There will be even more racing at the Isle of Man TT in 2008 it has been confirmed.
The Island’s Department of Tourism and Leisure has revealed the fortnight will feature not only an extra Supersport Junior race around the world-famous TT Mountain Circuit, but also a return to TT action for Lightweight and Ultra Lightweight machines.
The Billown Circuit in the south of the Isle of Man, home to the Southern 100, will be the venue for the Lightweight and Ultra Lightweight races on Saturday, June 7, 2008. Following the success of the Supersport Junior TT this year, the 2008 calendar will feature two races for the class, on June 2nd and June 4th.
The race programme was officially unveiled at the NEC Motorcycle and Scooter Show in Birmingham today.
A statement from the DTL said the schedule followed extensive consultation with manufacturers, teams, riders and fans.
It added the Supersport race was one of the highlights of the Centenary TT in 2007, with the four leading riders all breaking the class lap record on the final lap.
Many of the leading manufacturer-supported teams have already expressed an interest in next year’s event, and there could also be some new names on the grid with several World Endurance Championship teams keen to take part following the success of Bolliger Kawasaki, which participated for the first time in 2007.
With a year under their belts, this year’s star newcomers will hope to challenge the established riders, and Steve Plater, Keith Amor, Gary Johnson and Jimmy Moore are all expected to return and build on their first year success.
The statement added organisers are in negotiation with other world-class riders looking to compete in the Island for the first time.
With the arrival of the Lightweight and Ultra Lightweight TT classes, the Billown circuit will become the fourth course in the Island to host TT racing, after St John’s, the current Mountain Circuit and the Clypse Course.
It isn’t the first time the TT races have run on two separate courses at the same time, as the Clypse Course hosted the Lightweight and Sidecar classes between 1954 and 1959 while racing continued on the Mountain Circuit. The Superbike, Senior, Supersport, Superstock and Sidecar races will all continue on the 37¾ mile Mountain Circuit that has been used since 1911.
The Lightweight and Ultra Lightweight classes will be the feature races in the Steam Packet National road races programme on the afternoon of Saturday, June 7. They will operate under the same guidance and jurisdiction as the rest of the meeting and will feature a mass start, the first in a TT race since 1959.
Many of the leading TT riders are expected to participate. The prize fund will reflect the status of a TT race and the winners of each of the Lightweight and Ultra Lightweight classes will receive the prestigious TT trophies, which have not been awarded since 2002 and 2004 respectively.
Trophy winners will see their names engraved alongside such luminaries as Joey and Robert Dunlop, Phil Read, Jim Redman and the great Mike Hailwood.
DTL TT and Motorsport Development Manager Paul Phillips said:
‘It is very important that we didn’t simply rest on our laurels following the success of the Centenary. We have to build on that to secure the event’s future.’
‘We believe that we have created a programme for 2008 that will excite everyone. The Supersport class is always the most competitive and the riders and teams have indicated that it is the right time to re-introduce a second race.’
‘There has been a huge amount of discussion about the two-stroke machines and I’m delighted that they will be part of the TT once more albeit on a different circuit.’
Outright TT lap record holder John McGuinness added his support to the calendar announcement saying:
‘It’s a superb schedule with something for everyone and I’m looking forward to some more close racing on the Island in 2008.’
Practices week runs from 24th to the 30th May 2008. The rest of the race calendar is as follows:
Saturday 31st May 2008: Superbike TT Race and Sidecar TT Race A
Monday 2nd June 2008: Superstock TT Race & Supersport Junior TT Race A
Wednesday 4th June 2008: Supersport Junior TT Race B and Sidecar TT Race B
Friday 6th June 2008: Senior TT Race
Saturday 7th June 2008: Lightweight TT Race and Ultra Lightweight TT Race (Billown)