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2025 Dakar Rally Announced

May 19, 2024 by TomBoyNI

2025 Dakar Rally Announced :

The 2025 Dakar Rally, the world’s most grueling and prestigious off-road endurance race, is set to take place from January 3rd to 17th, 2025. This year’s rally promises to be a thrilling spectacle, with several new features designed to challenge the competitors and captivate the audience.

2025 Dakar Rally Changes :

The first major change is the increased emphasis on navigation. The organizers have decided to make the rally more challenging by adding more navigation stages. This means that the competitors will need to rely more on their navigational skills and less on speed. This change is expected to level the playing field and make the race more unpredictable and exciting.

The second major change is the separation of stages for cars, bikes, and trucks. This is a significant departure from previous years, where all vehicles competed on the same stages. The separation of stages is expected to make the race safer and more competitive, as each class of vehicle will have stages designed specifically for them.

The 2025 Dakar Rally will also feature a mass start, a 48-hour Chrono stage, and a marathon stage. The mass start will see all competitors start the race at the same time, creating a thrilling spectacle for the spectators. The 48-hour Chrono stage will test the endurance and resilience of the competitors, as they will have to race non-stop for two days. The marathon stage, on the other hand, will be a test of the competitors’ mechanical skills, as they will have to service their vehicles without any assistance from their teams.

Isle of Man TT Races Visitors Guide

May 29, 2026May 17, 2024 by TomBoyNI

Isle of Man TT Races Visitors Guide :

Updated for 2026

Update : 29/05/2026 : A new 2026 Race Week Schedule has been announced. Following the cancellation of any further sidecar racing for the 2026 event a new Race Week Schedule has been announced. Full details can be found here :

2026 TT Races Revised Race Schedule

TBNI.Blog have compiled the most useful and popular posts in relation to the TT Road Races in order to bring you a basic Visitors’ Guide. Hopefully this guide will give you an idea and some knowledge of the course and plenty of other useful information.

History :

The Isle of Man TT, the oldest motorcycle racing event in the world, has been a spectacle of speed and skill since its inception in 1907.

The race was born out of necessity, as racing on the highways of Britain was forbidden by Act of Parliament. The Isle of Man, with its more lenient attitude towards automobile racing, became the perfect venue.

The first race was a time trial, organised by the Auto-Cycle Club (later renamed the Auto-Cycle Union). The course was a challenging 52.15-mile “Highlands” route. However, the steep climbs of the mountain section proved too much for the bikes of the time, leading to a redirection of the race. It wasn’t until 1911 that the race returned to the Mountain Course. The current Course takes riders on a 37.73 mile starting just outside Douglas and takes in numerous towns and villages and of course up and over the island’s highest mountain Snaefell.

The early races emphasised the road touring nature of the motorcycles, with regulations for saddles, pedals, mudguards, and exhaust silencers.

The first single-cylinder race was won by Charles Collier riding a Matchless, while Rem Fowler on a Norton took the twin-cylinder honours.

Over the years, the TT Course evolved from a horse and cart track, which included the odd gate between fields, into a world-renowned racing circuit. Lap speeds improved with road conditions, rising from 55.62 mph in 1920 to over 90 mph by the outbreak of World War 2. In 2023, Peter Hickman was the fastest lap holder with an average speed of 136.358mph or a lap time of 16m 36.114s

The TT returned after the War in 1947, with Harold Daniell winning the Senior once more.

The race has continued to grow in popularity, attracting thrill-seekers from around the globe.

As the TT Races celebrated its 100th race meeting in 2019, the spirit of competition and advancement that brought the original TT competition to the Island remains as strong as ever.

2024 North West 200 Results

May 18, 2024May 9, 2024 by TomBoyNI

2024 North West 200 Results :

Update : Two Huge Photo Galleries from the event have now been added :

2024 North West 200 : 8th May 2024 : Practice Sessions : (500 + Photos)

2024 North West 200 : 9th May 2024 : Evening Race Session : (200 + Photos)

The 2024 North West 200 took place over the race week of 6th – 11th May 2024 on the sun kissed North Coast of Northern Ireland.

Due to the May Day Bank Holiday and a clash with the BSB Calendar a slight change was implemented to the NW200 Schedule in that the traditional Tuesday Practice Session was moved to Wednesday. From there it was onto Thursday for another day time practice session and then the evening’s race session.

2024 NW200 : Jean Pierre Polet on his Superbike

Wednesday 8th May 2024 Practice Session :

Wednesday’s practice laid down the cards for what the week had ahead with Glen Irwin lapping inside the course record on the Superbike on the first practice session on the ‘big’ bikes! The Carrickfergus man on the Hager PBM Ducati completed his lap at an average speed of 124.895mph, 0.2 seconds quicker than Peter Hickman’s official lap record speed of 124.799mph.

The Top Tens Across the Classes were as follows :

1st – Glenn Irwin – 4.18.553
2nd – Davey Todd – 4.19.910
3rd – Michael Dunlop – 4.22.814
4th – Peter Hickman – 4.25.023
5th – Dean Harrison – 4.25.219
6th – Ian Hutchinson – 4.29.182
7th – John McGuinness MBE – 4.29.706
8th – James Hillier – 4.32.014
9th – Erno Kostamo – 4.32.482
10th – Conor Cummins – 4.32.924

1st – Richard Cooper – 4.34.202
2nd – Davey Todd – 4.35.017
3rd – Michael Dunlop – 4.39.612
4th – Michael Browne – 4.40.336
5th – Peter Hickman – 4.41.033
6th – Paul Jordan – 4.42.347
7th – Adam McLean – 4.43.241
8th – Michael Evans – 4.45.157
9th – Conor Cummins – 4.46.427
10th – Michael Sweeney – 4.46.987

1st – Davey Todd – 4.20.942
2nd – Dean Harrison – 4.21.525
3rd – Michael Dunlop – 4.23.788
4th – Peter Hickman – 4.24.951
5th – John McGuinness MBE – 4.25.959
6th – James Hillier – 4.27.576
7th – Adam McLean – 4.30.252
8th – Michael Sweeney – 4.30.879
9th – Dominic Herbertson – 4.31.454
10th – Conor Cummins – 4.31.917

1st – Jeremy McWilliams – 5.02.185
2nd – Adam McLean – 5.02.622
3rd – Michael Sweeney – 5.03.621
4th – Christian Elkin – 5.05.999
5th – Peter Hickman – 5.07.280
6th – Barry Graham – 5.10.784
7th – Michael Rutter – 5.10.983
8th – Gary McCoy – 5.11.655
9th – Michael Browne – 5.13.266
10th – Gareth Arnold – 5.14.908

The Supertwin qualifying session was cut short due to a red flag incident.

2024 NW200 - Neil Kernohan on his Supersport machine

Thursday 9th May 2024 Practice Session :

With rain overnight, the track was wet and damp in places for the start of Thursday’s Practice Session. However the weather was perfect from early on and it did not take too long for the circuit to dry out. From here it was a mixed morning, on one hand there were three red flags, one during the Supersports, one during the Superstocks and one in the Supertwin Session, thankfully none of the incidents involved serious injuries.

On the other hand then there were records getting smashed. Glenn Irwin took almost 2 seconds of the lap record, although this is not an official record, as that can only be made or taken during racing and with Davey Todd hitting 209.8 mph at the speed trap it has set the scene perfectly for an exceptionally high level of racing for the Thursday and Saturday sessions.

Pre-TT Classic Road Races Visitors Guide

May 13, 2026May 5, 2024 by TomBoyNI

Pre-TT Classic Road Races Visitors Guide :

TBNI.Blog have compiled the most useful and popular posts in relation to the Pre-TT Classic Road Races in order to bring you a basic Visitors’ Guide. Hopefully this guide will give you an idea and some knowledge of the course and plenty of other useful information.

Updated for 2026

History :

The Pre-TT Classic Road Races came into being in 1988 at the request of the then TT organisers, the then Auto Cycle Union, Classics having first appeared on the Billown course twelve months earlier at the popular Southern ‘100’ Road Races.’ The first TT Classic Races were held on the 31st May1988, the meeting consisting of four races, 250cc/350c; 500cc; Unlimited and Sidecars and attracted 115 entries in all.

Honour of being the first race winner went to Graham Godward of Royston in Hertfordshire, riding a 350cc Aermacchi, whilst the 250cc category was dominated by ‘local’ classic man Mike Cain from Onchan on his 250cc Suzuki. Dave Pither, Seeley Matchless took the 500cc race from Richard Swallow on Syd Lawton’s Aermacchi with Alan Dugdale third. Riding a BSA Metisse, Stroud’s Robert Price finished first in the Unlimited race, whilst the controversial MV Agusta sidecar outfit of Mark Kay and Richard Battisson took the chequered flag in the final race of the day. The Classics had arrived at Billown!

Thirty plus years on, the Blackford’s Pre-TT Classic Road Races is rated as one of the most popular and ‘must do’ events in the annual Classic calendar attracting well over 250 entries for its nine-race event.

For further information on the Pre-TT Road Races click here.

Pre-TT Classic Road Races Tickets :

The Pre-TT Road Races is a free event. Spectators can visit and find any number of superb vantage spots (for free) around the 4.25 miles of the circuit. There are also a couple of grandstands run by the Southern 100 Club, they are very reasonably priced and if you fancy a guaranteed seat for the day they are a great way to go.

Even though the event is free, it is important to support the sport and one way to do this is to visit the Merchandise Tent, or the Club Hall or Burger van. The breakfasts are great and really well priced! Programmes are also available and are filled with interesting articles, stories, photographs and information about the event. Programmes are available for sale at the circuit.

Pre-TT Classic Road Races Circuit : (Southern 100 Circuit)

The Pre-TT Classic Road Races Circuit shares its asphalt with the Southern 100. The circuit is at Billown, Castletown in the South of the Island and is 4.25 miles per lap.

2024 North West 200 Race Schedule

May 2, 2024 by TomBoyNI

2024 North West 200 Race Schedule :

The 2024 North West 200 runs over the week of 6th – 11th May 2024 on the Triangle Circuit of Northern Ireland’s stunning north coast. The circuit starts in Portrush, heads quickly off towards Portstewart and onto Coleraine before bringing itself back to one of the island’s most famous seaside towns.

A detailed visitors guide for the event can be found here and covers a brief history of the event, details and pricing of grandstand tickets, paddock passes and the new Fan Zone as well as circuit details, directions to the event and other useful information such as the meanings of the flags used around the course and links to all Official sites.

The Schedule has changed a little this year, however the changes will only affect the practice sessions. The usual Tuesday initial practice session will now be held on Wednesday 8th May 2024. A further practice session will, as usual, be held on Thursday 9th May 2024 morning. The first race session will remain on Thursday evening and will feature 3 races covering the Superbike, Supersport and Superstock classes.

The changes come to stop a clash with the BSB Calendar as this year Round 2 of the Championship will be held over the 4th – 6th May 2024.

So here is how the 2024 North West 200 Race Schedule looks :

2024 North West 200 Road Closures

April 30, 2024April 30, 2024 by TomBoyNI

2024 North West 200 Road Closures :

The 2024 North West 200 will run over the week of 6th – 11th May 2024 on the Triangle Circuit of Northern Ireland’s beautiful north coast. The circuit starts in Portrush, and skirts Portstewart and Coleraine before bringing itself back to one of the island’s most famous seaside towns

As a result of this event all roads used as part of the circuit will be closed to all non official or authorised traffic – as well as all roads that approach and join the course. Full details will be posted on the relevant roads, which will also be marked as closed, manned by Marshals and security. Police will also be in attendance.

Road closures are legal and backed up by a road closure order. Breaching a road closure is a criminal offence. A link to the full road closure order can be found below.

A road closure order is in place for the 2024 North West 200 for the following times on each day :

2024 Cookstown 100 Results

April 28, 2024 by TomBoyNI

2024 Cookstown 100 Results :

The 2024 Cookstown 100 ran over the weekend of 26th and 27th April 2024. Friday saw every weather imaginable, properly four seasons in one day, with almost freezing temperatures around the circuit, then came the hail and sleet, followed by wind and rain with the odd sunny interval. However by later afternoon and just in time for the evening’s race session, the sun appeared and brought us a lovely spring evening, even if it was a little chilly.

Saturday, on the other hand was bright and sunny all day long. Whilst lots of other places in Northern Ireland got soaked the Orritor circuit remained bone dry, bright and sunny. What that then did was bring the crowds. With car parking really only available on the Orritor Road cars were lined from the road closure right into the mouth of the town with the racing fans turning out in their hundreds they took on the hike to the circuit to witness a full day of racing. With 15 races on the schedule the day was packed with action and real quality racing was on display throughout all classes. The cumulation of the event took us to the Cookstown 100 Feature race and with weather hampering the last couple of renditions of the finale this year we were treated to an epic race. Dominic Herbertson v Michael Sweeney was the dual of the top two over each of the 12 laps, each time each rider was on the other’s rear tyre and the lead changed almost as many times as there were laps. At the chequered flag it was Dominic Herbertson who lifted the trophy and brought to a conclusion the 2024 Cookstown 100 – an example in how to run an event.

Well done to all those involved in the organisation of the event and also to each and every competitor and their team across each and every class.

Friday 26th April 2024 :

2024 Cookstown 100 - Friday 26th April 2024 Race 3 Results

2024 Cookstown 100 Road Closures

April 21, 2024 by TomBoyNI

2024 Cookstown 100 Road Closures :

The 2024 Cookstown 100 will run over the weekend of 26th and 27th April 2024 on the Orritor Circuit, Cookstown, Northern Ireland.

A detailed visitors guide for the event can be found here and covers a brief history of the event, as well as ticket details, circuit details, directions to the event and other useful information such as the meanings of the flags used around the course and links to all Official sites.

Road closures are legal and backed up by a road closure order. Breaching a road closure is a criminal offence. A link to the full road closure order can be found below.

A road closure order is in place for the 2024 Cookstown 100 for the following times on each day :

Friday 26th April 2024 : 07:00 – 21:30

Saturday 27th April 2024 : 07:00 – 1930

The full road closure order can be viewed here : https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/infrastructure/road-races-cookstown-100-motor-cycle-road-race-order-northern-ireland-2024.pdf

2024 North West 200 Entertainment

April 21, 2024April 20, 2024 by TomBoyNI

As Race Week for the 2024 North West 200 fast approaches the schedule for the Entertainment Marquee has been released and it is jammed full of great events that will have something for everyone. From comedy to live music, DJs and meet and greets there is plenty to keep you busy and entertained for the times when there are no bikes on the circuit.

All events are open to the public, pay at the door is available subject to availability and tickets are also available via the buytickets website. (QR Code is at the bottom of the image.)

Further details on the North West 200 are available on the TBNI.Blog North West 200 Visitor’s Guide which covers aspects such as race schedule, circuit and parking information.

Have a great 2024 North West 200 Race Week!

2024 North West 200 Entertainment Schedule — 2024 North West 200 Entertainment

Alastair Seeley Secures Team for 2024 Season

April 17, 2024April 12, 2024 by TomBoyNI

Alastair Seeley Secures Team for 2024 Season :

Alastair Seeley has announced via a Facebook Post that he has secured a ride for the 2024 BSB Season with Binch Pro Racing.

This will hopefully mean we get to see the Wee Wizard also compete at the 2024 North West 200, an event where his reputations speaks for itself.

Turning up the heat in The Quattro Group British Supersport Championship

The unforeseen and unfortunate injury to our good friend Zak Corderoy has presented an opportunity for both Binch Racing and Alastair to work together.

Both parties are extremely excited about what this new partnership can achieve. Alastair’s record on the track racing quality machinery speaks for itself. We are extremely keen to get back to our winning ways and we have put a huge amount of effort over the winter to make sure our Yamaha R6’s are ready to battle at the sharp end.

David Binch : It is with great expectation and a tinge of sadness that I have signed Alastair for our upcoming 2024 Supersport campaign. Sadness that Zak’s injury has precluded him from challenging in 2024 but great expectation that Alastair is a proven winner on a Yamaha and we sure do like to fight for those wins.

2025 Dakar Rally Changes :

Updated for 2026

Update : 29/05/2026 : A new 2026 Race Week Schedule has been announced. Following the cancellation of any further sidecar racing for the 2026 event a new Race Week Schedule has been announced. Full details can be found here :

History :

Wednesday 8th May 2024 Practice Session :

Thursday 9th May 2024 Practice Session :

Updated for 2026

History :

Pre-TT Classic Road Races Tickets :

Pre-TT Classic Road Races Circuit : (Southern 100 Circuit)

A road closure order is in place for the 2024 North West 200 for the following times on each day :

Friday 26th April 2024 :

Disclosure :