It promises to be a great TT, with all the stars of 2007 returning, even more high calibre newcomers appearing for the first time and a number of teams coming to the Isle of Man to make their TT bow.
Some of the big names returning to the Mountain Circuit were announced at the star-studded TT2008 launch party of the Villa Marina, Douglas, on Monday evening – with many there in person to confirm they would be racing.
Heading the entry once more is the current King of the Mountain, John McGuinness. With 13 wins to his name, the Morecambe rider has deservedly earned his status as a TT legend and with 10 wins in the last four years, it’s hard to see anyone stopping him.
The Centenary TT saw him enjoy another brilliant two weeks in the Isle of Man with two wins, two second places and a new outright lap record of 130.354mph, making him the first, and only, man to break the magical 130mph barrier.
He lines up on Honda machinery again, riding in the colours of Padgett’s for the Superbike and Supersport races and in Honda Racing livery for the four-lap Superstock.
Honda might not have the same strength in depth they had last year, but in Guy Martin they have a definite contender for honours.
The Hydrex Bike Animal-entered rider will be hoping this is the year he claims his first TT win.
Other high profile Honda riders include two of last year’s exciting newcomers Keith Amor and Gary Johnson, and both are expected to feature prominently.
Many more stars line up on Yamaha machinery, with AIM Racing posing perhaps the greatest threat to McGuinness.
With Ian Hutchinson, who took his maiden TT win ahead of McGuinness at last year’s TT, and Steve Plater, who enjoyed a sensational first year at the TT in 2007, the team has every chance of success.
Ian Lougher has switched from Honda to Yamaha for ‘08, continuing in the same Black Horse Motorcycle Finance livery and with promising youngster Olie Linsdell as his teammate.
Martin Finnegan lines up for JMF/Millsport Racing, replacing Conor Cummins in the team.
Cummins, the fastest ever Manxman around the TT course and winner of the Duke Road Race Rankings in 2007, maintains his links with Yamaha, but has moved to the NCT Racing team where he will have two-times 125cc TT winner Chris Palmer as his team-mate.
The Relentless by TAS Suzuki team has a superb chance of adding to their haul of silverware.
Six-times TT winner Bruce Anstey and Australian Cameron Donald make up Hector and Phillip Neill’s impressive squad. They will also supply bikes to former rider and three times winner Adrian Archibald who continues on the Suzukis, albeit in the colours of AMA Racing.
McAdoo Racing will run Kawasakis, with TT favourite Ryan Farquhar on board.
This year will also see TT debuts for World Endurance team Phase One and Corona Extra Honda, from the US-based AMA Superbike championship.
James McBride and Jimmy Moore will ride the Phase One Yamahas, while there is a welcome return for Rob Frost who will pilot Corona Extra’s formidable Superbike.
Bolliger Kawasaki and Klaffi Honda will also return.
TT 2008 will also boast a strong line-up of smaller teams and privateers, with many capable of springing a few surprises.
Watch out for regular top 10-finisher Ian Armstrong, Dan Stewart and Ian Pattinson, who have both been mightily impressive in the last two years, and Les Shand, who has been affected by injury in the last two seasons and is sure to be a lot higher this year with 100 per cent fitness.
It is also worth keeping an eye on Mark Parrett, Carl Rennie, Mark Buckley, Davy Morgan, John Burrows, William and Michael Dunlop and last year’s Junior Manx Grand Prix winner Derek Brien.
There are also plenty of local heroes for the Isle of Man to cheer on, including Gary Carswell, Paul Hunt and Stephen Oates.
Read all about the 2008 TT by downloading the Press Pack in Adobe PDF Format (1.8Mb). Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader from Adobe.com.
And make sure you keep visiting the Official website of the Isle of Man TT throughout this week for all the news from Monday’s launch party.
Phil Wain