After a less-than-stellar 2024 Manx GP event this summer, the organisers at the Isle of Man government have relaunched the Classic TT for 2025 as a separate – but overlapping – event alongside the Manx next August.
The Classic TT, which last ran between 2013 and 2019, took its inspiration from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s – putting it right in the sweet spot in terms of nostalgia for the current demographic of bikers. Seeing the likes of John McGuinness, Michael Dunlop, Bruce Anstey and Michael Rutter riding iconic Suzuki XR69s and GSX-Rs, Yamaha YZR500s, Honda RC30s and Kawasaki ZXRs with modern tuning modifications was a big hit. And the organisers will no doubt be hoping to revisit that success.
The event will feature races for 1990s superbikes, two-stroke GP machines and historic racing bikes from the 1960s and 70s. The organisers are promising fans a spectacular event.
Qualifying for the Classic TT will get underway on 20 August 2025, with a five-race schedule from 27-29 August. Racing for the Classic TT will start on Wednesday 27 August, and three races will be scheduled: the Formula 1 TT, followed by the Lightweight TT, and then the Historic Junior TT. On Friday 29 August, the prestigious Historic Senior TT will open, and there will be a second Superbike outing – the Senior Classic TT – bringing the curtain down on the high-speed Mountain Course action.
The race programme will be supported by various nostalgic events and attractions away from the course. Qualifying for the Classic TT will run in tandem with the 2025 Manx Grand Prix on Sunday 17 August through to Monday 25 August.
Paul Phillips, head of motorsport, Isle of Man TT Races said: “The Classic TT captured the imagination of fans when it ran previously, and we are excited to bring it back to celebrate some of the most iconic decades in TT history. The 1980s and 1990s, in particular, were a time of intense rivalries, iconic machines and record-breaking racing, and this event will be a place where fans can reconnect with those unforgettable moments. The Classic TT will not only honour the great riders of those eras but also provide a chance to see some legendary machines roar back to life on the Mountain Course, piloted by the best riders of the modern day.”