TT 2006 launched.
TT 2006 has a star studded field and changes that should enhance course safety.
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 TT 2006 launched The official press launch took place at a packed Coast on Douglas promenade on the evening of Friday 13th January. Details of the extremely strong line of competitors and machinery were given by Riders Liaison Officer Paul Phillips and ‘Minister for Fun’ David Cretney. The four Japanese manufacturers each tasted victory last year; the first time that this has happened and all four will be providing works support again. On paper Honda has the strongest line-up; following the winter merry-go-round that saw many riders change teams and one change twice. Honda’s effort will be headed by 8 times winner and outright lap record holder John McGuinness who told me that the machinery will definitely be good enough to win. Also Honda mounted will be seven times winner Ian Lougher on full BSB specification machinery; he will be riding in the Paul Bird Stobart Honda colours. It is great to see Paul returning to the island with a team in the TT and not restricting himself to driving in the rallies. Martin Finnegan will have full specification World Superbike/Superstock machinery in the Klaffi Honda colours; team owner Klaus Klaffenbock will probably be the busiest man at TT 2006. Martin is actually the fastest ever rider around the circuit on Honda machinery and third fastest of all time; with his lap at over 127 mph in last year’s Senior; so he will be knocking on the door for his first victory. If you are lucky enough to be at TT 2006 you must go to Ballaugh to see Martin – he is awesome. Yamaha will also have three supported riders. Guy Martin has switched to the AIM team for which John McGuinness had so much success in 2004 and 2005. Guy has only raced on the Mountain Circuit for two years but lapped at over 126mph last year on the Uel Duncan Suzuki so could claim a win this year. Yamaha UK racing boss Jason Griffiths will be on the official Yamaha UK machines; Jason has been close on so many occasions that a win is more than deserved; he is certainly capable of doing it if he still has the will to push himself. Completing the line-up is Adrian Archibald who perhaps unsurprisingly left TAS Suzuki at the end of last season; he was philosophical when I spoke to him, but losing a certain victory must have hurt. Having briefly been with AIM he is now with Team Racing; which is based in Ireland. Adrian is a three times winner, the fourth fastest rider ever around the circuit so must have a great chance of increasing his tally. TAS Suzuki will have full factory machinery this year for their riders Ryan Farquhar, a two times winner, who moved from Kawasaki and New Zealander (but half-Manx) Bruce Anstey who has tasted victory on four occasions; including the unforgettable Junior victory on the Triumph. This is a strong team that will be expecting to win at least one race. The TT welcomes back McAdoo Racing, who will run factory supported Kawasaki machinery. Their rider is Ian Hutchinson, who may not be as well known as the other factory riders but who has shown that he is a great rider around the circuit. He won the Newcomers MGP in 2003 and has impressed in his two attempts at the TT. Last year he put his Mark Johns supported Honda around at 122.90mph, so if he keeps up his rate of progress should be lapping at around 126mph this year; if the bike handles the circuit’s bumps well. The Uel Duncan team has Honda power this year and two riders who burst on to the TT scene last year. Les Shand put up a stunning performance on his debut on the circuit but it was largely overlooked by the press; however they took notice of him when he started to win races in the British Superstock championship. Les became only the second man to lap the circuit at over 120mph on his debut, with a best at 121.184mph. Based upon what Guy Martin has done he could be doing 126mph this year. Completing the team is Australian Cameron Donald who put up some fabulous performances on his circuit debut, lapping at over 119mph a fairly bog standard 600. One to watch will be Rob Frost who stays with CD Racing. Rob was effectively a newcomer last year. His only MGP race ended with a retirement shortly after the start and his TT debut in 2004 ended with a practice spill. To lap at 122.5mph in the year of your first racing lap is no mean achievement; if Rob settles to the task and smoothes the rough edges he will be right up there with the best. In addition to Jason Griffiths the local contingent is strong in the solo classes; top men include double 125cc winner and former British Champion Chris Palmer; regular top 6 finisher and former MGP winner Paul Hunt who is the fastest Manxman around the circuit at 123.982mph set during last year’s Superstock; Gary Carswell whose best finish was third in the 2004 Senior; Nigel Beattie another with a third place to his name; both of these being past MGP winners; John Barton and Chris Heath, both of whom have lapped at over 122mph. Add in the likes of last year’s Senior MGP winner Seamus Greene on Martin Bullock’s machines; Honda test rider and first Japanese to lap at over 120mph (best is 124.289mph) Jun Maeda, Mark Parrett, another former MGP winner; the excellent Raymond Porter (best 124.229mph) who returned last year after injury and riders such as Ian Armstrong and it can be seen that Paul Phillips was probably correct when he said that the racing would be the closest ever in terms of the time between the first and last finisher. Paul and his partner in crime Richard ‘Milky’ Quayle have grabbed some excellent newcomers for the event. From the USA we have AMA star Mark Miller who is no stranger to road circuits having raced at Macau (and beaten John McGuinness on one occasion); hopefully Mark will prove to be as good a TT racer as Thomas Montano, the only man to lap at over 120mph on an MV. From closer to home we have the most famous name of all – Dunlop – this time it is William, the son of 5 times winner Robert, who will be tackling the mountain. William won the Newcomers MGP last year so equalling his dad. He has won many races in Ireland and lapped Dundrod at over 120mph on a 600cc; he also went well at the 50th Anniversary Southern 100 last year. Southern 100 star Tim Poole is at last going to put his wheels on the TT start line; based on his road racing exploits he should be rapid on his Bill Smith backed machinery. Ian Lougher’s protégé Mark Buckley, who went well at the NW200 and UGP and Superstock championship rider James Edmeades (who has been taking lessons from Milky; except for the Ballacraine to Ballig section) are other newcomers to look out for. The Sidecar races will have the largest prize fund for any sidecar event in the world; their importance to the event being recognised by a large boost to their fund. The team to beat will be Dave Molyneux and Craig Hallam. Dave is the most successful driver in the history of the event with 11 wins to his name (it could have been several more but for machine failures) and the outright lap record holder at an amazing 116.044mph with his 2004 and 2005 partner Daniel Sayle who has gone back what he likes best – racing solos. Dave and Craig have raced together before and were victorious in 1999 and 2003. Hot on their heels will be Nick Crowe and Darren Hope who won the A race last year; are the second fastest crew ever and who have won the overall title twice. Former World Champion Klaus Klaffenbock is back for his third crack at the ultimate test; he is no slouch having lapped at over 107mph; this year he will have a prototype LCR chassis on which he hopes to achieve a podium finish. Amongst those standing in his way will be regular podium man Steve Norbury; 1997 winner Roy Hanks; the rapid John Holden; Simon Neary and returning to the event, Tom Hanks (best lap 108.84 from 1997). We shall not have the pleasure of seeing World Champion Tim Reeves due to one of his main sponsors threatening to pull out if he raced at the TT; but for 2007 we should have him here. There will a separate press evening for the sidecars shortly at which further details will be released. Other improvements included a trebling of the budget for marshals’ training, the removal of some road side ‘furniture;’ much greater use of air fences; new run-off areas and the two medical helicopters for the entire event, rather having one for practice week. Signature has been appointed as agent to promote the event and seek sponsorship. The Classic weekend will continue; as will the Parade Lap that will again feature Italian bikes. Other popular ancillary events will also be retained. A new departure will be a paddock walkabout on the morning of the first Superbike race to give the fans a chance to meet the riders; this should be extremely popular. With 19 weeks to go to the first practice the atmosphere is starting to warm up already.
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