You may notice some subtle changes in the site over the coming weeks and months. Nothing too drastic, just a general tidy up and maintenance.
Some old dead posts are likely to disappear but chances you would even notice are slim to nil.
However some bugs may appear, please, if you find any let me know but dropping me a note on this post or via email bugs@tbni.blog
To all our users and visitors – have a very Merry Christmas 2020 – enjoy this ‘Locked Down’ Christmas as much as you can, hopefully it will be a ‘one off’, and just a Chapter in the history books!
The 2020 Isle of Man TT Schedule has been released and we have all the important dates and times to help you plan your trip, or if you can’t make it to the island at least you will know what time to tune into Manx Radio to ensure you don’t miss a thing.
Two things of note though. The first may actually benefit you if you are heading over for practice week from Dublin – the first scheduled practices are now on the Sunday of Practice week. Traditionally the first day of practice was Saturday, however the first 2020 session will now be on Sunday 31st May afternoon – so if you are on that Dublin sailing think sharp – get off the boat and you will hopefully catch some Sunday qualifying.
Secondly – and sadly – there will be no TT Zero qualifying or racing in 2020 and 2021. The class has been dropped for two years, allegedly to ‘allow development’. TT Zero has been running for a decade and the electric machines from Mugen are responsible for a 121.824mph lap. I get that the entry is low and also that the Mugen will win, but still, TT Zero showed innovation and look at that lap time! I fully understand that many argue passionately that a TT Zero win shouldn’t really be counted as a TT win. I am all for opinions, but that opinion is one I’ll just have to disagree with. It may ‘only‘ be 1 lap – but that one lap is potentially 120+mph and considering the lap size of 37 miles then it really isn’t to be sniffed at. That one lap is still more than most full length Irish and Northern Irish National races. Hopefully come 2022 more teams will be in the field, on the track and ready to race!
Finally – this schedule is subject to change and given the weather we have had over the last couple of years this schedule will change. At the time make sure to follow :
Photo Credit : Road Racing Daily | Road Racing Daily Website | Road Racing Daily Twitter Feed
Click Here for the Faugheen 50 Official Website
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Click Here for the Faugheen 50 Official Twitter
The Irish National Road Racing Calendar returned to County Tipperary, Ireland for the 2019 Faugheen 50 Race Races – held over the weekend of 20th & 21st July 2019.
The first race of the day was the Senior Support Race. In a touching gesture pole position was left empty in memory of fallen rider Darren Keys who lost his life at the the 2019 Walderstown Road Races.
Dermot Cleary won the race from the second group, Tommy Henry who controlled the first group came second by half a second. Darragh Trappe took the third step on the podium.
Next up was the first super bike race. McGee and Shiels (as you would expect this season) were battling for the top spot int his one. McGee led the whole race until the final blink of an eye when Shiels took the win at the line by 0.051 seconds. Micko Sweeney took third 0.142 seconds behind McGee in a unbelievably close race.
The 400s and Moto 3 and 125s all went out in the same race, starting in their own separate classes.
Melissa Kennedy taking the second spot, behind Derek McGee’s ex-GP with her brother taking third.
https://twitter.com/Milliee30/status/1152940322541977600
The Junior Classics race was won in a dominating performance by Edward Manly, Brian Mateer and Mick Brady filled the podium in second and third respectively.
The 600cc machines only had 10 entrants but in what was always going to be a really tight race (during qualifying the top five were only separated by 1 second) Derek McGee took the win from Michael Browne by 0.958 seconds. Micko Sweeney took third.
https://twitter.com/AHardyBreed/status/1152906058920321024
The Junior Support Race was red flagged twice and was declared null and void.
Supertwins were next on the circuit. Sweeney, McGee and Chalke were battling hard, however Derek McGee retired on lap 4 leaving the victory to Sweeney by 6.785 seconds over James Chalke. Darryl Tweed took the third spot from the second group.
In the Senior Classics Race Richard Ford took the win over John Leigh Pemberton and Ian Thompson in third.
The penultimate race of the day was the Senior Support Non-Championship Race. In a very tight hotly contested race at the top Tommy Henry took the win from Andy McAllister the pair only separated by 0.328 seconds. Darragh Trappe filled the podium taking the third spot.
The Grand Final was a six lap superbike race and like the first superbike race of the day this one was tight. The leader changed more times than the outfits at a Lady GaGa Concert. (I get a lot of racing fans won’t get that reference – but it mean a lot.) McGee, Shiels and Sweeney fought for the win on every fraction of a mile of every lap, by the end the rider to take top spot was Derek Shiels, followed by Derek McGee and Michael Sweeney in third. 0.672 seconds separated the top three! An unbelievable final race that finished the Faugheen 50 Road Races just after 2.30pm.
Race was red flagged twice and declared null and void.
No race results from 21/07/2019.
2019 Skerries Road Races brought us back to County Dublin, Republic of Ireland on 6th & 7th July 2019.
A year on from the tragic death of William Dunlop – let’s just take a moment…
What a day!
Wall to wall sunshine and huge crowds brought the 2019 Tandragee 100 to life, and the amazing racing – all day – along with some superb organisation made it an event to remember!
As soon as racing started it flowed almost perfectly with only one slight delay to clean up a minor oil spill and one further unfortunate delay following a race incident in which Adam McLean was separated from his machine in what was a really hotly contested battle between himself and Derek McGee – Their fastest laps were only separated by a mere 0.122s!
2019 Tandragee 100 : Derek McGee on his way to 4 race wins
More importantly Adam is doing well and I would like to wish him a very speedy recovery and return the roads. The talent he had on display here this weekend was simply astounding!
Adam is in the Royal Hospital Belfast after an accident in the Supertwin race. He has arm, shoulder & pelvic injuries but is in really good spirits and making jokes in the hospital. So proud of the lad. 22 years old and pushing to win these races against way more experienced guys pic.twitter.com/xGE71OJKAY
— McAdoo Kawasaki (@McAdooRacing) May 4, 2019
It was another phenomenal day for Derek McGee, taking 4 race wins, Derek Shiels taking the ‘McCrum’s Motorcycles Aprilla Open Superbike Race‘ from him at the line in an amazing race nipping McGee to that victory by 0.4 seconds.
McGee got his own back though in the ‘Around A Pound Tandragee 100 Final‘ – with Shiels leading until the final lap McGee managed to nip back just before the line taking the victory with 0.195 seconds to spare!
Crowd favourite (and one of mine), Guy Martin, was out on his Classic Bullet 3 BSA and raced really well, taking second on the road behind Dean Stimpson (in a great battle that lasted the entire race), and winning his class in the ‘Millside Engineering / R Heatrick / W McCombe / Woolsey Concrete Classic.‘
2019 Tandragee 100 : Dean Stimpson and Guy Martin locked in battle in the Classic Race
It was great to see Tandragee buzzing – hopefully there were a few new spectators who came along, because if that was your first road race experience you should be hooked. Tandragee 2019 had it all – loads of racing, minimal unavoidable delays, great structure and awesome weather.
2019 Tandragee 100
2019 Tandragee 100 : DM71 Davy Morgan in hot pursuit
2019 Tandragee 100 : I’m sure you seen this Ducati on its back wheel!
2019 Tandragee 100 : Guy Martin took the 1000cc Classic Class win
2019 Tandragee 100 : Race 1 : Rapid International Supersport
2019 Tandragee 100 : Race 2 : Principle Insurance Junior Support
2019 Tandragee 100 : Race 3 : McCrum’s Motorcycles Aprilla Open
2019 Tandragee 100 : Race 4 : Millside Engineering / R Heatrick / W McCombe / Woolsey Concrete Classic
2019 Tandragee 100 : Race 4 : Millside Engineering / R Heatrick / W McCombe / Woolsey Concrete Classic
2019 Tandragee 100 : Race 5 : Tayto Supertwin / Supermono / Magee Plumbing 250cc Plumbing
2019 Tandragee 100 : Race 5 : Tayto Supertwin / Supermono / Magee Plumbing 250cc Plumbing
2019 Tandragee 100 : Race 6 : City Autos Moto 3 / Groucho’s Portadown Recycling LWSS / Downshire Coaches Forgotten Era
2019 Tandragee 100 : Race 6 : City Autos Moto 3 / Groucho’s Portadown Recycling LWSS / Downshire Coaches Forgotten Era
2019 Tandragee 100 : Race 7 : Wood’s Supervalu Senior Support
2019 Tandragee 100 : Race 8 : Around A Pound Tandragee 100 Grand Final
The 2019 International Road Racing Season is just round the corner and the last few weeks have been filled with #paddockrumour and whispers.
TBNI.Blog have put together the facts to bring you the 2019 Road Racing Rider Line-Up (so far). Will he? Won’t he? Who is with who? Who has moved? Who hasn’t? Who is back?
Importantly : Bruce Anstey is back!
Early days and early rumours but paddock talk of @bruceanstey Bruce Anstey teaming up with @ConrodIOM Connor Cummings and @PadgettsRacing1 #PadgettArmy for the 2019 roads season. Please be true. Please be true! pic.twitter.com/B1Ccbk0jgN
— ??TomBoyNI™? ? (@TomBoyNI) January 30, 2019
The 2019 NI Motorcycle Festival – Ireland’s Largest Motorcycle Festival – returns to the Eikon Centre, Lisburn from 8th – 10th February 2019.
With something for everyone the events, activities and attractions include :
So there is plenty to see and do, plenty to add to your wish list, or maybe even empty your wallet on the day.
Just a very quick note to all TBNI.Blog visitors to wish you a very happy, safe and prosperous new year, may 2019 shine gracefully upon you!
And whilst we take the time to wish each other a Happy New Year please keep a little place in your heart to remember those who never made to 2019. Rest in peace.
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