The Isle of Man TT is a unique sporting event that most people will have heard of but perhaps know little about.  

It’s a series of stunning motorbike races held on a circuit around the Isle of Man, and is known as one of the most dangerous sports events in the world. The TT (Tourist Trophy) is a thrilling spectacle, and as far as endurance motorbike racing goes, it’s the original and still the very best.  

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The 2025 Isle of Man TT 

The 2025 Isle of Man TT festival begins on 26th May with Free Practice and Qualifying. In total, there are five days of qualifying before Race Week begins on Saturday 31st May.  

Qualifying Week key dates 

26th May 

Free Practice + Qualifying 1 

 

27th May  

 

Qualifying 2 

28th May 

 

Qualifying 3 

29th May 

 

Qualifying 4 

30th May 

 

Qualifying 5 

Race Week key dates & times 

31st May 10:45 – Supersport TT Race 1 

14:00 – Sidecar TT Race 1 

1st June 13:30 – Superbike TT Race 

 

3rd June 10:45 – Superstock TT Race 1 

14:00 – Supertwin TT Race 1 

4th June 10:45 – Supersport TT Race 2 

14:00 – Sidecar TT Race 2 

6th June 10:45 – Superstock TT Race 2 

14:00 – Supertwin TT Race 2 

7th June 10:45 – Senior TT Race 

A brief history

The public roads were closed for the first official Isle of Man TT on 28th May 1907, a race won by Rem Fowler. That inaugural event was a 10-lap race around the 15-mile St John’s Short Course. Today, the Isle of Man TT is held on the Snaefell Mountain Course, which is more than 37 miles long.  

The popular sidecar event was introduced in 1923, and the first woman to race solo in the Isle of Man TT was Beryl Swain in 1962. In 1989, the Isle of Man Department of Tourism redefined the whole event, making it a bigger, better festival by including some new races. 

Most Isle of Man TT wins 

How the Isle of Man TT works 

Unlike MotoGP or the Superbike World Championship, there is no starting grid at the Isle of Man TT. It has traditionally been a time trial event for all races across the different classes, with competitors going off at staggered 10-second intervals. Starting positions are based on qualifying times. 

The classes 

Superbikes The biggest and fastest TT bikes, which are modified from standard production models and have 1000cc engines. 
Supersport A lighter-weight racing experience, with 600cc four-cylinder and 675cc three-cylinder sports machines. 
Superstock This is another powerful class with 1000cc bikes. Unlike superbikes, these are restricted, so they are very similar to what you could pick up from the showroom. 
Supertwin This class is for twin-cylinder 700cc machines derived from standard road-going motorcycles. 
Sidecar These three-wheel machines are an exhilarating hybrid of bike and car racing. 

The Senior TT race and stats 

The Senior TT race is the pinnacle of the Isle of Man TT Festival with a total race distance of 226.38 miles. The Senior TT race is where the most powerful superbikes of the festival will compete in the time trial format. 

Race distance6 laps / 226.38mi (364.32km) 
Lap record Michael Dunlop, Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SC82 – 135.970mph / 16m38.951s 
Race record Peter Hickman, BMW S1000RR – 131.700mph / 1h43m08.065s 

The legendary mountain course 

In motor racing, the reputation of some iconic races is undeniable, and the Isle of Man TT is one of those. Different courses have featured throughout the event’s history, but the Snaefell Mountain Course is the main one. This demanding course puts riders and machines through all sorts of gruelling physical tests, and it’s certainly not for the faint-hearted. 

The legendary racetrack works its way through streets, across winding country roads and some beautiful mountainous terrain. Unlike most motor racing events that feature multiple laps around a short circuit, the Snaefell Mountain Course is 37 miles long and has more than 200 corners. 

Top five featured zones 

Irish interest at the 2025 Isle of Man TT 

There is Irish interest in the Isle of Man TT 2025, and among them will be the seasoned Mike Browne. Browne, from Killeagh, made his TT Debut in 2019, finishing fourth in the Senior Race. He joined Aprilla last year and was a top-10 finisher in all three 1000cc races.  

This year, Browne will be riding for the BPE/Russell Racing Yamaha team in the Supersport class and for MLav Racing (owned by Northern Ireland’s Michael Laverty) on a BMW in the Superbikes.  

Northern Ireland’s Adam McLean will be in Supertwin action for the Padgett team, on their TT debut in the category. Northern Irish team Scott Racing sends Joe Yeardsley into action across all classes, while teammate Julien Cregniot goes in the Supertwin events.  

Parker Transport Racing, also from Northern Ireland, has three riders in the Supersport category, and had lined up Manx brothers Ryan and Jamie Cringle before the former withdrew due to injury.  

The Dunlops 

In a 2020 survey from the BBC, the iconic Ballymoney rider Joey Dunlop came in at the top of the list of greatest TT riders. The County Antrim rider clocked 26 TT wins and was voted as Northern Ireland’s greatest-ever sports star in 2015. 

Joey’s nephew, Michael Dunlop, surpassed his record after scoring successes at the 2025 Isle of Man TT festival, which moved him on to 29 victories. While celebrating the feat, Michael paid a fitting tribute to his uncle, a true legend of the sport: 

“Everyone’s inspiration was to be a Joey Dunlop around the Isle of Man. I’m no better than Joey, never was,” he added. “Joey’s record stood for 24 years, and it’s an honour. Joey was a special talent. My record will be beaten one day, but I don’t care.” – Michael Dunlop 

The real dangers of the Isle Of Man TT 

The Isle of Man TT history has been littered with serious injuries and fatalities. The inherent dangers of the course are the high speeds and hazards such as curbs, hedges, grass banks, telegraph poles, houses and walls. There was a record-equalling number of five deaths at the 2022 festival, taking the tally to 266 fatalities since the TT moved to the Mountain Course in 1911.  

Many safety measures have been implemented at the TT, including improved road surfacing, highly trained marshals, increased paramedic numbers and digital red flags. After further safety reviews, one death was recorded in 2023, and then none in 2024.  

Who will earn Isle of Man TT top honours in 2025? 

With almost 30 years of experience, John McGuinness MBE will be back in action in the Superstock, Superbike and Senior races, but is an outside shot to add to his 23 wins, not having been on top of the podium since 2015.  

Recent racing form can be assessed from the 2025 North West 200 that kicked off the international road racing season. Michael Dunlop was in superb form there, and after four wins at last year’s TT festival, he is going to be highly fancied to add to his tally. 

Experience should bring Davey Todd and Peter Hickman into the picture – two riders Dunlop is familiar with battling. Dean Harrison showed some tremendous speed at the Northwest 200 and did well on his first ride of the British Supersport Championship season. 

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