The Isle of Man TT was once again well represented at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
The annual event at the West Sussex home of Lord March is more commonly associated with car racing, and there was plenty on show for four-wheel fans. However, the number of motorcycles and riders taking part has increased.
Last year, the Centenary of the TT was celebrated at Goodwood and last weekend, at the 16th festival, the Isle of Man road races were well represented.
Among those on hand to show off their skills to the 50,000-strong crowd were 14-times TT winner John McGuinness, pictured above with British Formula One superstar Lewis Hamilton (picture courtesy of LAT Photographic), Carl Fogarty, Trevor Nationm Jim Redman, Luigi Taveri, Chas Mortimer, Stuart Graham and more.
Many took the chance to show off their skills, and put some classic machines to the test, up the famous Goodwood hill.
Among the motorcycles on show were TT legend Joey Dunlop’s 1998 Honda RC45, the Suzuki R1 ridden by David Jefferies in ’98 and a machine featuring parts from the Ducati 900SS Mike Hailwood rode to victory in his 1978 TT comeback.
The appearance of the motorcycles at the traditionally car-dominated Goodwood Festival of Speed was welcomed by many four-wheel enthusiasts.
Respected motorsport writer Henry Hope-Frost, reviewing the festival in Autosport magazine, said:
‘The racing motorcycle fraternity puts on a spellbinding show wherever it goes: short-circuit GPs, long-distance road races or gravity-defying motocross events or trials.’
‘And, by rights, as a Festival of Speed visitor, you’ll be firmly in the “if it’s got wheels and makes a noise I love it” brigade, and very much.’
Following the popularity of the motorcycles at the 2008 Goodwood Festival of Speed, there’s little doubt the TT will be well-represented again next year.
Photo courtesy of LAT Photographic – visit the website.