IOMTT Archives

2023 IOMTT: Tragic Accident Claims The Life Of Raul Torras

In a devastating turn of events, Spanish rider Raul Torras, 46, from Sant Hilari Sacalm, lost his life during the first Supertwin Race at the 2023 Isle of Man TT Races.

The fatal accident occurred on the final lap of the race between the 16th and 17th mile markers, at Alpine.
Torras had been competing at IOMTT since 2017.

Torras, an experienced competitor at the TT, had been participating in the renowned event since 2017, amassing a total of 21 races under his belt. Throughout his TT career, he had achieved notable milestones, including securing 18 Bronze Replicas and a commendable 15th place in last year’s Supertwin class.

Moreover, Torras had recently set a personal record during the Superstock Race, clocking an impressive lap speed of 125.470mph and finishing in 20th place.

Regrettably, this year’s Supertwin Race proved to be a fatal chapter in Torras’ racing journey. The Isle of Man TT Races released a statement expressing their profound sadness over the loss of the talented rider.

Torras’ passing leaves a void not only among his fellow competitors but also among his fans worldwide, as he had earned recognition as the fastest Spaniard to ever lap the challenging 37.73-mile TT circuit.

As the news of Torras’ untimely demise reverberates through the racing community, the Isle of Man TT Races extends its deepest sympathies to his family, friends, and loved ones. Raul Torras will be remembered for his passion, dedication, and remarkable contributions to the world of international road racing.

Arai Unveils Special Edition Helmet in Celebration of 100th Manx Grand Prix

In honour of the Manx Grand Prix’s centennial anniversary, renowned helmet manufacturer Arai has collaborated with The Visor Shop and the Manx Grand Prix to create a limited-edition masterpiece.

The Arai RX-7V Evo, specially designed for this occasion, is set to be released on July 20.

The Manx Grand Prix, an iconic event in the road racing calendar, has captivated motorsport enthusiasts since its inception in 1923. While it may stand in the shadow of its counterpart, the Isle of Man TT Races, the Manx Grand Prix continues to hold its own as a thrilling spectacle.

For over a decade, Arai has been designing special edition helmets for the Isle of Man TT, and this endeavor for the Manx Grand Prix follows suit.

The helmet’s design features the famous Snaefell Course outline, paying homage to the race’s iconic route. It also incorporates references to prominent landmarks and timing points, as well as the Triskelion, symbolizing the Three Legs of Man.

On June 1, the special edition helmet was officially unveiled at the Arai Village during the Isle of Man TT. Priced at GBP829.99 (RM4.7k), this exclusive piece will be cherished by motorcycle enthusiasts and collectors alike.

With its limited production run, the Arai RX-7V Evo commemorates the historic milestone of the Manx Grand Prix, an event that has continually pushed the boundaries of road racing. Mark your calendars for the release on July 20, 2023, and secure your piece of racing history.

Peter Hickman’s IOMTT Winning Bike Sold For RM627k At Auction

English rider Peter Hickman’s winning motorcycle at the 2022 Isle of Man TT races has fetched a staggering GBP112,700 (RM627k) at The International Classic Motorcycle Show’s Spring Stafford Sale on April 22, 2023.

The bike was prepared by Gas Monkey Garage by FHO Racing and is a BMW M 1000 RR that Hickman rode to victories in the Superbike and Senior TT classes.
The motorcycle is a Superbike World Championship-spec machine that boasts a reinforced chassis, a Suter swingarm, and Öhlins suspension.

In addition, BMW specially prepared the engine and airbox, and an Akrapovic titanium exhaust system along with a larger fuel tank and an STM clutch to meet the demands of the Snaefell Mountain course.

The motorcycle’s authenticity was confirmed by the bug guts splattered across the front fairing and the chain grease/road debris speckling the under-tail.

Interestingly, the new owner has chosen to remain anonymous. Nevertheless, Hickman’s winning bike is definitely an every collectors dream.

Hickman has been on a winning streak since the 2018 Isle of Man TT, accumulating nine TT wins in just five years.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic sidelining IOMTT races for two consecutive years, Hickman continued to dominate the field in 2022, winning the Supertwin, Superstock, Superbike, and Senior TT classes.

With the 2023 Isle of Man TT just around the corner, there is a chance that another Hickman-ridden motorcycle could make it back to the auction block soon.

Registrations For The 2023 Isle Of Man TT Are Now Open

The Isle of Man TT is set to return in 2023 with registration for the Tourist Trophy are now officially opens.

2023 season to commence with three races instead of two.
2023 season will mark the race 102nd edition since its inception in 1907.

According to the official information, the 2023 season will kick-off from May 29 to June 10, 2023.

That said, the iconic race is set to turn the calm and serene town of Isle of Man into a road racing circuit with bikes blazing through the street at more than 300km/h.

The 2023 season will mark the race 102nd edition having run continuously since 1907 – skipped several times due to World War I and World War II and recently the pandemic.

Nevertheless, similar to last year’s edition, the 2023 season will return in full blast with revised schedule consisting of ten races.

However, unlike the previous edition, 2023 season now has three races instead of two:

June 3 (Saturday) – Monster Energy SuperSport and 3 Sidecar TT Races
June 4 (Sunday) – RST Superbike TT
June 6 (Tuesday) – first RL360 Superstock Race and Supertwin Race
June 7 (Wednesday) – second RL360 Superstock Race and Supertwin race

Engineering Students To Take On The 2024 IOMTT With A 225HP Electric Bike

The University of Michigan’s SPARK Electric Racing Team is ready to take on the Isle of Man TT (IOMTT) challenge with an electric race bike.

SPARK Electric Racing Team to race at the 2024 IOMTT with an electric race bike.
The goal is to create a bike that can hit 300km/h and makes 225hp.

The engineering students from the University of Michigan have been experimenting with their electric bike build since 2013.

They even ended 2022 on a high, taking home second and third place in AHRMA’s Formula Lightning race in New Jersey thanks to an electric race bike called the Atlas.

However, their biggest aim is to compete at the 2024 IOMTT.

Despite not having the most considerable resources like a full-time race outfit, SPARK is adamant that their next electric bike project has what it takes to compete at the world’s greatest road race.

Meanwhile, the Atlas was a success at the Formula Lightning Race. The bike features a custom trellis frame and can do 0-100km/h in less than three seconds. SPARK’s claimed that the race bike makes 125hp and 119Nm and can hit a max speed of 257km/h.

It also features other top-of-the-line components, including Brembo, Ohlins and Galfer.

However, for the 2024 IOMTT, SPARK is building something even more powerful called the FBS, which stands for “Future Racing Bike of SPARK”.

The goal is to build an electric race bike that makes 225hp 200Nm and can hit a max speed of 300km/h. The target weight is less than 200kg, and can do 0-100 in under three seconds.

Arai Unveils New Isle Of Man TT Special Edition RX-7V EVO Helmet

The recently concluded Motorcycle Live event witness a host of motorcycle manufacturers unveiling their new and upcoming motorcycle.

Arai celebrates the Isle of Man TT with a special edition RX-7V EVO helmet.
The IOMTT special helmet has been a hit since its introduction in 2007.

However, helmet maker like Arai also took the opportunity to revealed its latest product, the Isle of Man TT Special Edition RX-7V Evo helmet.

Arai teamed up with Dudi Performance to design the new limited edition RX-7V Evo to celebrate the 2023 Isle of Man TT event.

If you’re a fan of Arai then you would know that since it first edition in 2007, every special edition TT helmets is a must have for riders around the world.

Using the RX-7V as base, the Isle of Man TT special meets the latest ECE22.06 safety standard and offering the best sports and track riding features.

In terms of colours, the TT special RX-7V EVO comes in black, red and white colour combination along with some fluorescent yellow. Also features on the helmet is the Ellan Vannin text and TT logo.

“We so look forward to the TT! It was great to get back to the Isle of Man again finally this year and it’s an event that means so much, to us at Arai.

“We are very glad to reveal the 2023 IoM TT Limited Edition RX-7V Evo at Motorcycle Live, a highlight of our year. Drudi Performance has produced another beautiful design on our top of the range RX-7V Evo which combines the signature TT elements with fresh, flowing lines,” said Ingmar Stroeven, Arai Helmet (Europe) B.V Managing DIrector.

According to Arai, the 2023 IOM TT RX-7V EVO is expected to arrive in Q2 of 2023.

IOMTT: TT Start Line Official Bows Out After Almost 70 Years

An Isle of Man TT start line official who has been responsible for giving riders the tap on the shoulders at the start of the race has retired after 68 years involvement with the iconic race.

Paul Kermode has spend nearly 70 years with the Isle of Man TT races since 1954.
23-time John McGuiness was his last send off at the 2022 IOMTT.

Paul Kermode, 79, first volunteered with the TT back in 1954 as a scout working on the scoreboard before taking over the job as a start line official.

Kermode bowed out after the first Superbike race whereby his final shoulder tap happened to be 23-time winner John McGuinness’.

“When he came down to the line to start, he shook my hand and said: ‘happy retirement,.

“I think it’s been great to be able to do it,” he said.

Kermode been giving the famous shoulder tap for the past 15 years and despite not keeping count, he estimates that he has send thousands of riders away at the TT race and Manx GP.

“It had to come to an end at some time and that was the perfect way to do it, with John’s hundredth.

“I marshalled the early morning practices from 16. I couldn’t do race week, because I worked for the newspapers and we printed a TT special and no staff were allowed off.

“I might get out on the course somewhere now and watch them. In this day and age there’s not many people that will do something for nothing, but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it over time. The early morning practices were something else,” he added.

(Source: MCN)

Isle Of Man TT 2022 Buka Tirai Dengan Kematian Pelumba Britain

Pelumba Britain, Mark Purslow disahkan meninggal dunia susulan kemalangan ketika sesi kelayakan perlumbaan Isle of Man TT 2022.

Perkara itu disahkan pihak penganjur dalam satu kenyataan pada Rabu.

“Kami mahu mengucapkan takziah kepada keluarga dan sahabat Mark,” jelasnya.

Bagaimanapun, pihak penganjur turut memaklumkan bahawa perlumbaan IOMTT 2022 akan diteruskan.

Purslow sedang memasuki lap ketiga sewaktu pusingan kelayakan keempat sebelum kemalangan berlaku. Difahamkan, kelajuan Purslow ketika itu adalah sekitar 190km/j.

Ini merupakan perlumbaan kedua IOMTT bagi pelumba berusia 29 tahun itu selepas beraksi di kategori Supersport dan Lightweight pada 2017.

Mangsa juga pernah bertanding di Classic TT dan memenangi Manx GP 2015 (lightweight).

IOMTT kembali untuk sesi 2022 selepas dua tahun menyepi ekoran pandemik Covid-19.

Watch John McGuinness lap the Isle of Man TT 2022 course aboard a Fireblade SP

Here’s some glorious on-board footage of racing legend John McGuinness lapping the Isle of Man TT 2022 course aboard his Fireblade SP.

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IOMTT: Michael Dunlop To Ride The Ducati Panigale V4 R

Road racing legend, Michael Dunlop will pilot the Ducati Panigale V4 R at the 2022 Isle of Man.

Dunlop signed with Paul Bird Motorsport (PBM) Ducati Team ahead of the 2022 IOMTT, however the ongoing pandemic forced organizers to cancel the 2020 and 2021 edition.

Nevertheless, the 2022 season is set to return on May 28 with Dunlop staying with PBM Ducati.

However, to adapt to the Panigale V4 R after a two-year absent, Dunlop will ride the Borgo Panigale machinery at Northern Ireland’s North West 200 happening on May 12 to 14.

Regardless, Dunlop is still regarded as one of the favourites in the Superbike pack, as he currently has 19 IOMTT wins to his name.

If the 32-year-old rider managed to pulls of another win, Ducati will be the seventh winning manufacturer to partner the Northern Irishman after Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, BMW and Paton.

Ian Hutchinson Mengeluarkan Helmet Replika Edisi Terhad Isle of Man TT

Kejohanan Superbike British, BSB B02, Brands Hatch Indy, Kent UK. 15 April 2017. Ian Hutchinson, Bingley, Tyco BMW Motorrad

Pemenang Isle of Man TT 16 kali, Ian Hutchinson telah memperkenalkan koleksi helmet replika Isle of Man TT edisi terhad miliknya sendiri.
Sejumlah 50 buah helmet Arai RX7V akan dikeluarkan bagi menyambut kemenangan ke-16 Hutchinson yang mana ianya boleh didapati dalam lima skema warna yang di cat tangan berbeza bersama dengan ke semua pelekat penaja.
Setiap helmet Arai edisi terhad itu bernilai £1199 (kira-kira RM6,755) dan bagi mereka yang berminat perlu meletakkan wang pendahuluan sebanyak £200 (RM1,126) di www.5timesiomtt.com.

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Ian Hutchinson releases limited edition Isle of Man TT Arai replica helmets

16-time Isle of Man TT winner Ian Hutchinson has introduced his very own limited edition Isle of Man TT Arai replica helmets.

A total of 50 Arai RX7V helmets will be released to celebrate Hutchinson’s 16 wins which will come in five different hand-painted colours together with all the sponsor stickers.

Each limited edition Arai helmet is priced at £1199 (around RM6,755) and those interested will need to place a £200 (RM1,126) at www.5timesiomtt.com.

In celebration of winning his 16^th Tourist Trophy victory at the infamous mountain course that is Isle of Man, Ian Hutchinson aka “The Bingley Bullet” has released a series of very special and limited Arai replica helmets. (more…)

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