No doubt you will have heard of the TT, and no doubt you will have heard of some of the Milestones and way markers throughout the Course, but where are they?
Bray Hill, Quarterbridge, Joey’s, Glen Helen, Greg-Ny-Baa, Gooseneck, Windy Corner and the Mountain Mile will all sound familiar to most TT followers, but if you haven’t made it over to the Island then it may all seem a little hard to follow, especially when you consider there is over 37 miles of track to learn and maybe 6 laps of that that Circuit to follow.
1991 saw a new event added to the Billown Course. The “Isle of Man Steam Packet Company National Road Races’ were introduced to provide entertainment for enthusiasts who were staying on the Island after the end of the TT Races, as it was at the time proving impossible to ‘evacuate the many thousands of bikers in a day or two’, as once was the case.
The Steam Packet Company requested Southern ‘100’ Racing to organise a three-race programme catering for machines ranging from 125cc to 750cc, with practicing taking place in the afternoon and racing, early evening. The calibre of the entry was first class, for the three classes, 125cc and 400cc Supersport; 250cc and 350cc, followed by the 750s, competing for a prize fund which stood at over £5,000. In all ninety-nine entries were received.
The discussions resulting in the inaugural event being run on Saturday 8th June 1991, with the ‘Island’s Lifeline’ remaining title sponsors to 2007.
2008 and 2009 saw the Lightweight (250cc) and Ultra-Lightweight (125cc) races being elevated to TT Status, reverting to the Post TT Road Races in 2010, headline sponsors have included, Manx Telecom, Metzeler Tyres; Radcliffe Butchers; Colas (IOM) Ltd and DAO Holdings Ltd.
The three-race format has continued since, adjusting the classes to suit changes in rules and regulations, with 600cc, 650cc and 1100cc machines being catered for at the present time.
The TBNI Road Racing Calendar will be updated as soon as new information comes to light so make sure you are subscribed to that : https://tbni.blog/road-racing-calendar/
The Blackford Pre-TT Classic Road Races will run from 27th May – 30th May 2022 with racing happening on 27th, 28th and 30th May 2022 at the Billown Circuit.
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.
It looks a little different from previous years with the initial Qualifying Practice Sessions starting at lunch time on Sunday 29th May 2022.
The entire schedule has also been added to the TBNI.Blog Road Racing Calendar so with one simple click all these details will be added to your phone’s / device’s calendar for easy reference throughout the Festival.
Full results for each race from Thursday 12th May 2022 (evening racing) and Saturday 14th May 2022 (race day).
A detailed breakdown of the practice, qualifying and race sessions with detailed lap breakdowns and analysis can be found on the Official North West 200 Website.
If you would like to catch up with any of the sessions from Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday they are all available on the iPlayer for a limited time.
** UPDATE RE SUPERTWINS RESULT AND NO.47 DISQUALIFICATION **
Race cancelled due to deteriorating conditions and a lack of time.
Official Statement : Tonight’s Milltown Service Station Supertwins race has been cancelled due to deteriorating conditions and a lack of time. With failing light and a lot of surface water on the track it would not be possible to complete the two sighting laps and four lap race by 9pm when the roads must be re-opened.
Saturday 14th May 2022 :
**RACE 1 – MILLTOWN SERVICE STATION SUPERTWIN RACE
RACE 1 – MILLTOWN SERVICE STATION SUPERTWIN RACE
RACE 2 – TIDES RESTAURANT SUPERSPORT RACE
RACE 2 – TIDES RESTAURANT SUPERSPORT RACE
RACE 3 – ANCHOR BAR SUPERBIKE RACE
RACE 3 – ANCHOR BAR SUPERBIKE RACE
**RACE 4 – JOHN M PATERSON SUPERTWIN RACE
RACE 4 – JOHN M PATERSON SUPERTWIN RACE
RACE 5 – CP HIRE SUPERSTOCK RACE
RACE 5 – CP HIRE SUPERSTOCK RACE
RACE 6 – MERROW HOTEL AND SPA NW200 SUPERBIKE RACE
RACE 6 – MERROW HOTEL AND SPA NW200 SUPERBIKE RACE
The TBNI Road Racing Calendar will be updated as soon as new information comes to light so make sure you are subscribed to that : https://tbni.blog/road-racing-calendar/
The road closure times and race schedule for the 2022 North West 200 have been announced.
Remember road closures will happen at these times sharply – and if you miss them, you miss them. When the road closure happens the road legally becomes a race circuit. You will not have the right to travel on it, or use as usual. So be on time to save any disappointment.
The race times are approximate. Racing is fluid, incidents and delays happen and in road racing are very likely, so don’t base anything on the race times being accurate, but they will give you an approximate idea of how things will ideally run.
Tuesday 10th May – Practice Schedule (9.15am to 3.15pm)
Session
Bike Class
(Times are approx)
1st Session
Newcomers Only
09.45
2nd Session
Supersport
10.30
3rd Session
Superbike
11.30
4th Session
Supertwin
12.30
5th Session
Superstock
13.30
2022 North West 200 Practice Schedule 10/05/2022
Thursday 12th May – Practice Schedule (9:15am to 3.15pm)
Session
Bike Class
(Times are approx)
1st Session
Supertwin
09.45
2nd Session
Superbike
10.45
3rd Session
Superstock
11.45
4th Session
Supersport
12.45
2022 North West 200 Practice Schedule 12/05/2022
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR 2022 ROAD CLOSING
The Road Races (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 has now been approved by the Northern Ireland Assembly and received Royal Assent. The changes to the road closing legislation now give the organisers of the International North West 200, in exceptional circumstances, the ability to move a practice or race day, either one day forward or one day back, giving 24 hours notice to the Department for Infrastructure.
Should extreme weather be forecast, the 2022 contingency days could be: Wednesday 11th May and Friday 13th May 2022.
In lieu of using one of the above full contingency days, organisers may also extend the road closing times on Tuesday 10th and Saturday 14th May 2022 as follows:
Existing Road Closing
Contingency
Tuesday
9.15am – 3.15pm
5.00pm – 9.00pm
Saturday
9.15am – 7.00pm
7.00pm – 9.00pm
2022 North West 200 Additional Contingency Timings
All those who could be affected are reminded that any variation in race or practice schedule will only happen due to extreme weather conditions. Ticket holders and those attending all race week events are advised to keep up to date with any changes announced.
The TBNI Road Racing Calendar will be updated as soon as new information comes to light so make sure you are subscribed to that : https://tbni.blog/road-racing-calendar/
The TBNI Road Racing Calendar will be updated as soon as new information comes to light so make sure you are subscribed to that : https://tbni.blog/road-racing-calendar/
The TBNI Road Racing Calendar will be updated as soon as new information comes to light so make sure you are subscribed to that : https://tbni.blog/road-racing-calendar/
2022 Tandragee 100 : Guy Martin and Dominic Herbertson out on the Classics
2022 marks the 60th Anniversary of the Tandragee 100 event and it kicked off on Friday 29th April with the Practice and Qualifying Sessions.
Conditions were perfect, the track was perfect, the set up was perfect and the event ran perfectly – an absolute credit to the Tandragee 100 Team.
The only issue with the Friday session was that (I would imagine) a right few people went home with a little sunburn!
It was a superb lead up to race day.
The weather forecast for race day for the previous week predicted rain, and despite everyone’s hopes that the rain may not actually come, or may come later, or simply the hope that ‘Those long range forecasts are quite often wrong.’ – the weather forecast was in fact correct. The rain came and started just in time for the road closure and never let up.
Three races ran, between five red flags, and then the conditions both on the track and in the sky worsened and the meeting was abandoned.
A difficult decision for the Club, but without doubt the right one.
The most important thing is everyone gets home safely, so the right call was made.
Friday showed what road racing can be, (I suppose Saturday did too) – so if you are new to the sport hold on to that Friday Feeling!
A sad ending to the event for the Club, but they can rest easy knowing the hard work was done, what they could control they did so flawlessly and what they couldn’t – well, it is what it is.
The TBNI Road Racing Calendar will be updated as soon as new information comes to light so make sure you are subscribed to that : https://tbni.blog/road-racing-calendar/
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