Motorcycle Live 2018 ran this year from 17th – 25th November, so now that is over I can post up a few photographs along with my thoughts on the show and what I saw this year without having to issue a spoiler.
This year saw 4 halls filled with the current (and upcoming) offerings of 40 manufacturers along with a chance to test ride numerous machines both on the road and on the ever popular Adventure course where you can test on the most popular adventure bikes on a well thought indoor track. It’s not taxing, not difficult at all, but it is fun.
The Live Arena was also present and what was previously a showcase for Arena Cross this year was taken over by Moto Cirque and what these guys can do on such a small stage really is spectacular. If you get that the chance to see their show in full, take it.
Other than that it is all about the bikes and I have composed a gallery of over 100 photos for your viewing pleasure but first I am going to point out a few of my highlights…
Have you ever thought that you fancy trying something other than the usual Sunday run out on the bike, along the same route, with your head down and bum up?
If so have you ever considered long distance motorcycling?
That is what the Iron Butt Association is all about. Safe, enjoyable long distance motorcycle riding that gets you out and about to places you probably haven’t seen before, or take routes or challenges that you probably had never even thought of before.
“The 60,000+ members of the Iron Butt Association are dedicated to safe, long-distance motorcycle riding. Although based in the United States, we have thousands of enthusiastic members throughout the globe! One of our more popular slogans is, “The World Is Our Playground.”
Having been a member of the Iron Butt Association for a few years now I thought I would give their 2018 Photo Rally a go.
The info on their site sums it up pretty well :
Iron Butt Association Ireland Photo Rally 2018
The locations are spread all over the island of Ireland and the route between them amounts to many thousands of miles.
I’m sure you could plan a route and tackle every location across a few days (reducing the mileage), but personally I used my free time over the summer months and probably took about 5 or 6 individual day trips to gather up all the checkpoints.
Some of those days trips were very long. For example my final trip took in the far west and south west of Ireland coming from Northern Ireland that specific trip, which took in 4 bridges started at 7.00am and finished at 1.30am and consumed about 780 miles.
But long mileage is all part of the Iron Butt Challenge, so if you enjoy full days in the saddle, seeing parts of the country (world even) that you probably didn’t even know about Photo Rallies are a good way to go about it and there are plenty of them about. Most motorcycle clubs, and the bigger Internet forums all offer Photo Rallies, so now that winter is here have a good look about and see what may take your fancy for the next year.
Please note the schedules may change at very short notice. Stay up to date using the links above.
The information below is not live and will or has already changed!
Scroll to the bottom of this article for the 2019 CLASSIC TT & MANX GRAND PRIX Provisional Qualifying and Race Programme
Following the success of the 2018 MGP races, the organisers, The Manx Motor Cycle Club, will retain the same programme for 2019.This will see things kick off with the Newcomers’ race on bank holiday Monday 26th August 2019.
Wednesday of race week will see the Junior MGP Race with thefirst of the two Lightweight/Ultra-lightweight races in the afternoon. Friday features the second Lightweight/Ultra-lightweight races in the morning, followed by the grand finale of the Senior MGP Race bringing the event to a close in the afternoon.
Once again, the Lightweight race will feature the popular 650cc twin cylinder machines, and the Ultra-lightweight race, the 400cc, 125cc and Moto 3 bikes.
The club has decided to buck the trend and retain the class for 400 and 125cc bikes at a time when many race organisers have dropped the category.
Manx Motor Cycle Club chairman, Peter Maddocks said: ‘We felt it was appropriate for us to retain the smaller capacity class as it offers an opportunity for younger new riders to enter the event and get them interested in competing on the Mountain Course.’
Any newcomers wishing to be considered for the 2019 event should register their interest by email to [email protected]
Practices for the 2019 Manx Grand Prix start on Saturday, August 17th and the event finishes with the Senior race on Friday, August 30th.
Southern 100 Racing, organisers of the Isle of Man Steam PacketCompany Southern 100 International Road Races are to make anumber of changes to their racing classes for the 2019 event whichtakes place Monday to Thursday 8th – 11th July.
The main change is the dropping of the ‘Ultra-Lightweight’ 125cc/400cc class from the programme along with the discontinuationof the Support races.
However, with the increasing number of entries being received for600cc machines, the organisers are to include an additional race forthis class.
Welcoming the announcement, star of the 2018 MCE Insurance UGP and Man of the Meeting, Peter Hickman, who romped to easy victories in both the 600 and superbike races said: “I’m already looking forward to racing back at the Ulster GP, it’s one of the best circuits on earth!”
The dates for the 2019 Ulster Grand Prix have been confirmed.
Wednesday 7th August 2019 will get the Practice Sessions underway.
Thursday 8th August 2019 will see four race sessions – currently scheduled as Superbike, Supersport, Ultra Lightweight/Lightweight and Supertwins.
Saturday 10th August 2019 is Race Day and is currently scheduled for 7 race sessions across all classes.
“It’s always close racing and the track is a firm favourite among fans and riders alike, but there is so much more to enjoy during Bike Week, as it is five days packed with full of entertainment and activities for all ages.”
Now is a good time to subscribe to the TBNI.Blog Road Racing Calendar. It is a totally freeiCal Calendar you you can add to your phone / iPad / tablet / home computer etc and it will automatically update with all the dates for the all the Irish, Northern Irish and Manx Road Racing Meetings. It is completely secure, ad-free, free and regularly updated with the latest info including meeting dates, road closures and any important announcements.
The calendar is now entering its third year and is an absolutely essential resource for your race attendance planning, so if you are still to subscribe and wondering what to do, it is very simple – just click the link…
2018 Mrs Brown’s Boys East Coast Racing Festival Results :
Derek McGee at the 2018 Mrs Brown’s Boys East Coast Racing Festival
Sunday 9th August 2018 – the final race day for the Irish National Road Racing Calendar and it took us to Killalane for the 2018 East Coast Racing Festival sponsored by – strangely enough – Mrs Brown’s Boys. Fair play though Brown’s seemed to get right into the spirit of things coming up with a funky wee logo and and even more funky bus…
It also say the return to the roads of Derek McGee who just one month ago was knocked out of action at the Ulster Grand Prix at Dundrod…
Derek would like to thank everyone for their messages. All the injuries should heal. Disappointing end to the day from a non fault accident. We wish Seamus a speedy recovery too. The times looked promising & we were at the sharp end and feeling confident of decent results pic.twitter.com/jnWYbh7E3E
If we remove that slight hiccup from the equation the result is Derek McGee taking 15 wins from 15 races – a phenomenal achievement and one well worthy of a round of applause – !applause!
It didn’t come easy though as throughout the final Derek Shiels was snapping at his heels on the Cookstown Burrows Engineering bike taking second place by a mere 0.185s! The third place podium went to Michael Sweeney, Paul Jordan taking fourth.
2018 Mrs Brown’s Boys East Coast Racing Festival Results
Read on for the full results from every one of the day’s races…
Sharing the Festival of Motorsport with the Manx Grand Prix means you share the good and the bad. The good being the obvious – 2 glorious weeks of Motorcycle Racing, this year the bad was the weather. Fog and rain plagued the early stages of the event with practices being severely limited.
The sessions did get run. Extra road closures were put in place to maximise the competitors’ time on the circuit and as usual the organisers, Marshals, Medical Staff… all had to step up in difficult circumstances. They all did and as you can see from the results and timings below we got some excellent racing.
John McGuinness made his debut back in competitive racing (following his 2017 North West 200 crash) showing that without doubt he has still got it – taking the win in the Senior Classic on the Paton and also taking the fastest lap at an average speed of 110.676 mph.
Dean Harrison continued with the form he had from earlier this year in the Isle of Man at the TT Races taking the Superbike win with a fastest lap of 126.041 mph.
Another terrible loss of a supremely well thought of and experienced racer.
Alan Jackson
The Manx Motor Cycle Club regrets to confirm that Alan ‘Bud’ Jackson, 62, from Kendal, Cumbria died today following an accident during last night’s qualifying session for the Classic TT Races on the Isle of Man. The incident occurred at the Creg Ny Baa during last night’s Senior Classic TT session.
Alan was a very experienced competitor on the TT Mountain Course. He made his debut in the 1979 Manx Grand Prix and has four race wins to his name – the 1986 MGP Junior Race, the 1991 Classic Lightweight MGP, the 1995 Classic Lightweight MGP and the 1998 Classic Lightweight MGP as well as six other MGP podiums. He also competed in the TT Races and had a highest finish of fifth place in the 1990 Ultra Lightweight TT.
The Manx Motor Cycle Club wishes to pass on their deepest sympathy to Alan’s wife Elaine, son Paul, daughter Emma and his other family members and friends.
The Manx GP and Classic TT are next on the 2018 Road Racing Calendar, and it can all get a little hectic and confusing to keep up with what session is running for what race competition.
Hopefully this guide to the fortnight’s events will keep you on track and up to date with all that is happening.
Of course this is subject to change so keep an eye on Twitter for any last minute changes to the plan!
Qualifying & Race Programme : 18th – 24th August 2018
Qualifying & Race Week Schedule 2018
Race Programme 25th – 31 August 2018
Race Week Schedule 2018
Contingency Plans 2018
2018 Manx GP & Classic TT Contingency Plans
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