There are two main motorcycle racing events on the Isle of Man. There’s the Isle of Man TT and the Manx GP.
These days the Manx GP is aimed more towards the newcomers, it’s a proving ground for those who want to race in the Isle of Man TT.
The Isle of Man TT is mainly for modern machines but there is also the Classic TT which is set up for classic and vintage racing motorcycles.
In both events the tyre choice is open. That means that riders and teams can choose any tyre they like.
Isle of Man TT tyres
Of course there are manufacturer supported teams and riders. Both Dunlop and Metzeler have a long and successful history on the Isle of Man and hold several lap records in different classes.
Metzeler were the tyre used by the winning Senior TT rider, Dean Harrison at the 2019 Isle of Man TT. Harrison was running the Racetec RR Slick which is a tyre you and I can buy. Harrison averaged an amazing 130.8mph over the course of six 37.5-mile laps.
In 2018 Peter Hickman set the fastest ever lap on his way to winning the Senior TT. He circulated at an average speed of 135.432mph on his BMW S1000RR. Hickman was running Dunlop KR106 & KR108 slicks, which again you and I can buy.
Classic TT tyres
In the Classic TT it’s Avon who seem to be the most popular tyre manufacturer partly down to the fact the company has a long-running and wide-ranging choice of tyres to fit classic motorcycles.
There are four different classes at the Classic TT:
The Senior class represents the golden age of motorcycle racing from the 1950’s and 60’s with exotic Italian multi cylinder machines pitted against the British single cylinder bikes along with a smattering of early Japanese models.
The Lightweight class is famous for the iconic sounds and smells of thoroughbred two stroke 250cc grand prix motorcycles.
The Junior Race features mainly 350cc machines from the 1950’s and 60’s in a class often dominated by the Japanese giant Honda however the British single cylinder machines can more than hold their own.
The Classic TT Superbike class caters for an extraordinarily wide range of motorcycles from a period in time where technological development was happening at an astonishing rate.
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