Star-studded entry for Centenary TT
In just 22 days the waiting will finally be over – the 100th anniversary Isle of Man TT Races sponsored by Bennetts will burst into life.
While this year’s event promises top drawer entertainment right across the spectrum, the centrepiece, as always, will be the races themselves and when entries closed there was no doubt one of the finest array of riders would be lining up on Glencrutchery Road for each and every race.
Both the solo and sidecar classes contain champions in all disciplines, whether they be in World, European or domestic competition, and the strength in depth is, quite simply, superb. The usual suspects head the line-up and, on the basis of recent years, the man to beat is John McGuinness.
Like 2006, the 11-times TT winner, and current outright lap record holder, will carry the number 3 plate and although his short circuit season has got off to a mixed start, when the first race gets underway he’ll be the target for all other riders.
The top 10 is packed with potential race winners and the three ‘young guns’ will occupy the road in quick succession, with Ian Hutchinson at six, Guy Martin at eight and Cameron Donald 10. Throw in Adrian Archibald at two, Martin Finnegan at four, Bruce Anstey at five, Ian Lougher at seven and Ryan Farquhar at nine and it’s a mouth-watering prospect.
Meanwhile, the returning Michael Rutter has the honour of leading the field away at number one, and with his MSS Kawasaki moving forward all the time at BSB level, he cannot be ruled out.
Other rider numbers worth noting are Raymond Porter at 11, Carl Rennie at 12, Shaun Harris at 18, Conor Cummins at 28, Jeremy Toye at 34 and Michael Weynand at 36, while no less than 37 riders competing this year have already broken the 120mph barrier.
The likes of Ian Armstrong, Paul Hunt, Gary Carswell, Nigel Beattie and Davy Morgan can all be found inside the top 20, with Dean Silvester, Dan Stewart, Chris Palmer, Les Shand and John Burrows in the 20 to 30 bracket. Interestingly, eight of last year’s newcomers are back for more, while riders to move up from the Manx Grand Prix include double race winner Craig Atkinson, Shane Connor, Stephen Oates and Michael Dunlop. Other notable returnees include Stefano Bonetti, Adrian McFarland, Dave Milling and Steve Kuenne.
On the newcomer front, Steve Plater is, unsurprisingly, the highest placed and he carries the number 31 plate with, amongst others, Keith Amor at 45, Jimmy Moore at 54 and Ryan Rainey at 58. Another high profile newcomer entry comes in the shape of former World Endurance Champion Jehan D’Orgeix, who can also count the famous Le Mans and Bol d’Or 24 Hour World Endurance races amongst his victories. He lines up for the Martin Bullock Raceteam.
It is a similar picture in the F2 Sidecar class and, once again, the top three drivers of recent times occupy the first three slots on the entry – Dave Molyneux at one, Nick Crowe at two and Steve Norbury at three. Former World Champion Klaus Klaffenbock is one spot further back with regular front runners Roy Hanks, John Holden, Andy Laidlow, Simon Neary and Phil Dongworth all running in the top ten.
Former British Champion Gary Horspole makes his comeback at number 11 with Tony Elmer at 14, while a whole host of stalwarts are back for two more races including Greg Lambert, Tony Baker, Glyn Jones, Kenny Howles and Bill Currie. British Championship runner-up Nigel Connole has the number 25 plate and, like the solos, a number of drivers are back on the grid with Eddy Wright, Stephen Ramsden and Bryan Peddar the most notable names.
The rider recruitment programme has been in overdrive in the Sidecar class and all the leading newcomers from 2006 return whilst there are no less than nine crews making their debuts in 2007, the most prominent of which are German GP ace Mike Roscher and Japanese champions Masahito Watanabe and Hideyuki Yoshida.
Having had two outfits line up for the first time last year, there will be 11 Louis Christian-built machines on the grid this year, further indication of the flourishing environment in F2 Sidecars.