Excitement is building for the second year of the Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts with just 60 days to go until the start of qualifying on Saturday 16 August,
Fans flocked to the Isle of Man for the inaugural event last year to witness some exciting racing around the TT Mountain Course as well as getting up close and personal with some of motorcycle racing’s biggest stars including Giacomo Agostini, Freddie Spencer, Phil Read, John McGuinness, Steve Baker and Kork Ballington.
The open paddock welcomed thousands of fans, who were able to get unique access to some of the most exotic classic racing motorcycles the world has ever seen. A packed off track entertainment schedule complemented the racing and parades with many of the leading motorcycle magazines calling the Classic TT the world’s number one classic motorcycle event in its first year.
The 2014 edition of the Classic TT looks set to build upon this success with another impressive array of star riders and motorcycle exotica in the line up. On the back of another four TT victories earlier this month, Michael Dunlop heads the Classic TT entry with rides in all three races. Joining him on the grid will be a host of his rivals from the TT including 21 times champion John McGuinness, 2014 race winners Gary Johnson and Dean Harrison, outright TT lap record holder Bruce Anstey and TT podium finishers in 2014 Guy Martin, William Dunlop, James Hillier and James Cowton.
Other current day TT stars set to do battle around the Mountain Circuit on classic racing machinery include the likes of last year’s 500cc Race winner Olie Linsdell, Ryan Farquhar, Dan Kneen, Keith Amor, Dan Cooper, Lee Johnson, Jamie Hamilton, Jamie Coward and Russ Mountford. They will be joined by a plethora of Classic racing’s fastest men including Roy Richardson, Alan Oversby and Bill and Chris Swallow, not to mention 10 times TT winner Ian Lougher, who is continuing his career exclusively on classic racing machinery. Fans will also be eagerly awaiting the return of 9 times TT winner Charlie Williams, who makes his racing return to the Mountain Circuit after a 30 year absence.
The 2014 Classic TT will have a 1980s’ theme running throughout as the event celebrates the incredible career of the late, great Joey Dunlop. A stunning exhibition of machines ridden by Joey throughout his career will be on display in the paddock while many of the Ulsterman’s greatest rivals will be attending the event to pay tribute in the ‘Joey Dunlop – Road Racing Legend – The Rivals Parade Lap sponsored by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company’. Names already confirmed to participate include Carl Fogarty, Rob McElnea, Graeme Crosby, Mick Grant, Philip McCallen, Brian Reid, Ray McCullough, Mick Grant, Steve Cull and Paul Iddon.
The Classic TT is one of the events that make up the 2014 Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling, which runs from 16 August to 31 August. 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).