The waiting is almost over - the 2011 Isle of Man TT is here!
The waiting is almost over - one of the most hotly anticipated international road race meetings for many years is set to burst into action this evening.
Today (May 30) is the day when the 2011 Isle of Man TT fuelled by Monster Energy gets under way with the first practice session.
The first sidecar outfits are due to leave the TT Grandstand in Glencrutchery Road, Douglas, from 6.20pm, with the solo machines expected to get their 2011 campaign going at about 8pm.
The famous Mountain course, which this year celebrates 100 years of racing, will be closed to allow the racers to practice. The Mountain section will close at 5pm with the rest of the 37.7-mile circuit closing by 6pm. The course is expected to start re-opening no later than 9.30pm, with the Mountain section open one hour later.
All times are subject to change due to weather or other factors. For the latest information, tune into Manx Radio TT, follow TT Live!, visit iomtt.com or call the roads hotline on 01624 685888.
The 2011 TT has, arguably, one of the most open fields for some time. Ian Hutchinson, who dominated in 2010 with victory on all five solo races, is unable to race due to injury.
However, 15-times TT winner John McGuinness is back looking for more victories and is joined in the Honda TT Legends team by Scot Keith Amor, who is hungry for his debut Mountain win. Also seeking that elusive first TT win is fans' favourite Guy Martin, this year riding for the Relentless Suzuki by TAS Racing team which has enjoyed unrivalled success at the TT.
Cameron Donald, out to regain the race-winning form of 2008, has moved from TAS to Martin's former team Wilson Craig Honda, and his former Suzuki teammate Bruce Anstey is on the Padgetts Honda ride which carried Hutchy to dominance last year. Both are TT winners and showed at the North West 200 they have speed this year.
Fellow TT winners Ryan Farquhar, Michael Dunlop and Ian Lougher can never be discounted, and if his Ducati can stand the test Michael Rutter will be aiming for podium finishes at least. William Dunlop, now with Wilson Craig Honda, and East Coast Racing's Gary Johnson are likely to be in the mix, while Manxman Conor Cummins will have to overcome any outstanding ill-effects from his horrific crash in last year's Senior TT if he is to recover the form which saw him challenging for wins on his home track in 2010.
There are numerous other names to look out for, including Manxman Dan Kneen, and a host of top-quality newcomers looking to make their mark.
In the chairs, 2010 double-winners Klaus Klaffenbock and Dan Sayle must start as favourites, but there are World Champions in the shape of Tim Reeves the Birchall brothers plus TT veterans like Simon Neary and John Holden, they will have a tough fight to repeat last year's success.
This year will also see teams and riders once again bid to break the 100mph lap for clean-emissions motorcycles in the SES TT Zero race.
There is still time to enjoy the race action from the VIP Hospitality suite, and you can follow everything that happens on track with TT Live! and Manx Radio TT.