Latest news with #ManxGrandPrix
Belfast Telegraph
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Manx GP roars into life as Limavady rider impresses in practice
Gahan, from Limavady, put down an early marker around the infamous 37.73-mile Mountain Course, recording his fastest lap on the opening day of the festival at 111.85mph on the Scott Racing Aprilia machine. He was around six tenths of a second faster than the returning Jamie Williams, who missed his home meeting last summer after suffering injuries in a crash on the first day of qualifying. Williams, one of the big favourites, did 111.794mph on the NCE Racing Aprilia as he eased himself back into the groove. Republic of Ireland rider Liam Chawke was fourth fastest on a KMR Kawasaki for Ryan Farquhar behind Lewis Arrowsmith on the time sheets, while Caomhan Canny from Donegal put his injury woes behind him to end the first day in fifth position. Canny, riding an Aprilia Supertwin, sustained multiple injuries in a red-flag spill at the Tandragee 100 seven weeks ago but has been cleared to race at the Manx meeting. 'When we came last year, we knew the machinery might not be competitive but all we wanted to do was finish races on the Isle of Man circuit,' Canny said. 'The machinery this year is a lot better, so hopefully we'll see how we go all week, and we'll just take it as it comes.' Last year's Manx Grand Prix was hit by unprecedented weather disruption due to Storm Lilian, with six races crammed into the final day. However, yesterday's fine summer weather was in stark contrast and Canny was eager to make the most of the dry conditions. 'To put it into context, after this evening I'll have [completed] as many laps as I did all of last year [on the Mountain Course],' he said. 'That's a massive thing because it takes years and years of learning; this is somewhere you don't want to push too quick because unfortunately things can happen, and we just want to take our time, be smooth and we feel very comfortable with the times we're doing, so let's just hope we can keep progressing as the week goes on.' In the Senior class, Scotland's Chris Cook set the fastest lap of the day at 117.731mph on his Kawasaki ZX6R. Cook was seven seconds faster than Williams in second on the NCE Racing Honda (116.959mph), with Andy Farrell in third on his Yamaha. Southern Irish rider Farrell is back at the event after an absence of a few years and was quickly up to speed. Gahan was fourth fastest on his Yamaha R6 at 115.226mph ahead of Ryan Whitehall, with Canny in 12th following a lap of 114.197mph on his Suzuki 750. Practice for the Manx Grand Prix will continue on Monday, with roads closed from 6pm. Top TT riders including Michael Dunlop, Davey Todd, Dean Harrison and John McGuinness will be in action on Wednesday, when the opening Classic TT qualifying sessions are held. The Classic TT is running in tandem with the Manx GP this year for the first time since 2019. At the weekend, record-breaking 33-time TT winner Dunlop unveiled a replica of Joey Dunlop's Formula 1-winning Honda SP1 machine from 2000 that he will ride in a special parade lap. Dunlop built the machine to participate in the Joey Dunlop F1 Tribute Lap, when he will ride the legendary Honda around the Mountain Course on Friday, August 29 as the festival comes to a close. Ulster sporting great Joey won the Formula 1 race for the final time 25 years ago at the TT as part of a famous hat-trick, just weeks before he was killed in a racing crash in Estonia.
BBC News
a day ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Longer 13-day Manx Grand Prix 'offers flexibility'
An extended schedule for the Manx Grand Prix, heralding the return of the Classic TT, gives organisers greater "flexibility", the clerk of the course has events, set to run concurrently from Sunday until 29 August, will get under way on the 37.2mile (60km) Mountain Course government announced the Classic TT would be re-introduced for 2025 at the end of last year, with the MGP programme expanded from nine to 13 days in an effort to attract more motorsport fans to the Thompson said the weather forecast for the race period was "really good, after a dismal few years" but a longer event meant there was "lots of room to use contingency plans" if needed. The revised schedule will see the racing will be split into two tranches, with the Supertwin, Supersport, Junior and Senior MGP races, on contemporary vehicles, set to take place first, on 23 and 25 will be followed by the Formula 1, Lightweight, Historic Junior, Historic Senior and Classic Senior TT races on 27 and 29 for the MGP is set to start proceedings, followed by sessions for the Classic classes, with Thompson saying "if we do lose sessions for whatever reason" there was "plenty of contingency for qualifying towards the bank holiday weekend, and [on] Tuesday and Thursday during the race schedule". First held alongside the MGP in 2013, the Classic TT brand was scrapped by the government after a review following the coronavirus clerk said he was pleased to see its return, adding race organisers had "listened to feedback" after the August festival was shortened to nine days in Thompson said the revamped schedule would give riders and spectators "plenty of downtime and more chance to explore the island", as well as enjoying the event."Each event complements each other," he explained."You have four races on modern bikes in the MGP, and then, for the Classic, you have iconic machines being ridden by some of the best riders in the world, like Michael Dunlop, Davy Todd, John McGuinness and Conor Cummins."For the pure bike enthusiast, to come to the Isle of Man and see their TT heroes on machines from the past – it's sights and sounds you can't describe," he around the course are due to close at 12:45 BST on Sunday and reopen no later than 18:00 BST. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
A guide to Manx Grand Prix and Classic TT
The Manx Grand Prix and Classic TT is set to get under way from event will see riders compete in a number of classes, including the Supertwin, Supersport, Sidecar, Lightweight, Formula 1, and Senior on the 37.7mile (60.7km) Isle of Man TT in 1923, the Manx Grand Prix marks the second major motorsport event on the island and was originally created as an amateur alternative to the Isle of Man TT, held in the early year's 13-day event, which runs until 29 August, marks the return of the Classic TT which will be held concurrently with the Manx Grand Prix. Why is Classic TT back? The Classic TT was last held in August in 2019, but was withdrawn when road racing returned in 2022 following the year the event has been brought back, in conjunction with the Manx Grand Prix, which it had previously run alongside between 2013 and government has stated said Classic TT was being re-introduced in an effort to attract more visitors to the motorsport event. Where can I get race updates? The race schedule can be found online and will be updated throughout the race to this year's TT event, an infoline has been launched on Whatsapp which will share updates on road closures and changes to racing schedules. When will the roads close? As it stands, qualifying for Manx Grand Prix will start on Sunday, with the roads set to close between 12:30 and 18:00 BST. Evening sessions will then be held on Monday and Tuesday, with the course closed to traffic between 18:00 and 21:00. Wednesday and Thursday will host both afternoon and evening sessions, with Classic TT qualifying held alongside MGP qualification, meaning the route will close for events at 12:30, re-open for an hour at 17:00, and shut again until 21: 22 August will see afternoon qualifying, with the course closing at 12:30 until 17:00, and with the evening set aside as a will see the continuation of Classic TT qualifying, alongside the first day of Manx Grand Prix racing, meaning the course will be closed to traffic from 09:30 until 21:00. On 24 August, the route will be closed from 12:30 until 18: Monday 25 August, racing will again take place along course, from 09:30 until 21:00. Contingency days will be 26 and 28 August, while 27 and 29 will have racing scheduled across the day, with the route shut off from 09:30 until 17:00, and the evening set aside as contingency. What are the crossing points? During the events, the Clerk of the Course may allow traffic over the course at specific crossing points. The location of the crossing points can be found online. Health services Manx Care has said the Emergency Department at Noble's Hospital will be operating as normal throughout the racing Manx Emergency Doctor Service (Meds) will be running from 18:00 until 00:00 each evening during the 13-day period. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
BBC News
3 days ago
- BBC News
Temporary speed limits brought in on Isle of Man Mountain Road
Temporary speed limits on sections of a major route between the Manx capital and the north of the island are set to come into force for the duration of the Manx Grand Prix and Classic A18 Mountain Road, from Creg ny Baa to Barrule Park in Ramsey will be shut from 10:00 until 12:00 BST for signage to be put in place.A restriction of 50mph (80km/h) will be in place from Ramsey Hairpin to the Gooseneck, while a 60mph (97km/h) limit will be in force from Keppel Gate to speed limits on the stretches of road, which are usually derestricted, will be in place until 1 September. Unlike the TT event in June, which sees the route made one-way, the entire road remains open to two-way traffic for the August speed limits will also be in place on several other roads around the island fort he period, including the Douglas to Ramsey Coast Road, Douglas to Peel Road and the A3 Castletown to Ramsey Road and the Sloc and Shoulder Manx Grand Prix and Classic TT run from Sunday until 29 August. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
BBC News
05-08-2025
- BBC News
A brief guide to the five-week mountain road closure
The southern section of a major route connecting the Manx capital with the north is set to close for five weeks next will close the A18 mountain road between Brandywell and Creg Ny Baa corner, from 15 works, including the installation of two culverts to improve drainage, as well as resurfacing, had been due to take place in the Spring but were postponed after the Department of Infrastructure's (DoI) asphalt plant was temporarily rendered out of DoI said the work was being carried out "as soon as possible" after the Manx Grand Prix, to ensure "completion before winter" when conditions were more likely to prevent or extend the project's timeframe. What are the works for? Two new surface water culverts are being installed to help manage any potential flooding and reduce the risk of ice on the road during winter, the DoI manage run-off by allowing water to pass under resurfacing of the route will also offer vehicles improved Minister Michelle Haywood said the scheme was "vital" for road safety, highlighting how that section of the route had seen five collisions in the past three years."We apologise for any disruption this might cause motorists, but I am sure that everyone appreciates that it is essential that we should put safety first," she said. What do the works comprise? One culvert would be located below Kate's Cottage, and the other just south of Keppel Gate. The project will see a 2.5m deep excavation across the full width of the road, after which about 350 metres of the highway (1,148 ft) will be resurfaced and the road markings reinstated. Access to businesses The Victory Café, Snaefell Summit Café and Snaefell Mountain Railway will be accessible at all times from Ramsey, Tholt y Will road and Beinn y Phott road. Meanwhile, the Creg ny Baa Hotel will be accessible at from Douglas and the Creg ny Baa back road. Other key dates The department has promised to minimise any work on alternative routes between Douglas and the north, in order to prevent exacerbating any disruption during the in addition to the project on 15 September, the northern section of the mountain road, from Ramsey to the Bungalow, is set to be closed on 8 and 9 September - to allow for the removal of racing equipment following the grand equipment along the southern section would be removed during the five-week closure from 15 addition, the northern section of the route will shut on 21 September, from 12:00 until 17:00 BST, for the Scenic Car Tour event. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
