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BBC News
08-07-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Rain showers lead to Southern 100 opening race red flag
The opening race of the Southern 100 Races has been pushed back to Wednesday after rain showers in the south of the Isle of Man led to the action being including previous champions Davey Todd and Michael Dunlop had been due to compete in the seven-lap opening Senior Race at 20:00 BST, in what marks the 70th anniversary of the the earlier practice session taking place, the big bike race was postponed after rider feedback following a warm up lap as the weather closed the Lightweight race set off shortly after 21:00 BST, it was red-flagged by the clerk of the course for safety reasons after a heavy shower on lap two. Racing on the Billow Course at the 2025 event is due to resume on Wednesday evening. 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
02-07-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Mountain road parade lap to honour life of TT legend Joey Dunlop
A parade lap celebrating motorcycle racing legend Joey Dunlop's legacy will take place on the Isle of Man later to mark the 25th anniversary of his "King of the Mountain", who died on 2 July 2000 aged 48 while competing in Estonia, was widely considered to be one of the greatest riders in the sport's Joey Dunlop Foundation has invited fans, riders and supporters to join a memorial lap of the Mountain Course from 19:00 BST, starting at the Grandstand in Bruce Baker said the tribute would be a way for people to "remember Joey in their own way" on the course he "dominated with such mastery during his racing career". Hailing from Ballymoney in County Antrim, Dunlop's achievements included 26 Isle of Man TT wins, five Formula One World Championships, 24 Ulster Grands Prix victories and 13 North West 200 was also honoured with an MBE in 1986 and an OBE in 1996 for his humanitarian work with children in Eastern Europe. Mr Baker said Dunlop had, and would always be, best known for winning 26 TT asked the rhetorical question: "What better way to remember him than to do a lap of the course that he had so much success on?"Mr Baker said he hoped residents would also honour Dunlop's "sheer talent" by lining the course to clap and wave. Posthumously, Dunlop's charity work continues through his foundation, set up in 2010, which provides specialist accommodation to open up the Isle of Man to visitors with a Bridge House, located on the TT course, offers apartments for disabled guests and allows them to experience the TT Baker said the facility stood "as a lasting and fitting tribute to Joey's legacy". He said the parade lap had been organised to "commemorate a significant milestone" of 25 years since "the world lost not only a motorsport icon but a humble and generous man whose charitable work continues to inspire".No registration or donations are required to take part in the event, which will take place on open public roads, but organisers have urged participants to "ride safely". Those who would like to take part have been asked to gather at the TT Grandstand pit lane on Glencrutchery Road from 18:30 BST, with riders setting off at 19:00.A similar parade, which featured some of Dunlop's original bikes, took place during the North West 200 in May in Ballymoney. 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
27-06-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Dunlop takes pole position for Tandragee Open races
Michael Dunlop set the fastest lap speed in qualifying at the Tandragee 100 road races to secure pole position for Saturday's Open races at the county Armagh 33-time Isle of Man TT winner lapped the 5.3-mile circuit at an average speed of 107.97mph on his MD Racing BMW Superstock left the Ballymoney rider 2.78 seconds to spare over nearest challenger Michael Sweeney, who posted a 106.308 on his MJ Racing top six qualifying leaderboard for the Open class was completed by Mike Browne (105.866), Conor Cummins (105.035), Shaun Anderson (105.021) and Marcus Simpson (102.846).Cork man Browne recorded the quickest lap in Supersport qualifying on his BPE by Russell Racing Yamaha, 2.8 seconds ahead of Skerries rider Sweeney, who was similarly mounted on a Tweed from Ballymoney was third, Anderson fourth and Cummins fifth on his Cummins, 39, is making his first appearance at the event since his only previous visit back in 2007 and is riding for the Burrows Engineering/RK racing was an early retirement back to the paddock on his V2 Ducati in the Supersport qualifying 36-year-old, who picked up a treble at this year's North West 200 and a four-timer at the recent TT races, is aiming to add to his 11 previous Tandragee race wins as he competes at the meeting for the first time since 2013, when he sealed a Superbike Tandragee 100 itself is taking place for the first time since 2022 after essential resurfacing work on a section of the circuit was completed, with this the 61st running of the first Supersport race and a Senior Support race are scheduled to be run on Friday evening, with a 10-race programme on the agenda for Saturday.
BBC News
24-06-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Michael Dunlop to ride at Tandragee 100 road races
Isle of Man TT record-breaker Michael Dunlop is to ride at this weekend's Tandragee 100 road races, which is being held for the first time since 33-time TT winner is a late entry for the 61st edition of the event held over a 5.3-mile course in county Armagh and will compete on his MD Racing BMW Superstock and Supersport V2 Ducati will be making his first appearance at the meeting for 12 years, just weeks after completing the fifth four-timer of his TT 36-year-old was recently awarded an MBE in the King's Birthday Honours list in recognition of his claimed a Superbike and Supersport double when he last competed at Tandragee in 2013.A statement released by the club said they were "absolutely thrilled to have Michael return to the iconic Tandragee 100 course, one of the few remaining 'old school circuits'."The Tandragee races are running with with new dates of Friday 27 and Saturday 28 June, the event having previously been traditionally staged in early race was given the green light to recommence after essential resurfacing work was completed on the the other leading entrants are Skerries rider Michael Sweeney, who will campaign an MJR Racing BMW, Yamaha R6 and Aprilia Conor Cummins bridges an 18-year gap since his last appearance at the race as he rides for the Burrows Engineering/RK Racing 39-year-old had a best finish of fifth in the second Superstock race at the recent TT man Shaun Anderson is also part of the field, along with two more Manx riders in Joe Yeardsley and Marcus Simpson, Neil Kernohan and Ballymoney's Darryl rider Amalric Blanc is a notable newcomer while veteran Ian Lougher is entered in the Supertwins class. Derek McGee is an absentee through close on Friday at 11:00 BST, with practice scheduled to start at 11:30 and roads reopen not later than 21: close at 09:30 on Saturday, with the first race at 10:00 and roads opening again at 19:00.
BBC News
17-06-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Isle of Man TT schedule unlikely to change despite disruption
A review of the 2025 Isle of Man TT is underway but changes to the schedule are unlikely in 2026 despite weather disruption leading to the Senior race being cancelled, the enterprise minister has qualifying and racing at the meeting were severely disrupted by rain and fog, with most races run on a reduced number of laps. Gusty conditions on the final day of the event also saw the blue riband showpiece of the event, the Senior TT, Johnston said while TT 2025 had been "challenging", the fortnight had seen "some amazing racing" despite "the best efforts of weather to cause chaos". Tens of thousands of visitors travelled to the island for the event between 26 May until 7 June, which saw racing take place on 37.7-miles (61km) of closed public Glover MHK asked whether the schedule, introduced in 2023, would be tweaked to give "more certainty" to the running of the Senior race, which was the last in the schedule, next explained that debriefs "at all levels" with "all key stakeholders" were taking place, with the results expected in the coming weeks. But he said any changes would require discussions to "assess whether that was necessary". 'Opportunity missed' Meanwhile, the chief minister said ways of creating a "more prominent visual welcome" to Isle of Man from senior politicians for TT visitors would be considered ahead of next year's Cannan was challenged over there being no visible message from Manx politicians among the safety reminders, event updates and public health guidance issued during the said the lack of a "safe travels" campaign was a "PR opportunity missed" by central conceded it was a "valid point" and but said any future government messaging needed to remain "meaningful" to TT said the current schedule had been implemented following consultation with race organisers, competitors, teams, and medics. Cannan told members there had been a "coordinated" effort across government to "deliver clear practical information" during the said figures such as former TT winner Milky Quayle had been chosen for their "strong connection to the audience", which recognised the important role the right people could can play in promoting the island said there was "absolutely a role to play" for politicians in promoting the island and welcoming that would "need to be put in context with what is meaningful to our visitors", he added. 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.
