and Joey Dunlop looks pensively over.
It's Steve Hislop's Honda out for another three wins.
[ENGINE REVVING]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
I have to get the first lap overpretty well.
First lap was...
but it's gonna take a wee bit getting used to.
Everybody's thinking, "Oh, yeah,he's gonna kick off this one
"and get his three wins."
But it'll still be a hard race, I think.
NARRATOR: The Mountain, and a fantastic sight for the fans,
as two of the island's experts show
just what racing on the TT circuit is all about.
-[ENGINES REVVING] -[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Across the line together, but it's a win for Hislop.
Yeah, it's nice to have settled in
and won... Like, that's my second hat-trick here
and I've equaled the late Mike Hailwood and Joey's doubles.
It was brilliant.
NARRATOR: 1992 and, as usual, a great week's racing,
culminating in Friday's Senior
and the clash between Carl Fogarty and Steve Hislop.
As always, both have time for their fans,
then it's down to business.
COMMENTATOR: So Fogarty gets underway on the 1992 Senior TT
on the 750 Yamaha.
Hislop knows he's got a lot of work to do to keep up with him,
but the Scot holds the lap record around this circuit
and in theory he is the quicker rider,
and in these perfect conditions for road racing,
it'll be interesting to see if that lap record goes.
As lap one progresses,
Fogarty is beginning to pull away from Hislop's Norton.
The two have started two-and-a-half minutes apart,
and it's not long before Fogarty at No.4
has passed everyone in front of him on the road.
The Yamaha's going sweetly after the problems on Saturday,
and the crowd are being treated to a real duel of champions.
By the end of lap 1, the gap has opened out
to 1.2 seconds.
First is Fogarty, second Hislop and third Robert Dunlop.
But Hizzy is settling in much better on the Norton
this time round.
The tension around the course is unbearable now.
Fogarty is beginning to close the gap
and Norton can see the possibility of victory
being snatched from them at the very last moment.
So Foggy crosses the line and the stopwatches start.
And then Hizzy's distinctive helmet
appears up the rise out of Governor's Bridge,
and it's the win that both Hislop and Norton
had been waiting for.
Hislop takes the Senior TT title.
Brilliant. It's a grand finale in my TT career.
We went in on the British bike and it's just brilliant.
NARRATOR: Meanwhile, a little bit of history is made
in the 125 race with Joey Dunlop
squirting the Honda to another win.
Well, it was a long time after I got hurt before... To get it.
[INDISTINCT] Now I got it, I'm quite happy.
I'm glad it's finished.
NARRATOR: Joey celebrates the fact he's now equaled
Mike Hailwood's record of 14 TT wins.
Now to see if a Dunlop
could beat the record in the Junior.
As the race progressed,
Joey latched on to brother Robert
and things looked promising.
But out to spoil the party was Brian Reid,
and when he reached the Gooseneck,
the board told him what he wanted to see.
He was leading by 12 seconds.
Oh, man.
I'm pleased. Oh.
I got a signal on the Mountain that it was down to me
and my second, too.
I really got to finger it coming down the Mountain.
Uh, I thought I had an oil leak 'cause my foot kept slipping
off the foot rest and the gear change
and I was a bit afraid of oil,
but I just had to forget about it.
[ENGINE REVVING]
NARRATOR: We move to 1993,
and the start of the much postponed Senior race,
which took place after many fans had left the island.
Things were still not ideal
as the race eventually got underway,
and from the start, it was obvious Phillip McCallen
was also in a hurry to leave the island.
[INDISTINCT COMMENTARY]
COMMENTATOR: He stopped. Is it a penalty? But he stopped.
NARRATOR: Consolation for No.3, Joey Dunlop.
His earlier win in the 125 race
had meant he was now the proud holder
of the record number of wins on the island.
But today's winner was most definitely McCallen
as he celebrated with Jefferies and Ward.
1994 and a familiar face in the paddock,
one of the Isle of Man's newer residents
and a great fan of the races.
Oh, very much.
I love the race thing no matter what day it is.
But on a wonderful, sunny, glorious day like this,
anybody who doesn't enjoy themselves is raving mad.
NARRATOR: The 125 race is now run in conjunction
with a special race for single-cylinder machines.
And fastest in practice
has been New Zealander Rob Holden,
who's No.4 on the 560cc Ducati,
one number ahead of big rival,
Glasgow's Jim Moodie, on a 660 Yamaha.
[INDISTINCT COMMENTARY]
As they streak around the island,
there's little to choose between the pair,
except that Moodie's extra 100cc's
may just give him the edge on the straights.
Next, the 125s and Mr. Dunlop is in a winning frame of mind
as he sets off in pursuit of Mick Lofthouse.
As Moodie and Holden catch up a slower rider,
things are a bit hectic.
Yeah, the pit stop definitely made the...
That made the race...
up until I was, uh... I was holding position
but I was trying to catch him on the road.
NARRATOR: A win for Moodie.
What about that coming together?
Yeah, we came up across a 125
in the middle of Governor's
and he bumped into Jim and then Jim hit me mid-shift.
I thought he was going to fall off for a second,
but he managed to save it.
It's just one of those things. Luckily, we both stayed on.
There's no hard feelings.
NARRATOR: The 125 race.
And yes, you've guessed it.
Win number 16 for Joey Dunlop.
I really enjoyed that.
Today's race was good.
INTERVIEWER: Did you think you were going to win by such a margin?
No, but once I pulled it a wee back,
I just sat there and looked at everybody else
and wait and see what was happening.
NARRATOR: Next away, the 250s in the Junior race
again combined, this time with the Supersport 400s.
Jim Moodie gets the 400s away, and he's in a class of his own
with a minute to spare over his nearest rival.
[INDISTINCT COMMENTARY]
Joey presses on towards the finish,
unaware that McCallen has run out of petrol behind him.
So it's a happy and somewhat relieved Joey
who answers the question he's always asked:
"What next?"
I'll retire. [CHUCKLES]
[LAUGHTER]
NARRATOR: And Production bike specialist Jim Moodie
takes his second win of the week.
Once I slowed down, I started feeling the pain in my hand,
in the back and everything, you know,
but while I was trying hard and concentrating
I couldn't really feel anything.
NARRATOR: 1996, and Shaun Harris
gets us right up to date
as he's first away in the F1 race.
Phillip McCallen with four wins to his name
and out for more.
A mile to go
and McCallen has the race in the bag.
It started to cut out after Ramsey.
I'd have thought it was running out of fuel,
so I thought, "Oh, no."
So I coasted and I changed up gear
really early and coasted just back in till we get the fuel.
Each time the bike cut out in stop box,
we sure knew there was something wrong,
but that wasn't me stalling the bike,
like people say. It just was cutting out
and wouldn't go again.
NARRATOR: Now the Lightweight and Joey's in a serious mood
and out to repeat last year's victory.
Behind Dunlop, Phillip McCallen
has got the bit between his teeth,
and there's little to separate them on time.
So it's still anyone's race.
And every second counts.
McCallen's frustration can be understood.
McCALLEN: Ah, shit, not again!
[ENGINE ROARING]
NARRATOR: Joey is super smooth as he flies out of Ramsey
to start the climb up the Mountain.
He gets a welcome sign at Ramsey Hairpin,
telling him he has a five-second lead.
But easing off is not in Joey's book of racing.
So it's flat out to the finish
and win number 20.
Two Sidecar races were testimony
to the skill and local knowledge of Manxman
Dave Molyneux.
Veteran Mick Boddice, who had a second
and third place last year, is out of luck this time.
And a bang and a puff of smoke tells passenger, Dave Wells,
he can relax and take things easy for a change.
[INDISTINCT ANNOUNCEMENT]
A final dash to the flag
and another celebration for Molyneux and Hill.
Now the smallest bikes of the week,
the 125s are in action.
Again, Joey at the remarkable age of 44 years,
throws the bike around like a teenager
as he chases yet another win for the record books.
With thick mist on the Mountain,
Joey's probably the only man in the race
who could possibly say he could ride around blindfolded.
[INDISTINCT ANNOUNCEMENT]
Some mist on the Mountain
and in many people's eyes, as Joey makes it 21 wins
in 21 years of island racing.
And it's hard to see how anyone will ever beat that record.
The singles race was another win for Jim Moodie,
who, once, he'd caught up with second man, Dave Morris,
on the BMW, decided to keep him company.
The Junior race was cut to three laps
because of the weather.
And hot favorite was that other Irish ace, Phillip McCallen,
on a 600cc Honda.
[ENGINE REVVING]
In no time at all, McCallen was threading his way
through those who'd started ahead of him
in that ceaseless quest to be first past the post,
the will to win that all great riders have above all else.
Up to the Gooseneck and past a startled Michael Rutter.
McCallen has things under control
and takes his second win of the week by 19 seconds.
Onto the big production machines now
and here comes Iain Duffus, Bob Jackson,
Michael Rutter and Ian Lougher.
Jim Moodie, one of the few Suzuki riders,
wobbles out of Kirk Michael,
followed by McCallen on the Honda.
On the Mountain, second man, Iain Duffus has caught Moodie.
And you don't want a close dice with a slower man
when every second counts.
McCallen now counting the miles to the finish
as he circulates for the last time,
and crosses the line to join the elites
for his third win of the week,
and then tells us he was taking things easy.
We didn't really mind as long as we were like within
two or three seconds of... of the leader
in the lead, in the first lap.
Then we could wind up the pace after that.
You've also got to be careful not to use up all your energy,
because we've another six laps to go in the Senior today.
NARRATOR: And now, the climax of the week, the Senior.
And if anyone could deny McCallen his place in history,
it's fellow countryman, Joey Dunlop.
Number 12, Phillip McCallen.
And the question on everyone's lips is, "Can he do it?"
No one has ever won four races in a week,
and the pressure, both mentally and physically,
must be tremendous.
Well, in under two hours, we'll all know the answer.
As McCallen nears the end of his first lap,
Phil's intentions are plain
as he closes on Pullen and Jackson.
In the pit, Joey gets away as McCallen manages to stall.
Maybe those nerves are beginning to tell.
Joey Dunlop in second place,
and soon McCallen is breathing down his neck.
Phillip, now ahead, and there's nothing Joey can do about it.
Or is there?
With a wise head on young shoulders and nearly a minute in hand,
McCallen lets him go to make sure
of a clear run back to the finish
and a place in the TT Hall of Fame.
And he does it,
to join all those other fine riders who've experienced
one of the greatest thrills on offer
to a racing motorcyclist.
1997, and the opening
of another chapter in TT racing.
Phillip McCallen sets off in the first event of the week,
the Formula One race,
and soon shows he means business.
COMMENTATOR 1: Here's the man, McCallen.
He doesn't look relaxed, does he?
I mean, he's definitely got his race face on.
COMMENTATOR 2: Yeah, Phillip's got
one of those real aggressive styles
with his elbows always out.
NARRATOR: On the Mountain, Joey tracks Michael Rutter.
Joey eventually slows, leaving Michael
to finish second to a philosophical McCallen.
McCALLEN: Different races you approach in different ways,
but I think yesterday my bike was the best bike out there.
and, uh, or equally the best, and, uh...
So I thought there couldn't be too many people
could go at a hot pace the whole way.
NARRATOR: The 250 now, and perhaps Joey's best chance of a win.
But there's one big problem,
number 11, McCallen.
Another rider who's been flying in practice, Ian Lougher.
The marshals stand aside as Joey screams through.
But as the stopwatches click around the island,
there's little to split these two supermen.
As Joey Dunlop goes across the mountain,
unofficially from Ramsey, they're saying
Dunlop is 51 seconds to the good over.
Gary Dynes in second place.
John McGuinness third, and Ian Lougher in fourth place.
Phillip McCallen has gone missing.
McCallen has fallen at Quarry Bends.
Fortunately, the only serious damage is to the bike.
So now there's nothing to stop Joey
taking his 22nd win
in his 22nd year on the island.
As usual, the sidecars have two races
in which to enjoy themselves.
And Rob Fisher nips by Roy Hanks at Ballacraine,
to lead on the road and in the race.
Mick Boddice has found a way back in front of Kenny Howles,
and now he leads going over the mountain.
This private battle going on for about 30 miles now,
but Howles has got other ideas.
But up front is Roy Hanks,
as Fisher retires and Roy gets his first victory
in 31 years of trying to win a TT.
Rob Fisher and Rick Long
make no mistake in the second race though,
and prove that without Dave Molyneux on the island
they're in a class of their own.
[EXCLAIMS]
Back to two wheels now and the 125cc Ultra-Lightweights.
50 seconds after Joey,
Brother, Robert Dunlop, squirts the little Honda
off towards Bray Hill.
Denis McCullough is leading Robert Dunlop
on time over the Mountain.
But up ahead, and going even quicker
and setting a new lap record is the eventual winner,
Ian Lougher.
Phil McCallen being chased and caught
by Scotsman, Ian Simpson.
McCallen is not one to take things lightly,
and pride's at stake as he repasses Ian.
But Simpson has the clock on his side,
but if he keeps Phillip in sight, he's won.
Yeah, I knew I had to really go for it the first ten miles,
'cause you can make or lose the race there.
So I went for it absolutely as hard as I could
from the word go and it paid off.
NARRATOR: Line astern becomes line abreast
as Friday's shortened Production race
finally gets under way.
Mark Flynn, a little cross-threaded.
An almost fully fit McCallen shows true form
as he reverses Wednesday's positions
and pushes Ian Simpson's Ducati back to second place
and feels he's proved a point.
It was a bit of a let down on Wednesday.
It was even more of a let down on Monday by sliding off,
so I think I've repaid them all a little bit this morning.
NARRATOR: TT '98 was said to be a huge festival of entertainment
as Honda celebrated its 50th birthday.
And it's Ian Simpson,
No.12 at the start of the Formula One race
that heralded a wet week on Motors Isle.
The race was reduced to four laps
and just about everyone has treaded tires.
In the pit, Simpson changes wheels and helmet
as the team tells him he's lying second,
a position which is to improve
as he goes on to win the opening race.
Now, just look at the changing conditions for the Lightweights.
In some of the worst ever racing conditions,
who would you put your money on?
Of course, none other than Joey Dunlop,
who knows this circuit better than anyone.
[INDISTINCT ANNOUNCEMENT]
But even Joey can't be enjoying this
as he splashes past at the end of lap one,
deciding not to refuel this time around.
Joey, gingerly, around Quarter and Braddan Bridges,
and his decision not to stop at the pits is justified,
as the organizers cut the race to two laps.
And with Joey out on his own by some 42 seconds,
it means he's got his 23rd win,
thanks, in part, to the conditions.
I had a wee bit of trouble when I got in... it slides
and no way you could get in the wet.
You know, I was afraid to lose me hand,
but it was all right.
[CROWD CHEERING]
NARRATOR: A happy family moment before returning to work.
Better conditions at last for the Ultra-Lightweight.
Joey heads a Dunlop sandwich with Bill Hutchinson,
the meat in the middle.
No hint of brotherly love here
as the two injured Dunlops battle it out.
On this occasion, it's Robert who comes out on top.
And I spoke to Joey before the race,
and I said, "Would you get out of Robert's way?"
And he said, " Absolutely out of the question."
ROBERT: I knew that broken right tibia
was the biggest problem in there.
I knew that riding the bike wouldn't be as critical,
you know, as your upper body,
if something was wrong with that.
So my collarbone was only a hairline fracture,
which was very good,
and I got a lot of fuzzy on, a lot of laser treatment
on both me collarbone and me broken legs,
so it really has paid off.
NARRATOR: Because of the weather,
there's only one Sidecar race this week,
so there's a lot at stake,
not least, double the prize money,
as Dave Molyneux, an absentee last year,
sets off towards Braddan Bridge.
Dave and passenger, Doug Jewell,
are soon throwing themselves into the action at Braddan.
Tom Hanks with Steve Wilson in the chair,
and out of it.
No doubt thinking up a friendly remark for Tom,
if he ever catches him up.
There may be only one race,
but what a race it would prove to be.
Dave Molyneux with virtually a brand-new bike
and a new passenger,
used the first lap to run them both in,
and then just went faster and faster
to come from 6th to 1st,
eventually winning by over a minute
from Kenny Howles and Gary Horspole.
Honda's party week was slightly spoiled
by Dave Morris' BMW in the singles.
But things were soon back to normal
in the wet and shortened Junior race.
COMMENTATOR: Through Ramsey, Michael Rutter is the man.
Rutter is the leader,
and I think you're right, Steve,
that Ian Simpson has definitely been held up with that
by racing the people around him
instead of racing his signboards
and his stopwatch.
NARRATOR: Paul Dedman is the best of the rest,
but at the finish, it's Rutter by a mere six seconds.
I can't believe I won one at last.
You know, I've always wanted to win a TT and I've finally done it.
So I'm just so happy for Motorcycle City and Honda
and everyone who's helped me, really.
NARRATOR: Now he's won one, he wants more,
but Jim Moodie has other ideas
as Friday's Production race gets into gear.
David Jefferies on the leading Yamaha,
but it's Honda's 100th win as Moodie sweeps the CBR900 to victory.
[IMPERCEPTIBLE]
Six laps, 220 miles, the Senior,
and Phillip McCallen takes his role as manager too seriously
as he tries to hold back Michael Rutter.
As Bob Jackson gets away,
he has a noticeably bigger tank on the Kawasaki,
aiming for a single-stop strategy.
Simpson, Moodie, Rutter.
In the pits, Bob Jackson plays his ace card,
but sadly, there's a joker in the pack
as the filler cap refuses to play the game.
COMMENTATOR: Oh, no. The cap won't go in on the fuel tank.
And it's getting away. Oh, no.
NARRATOR: Simpson through.
And the precious lead has disappeared.
What terrible luck for Jackson.
-[INDISTINCT CHATTER] -MAN: Go, go!
[ENGINE REVVING]
NARRATOR: Try as he might, it's impossible to make up lost time,
and Simpson crosses the line to win.
While Bob tells us what we can do
with this filler cap.
[INDISTINCT TALKING]
A great sight looking down on the start of the Formula One race in 1999,
as the riders set off for Bray Hill.
An early reminder of the dangers facing these brave riders
as Paul Orritt gets into a real tank slapper.
COMMENTATOR 1: Oh! COMMENTATOR 2: John, look at this!
COMMENTATOR 1: This is Paul Orritt! Paul Orritt in a big tank slapper
at the bottom of Bray Hill and into the bank at the side of Bray Hill
and the marshals ducking out of the way there.
NARRATOR: The marshals act quickly,
and with so much debris around,
the race is stopped.
Happily, Orritt's got away with a few broken bones.
A pensive Joey Dunlop awaits the restart, but it's not so long.
As he aviates into view, the race is definitely on.
Iain Duffus on the V&M Honda.
He's quickly followed by David Jefferies.
Both riders, eager to prove a point to the Honda factory.
The finish now, and it's David Jefferies for his first TT win.
The first for Yamaha for some time,
and probably a more personal satisfaction...
A win over a certain Joey Dunlop.
JEFFERIES: Unbelievable.
I'm just over the moon. [LAUGHS]
MAN: And you've beaten the best, too.
I mean, that was the top man, the king.
Oh, yeah, that was, uh that was pretty special.
This is pretty special.
NARRATOR: The king is soon back in his kingdom.
Joey fights it out with Gary Dynes.
But out front is John McGuinness, number four,
being trailed by Gavin Lee, number one.
Second spot in this 250 race goes to Jason Griffiths.
Sunshine and sidecars,
a perfect combination as last year's winner, Dave Molyneux
flies into view.
It's thumbs up from Craig Hallam,
but perhaps a little premature,
as an oil filter is about to end their race.
This leaves Fisher and Long overall winners from Bell and Carpenter.
A smaller bike, a higher pitch, with the same determination
as Ian Lougher screams the 125 Honda away from the start line.
And Joey Dunlop's bad luck continues as he desperately fiddles with his fuel cap.
Brother Robert provides Ian Lougher with the perfect slipstream,
but Ian's not hanging around,
and shoots by to win.
Another victor, Dave Morris on the BMW single.
It's all go, as we quickly move to the Junior TT.
COMMENTATOR: This is the battle in.
Not that it counts too much, because Moodie's in front, not on the road.
Iain Duffus has just gone past, but Moodie on bike number 5
starting way behind.
Duffus on the road.
So, therefore, he is the man that leads this race.
NARRATOR: So as Iain Duffus and Jim Moodie head for the finish line,
it's going to be a win for Moodie.
But an incredible last lap by David Jefferies
moves him up from sixth to second.
Jefferies, number four, at the start of the Production race.
This time, he's not going to leave it to the last minute.
In the pits, and mum Pauline cleans and counts for Dave,
the latest in a long line of Jefferies to grace the TT circuit.
Granddad Allan, Father Tony, and Uncle Nick, a few bays down.
Back to the action.
Dave Jefferies is having fun, if you can call it that,
with his V&M teammate Iain Duffus.
[INDISTINCT COMMENTARY]
At the line, Jefferies is on his own,
Duffus, out of fuel, a mile from the flag
to give Dave his second win of the week.
Now, he's out for a third.
And the Yamaha looks jet propelled
as Dave powers up Ago's Leap.
On the Mountain, another rider who's really flying,
Jim Moodie on the aging RC45 Honda.
It doesn't stop him from breaking the outright TT lap record
as he hits 124 miles an hour,
then hits trouble on lap two and retires.
David Jefferies, looking as though he's ridden here all his life,
and the fans have a new hero to worship.
Teammate Duffus is lying second
and number ten is Ian Lougher on the leading Honda.
As Dave Jefferies comes off the Mountain, he's already celebrating.
And that front wheel, looks like it's staying up until the finish line.
[CROWD APPLAUDING]
I didn't have a rep counter the whole race, either.
Pulled up on the start line. The rep counter just sat in that position
the whole race. Didn't move.
So, I was guessing gear changes and things.
But it's worked well.
NARRATOR: Into the year 2000,
and Joey Dunlop looking fit and ready for yet another TT.
COMMENTATOR 1: There's Joey's board.
[COMMENTATOR 2 CHUCKLING]
COMMENTATOR 2: It gets two points for being that far ahead, obviously.
COMMENTATOR 1: We are on lap six.
This is Ramsey Hairpin.
Nice and gentle, Joey.
-Don't burn it out. -COMMENTATOR 2: He doesn't...
No need. He makes up his time on the fast no-name corner.
NARRATOR: The legend goes on and on,
as wins 25 and 26 were quick to follow.
First, the 250,
and now, the 125.
With victory comes honor.
This time, it's the Ireland Sword of State.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[ENGINE REVS]
Someone else who's becoming a familiar face on the rostrum
is three-wheel ace Rob Fisher, and his passenger, Rick Long.
Once again, they're in a class of their own,
winning both Sidecar races.
Wonderful. What more can I say?
A double at TT 2000.
NARRATOR: From a man with two wins to a man with three already,
as Joey sets off in the Junior TT on the CBR Honda.
Here's the Yamaha challenge, and Dave Jefferies is all aggression
as he forces more speed from the machine,
and nothing's gonna stop him notching up his first win of the week.
It's still raining as the thrice-delayed Production race,
now reduced to just two laps, finally gets under way.
Number one, Richard "Milky Bar Kid" Quayle,
sets off on the demon Vimto Honda,
where, just look at what awaits him.
The oil flag is somewhat superfluous.
Dave Jefferies splashes into the lead.
But it's a nightmare for the riders
who must be hoping for the red flag,
but no.
Just look what it's like for the riders.
Aquaplaning at 150 miles an hour isn't fun,
as Jefferies launches, literally, into lap two.
[CROWD APPLAUDING]
Mercifully, DJ circulates safely once more,
and the wheelie is more one of relief than celebration.
JEFFERIES: Yeah, it was fairly scary, that race, I must admit it.
The conditions are absolutely horrendous.
A lot of standing water about.
I mean, certain, by the end of the Mountain Mile, that lap was getting wheelspins.
You know, the speed of 140 miles an hour
and the back wheel's still spinning.
So, it's pretty scary.
NARRATOR: But now it's sunshine and smiles before the final race of 2000,
the postponed Senior.
COMMENTATOR: Well, we're gonna be counting this,
now we're in the Governor's.
It's all about if Dave Jefferies gets this right.
This could be a new lap record.
He's looking so very quick now,
and he's coming down the Glencrutchery Road.
The clock is ticking, and I can tell you, it's so close!
David Jefferies over the line and he gets a new lap record,
and it's 125 miles an hour.
Eighteen minutes to get around here.
What a hero David Jefferies is.
To be the fastest man around and the first man at 125,
it's... it's pretty special.
NARRATOR: Hardly had the last few fans left the island
when the racing world was shocked to hear of the death of Joey Dunlop,
killed whilst racing in Estonia.
Much has been said and written in tribute to Joey.
Suffice to say, the legend will live forever.
No TT races in 2001.
The island's restrictions against foot-and-mouth disease, which was sweeping Britain,
meant the cancelation of the event,
but the following year saw the return of racing
And TT hero, Dave Jefferies, on a new powerful machine.
COMMENTATOR: David Jefferies.
Well, the TAS Suzuki has got to be the bike to beat, I reckon, Julian,
because that machine has absolutely been flying throughout the world
on the road courses.
JULIAN: We shall see. Will it survive the unique rigors
of the Isle of Man Mountain circuit?
It's the GSX-R1000 that he's talking about there.
And DJ, he won here with a Yamaha the last time we came here.
This time it's a Suzuki, effectively a factory Suzuki.
COMMENTATOR: And those weren't his prizes, should he win this particular race.
The number one bike gets the Union Jack,
and away goes David Jefferies off the line.
He was fastest in qualifying practice.
Second place man, Jim Moodie, on the line.
That's going to be a battle on the V&M Yamaha,
especially considering the toing and froing between these men.
David Jefferies started signing for the V&M team,
ends up with the TAS Suzuki.
There goes Adrian Archibald now.
This is our curve cam at the bottom of Bray Hill.
JULIAN: Whoa.
COMMENTATOR: Guess it's a... Ah, what a sight! DJ on his way.
And how this track changes as you change elevation,
and start on the flat of the Mountain, they're up on the top part of it now.
We're watching David Jefferies.
JULIAN: Leading the way in all senses.
COMMENTATOR: Dave Jefferies, when he's got his act together here,
he's just absolutely majestic.
Lougher has gone through eight seconds adrift of McGuinness.
So McGuinness is 11 seconds down on
Jefferies' the race leader, Ian Lougher eight seconds further down.
Well, looking at lap record, TT Formula One lap record
still held by Steve Hislop...
JULIAN: That's gonna go if he walks.
COMMENTATOR: Well, that's exactly right.
Back in 1991, over 10 years ago.
JULIAN: DJ comes into the pits again.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
A quick drink.
COMMENTATOR: He's asked if everything's all right.
Jefferies looking good.
JEFFERIES: Thank you.
COMMENTATOR: Will you ease off now when you've got a 64-second advantage,
or you're still going to rev the back side of it?
Oh, just keep going like we normally go.
COMMENTATOR: Technical term there from Dave.
More than that, rev the back side of it.
He has a massive, massive lead at the moment over McGuinness.
JULIAN: Here's the checkered flag.
COMMENTATOR: Now, it's only a question about how much he beat them by.
NARRATOR: In the end, it was 35 seconds over John McGuinness.
Jefferies' Suzuki sticking in third gear
for the final run from Ramsey.
Despite that, he set a new race record.
Win number two for the week came in the Production 1000cc race,
setting the fastest lap of more than 124 miles an hour.
He completed the hat-trick in the Senior
to take his total of TT wins to nine,
equaling that of Agostini,
who presented him with the trophy.
He also upped the lap record to 127.29 miles an hour.
[ALL CHEERING]
Dave Molyneux and Colin Hardman
started the first Sidecar race as number one.
But it was Rob Fisher and Rick Long,
who took over the position on the road.
Molyneux's passenger Hardman was carrying a hand injury,
and it was obvious it was slowing them down.
Fisher took the win, his ninth,
equaling the all-time-record of Sidecar victories
and his chance to make it ten came a few days later.
Conditions were perfect, and so too was the Cumbrian,
as he crossed the line 14 seconds ahead of Molyneux,
to make it five TT triumphs in a row.
The fans have been thrilled by the sight of the two machines
as they tussled around the course.
Undoubtedly, the top two TT Sidecar drivers of modern times.
I can't believe it. Like, I said before
the first race, I thought Ian was going to be the man.
And again, before this race,
but they said to get me head down and go for it.
And plus, Molyneux stuck with it,
so it made it for a bit of a spot,
so that was kind of interesting.
But all in all, a very good race, enjoyed it.
NARRATOR: In the solos, a heart-stopping moment for Nigel Davies
in the Production 1000 race.
He escaped relatively unscathed.
Meanwhile, Jim Moodie racked up TT win number eight
in the Junior race.
Jefferies and McGuinness, his nearest challengers,
both retired early on, but Jim had it in the bag by then.
Ian Lougher took the honors in the 125,
grabbing the lead on lap three of the race from James Crumpton,
who was hoping to celebrate his 33rd birthday in style.
Meanwhile, Lougher made it win number two for the week,
smashing the lap record on his way to victory
in the Production 600 race.
And the last ever 250 TT race
was won by a Kiwi, Bruce Anstey,
his first win around the island.
While there was no bigger smile than that of Richard "Milky Bar Kid" Quayle,
winner of the 400 class
and the first Manxman to win a TT
since Neil Kelly in 1967.
From one of the high points of TT racing to one of its lowest.
Practice week 2003, and David Jefferies sets off
for what would be the last time on a motorcycle.
The session was stopped for almost half an hour,
following an accident at Crosby.
As the riders returned to the Grandstand,
it became apparent motorcycle racing had lost
one of its best and most loved characters.
The sport had been rocked.
But while some question the need to go on,
most felt they had to.
I have to go back out, you know, I mean...
Obviously, Dave would want me to be back out there, 100%,
hanging out and doing what we all love, you know.
And, uh...
You know, I've got big commitments towards my team,
and I'm sure if I told them I was pulling out,
you know, they'd accept it.
But I'm going to carry on.
You know, I was having fun out there, and everything was going great.
When racing's going great, it's fantastic.
When it's going bad, it's...
It's terrible. And...
You know, and our thoughts can only go out to Dave and his family.
Um...
And everything else.
NARRATOR: Somewhat fittingly,
Jefferies' Suzuki teammate, Adrian Archibald,
won both the Formula One and Senior races.
2003 saw the return of a famous British manufacturer to the TT...
Triumph, had three riders gunning for glory in the Junior race.
COMMENTATOR: What is this man's time going to be on his way in?
We'll have to wait and see.
But it's gonna be Bruce Anstey's race, and no mistake.
Out of Governor's Dip, onto the Glencrutchery Road,
Bruce Anstey is going to win his first TT
and the Junior race here.
2003, it belongs to Bruce Anstey.
Well, what a superb race.
Triumph are back after 27 years.
NARRATOR: In 2004, a new TT legend was about to emerge in the Isle of Man.
John McGuinness had three wins to his name prior to this year,
and he was about to add to that in dominating fashion.
COMMENTATOR: Here's the man who was quick in practice, John McGuinness.
McGuinness is absolutely flying already.
He said he's going to try and get a cracking lap in here
if he can, straight from the start.
As soon as he rode that motorcycle,
he couldn't ride it on the Saturday, he didn't arrive
in time for Saturday's practice.
They had to wait until he rode it on Monday,
but he had a smile right across his face.
[INDISTINCT COMMENTARY]
John McGuinness, 17:43,
127, under the lap record from a standing start.
So McGuinness is riding this Yamaha, racing this Yamaha
for the very first time.
NARRATOR: McGuinness broke the lap record set by close pal Jefferies,
recording a speed of 127.68 miles an hour,
and more was to come.
In the Sidecar races,
Dave Molyneux and Dan Sayle dominated both events.
They broke the lap record, pushing the limit to 111 miles an hour,
while Moly equaled Rob Fisher's record of ten TT victories.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Meanwhile, it was the end of the road for the 125s at the TT.
Robert, this could be your very last ever TT race.
Yeah, I would say it will be.With the demise of the 125s now,I won't be back, you know,
to race anyway.
NARRATOR: What followed was to prove to be a fascinating race
between Dunlop and Chris Palmer, who was on bike number one.
Four of Dunlop's five previous TT victories
had come in this category,
and he was certainly many people's tip to win this one.
In the same race, it was also the final outing for the 400s.
John McGuinness was the pre-race favorite
and looked very much on it as he made his way down Bray Hill.
Robert Dunlop's hopes of signing off from the TT with a win
were dashed, as he had to settle for second place
behind former British 125 champion, Chris Palmer.
And John McGuinness made it win number two for the week.
The man from Morecambe also fancied his chances in the 1000cc Production race.
COMMENTATOR: It is Bruce Anstey in the lead.
Ian Lougher there is third with Jason Griffiths.
John McGuinness is in second place by one second.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
NARRATOR: The pit stop's proving to be just as crucial in the outcome of the race.
COMMENTATOR: Front man already at Governor's,
and just unwinding the last few hundred yards
of this three-lap, 112-mile race.
So it is John McGuinness that's going to take the checkered flag on the road
from Ian Lougher and Bruce Anstey.
But it's gonna be Bruce Anstey, who wins the 2004 1000cc Production race today.
NARRATOR: Further drama was to come in the Junior TT.
McGuinness and Moodie were teammates at Triumph for this race last year,
but now, the wily Scot was John's mentor at Yamaha.
Steady with the fuel, lads. Seventeen seconds on Anstey.
COMMENTATOR: Another new lap record.
It was 18:30, did 18:29 from a standing start
and foot down in the box, 18:25.
NARRATOR: McGuinness made it a hat-trick, and with two races still to go,
not many were backing against him from making it five.
Junior TT celebration time,
Bruce Anstey and Jason Griffiths also on the podium.
Win number four didn't come in the Production 600 race.
Instead, that went to Ryan Farquhar, his first ever TT victory.
-[FARQUHAR LAUGHS] -[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Absolutely brilliant.
You know, I'm saying that it hasn't really sunk in yet.
You know, so far, it's better than the disappointments I've had all week.
You know, I just can't believe it,
getting my first TT win after the bad luck we've had,
but this makes up for it.
NARRATOR: Finally, the big one, the Senior TT, a strong field,
but the favorite was John McGuinness,
still looking for a record-equaling fourth win in a week.
I really, really want it, you know,
uh, that's from the side of the week,
you know, I really want to win the big one.
Senior is always the blue ribbon race,
you know, uh... Bike's capable of doing it.
Condition's a little bit windy, but I'm gonna be off like...
startled rabbit in the beginningand try and do the business, yeah.
NARRATOR: Adrian Archibald was the first bike away
and the winner of this race the year before,
but he'd had a disappointing week so far,
and there were few who fancied his chances in this one,
especially with the red-hot form of many of his rivals.
COMMENTATOR 1: And I think this is John McGuinness reeling in, isn't it?
Is he catching Ian Lougher...
COMMENTATOR 2: There's Lougher, and Lougher in the breaking area at the moment.
Wait for McGuinness to come slithering in behind him.
COMMENTATOR 1: Oh, "slithering" is the right word.
Oh, well. Very deep.
At Sulby John McGuinness out-braked himself a little bit there.
Meanwhile, flip-flopping the best of the day...
COMMENTATORS: John McGuinness...
COMMENTATOR 1: Well, what a fantastic view of John McGuinness,
and the circuit which he has conquered
three times already this week.
Absolutely breathtaking, and picturesque view.
That's what the Isle of Man TT challenge is really all about.
McGuinness leads it by some 21 seconds
from Adrian Archibald and Ian Lougher.
As they come into the pit,
but it's all very relaxed here for all of them.
Archibald gets away first, and that's John McGuinness coming to a halt.
That is John McGuinness in Kirk Michael
and he is looking for somewhere to park the Yamaha.
COMMENTATOR 2: While I just wonder whether his pit stop is indicative of that,
I wonder whether they had some kind of a problem,
and that's why they were a few seconds longer in the pits,
they were trying to cure something perhaps,
but he looks upset there.
Did you see that little bit of emotion from John McGuinness?
Blisters on his hands, and he can see our chopper.
COMMENTATOR 1: It's Archibald, Anstey,
Carswell, Chris Heath, Martin Finnegan,
and then, Mark Parrett, so it's all changed
in the final few miles of this TT course,
and they're waving to Adrian Archibald
as he comes down off the hill.
Here's the flag.
Archibald then.
NARRATOR: However, everything fell into place for the Northern Irishman.
Glorious weather again greeted the competitors for 2005,
and John McGuinness was poised to add to his collection of TT trophies.
The first race of the week,
the Formula One had undergone a facelift,
and was now known as TT Superbike.
No prizes for guessing who won this one.
COMMENTATOR 1: He may not have had much luck on short circuits this year,
but he's made up for it this afternoon
as he carries the front wheel of the Yamaha
towards the checkered flag
to win the first ever TT Superbike race.
He won this race last year when it was the Formula One,
and he's done it again this year.
[ENGINE REVVING]
NARRATOR: McGuinness had dominated practice for the Superstock race,
but it wasn't to be his day.
He failed to finish the four laps.
That left Suzuki teammates, Bruce Anstey and Adrian Archibald
to battle it out.
A lap record and a quick pit stop
gave Archibald a 14-second advantage.
But as they started the final lap, this happened.
COMMENTATOR: Adrian Archibald! It could only be petrol.
NARRATOR: He ran out of fuel just a few miles from home,
and that left Bruce Anstey
to cruise to TT career win number four.
The popular and highly competitive 600cc class
got two races this year.
An the first was a real cliffhanger.
Ryan Farquhar headed a procession of half a dozen riders
separated by just a few seconds on the opening lap,
with Ian Lougher leading.
By the fuel stops at the end of lap two,
it was advantage Farquhar.
But then his Kawasaki began to overheat.
He was out, and Lougher celebrated
21 years at the TT in style.
COMMENTATOR: He's on course now for TT win number seven,
and it's gonna be a very popular one as well.
NARRATOR: Race 2 was another thriller.
First, Adrian Archibald, began to slow.
John McGuinness retired,
then Bruce Anstey,
Ian Lougher...
and Richard Britton,
leaving Farquhar with an 18-second advantage
over Jason Griffiths.
[CROWD CHEERING]
-Hey... -[LAUGHS]
NARRATOR: In the sidecars, Dave Molyneux and Dan Sayle
recorded the first ever three-wheel lap below 20 minutes
with an average speed of more than 115 miles an hour.
They smashed the lap record twice in practice.
And even though their dominance was ended with engine problems
in the first race won by Nick Crowe and Darren Hope,
in race two, they set successive records on the opening two laps
and just scraped under the 60-minute mark for the whole race.
It was Dave Molyneux's 11th TT victory.
[CROWD CHEERING]
The week was rounded off with John McGuinness
at last winning the Senior TT.
COMMENTATOR: But, uh, John McGuinness, nice and easy for him.
All he's gotta do is follow Ian Lougher across the line.
But he's not just gonna do that.
Picks up the front wheel of the Yamaha,
carries it past Andy Fern with the checkered flag.
[CROWD CHEERING]
[INDISTINCT]
A dramatic practice week in 2006
with Dave Molyneux crashing out of the event
following this big smash,
shortly after Rhencullen.
The Honda was totaled.
But thankfully Moly and passenger Craig Hallam
escaped with very little injuries.
Their demise left the way clear
for Nick Crowe and Darren Hope to win both races
and take their overall TT tally to three.
[CAPTIVATING INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PLAYING]
John McGuinness was back with Honda.
And he romped to the by now customary Superbike win
with the six-lap race distance reinstated.
Bruce Anstey won again at the TT,
this time powering the Suzuki to top spot
in the 1,000cc Superstock race.
While McGuinness made it win number two in the Supersport Junior,
adding a 600cc victory to his collection,
of which already included number ones on 250,
400, singles, and 1,000cc bikes,
a remarkable and versatile record.
A chance of a third in the week came in the Senior.
COMMENTATOR 1: Senior TT time then.
And this guy, well, he's the man to beat.
COMMENTATOR 2: He is definitely the man to beat,
and he's trying to put Honda back on top of the podium.
They haven't won a big bike race on the Isle of Man
since the year 2000.
That was Joey Dunlop.
But John McGuinness seems to be able to increase the pace...
-Oh! -COMMENTATOR 2: Oh! Disaster! The McAdoo Kawasaki.
Oh! Ian Hutchinson is out. And he did not deserve that.
COMMENTATOR 3: Lougher's being caught by Cameron Donald.
COMMENTATOR 2: Cameron Donald's absolutely flying, quite literally.
COMMENTATOR 1: 129 miles an hour.
So he has done a lap record again.
John McGuinness is absolutely right on the case.
COMMENTATOR 2: 17 minutes and 29 seconds. So it wasn't very different.
It took him a second to slow down
from whatever speed you're doing along Glencrutchery Road there.
At least 120, I would have thought.
This has definitely been, uh, John McGuinness' year
at the Isle of Man.
When we look back on 2006,
it's just gonna be another one of those total dominations.
We have had different winners this week, we have to say.
'Cause Bruce Anstey won the Superstock.
Well, apart from that, it has been
John McGuinness, John McGuinness, John McGuinness.
And he's about to do it again.
COMMENTATOR 1: Great week for Honda.
HM Plant Honda put a lot of effort in.
It's a great team. Very well coordinated indeed.
But McGuinness at Governor's now for the last time.
What a way to finish the week.
The Senior TT, the Junior Supersports TT,
and of course the opening race of the week as well.
McGuinness, three out of three. Superb.
Absolutely in control. It's almost as you say, Keith,
he's casual, isn't he? He comes up to the line,
and he really doesn't look like a bloke who's in a race at all.
And there it is. Over the line he goes.
NARRATOR: McGuinness, one of an elite club
that includes Mike Hailwood, Joey Dunlop, Steve Hislop,
Phil McCallen, and Dave Jefferies,
who have all won three or more TTs in a week.
I'm just absolutely over the moon, excited.
It was real special, uh, to lap in that speed.
It was incredible, and, you know,
the... the TT this year just seems to have had a lift.
You know, the weather's been fantastic.
Everybody will want to come out to TT '07 I'm sure.
NARRATOR: The fans turned up in their tens of thousands
for 2007, the Centenary year,
to celebrate 100 years of racing at the Isle of Man TT.
First race of the week was the Superbikes.
Not only were the fans back in numbers,
but so too some riders
who hadn't graced the Mountain Course in a while.
One of them, and making history
by being the first man away, was Michael Rutter.
His first time back at the TT in seven years.
A winner back in 1998, but up against some very strong opposition.
The likes of Guy Martin, Ian Hutchinson,
Martin Finnegan, Ian Lougher, Ryan Farquhar, Steve Plater,
and of course, the current King of the Mountain, John McGuinness.
The event had its share of spills as well as thrills.
Paul Hunt parting company with his Yamaha R1 at Kerrowmoar.
Just slight injuries for the local rider.
The new look Brandish was certainly a faster
more flowing corner, almost flat out, fifth gear,
and certainly making a lap of the circuit quicker
than it was before.
TT regular Mark Parrett was another faller in this one.
Coming off at Cruickshank's in Ramsey,
hitting the air fence, and ending up in the garden.
Again, rider was okay.
On the racetrack, it was business as usual for John McGuinness
as he and the HM Plant Honda led the race.
Race one of the week, and a first victory for John McGuinness,
ahead of teammate Ian Hutchinson
and fierce rival Guy Martin.
As John McGuinness notched up TT victory number 12,
Dave Molyneux was also looking to match that total in the Sidecars.
Molyneux was back at the TT,
having missed out on racing the previous year,
following his huge crash in practice.
And things didn't start too well for him and passenger Rick Long,
as they were passed by Nick Crowe and Dan Sayle.
[ENGINE REVVING]
Former World Champion Klaus Klaffenbock
had made his TT debut back in 2004.
But hadn't had the best of luck since then.
This year was to be no different.
Then drama, as race leader Nick Crowe
retired at Sulby with a broken gearbox.
And it meant John Holden and Andy Winkle
now led on the opening lap.
Despair for Klaffenbock, his fourth retirement in six TT races.
A dramatic race concluded
with Holden leading by four seconds on the final lap.
But Molyneux overturning that advantage
to take the flag with a six-and-a-half second cushion.
One of the closest finishes to a Sidecar race at the TT.
So it's win number 12 for Molyneux.
The delayed Superstock TT race was held over to Tuesday, June the 5th,
and was over four laps of the Snaefell Mountain Course.
Bruce Anstey, looking to continue his dominance of this category,
and looking to seal his fourth consecutive
1,000cc Production TT victory.
Ryan Farquhar may have been first on the road,
he was also one of the first to retire
when he ran out of fuel due to the blustery conditions,
a fate which also befell Guy Martin.
MV Agusta were back at the TT.
The dominance of their golden age behind them,
but Martin Finnegan was reliving
old glories as he held fourth place.
As the checkered flag was waived,
it was New Zealand's Bruce Anstey
who made it four out of four in this class,
and TT career win number six.
John McGuinness may be the current King of the Mountain,
but Bruce Anstey is certainly the dark prince.
Away from the racetrack, and the Red Arrows were back
as part of the Centenary celebrations.
Which also included a Battle of Britain Memorial fly-past
as the island bounced to the entertainment.
[ROCK MUSIC PLAYING]
[INDISTINCT COMMENTARY]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[ENGINE REVVING]
NARRATOR: Back to business, and next it was the turn of the Supersport TT, the 600s.
And local hopes resting with Conor Cummins
as he blasted his way past the Grandstand
and toward Bray Hill.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER OVER PA]
Bruce Anstey was the early front runner,
but his lead evaporated during the pit stop.
COMMENTATOR: Taking a bit of time to fire.
Is it gonna fire?
He's halfway down pit lane.
It's not fired at all.
It's not fired!
[INDISTINCT COMMENTARY]
[ENGINE REVVING]
NARRATOR: McGuinness and Hutchinson scrapped over first place.
At one stage, there was less than three seconds between them.
But this time it was Hutchinson who took the spoils
for his first TT win.
And just four years since he won the Manx Grand Prix Newcomers Race
again on a 600.
Bruce Anstey would finish fourth, and would have won
if he hadn't lost that time in the pits.
The second and final Sidecar race of Centenary year,
and more drama with Dave Molyneux changing the dashboard unit
following an electric failure
just minutes before the start of the race.
His cause helped by a 15-minute delay
caused by a stray dog wandering onto the circuit.
At number two, and just behind him on the road, Nick Crowe,
Klaffenbock's luck went from bad to worse,
retiring at Union Mills on lap two.
The Austrian's outfit suffering engine failure.
So yet another DNF for the former World Champions.
Meanwhile, there was further drama just up the road.
Nick Crowe also suffering engine failure
when his machine expired at the top of Ballahutchin Hill
just outside Union Mills,
and that left the way open for Molyneux
to go in search of win number 13.
Who would have thought that a dog could change TT history?
Because that's what happened.
If it hadn't strayed onto the course,
then Dave Molyneux would not have started this race,
and he wouldn't be winning his 13th TT
of a long and distinguished career.
It's a re-writing of the record books
as Molyneux becomes the most successful TT Sidecar competitor
of all time.
[CHEERING]
Expectation was high ahead of the blue riband event,
the Senior TT.
There'd been lap records in each solo race.
But could anyone break the magical 130 mile an hour lap?
Conditions were perfect as the first riders hit the road,
with McGuinness, like Molyneux,
also looking for TT win number 13.
For Bruce Anstey, TT '07 ended early
when he retired at the end of lap one.
There was to be more drama in the pits
as first, Guy Martin, struggled with a fuel cap,
which refused to go back in.
While Michael Rutter couldn't get his Kawasaki to fire up.
The time for the first lap was just four-and-a-half seconds short
of an average speed of 130 miles an hour.
That was from a standing start.
And at the end of lap two, McGuinness had done it.
17 minutes 21.9 seconds,
an average of 130.3,
and 50 years since Bob McIntyre achieved the first 100-mile-an-hour lap.
Conditions were right. They were perfect.
Absolutely perfect and...
Suppose if there were...
If there was one time to do it, it was that one lap.
Which... Centenary TT,
Senior TT, end of the week,
sun shining, one lap.
Get it into 'em.
MAN: Wow!
COMMENTATOR: The first man to cross that.
The reaction from the fans, all the way around on that lap three was nice.
Vroom-vroom, breaking down into, uh,
into Parliament Square and you can hear the people cheering.
I've never heard that before. Ever.
You know, you cannot hear people, but you can hear 'em.
Braddan Bridge, Quarterbridge, Braddan Bridge, Ballaugh, you can hear 'em cheering.
All the places where your bike's slow and you can't hear much.
You can hear the crowd over the top of the wind and bike.
That was nice. That was a nice touch. [CHUCKLES]
That was a nice touch.
You know, but again, [EXHALES] you got to keep concentrating,
keep concentrating. Four more laps to do.
NARRATOR: McGuinness ended the perfect day
with TT win number 13.
12 months on and the island was bathed in sunshine
for TT 2008.
And the week began with a dramatic Superbike race.
McGuinness was back, and in search of a 14th TT win,
which would put him level with the legendary Mike Hailwood,
in terms of victories around the Mountain circuit.
There was confusion at the start,
which saw McGuinness and fellow riders, Guy Martin
and Conor Cummins, failing to get away on time.
It was the antipathy in pairing, Cameron Donald and Bruce Anstey,
who occupied the top two spots,
with the Australian leading his TAS Suzuki teammate.
With both bikes together on the road,
it meant that Donald led his colleague by 10 seconds.
It was a lead he was to hold on to across the finish line
and become the first Australian to win a TT
since Graeme McGregor back in 1984.
Delight for Cameron Donald and TAS Suzuki teammate Bruce Anstey,
with Adrian Archibald taking the third place on the podium.
The first three-lap Sidecar race of the week
was run in the same blissful conditions as the Superbikes.
But drama within moments of the start
when reigning Sidecar TT champion, Dave Molyneux,
pulled in just a few yards from the start with a clutch problem.
He could only sit and watch as Nick Crowe and Mark Cox...
and then John Holden and Andrew Winkle made their way toward Bray Hill.
Another TT, and another retirement for Klaus Klaffenbock
and Andrew Pazer, their fifth in seven TT races.
The early part was led by Holden and Winkle.
At times they lead less than a second over Crowe and Cox.
But it was the Honda man who took over on the third and final lap.
And having failed to finish the previous year,
he now went on to collect TT win number four.
Second place went to Holden, with former World Champion Tim Reeves
making a remarkable third place on his TT debut,
with Patrick Farrance in the chair.
It was the first time a Sidecar driver
had stood on the podium as a TT newcomer
since Rolf Biland and Ken Williams finished second
back in 1977.
Day 2 of racing at TT '08
and Bruce Anstey goes in search of an unprecedented fifth straight victory
in the Superstock class.
Production machine racing virtually straight out of the high-street showroom.
Joy for Cameron Donald
as he made it win number two for the week
ahead of John McGuinness and Guy Martin.
[LAUGHTER]
2008 saw the return of two Supersport races.
The first taking place shortly after the Superstocks.
So another four laps
and more than 140 miles of fast racing,
but held in improving weather conditions.
Steve Plater was picking off riders
as he made his way up the leaderboard,
and was up to second place.
Over the line, it was Bruce Anstey who took the victory.
Or so everybody thought.
The Kiwi dramatically stripped of the win
when it was deemed his bike had an illegal part fitted.
As so, it was the first ever TT success for Steve Plater.
While Keith Amor was on the podium for the first time,
like Plater, just a year after making his TT debut.
I'm just struck for words, to be honest.
You know, it's like, uh,
Jim and my boys, everybody in the IOM team,
you know, have been working so hard
since before the North West 200 and,
you know, they've had their backs against the wall and stuff, and just, uh,
been pushing, pushing so hard to help me out,
and obviously it's three wins in the Northwestern now.
This is just, uh, a little cherry on top, you know. It really is.
NARRATOR: The second Supersport clash of the week
provided an opportunity for many
to put right what went wrong in the first 600 race.
Including fan's favorite, Guy Martin,
still dreaming of that top step of the podium.
It was almost written that Bruce Anstey would win this race
following the events earlier in the week.
And he crossed the line to make it win number seven of his TT career.
Matching the total of another hero, Mick Grant.
The second Sidecar race of TT '08,
and win number five for Nick Crowe
with Molyneux settling for second
and John Holden in third.
More sunshine for the big one,
the Senior TT,
preceded by a Ducati parade lap,
as the Italian manufacturer
celebrated 50 years of racing at the TT.
Guy Martin was hoping to celebrate
five years of TT racing
by taking his first win.
John McGuinness had won the last three Senior TTs.
And the last time he'd finished this race
and been beaten
was back in 2003.
Ominously, he was yet to win at this year's event.
What followed was to be one of the classic encounters
around the circuit.
Evoking memories of Hislop and Fogarty
back in '92,
as John McGuinness and Cameron Donald
juggled the lead between them.
It eventually swang the way
of the Morecambe Missile,
when the Australian slowed with an oil leak
from a split crankcase on the final lap.
McGuinness on the back wheel
as he cruised to win number 14.
Equaling the great Mike Hailwood's amount in the process.
One of the great TT races
and the domination of the Senior TT
by John McGuinness continuing in 2008.
2009, there was a new element to the races.
More of that later.
But it was an inauspicious start to the week
with poor weather delaying the racing by 48 hours.
Come Monday, the Superbike TT was good to go,
with Cameron Donald posting the fastest time during practice.
However, no sooner had Donald set the fastest time
at a speed of more than 131 miles an hour,
he suffered a high-speed crash at Keppel Gate,
and was forced to withdraw from the event
with a back injury and dislocated left shoulder.
[INDISTINCT TALKING]
This year marked the 50th anniversary for racing at the TT for Honda,
and John McGuinness made sure the Japanese manufacturer
made its mark by setting a new race record time,
plus, his 15th victory,
to move one clear of Mike Hailwood in the overall standings.
Honda took a one-two-three finish,
with McGuinness joined on the podium
by two of the legends of motorcycle racing,
nine times TT winner, Giacomo Agostini,
and current World Champion, Valentino Rossi.
The Sidecars began with Dave Molyneux racking up win number 14,
and a new race record to boot,
thanks to the efforts of passenger Dan Sayle.
However, in the second race on the approach to Ballacob near Ballaugh Bridge,
Nick Crowe and Mark Cox crashed heavily,
and their machine caught fire.
They were airlifted to hospital with extensive injuries.
And subsequently the race was red-flagged and canceled.
The rest of the field made their way back to the Grandstand,
and there was to be no more Sidecars at the TT this year.
Ian Hutchinson found success in the first Supersport race.
The second 600 cc race
went the way of Michael Dunlop.
[CHEERING]
The Superstock TT was to come up trumps yet again.
Steve Plater had set the fastest time during qualifying.
John McGuinness was off to his customary fast getaway,
setting a new lap record on his first circuit,
and from a standing start, he led them all by half a second
and Hutchinson by less than a second.
Another eventful race saw Guy Martin
take the lead at one stage,
only to be usurped by Ian Hutchinson,
who went on to take his second TT race win,
and in the same day.
Next up, more TT history in the making,
the first-ever Time Trial Extreme Grand Prix,
TTXGP for short.
This was a one-lap race for machines
powered without the use of carbon-based fuels
and have zero toxic, noxious emissions.
Rob Barber was the early leader at Glen Helen
with a 28-second advantage over Thomas Schoenfelder.
James McBride, a further nine seconds back in third.
The bike sounded like electric milk floats,
but without the clink of the glass bottles.
It was Barber who won the inaugural Electric TT
with a time of 25 minutes and 53.5 seconds,
an average of 87.4 miles an hour.
The week ended with the Senior TT.
And John McGuinness looking to continue
his winning run in this race with a fifth straight victory.
Any hopes McGuinness had of continuing his run of success
disappeared when the chain came off in Ramsey on lap three.
With McGuinness out, Steve Plater now led,
and just three years after making his debut,
the 40-year-old found himself on top
of the Senior TT podium.
Joy for Plater as he won not only the Senior,
but the Joey Dunlop TT Championship,
for the most points picked up during race week.
Twelve months later, and little did anyone suspect at the time,
but history was about to be made over the course of the next few days.
Ian Hutchinson recorded his fourth TT career win,
his first Superbike victory at the Isle of Man TT.
He made it win number two in the Supersport race for the week.
And later that day, he joined Hailwood, Dunlop,
Hislop, McCallen, Jefferies, and McGuinness,
in winning three races in a week
by taking victory in the Superstocks.
This was a close affair, as he and Ryan Farquhar
swapped the lead between themselves.
On the final lap, Hutchinson bit in
and bit hard,
recording the first-ever 130 mile an hour lap
on a Superstock bike,
and taking the win by just 1.3 seconds.
Another close finish in the second 600 race.
And Hutchinson looking to equal Phil McCallen's record
of four wins in a week.
It was the Yorkshireman who set the early pace.
Michael Dunlop was the closest challenger.
Ian Hutchinson crossed the line.
Then the wait to see if Dunlop had done enough.
He hadn't. The margin less than two seconds.
And that meant Hutchinson had claimed win number four for the week,
and writes his name in the record books
alongside that of Phil McCallen
as a four-time winner.
The Senior, the final race of the week,
and an opportunity for Hutchinson to do the unthinkable
and win five TT races in a week.
It had been a long time since John McGuinness
went back to Morecambe without a TT win to his name.
And he was the early race leader.
But that was eclipsed by Conor Cummins
who took control of the race at the end of lap one
with a blistering 131.18.
McGuinness responded with 131.35
on lap two.
Hutchinson had begun lap two in third behind Guy Martin.
But the race came to a halt
when Martin crashed heavily at Ballagarey,
prompting the red flags to come out.
The race was then restarted.
Four laps' distance.
John McGuinness had been quick in the first part,
now, he looked quicker.
Hutchinson sets off again,
looking for that record-breaking victory,
but up against some quality opposition.
Conor Cummins was again in the 131 mile an hour zone
on lap one of the restart.
But crashed out heavily at the Verandah.
Michael Dunlop was also out.
Somewhat less dramatically than the Manxman,
when he pulled up at the 26th Milestone,
now known as Joey's.
And Cameron Donald was in retirement
in what was becoming a wretched week
for the TAS Suzuki team.
John McGuinness began the second lap in second position
behind Hutchinson.
But his misfortune continued when he pulled up at Glen Helen
with a dead motor.
Into the final lap,
and Hutchinson chasing the dream.
A 21-second lead over Amor,
who had pegged back some time on the Yorkshireman.
But Amor's challenge fizzled out
when, like teammate McGuiness,
he too retired at Glen Helen.
That left Hutchinson with plenty of time to spare
as he crossed the finish line to claim win number five,
the first rider ever to achieve such a feat at the TT.
Crossing the line
forty seconds to the good, over second place, Ryan Farquhar.
A piece of TT history.
INTERVIEWER: Can you believe you've done that?
Five wins in a week. No one thought it could ever be done.
Can you really make sense of that?
It's unbelievable, you know, luck's just been on our side
so much this week, and I'll certainly never, ever complain
if I have a break down again, you know.
So I've had my bad years here
and I'm going to enjoy the good year. [CHUCKLES]
INTERVIEWER: It's interesting, when you came in
you really celebrated that one today.
You can really enjoy it, couldn't you?
Yeah, I don't like to be gifted wins and, you know,
the first race, things happened,you know, kind of broke down.
But, you know, to be leading them,
the lap one there with everybody in it,
I was faster than John, faster than Conor, you know,
that was the biggest thing I wanted to do today.
And, you know, they went out behind me.
So I've won the race
and it meant more to me than all the others.
NARRATOR: It was another special year
in the history of the Isle of Man TT races.
In the two Sidecar events, it was double joy for Klaus Klaffenbock
as he became the first Austrian
to win a TT since Rupert Hollaus in 1954.
The victories also meant
passenger Dan Sayle had now accumulated six.
[APPLAUSE]
There was a different look to the emission-free bikes this year.
The class was now known as TT Zero
with Mark Miller taking the win and the American national anthem
was heard at the TT for the first time since 1984.
On the track, 2011 was another TT landmark,
a hundred years of racing over the Mountain.
There was an assault
on the four-wheel TT course lap record
by Manxman and former British Rally Champion, Mark Higgins.
He was looking to break the previous best
set by Tony Pond 21 years earlier,
which at the time had been the first car
to lap the circuit at over 100 miles an hour.
As expected, that record went by the wayside.
COMMENTATOR: Ian Hutchinson waves the flag,
Mark Higgins speeds across the line, the brakes come on.
We look to see what it is.
And it is 115.356.
So that is the fastest yet.
NARRATOR: Now the real business of racing,
which began with John McGuinness
winning the Superbike TT to make it 16 victories
around the Mountain circuit.
Back at the Isle of Man TT following his double success
12 months earlier was Klaus Klaffenbock.
He and passenger Dan Sayle would win the first Sidecar race
and they were on course for a double in the second
until they hit problems on the final lap.
They'd held a 17-second lead, but slowed dramatically,
allowing John Holden and Andy Winkle
to take full advantage.
They'd missed out on victory by just 1.2 seconds the year before,
and now, after five runner-up spots,
they finally took a dream TT win
some 45 seconds clear
of Conrad Harrison and Mike Aylott.
This year was also the Centenary of the Junior TT,
now contested by 600cc machines.
A hundred years ago,
it was 300cc single cylinder and 340cc twin cylinders.
Percy J. Evans winning the first Junior TT
in three hours, 37 minutes, an average of 41 miles an hour.
Guy Martin was a non-finisher in the first 600 race
when he came to a halt in somewhat spectacular fashion
at Creg-ny-Baa.
He claimed this wasn't a crash,
as his hands never came off the handlebars.
[CROWD GASPS]
This then, is some way to park a bike.
The Supersport races often produce close finishes
and this was no different.
Bruce Anstey grabbing his eighth win
over the Mountain Course and crossing the line
just eight seconds quicker than Amor.
Production bikes have often been an integral part of the TT.
Despite all of his success on all types of machinery
around the Isle of Man,
John McGuinness was still to win a Superstock TT.
This would prove to be another fruitless 1000cc Production year
for the man from Morecambe,
with Michael Dunlop claiming victory,
his second at the TT,
and one which obviously meant a lot.
On to the second Supersport race of the week
and the red flag was to be in use again.
However, this time it was the weather
which was to have an effect on the race.
Keith Amor was one of a number of riders
who held an impromptu meeting just minutes before the start,
asking for a further delay due to the damp conditions.
Despite their concerns, they decided to race,
and ironically, Amor slid off at Union Mills.
But it was soon halted to prevent further accidents.
Close call too for Guy Martin and Cameron Donald
before Amor fell.
Many of the riders
were clearly not happy about the decision to race.
John McGuinness later said he'd rather wipe his backside
with a broken bottle than race on the Mountain Course
in those conditions.
So everyone reconvened the following day
for the second Supersport race.
Take two.
And the first-ever TT win for Gary Johnson.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Michael Rutter missed out
on the magical first-ever 100 mile an hour lap
for an electric bike as he won TT Zero.
The Senior TT would see a new race record
for John McGuinness as he made it win number 17,
finishing ahead of early race leader Guy Martin,
who once again had to settle for a second place finish.
At the end of six laps of the opening race of 2012,
the Superbike TT, there was no catching McGuinness,
once again aided by some magnificent pit stops.
Win number 18, 10 seconds ahead of Cameron Donald,
with Bruce Anstey completing the podium.
Although, Austrian former World Champion Klaus Klaffenbock
had hung up his leathers, there was plenty of excitement
about the returning Dave Molyneux.
It would prove to be a glorious return
for the 14 times Sidecar TT winner
with new partner Pat Farrance,
setting the fastest lap of the race at 113.4 miles an hour
as he made it win number 15.
Win number 16 came a few days later
as they did the double.
And now watch as we witness
the second closest ever finish to a TT.
Bruce Anstey crossing the line
just seven tenths of a second quicker
than Cameron Donald in the Supersport Junior TT,
to make it win number nine around the Mountain Course.
Formula One racing legend, Jackie Stewart,
handing out the prizes.
On to Monday of race week
and the Superstock TT, a race John McGuinness has never won.
At this stage in his career,
he has 18 race victories
around the Mountain circuit,
but not one in this category.
So, you know what's coming next...
Win number 19.
McGuinness also made his debut in the electric class.
He would make the podium,
but the top step went to Michael Rutter,
who placed his name in the record books,
winning with a speed of 104 miles an hour.
The second Supersport race of the week
would go the way of Michael Dunlop
as he cruised to victory, the third of his TT career.
And more history was made at the end of race week.
For the first time ever,
there would be no Senior TT race,
a tough decision for the brand new clerk of the course.
MAN ON PA: Attention, paddock. Attention, paddock.
We still have some damp patches.
Also, there is some concern with the mist
and the fog up on the mountain.
The official announcement is, unfortunately, we're going have to call off the Senior.
But we're going to run a three-lap,
650 Lightweight race at quarter past six.
For all of us in that little room there,
it's quite simple, really.
The conditions just aren't suitable for a superbike
to race around this course at the moment.
NARRATOR: The Supertwins made their TT debut,
and, as expected, Ryan Farquhar set the pace
and would end the race ahead of James Hillier and Michael Rutter
for his third Isle of Man TT win,
and first since his Supersport victory in 2005.
So, Farquhar is the final winner of TT 2012,
another year of motorcycle racing firsts in the island,
the first hundred mile an hour electric bike lap,
the first Supertwins race
and the first cancelation of the Senior TT
since the races began back in 1907.
The first race of TT 2013
was the rescheduled Sidecar TT Race 1,
with the Superbike TT held over to the next day
and ran on Sunday afternoon for the first time since '05.
It was also a time for celebration,
the 90th anniversary of the first Sidecar TT.
A big moment for Ben and Tom Birchall,
clipping the bank as they try to pass
John Holden and Andy Winkle.
They were leading at this point
five and a half seconds ahead of Tim Reeves and Dan Sayle,
but they were forced to retire with a puncture.
Reeves and Sayle duly crossed the line
just ahead of Molyneux and Farrance on the road,
but it was Conrad Harrison and Mike Aylott
who grabbed second to equal their best ever result
by the minuscule margin of just half a second.
Meanwhile, Tim Reeves became
the first reigning World Champion
to win a TT race since Jock Taylor back in 1981.
The Birchalls put their deflation behind them
to come out on top in the second Sidecar race
and add their names to the list of Sidecar TT winners.
On to the delayed Superbike TT.
Turning back the clock and riding in the number
and colors of his hero was TT maestro John McGuinness,
celebrating 30 years since Joey Dunlop's first Honda win
in the Isle of Man.
And he would set a new outright lap record
of 131.67 miles an hour in this race.
But would only take third
after getting a 60-second penalty
for speeding in pit lane.
But even without the minute penalty,
McGuinness wouldn't have caught Michael Dunlop,
who was the first man to beat McGuinness, retirements aside,
in a Superbike race since Adrian Archibald in 2003.
Dunlop made it two wins out of two for the week
with victory in Supersport Race 1
setting a new race record in the process.
It also equaled the tally of wins
achieved by his father, Robert.
On to the Superstocks.
Michael Dunlop looking to join Hailwood,
Hislop, McCallen, Jefferies, McGuinness, Hutchinson,
and Uncle Joey in the TT hat-trick club.
Gary Johnson led the race
until Glen Helen on the final lap,
then suffered machine problems, allowing Dunlop to take over.
Michael duly notched up win number three,
grabbing a Superstock lap record in the process,
an astounding 131.2 miles an hour
on a Production machine.
And was only just three seconds outside
the outright lap record set by John McGuinness
in the Superbike TT just days earlier.
So another race
where plenty of records were rewritten
and we were only halfway through the week.
Michael Rutter grabbed a third successive victory
in the TT Zero class.
The second Supersport race
and a big moment for Michael Dunlop on the Mountain,
when a touch on the brake locks up the front
and a sharp intake of breath.
It was that close, that at the end of the race
neither Bruce Anstey nor Michael Dunlop knew who'd won.
It was then pointed out, Dunlop had indeed done it.
The gap, 2.3 seconds, plus a new lap record
at 128.6 miles an hour
and it was win number four for the week,
with more races still to come.
James Hillier scored a maiden TT win
in the Lightweight class, now contested by Supertwins,
which left just the Senior and the burning question
of whether Michael Dunlop
could make it five wins in a week.
Dunlop led.
Then McGuinness took over at the Mountain on lap two.
Good stops for McGuinness helped edge out his lead over his teammate.
The last lap and James Hillier has passed McGuinness.
But it's the Honda rider who still leads,
and at the line he makes it 20 victories.
It was also the 41st time McGuinness had stood on a TT podium,
which is more than any other racer in the history of this event.
McGuinness has now won the Senior trophy six times,
one more than Grand Prix and TT legend Giacomo Agostini
and one less than Mike Hailwood.
And that wrapped up 2013.
John McGuinness was far from 100% fit
as he got TT 2014 underway in the Superbike race.
He'd broken his wrist and ribs 11 weeks earlier
in a Motocross accident,
which also injured his leg and liver
as well as suffering ligament damage.
Holding on to a 210-horsepower bike
for nearly two hours was going to be a big ask.
Michael Dunlop had swapped machinery for this year,
having left the Honda Legends team
and was now astride the BMW Motorrad bike.
There would be no stopping him.
Having taken control from James Hillier on lap one,
he would post two laps inside the old outright record
to win by 20 seconds and make it eight TT victories.
Yet it was Bruce Anstey who set the new lap record.
[APPLAUSE]
John McGuinness led them away again
as first rider on the road
for the opening Supersport race of the week,
which would finish
with something of a fairy-tale ending.
And the flag in the Supersport TT,
it was with a winning margin of one-and-a-half seconds
that Gary Johnson gave the Smiths Triumph Racing Team
a victory on their TT debut
and the first British manufacturer win
in over a decade.
Michael Dunlop made it two wins for the week so far
with victory in the Superstock TT.
And more success for John McGuinness
as he took the honors in TT Zero.
With one eye on Friday's Senior TT,
McGuinness' injuries
kept him out of the second Supersport race.
Blasting out from Kate's Cottage
on the blisteringly fast drop down to the Creg-ny-Baa,
Michael Dunlop times his move to perfection
to pass Guy Martin
as they go into the sweeping right-hand bend.
He would also overtake Bruce Anstey
along the Glencrutchery Road
to take his career TT tally into double figures,
elevating him alongside TT legend Giacomo Agostini on 10 wins.
It was also his third victory of the week.
The final day of TT 2014
and the penultimate race contested by the Supertwins
and led away by Lincolnshire's Ivan Lintin,
who'd set the fastest time in practice.
His dreams of glory lasted just a couple of miles
when he was forced to retire as he headed toward Union Mills.
Dean Harrison would complete a memorable week for his family
by leading from start to finish in the Lightweight race
and taking his maiden TT success.
It came just six days after his father, Conrad,
took his first Mountain Course victory in Sidecar Race 1.
[ENGINE REVS]
For years, the Senior TT trophy
seemed to belong to John McGuinness.
Surely his injuries would prevent him
from taking the top step this time.
Michael Dunlop was the early pacesetter,
but it was his brother, William,
who was proving to be the nearest challenger,
that is, until this massive crash at Graham's Memorial.
Michael would go on to win
by 14 seconds from Conor Cummins,
with Guy Martin once more on the podium,
but not the top step.
With four wins out of five races
and a podium finish in the one he didn't win,
there was no doubting TT 2014 belonged to Michael Dunlop.
Just weeks before the start of TT 2015,
and the course was the setting as the event said goodbye
to one of its favorites.
Six-time World Champion Geoff Duke
had passed away at the age of 92.
COMMENTATOR: The underdog is Geoffrey Duke, number 57.
He starts 80 seconds behind teammate Johnny Lockett
and 160 seconds after Artie Bell.
Here comes Duke himself
cutting down the starting interval conceded to Bill.
NARRATOR: Practice week for TT 2015
will go down as one of the most dramatic
in the event's history.
Having switched to Milwaukee Yamaha
following his exploits of the year before,
Michael Dunlop sensationally left the team having completed
just three laps of the Mountain circuit.
The 11 times TT winner then announced
he would now be competing on BMW machinery,
in both the Superbike and Senior races.
Racing at TT 2015 began a day late
due to a weather hit practice week,
and seven of the top ten starters in the Superbike TT
on new machinery.
Many opting for BMW
in the wake of Michael Dunlop's success
12 months earlier.
Still with Honda and fully fit following what he called
a nightmare 2014, John McGuinness was once again
first man away from the Grandstand
and looking for win number 22.
Gary Johnson was pushing for a top-six finish,
but his efforts came to an end when he crashed out
near Guthrie's Memorial on the climb up the Mountain.
Rider okay.
Michael Dunlop seemed certain of a podium position
until he hit the machine of a slower rider
who'd crashed at The Nook.
The race was red-flagged
and a battered and bruised Dunlop
ended his race in an ambulance.
For Bruce Anstey, it was the realization of a dream
even though it was his tenth victory
around the Mountain Course,
it was his first-ever Superbike win in the island.
Five years earlier,
Ian Hutchinson had become the only man
to win five TTs in one week.
Three months later, he almost lost his left leg
in a horrific crash at Silverstone.
Thirty operations and hundreds of hours of physiotherapy later,
he was back on the top step of the Supersport TT podium.
To add more spice to the fairy tale,
he won the race on a bike he'd only agreed to ride
a week before arriving on the island.
And drama for Hutchinson
on the last lap of the Superstock TT.
With the bike low on fuel,
it cut out as he went around the left-hand turn at Bedstead,
which meant he went up onto the curb and the pavement.
However, Hutchinson had enough juice left
to cross the line in first place
and give team boss Paul Bird his first win in 15 years,
having overseen Joey Dunlop's Formula One victory
on the SP1 Honda.
The evolution of the electric bikes
continued with a new TT Zero lap record for John McGuinness,
just shy of 120 miles an hour,
plus, another win around the Mountain circuit.
And in the second 600cc race of the week,
it was who else, but Ian Hutchinson,
who completed a stunning hat-trick of victories
to cross the line comfortably
ahead of Bruce Anstey and Guy Martin,
who took his 16th rostrum finish without a win.
On to the Sidecars
and Dave Molyneux swapped Kawasaki for Suzuki
and a new passenger in Benjamin Binns.
At the checkered flag, it was a new race record
for Ben and Tom Birchall as they took victory.
It was a major turnaround,
especially for elder brother Ben,
who'd received a serious hand injury
after crashing out at last year's TT.
The second Sidecar race of 2015
would go down as the fastest in TT history.
The Birchalls, it seemed, were on fire
leading from the word "go"
and looking simply majestic around the Mountain circuit.
A dramatic finish was ensured
when veteran ace Dave Molyneux established a new lap record
of 116.78 miles an hour.
But would it be enough to beat the Birchall boys?
The answer was no, as the duo from Mansfield
cross the line with seven and a half seconds to spare.
What a difference a year makes.
Hospital beds for the Birchalls 12 months ago,
and now top of the TT podium.
Final day of racing began, as has become the norm,
with the Lightweight TT
contested by the Supertwin machines.
For Ivan Lintin, a maiden TT win
as he took victory ahead of Hillier and Rutter.
Arguably, TT 2015 saved the best till last.
John McGuinness led them away
on the restarted reduced four-lap race
as he looked to equal Mike Hailwood's record
of seven Senior wins.
But many people
had hat-trick hero, Ian Hutchinson, as the man to beat,
having put down the fastest ever standing start TT lap
at 131.8 seconds.
McGuinness took control
as Hutchinson eventually started to struggle to keep up,
including an overshoot at Signpost.
James Hillier would overhaul Hutchinson
for second place on the final lap,
while McGuinness made it win number 23
and set the fastest ever lap of the course at 132.70,
to put TT 2015 firmly in the record books.
The week would be dominated with Dunlop and Hutchinson
making all the headlines in the run-up to the Senior TT.
As well as Dunlop's record-breaking antics,
Hutchinson broke the 132 mile an hour barrier
in the Supersport class.
However, Dunlop had been excluded in the first 600cc race
due to a technical infringement.
On the racetrack, Dunlop would win the Senior,
with Hutchinson second,
having used the Superstock engine
in a superbike frame.
Ben and Tom Birchall were leading on the final lap
of the first Sidecar race of the week,
but would retire at Sulby,
allowing John Holden and Andy Winkle to take the win.
The brothers put that disappointment behind them
to win race two, their fourth TT triumph.
One man missing from the line-up in 2017 was John McGuinness.
He'd suffered a horror smash just weeks earlier
at the North West 200 in Northern Ireland.
That left Michael Dunlop and Ian Hutchinson
to carry on their spat of 12 months earlier.
The pair dominated practice week.
Things went the way of Hutchinson in the Superbike race
as he won ahead of Peter Hickman and Dean Harrison.
Dunlop made it 1-1,
with success in the Supersport race.
Hutchison would lead all four laps of the Superstock TT
to record his 16th TT win and make it 2-1.
The second Supersport race was canceled
while Michael Rutter was triumphant
in taking the Paton to first place in the Lightweight TT.
It was the mark's first win in the Isle of Man,
with Rutter also breaking the lap record.
Guy Martin returned to the TT after a two-year break.
He was back with the new Honda Fireblade,
but the bike, which McGuinness had crashed on just weeks before,
was still having teething troubles at the TT
as Martin found out when he too, crashed.
[ENGINE REVS]
He did take another podium finish
when he finished behind Bruce Anstey in TT Zero.
The Kiwi winning the class for the second successive year.
The Senior TT began with drama for Hutchinson
when he crashed at the 27th Milestone.
He was airlifted to hospital with a broken femur.
On the restart, Dunlop would go unchallenged during the Senior TT,
which was shortened from six to four laps.
Dunlop claimed his 15th TT win ahead of Hickman,
who was on the podium for every TT race he took part in this year.
So the week would end with two wins apiece for Dunlop and Hutchinson.
The Sidecars,
they were dominated by Ben and Tom Birchall
as they proved untouchable in both three-lap races.
A year on and John McGuinness was absent from the race program
as he continued his recovery from injury.
He did, however, take to the track on his Norton for a parade lap,
having signed for the British manufacturer for 2018.
This was a special year in more ways than one.
Not only was it the 100th year of racing at the TT,
but records would be broken in every class,
with one, just being that little bit special.
If the past couple of years had been about Dunlop and Hutchinson,
this time it was undoubtedly
about Dean Harrison and Peter Hickman.
These two topped the timesheets during practice
and carried that form into the opening race, the Superbike TT.
Hickman retired at the end of lap one,
while Harrison was seemingly on his way to victory,
smashing the lap record in the process
with 134.4 and from a standing start to boot.
It all went wrong for the Yorkshireman on lap four, though,
when he retired while leading.
That left Dunlop clear to take his 16th TT victory,
a win he dedicated to teammate Dan Kneen,
who'd lost his life in a crash during practice week.
Dunlop was at it again in the opening Supersport race
as he made it two wins out of two for the week.
Later that day, Peter Hickman took his first Isle of Man success
when he won the Superstock TT in his fifth year of racing
around the Mountain Course.
Two days later, and Dean Harrison
took the checkered flag in the second Supersport race.
While Michael Dunlop made it a hat-trick for the week
by winning the Lightweight TT.
And Michael Rutter notched up another TT Zero success.
Once again, the Sidecars were all about the Birchalls
as they did the double, winning both races.
Which left the Senior TT,
a race later described as one of the greatest of all time,
up there with Hislop and Fogarty,
and Hailwood and Agostini.
Dean Harrison was the early pacesetter
as he posted the fastest sector times from Douglas to Ramsey.
However, Hickman was strong over the Mountain
and on each lap would claw back time
only for Harrison to increase it slightly again
on the opening two sectors.
It was a scare early on when Hillier's bike blew,
putting oil down at the bottom of Barregarrow.
No one could come close to Harrison and Hickman.
There were just two seconds separating them
as they began the last lap of six.
Harrison still in the number one spot
as he had been throughout the race.
It was a position he would hold on to
until they arrived at the Bungalow for the final time.
By now, Hickman was in front,
just eight-tenths of a second, and he wouldn't be moved.
Harrison crossed the line first,
then the short wait for Hickman.
He soon appeared on the Glencrutchery Road
to take the checkered flag,
and posted the first 135 mile an hour lap of the TT course.
It was the perfect end to a thrilling Senior TT.
It was the Harrison-Hickman show again in 2019,
but whereas 12 months earlier had been a record-breaker,
this year saw just a race record in the Sidecars
with only two races,
TT Zero and the Senior going the full distance.
Poor weather canceled all but two days of practice.
The racing schedule was also decimated
with three races on Monday and five on Thursday,
the first time that number had been run in one day.
Hickman became the latest member
of the TT hat-trick club by winning the Superbike,
Superstock and second Supersport races.
He looked as if it would be four in Friday's Senior.
Riding his hybrid Superstock superbike,
he was leading until his machine began to lose power.
He made it to the end,
but not the top step of the podium,
which went to close rival, Dean Harrison.
There were wins for Lee Johnston, his first TT success
in the opening Supersport race.
Michael Rutter was topping TT Zero again.
While Michael Dunlop made it 19 TT wins with victory in the Lightweight race.
Plus another double for the Birchalls in the Sidecars.
TT 2020 was to mark a hundred years
since the Signpost and Governor's Bridge section
were first used
along with the present start-finish line.
However, the global COVID-19 pandemic
meant it was only the second occasion
outside wartime
when the Isle of Man TT races had not taken place.
Since it first began in 1907, the TT has faced many challenges.
During the Coronavirus crisis,
the island effectively shut its borders,
allowing its residents to carry on a reasonably normal lifestyle
while most of the world continued lockdown measures.
It did put a question mark on whether racing
would take place in 2021.
Where the last of the great road races goes from here
remains to be seen.
One thing is certain,
it has a history unparalleled in motorsport.