On a trip so only picked up a few snippets from t'internet but recorded all the highlight shows .... Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk
136.358mph average Peter Hickman breaks the all time TT lap record on a SUPERSTOCK bike on his way to the Absolutely mental
I did the Manx GP (same course, but amateur riders) on a Honda CBR600 back in 1997, because it was on my bucket list. I scared myself silly a few times but got a finishers medal which I’m proud of. I never really wanted to do it again, Mrs D was in the grandstand having kittens every time the rescue helicopter took off, plus my Boy Scout was rubbish at updating the scoreboard so I’d go missing occasionally. 158mph in a 30 limit (Sulby straight).
I see the sidecars have hit the 120mph average as well. I think they are going to have to stay to slow it down somehow
I can’t watch it anymore and I commuted for 7 years on a Fireblade! I went to watch a couple of rounds of BSB a few years ago and thought how sorry I’d be if someone I cared for (friend/family) was in love with one of the riders….they must be stressed beyond belief poor buggers.
One of my mates got wiped out at the TT, by another rider trying to get by him on the inside going in to a corner... both of them hit a wall at well over a ton. The other bloke was pronounced dead at the scene, and my mate spent six months in a coma.. He did come out of it, but has never been quite right since. I still watch it, but kin ell, its a wonder there aren't more deaths really. Im amazed its still allowed tbh
Martinez was the 267th death in IOM TT history. Says it all really, it’s very sad, they’re very brave and usually quite young!
These riders reactions must be quicker than the average motorists, I would imagine. Not sure I could ever ride a bike at these speeds, through an urban environment, like these fellows. I can imagine what it feels like though, as I used to ride pillion on a mates CBR 900, back in the ‘90’s. We did Frome town centre to Wells town centre, in just over 12 mins. On the Bristol to Wells road, ( if you know it), we were taking off on the ‘hidden dips’, just before Green Ore cross roads. 168 mph, I think. Reckless, I know, but it was almost 30 years ago,when we were younger and more stupid than now…( He was banned later for a 135 mph wheelie, over a long distance. Apparently, he would have bet the British wheelie speed/distance, but ran out of road. Court was adjourned as the judge wanted to know if the bike could actually go that fast on one wheel,and also, why were the coppers following him at that speed. Made court history, apparently.) He gave up track racing due to AS. (Ankylosis Spodulosis). He was one hell of a rider.
The TT races may have outgrown their historical appeal , let me explain - as i see it ... Up until a few years ago it was seen as a few nutters allowed to close down an island in the middle of the Irish sea and play on their motor-bicycles , all very underground and didn`t really touch anyone outside of the IOM community and the participants . A few died every year but hey , that`s racing ... Along comes TV coverage and suddenly it becomes entertaining for Baz an` Shaz to watch something they have absolutely zero interest in but it fills in an hour after dinner . The downside being apart from Baz an` Shaz it`s also picked up by Tarquin & Jessica who see it as an outrage that something as dangerous could possibly be allowed in todays society and fire off a letter of complain to the Guardian when their 6 year old son declares he wants to be a TT racer ... OK , so that`s a tongue in cheek scenario but i seriously think the organisers have shot themselves in the foot by opening the event up to a viewing public who have absolutely no perception of the skill , dedication and indeed bravery of the riders . The TV focuses on an elite top ten but in each race there`ll be another 100 or so other riders who spend years getting themselves there and try to achieve their own individual goal . Interesting to see the rules being tweaked to allow `safer racing` , a shining example being slicks/wets now allowed on Superstock bikes which was always a road based formula using road based rubber and minimal bike modifications . No wonder records are being smashed in every class but - hey - it`s good headlines and none of the top ten riders have died in recent years . I`ve been involved with bike racing at most levels over the years , been to the Island a dozen or so times as a mechanic but certainly wasn`t up to racing there , i`m well out of the scene now - might have been the attending seven funerals in a year which swung it .
The case was suspended until the judge had a full engineers report from Honda I think Neil ( my mate) out performed the bike.
