TV's Gethin Jones to Host 2014 TT Launch at Villa Marina
Ex-BBC Blue Peter TV presenter Gethin Jones will present the launch night of the 2014 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy at the Villa Marina on Tuesday 15th April.
The Welshman, who is a self-confessed TT fan, has also appeared in Strictly Come Dancing and has presented ITV breakfast show Daybreak. He will be joined on stage by ITV TT commentators Steve Parrish and James Whitham, who will be bringing their own inimitable style to proceedings.
The evening, which is now firmly established in the calendar as the official launch night for the TT Races, will feature a chat show and interviews with all of the leading TT riders who will be reliving their 2013 campaigns and discussing their 2014 TT plans as well as big screen video edits replaying the highlights from the 2013 meeting.
North One TV, producers of the TT highlights shows as well as many of the UK's favourite entertainment and documentary programmes, will be producing the evening. Fans can expect revelations, indiscreet stories, early points scoring, banter and controversy as riders talk about new rides and old rivalries.
The evening will feature riders with a total of 50 solo TT race wins. Topping the bill will be the 'Morecambe Missile' - twenty-time race winner John McGuinness, still the outright lap record holder. Other race winners appearing include Ian Hutchinson, returning to the TT on a factory Yamaha after missing 2013 with injury, four time 2013 race winner Michael Dunlop, who will be talking about his new BMW factory ride, 2011 Supersport winner Gary Johnson, nine time race winner Bruce Anstey, four time TT champion Michael Rutter and Kawasaki rider James Hillier, who achieved his maiden TT race victory in the 2013 Lightweight TT.
Joining them on the sofa will be the TT’s fastest ever newcomer Josh Brookes, Tyco Suzuki rider William Dunlop, the fast talking Dean Harrison, who achieved his first podium in the 2013 meeting, ex-factory Honda rider Keith Amor, who is returning to the TT after a two year absence and Honda Europe’s Conor Cummins. Fans will also get the chance to hear from race newcomers Martin Jessopp, Peter Hickman and ex Moto3 star Danny Webb as they prepare to tackle the Mountain Course for the first time.
Sixteen time sidecar champion Dave Molyneux and his passenger Patrick Farrance will be representing the sidecars while last year's Sure Race 1 winning team Tim Reeves and Dan Sayle will also be appearing.
Tickets for the evening are available from the Villa Marina box office on 01624 600555 or via the Villa Gaiety website priced £5. Anyone purchasing a ticket will be entered in a special prize draw to win VIP Hospitality Tickets and a lap in the TT Course Car on closed roads. For fans unable to attend the event, the show will also be streamed live via iomtt.com.
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