Isle of Man 2011 Superbike

[Redbird]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wiat6r7EtCs&feature=player_embedded#at=666

That shit gives me a full on mean chubby, and is on my bucket list of things to see.

Motorcycle racing is inherently dangerous, as we all are aware, but even the pinnacle of the sport, MotoGP, seems just a little "fluffy", with it's airfences/runoffs/gravel pits, compared to the TT events. It seems to take a special breed of person to go out on course with the very real possibility that you might not come back.
Mad respect to those guys.

 

[DvoSpeed]

I didn't know Guy Martin switched to a Suzuki.



I loved his retro-painted Hondas

Guy Martin truly is of that special breed. Still racing hard even after a wreck like this:

 

[Erch]

I'd be scared enough doing that course on a 250... which isn't to say I wouldn't love the opportunity.

 

[teazer]

Anyone have any info on the release in the US of the IOM TT film that appears to based around Guy Martin?

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/498/9534/Motorcycle-Article/TT-3D--New-Documentary-on-IOM-TT.aspx

 

[Sonreir]

I've emailed several local cinema's with only one result. The result basically said that their distributor hadn't even heard of it and had to get back. When the distributor did reply, they said no release date was available. Despite a US release date being listed by the production company (that has come and gone), it looks like the film may not even make it to the American shores...

 

[biker_reject]

See it?!? I wanna freakin' RIDE it!

 

[Titan performance]

Hey Redbird....your description of short circuit racing versus the TT is exactly how I feel too.
I used to love short circuit racing 30 years back, and would be at as many events as I possibly could.....but then in 87 I went to the Isle of Man, and all that changed. I was smitten with the place right away, and apart from 89 when my oldest son was born, I have been back every year. In fact, I only got home after this year's TT, yesterday morning.
Part of the magic of the Island, is being able to ride the course and appreciate what the racers actually do. The track is no more than a twisting country road, up hill and down dale, through fields and villages alike, and with all the usual items of "road furniture" to contend with...........drain covers, kerbs, lamp posts, walls and even telephone boxes!
The mental and physical demands on the riders are huge, with the longer races over 6 laps, which is well over 200 miles. Average short circuit speeds rarely exceed 100mph by much, over a track with maybe a dozen bends, a lap of the TT however, has dozens and dozens of bends, along with lumps and bumps and a lap of over 37 miles.........and the quicker men doing an average of 130 mph !
Then there is the spectacle of watching the racing........unlike the short circuits, you can get right on the road side, literally within an arms length of bikes passing at 180 mph in places. I pick my places to spectate very carefully, and have half a dozen favourite spots......for those of you pondering a visit to the TT, just do it, you will be delighted you did.

 

[Titan performance]

This is double race winner, John McGuinness, cresting the jump from Rhenn Cullen into Bishopscourt. John is the current lap record holder at 131mph+.