After the TT, attention now focuses on the Classic TT (23-25 August), which sees riders and machines tackle the Mountain Course again. The Bennetts-sponsored Classic kicks off on Saturday 23 August with the curtain-raising 500cc Classic TT Race.
The entry list features a mixture of current TT stars and established Classic contenders, and picking a winner will not be straightforward with at least a dozen riders more than capable of taking the win in the four-lap race.
Among the pre-race favourites will be the multi-cylinder Paton machines in the hands of three TT greats – John McGuinness, Ryan Farquhar and Ian Lougher. McGuinness made his Classic debut at the same event 12 months ago, and although it didn’t prove to be a memorable experience as his fortnight was plagued by machine problems, a qualifying lap in excess of 111mph showed what he was capable of and more of the same will be required if he’s to stand on the top step.
Ryan Farquhar, who has taken the 500cc Classic Manx GP title on no fewer than five occasions, will be his teammate on the Roger Winfield machines. With his knowledge of the machine second to none, the Ulsterman will fancy his chances. Lougher, meanwhile, will be out on the same Paton machine that Olie Linsdell used to take the inaugural 500cc Classic TT win twelve months ago.
Linsdell has done a straight swap with Lougher for 2014 as he’ll campaign the 500cc Royal Enfield that the Welshman used last year and he’ll pose a major threat once more as will Mountain Course Outright Lap Record Holder Bruce Anstey who returns on Ken McIntosh’s Manx Norton. The Kiwi was running as high as second last year until being forced to retire, the first time the machine had failed to finish a race, and will be keen to redress the balance this time around.
Guy Martin and Michael Dunlop add further weight to the Norton challenge with the duo riding Andy Molnar’s four-valve Manx’s and the list of potential winners keeps coming in the shape of Gary Johnson and Dean Harrison who will be both mounted on MV Agustas. Davies Motorsport also have two riders capable of the victory on their Honda machines with last year’s runner up William Dunlop and long-time Classic race exponent Alan Oversby continuing with the team for a second year.
Qualifying starts on Saturday 16 August.
The Classic TT is one of the events that make up the 2014 Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling, which runs from August 16 to August 31. The festival also includes the Manx Grand Prix Races (25 to 29 August), Manx 2-Day Trial (23 and 24 August), Manx Classic Trial (30 and 31 August) and the VMCC rally and The Festival of Jurby (24 August).Â
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