Isle of Man TT

[Lara Mills]

TT officially starts tomorrow! And to celebrate 30 years since Joey Dunlop's first TT win, they have brought out a special whisky.

A wee dram for 'Yer Maun'

A special whisky will celebrate 30 years since Joey Dunlop’s first TT win for Honda.

‘Yer Maun’ scored the vast majority of his 26 TT wins for the Japanese manufacturer, starting in 1983 with the Formula 1 TT.

He went on to win another five consecutive Formula 1 races for the factory helping to ensure their long dominance of what was, then, the premiere TT racing class.

The Joey Dunlop Foundation, a charity set up in memory of the Ballamoney rider, has created a special blended malt whisky to commemorate Joey’s unique legacy.

Limited to just 2013 bottles the whisky proudly displays the number 3 on the label. As well as being Joey’s usual racing number it also recognises the third anniversary of the opening of Joey Dunlop House.

The House is an accessible self-catering holiday complex and, as Kevin Quirk of the Foundations says ‘The success…has exceeded even our wildest expectations’ adding ‘in order to ensure funds are in place to undertake the construction of two additional holiday apartments we had to decide on something different’.

The result is the Joey Dunlop whisky. Demand is expected to be high when the bottles go on sale at the Bushy’s Tent on Douglas Promenade on 28th May.

The rear of the label carries a sound warning ‘We trust that you will savour this quality whisky sensibly and only ever ride or drive before drinking it and never afterwards! Ride well. Stay safe.’

Source: click here

[Lara Mills]

So, any ideas on who will do well this year? Here is the race schedule:

PRACTICE
Saturday, May 25
18.20-18.45 - Solo Newcomers' speed controlled lap
18.35-19.00 - Sidecar Newcomers' speed controlled lap
18.50-19.50 - Lightweight TT/Newcomers (all solo classes)
19.55-20.50 - Sidecar
Monday, May 27
18.20-19.55 - Superbike/Superstock/Supersport/Newcomers (except Lightweight)
20.00-20.50 - Sidecar
Tuesday, May 28
18.20-19.05 - Superbike/Superstock/Supersport/Newcomers (except Lightweight)
19.10-19.55 - Supersport/Lightweight/Newcomers (all solo classes)
20.00-20.50 - Sidecar
Wednesday, May 29
18.20-19.55 - Superbike/Superstock/Supersport/Newcomers (except Lightweight)
20.00-20.50 - Sidecar
Thursday, May 30
18.20-19.10 - Sidecar
19.15-19.55 - Supersport/Lightweight/Newcomers (all solo classes)
20.00-20.50 - Superbike/Superstock/Supersport/Newcomers (except Lightweight)
Friday, May 31
18.20-19.10 - Sidecar
19.15-19.50 - Supersport/Lightweight/Newcomers (all solo classes)
19.55-20.25 - Superbike/Superstock/Supersport/Newcomers (except Lightweight)
20.30-20.50 - TT Zero
Saturday, June 1
16.40-17.40 - Supersport/Lightweight
17.45-18.30 - TT Zero
Monday, June 3
12.30-13.00 - Sidecar
16.00-16.30 - TT Zero
Wednesday, June 5
15.50-16.15 - Senior
16.20-16.45 - Lightweight

RACE
Saturday, June 1
12.00 - Dainese Superbike (six laps)
15.00 - Sure Sidecar 1 (three laps)
Monday, June 3
10.45 - Royal London Superstock (four laps)
14.00 - Monster Energy Supersport race 1 (four laps)
Wednesday, June 5
10.45 - SES TT Zero (one lap)
12.00 - Monster Energy Supersport race 2 (four laps)
14.30 - Sure Sidecar 2 (three laps)
Friday, June 7
10.45 - Bikesocial.co.uk Lightweight (three laps)
13.00 - Pokerstars Senior TT (six laps)

Please note this schedule is subject to change.
(Source: click here)

[Lara Mills]

So, the TT started on Saturday. Races start on the 1st, practice laps are going on now. We have, unfortunately, already lost one racer, and weather conditions on the island seem to be causing issues.

Who will be watching/listening? Any favourites to win in the races?

You can see the results from the first practice here.