The remarkable career of John Surtees – one of the greatest names in motorsport – will be celebrated at this year’s Classic TT, as the only man to ever win two and four-wheel World Championships.
A celebration lap will also be run featuring some of the bikes that are inextricably linked with his name, and will be ridden by well-known TT riders and guests connected to John’s motorcycle racing history.
John Surtees
The 2020 event will mark the 60th anniversary of John’s final TT appearance, where he won his sixth and final TT Race claiming the Senior TT title. In total John Surtees won seven motorcycle world championships including consecutive 350 and 500cc doubles in 1958, 1959 and 1960.
The 1960 MV Agusta that John rode to victory in the World Championship and Senior TT will take centre stage for the celebration lap and feature in a one off display in the Classic TT Paddock along with a number of other iconic machines from the Surtees family collection.
Other bikes include the 1949 Vincent Grey Flash that John won his first race on – a machine, which he considered the most important of his life and a Black Lightening Vincent from the same year. John’s time riding Nortons is also reflected with three bikes from the family collection – an F Norton 500cc Experimental Prototype, a 1959 Manx Norton and a 1953 Works Norton.
Riders confirmed to appear in the parade lap on Saturday 29th August include 23 time TT Race winner John McGuinness, Mick Grant who has ridden a number of John’s bikes over the years, Paul Hollywood, who became a firm friend of John’s after filming the BBC Legends documentary, Steve Parrish, Steve Plater and Ian Skinner, John’s team mechanic for over 35 years.
Count Domenico Agusta with John Surtees
John’s record on the Isle of Man included six TT race wins – four of which were in the blue riband Senior TT with a further four podiums from only 15 race starts – and only one DNF – before moving to four wheels and Formula 1 in 1961, clinching the World Championship in 1964 with Ferrari.
The event has been organised with the Surtees family to celebrate John’s life and career and John’s wife Jane and daughter Edwina will be attending. The celebration will also highlight the work of the TT Riders Association of which John was a former president.
Michael Dunlop has been announced as part of the Team Classic Suzuki 2019 Classic TT effort, with the three-rider team also including Phil Crowe and Danny Webb. Dunlop and Crowe will compete aboard GSX-R1100 powered XR69s, while Webb will ride a Suzuki RG500.
Michael Dunlop
Ulsterman Dunlop, who hopes to be fully fit after his recent spill at the Southern 100, will lead the team in the four-lap RST Superbike race. Dunlop missed last year’s event after withdrawing from racing for the second half of the season but having won the race in 2013, 2015 and again in 2016, he will undoubtedly start as one of the pre-race favourites.
The 30-year old dominated the inaugural race six years ago before having a close battle with 500cc-mounted Bruce Anstey in 2015, and then successfully saw off the challenge of Harrison in 2016. Dunlop’s lap in that race of 126.808 mph is his fastest in the class and is only bettered by Anstey and Harrison who lapped in excess of 127 mph two years ago when the Ballymoney rider was in early retirement.
Dunlop has however, also aggravated a broken wrist injury, sustained at the Southern 100 earlier in July, and emerged from the hospital with his wrist in plaster, sharing on social media, “The Doc reckons that’s the end of race season for this year. Think again Doc…” He was also reported to have broken his pelvis in the same incident.
Michael Dunlop (1000 Suzuki/Team Classic Suzuki) at Douglas Road corner, Kirk Michael during Friday evening’s Classic TT qualifying session. PICTURE BY DAVE KNEEN/PACEMAKER PRESS
Webb continues with the team for a fourth successive year. He raced an XR69 in the first two years with his best performance being 2016 when he finished in a strong sixth place after recording a fastest lap of 121.289mph. He also took ninth in 2017 on the same machine.
Twelve months ago he had his first taste of two-stroke action around the Mountain Course though when he rode the team’s RG500 Suzuki. After lapping at 115.572mph during practice week, he was unluckily forced to retire from the race but with a year’s experience under their belt, they are well placed to improve on that result this year.
Classic TT 2016 – Danny Webb – Image by Kevin Warren
The RG500 Suzuki enjoyed considerable success in the World and British Formula One Championship races of the 1980s and both Webb and the team will again be aiming to set the fastest lap around the 37.73-mile Mountain Circuit by an RG500. This mark is currently held by Rob McElnea who recorded a lap of 118.24 mph some 25 years ago during a titanic battle with Joey Dunlop in the 1984 Senior TT.
Crowe lines up with Steve Wheatman’s team at the Classic TT for the second time, having proved his pedigree recently at the TT. The Lincolnshire rider has been regularly challenging for top ten positions and has now lapped at almost 130 mph – his fastest lap of 129.957 mph came in last year’s Superbike race. He finished 14th in the RST Superbike race at this year’s TT.
Phil Crowe at the IoM TT back in 2017
Crowe was seventh fastest qualifier for last year’s RST Superbike Classic TT with a near 121 mph lap and both he and Webb will looking to maintain Team Classic Suzuki’s success at the event.
2019 Classic TT tickets available
Tickets for the 2019 Classic TT are now on sale via the Official iomttraces.com website (link) with Official Grandstand Tickets, VIP Hospitality Experiences, and Official Entertainment Events including the Counterfeit Stones Classic TT Party Performance all available.
The 2019 Classic TT kicks off on Saturday August 17 and runs through to Monday August 26, with all the actual race action held across the Augusta 24-26 long weekend. This year’s event honours Steve Hislop for his contribution to Isle of Man racing, which includes his benchmark first ever 120mph lap of the Mountain Course in 1989.
Gary Johnson and Conor Cummins – Classic TT 2018
‘Back to the Future: The Hizzy Years’ will include a pop-up museum featuring some of Scot’s historic machines, with a Steve Hislop Commemorative Lap to be held on the race Saturday.
Honda will also be celebrating a historic 60-years at the Isle of Man, with a specially restored Honda RC142 by CMSNL, while Giacomo Agostini will also be in attendance, taking part in the parade lap on Monday August 26, and as guest of honour at the RST Classic TT Heroes dinner.
Carl Fogarty’s Loctite Yamaha 0W01 and the Norton NRS588 that Steve Hislop raced in the 1992 Senior TT
The on-track action comes thick, fast and not to mention loud, with the final qualifying and the paddock carnival just a precursor to the weekend, Saturday 24th and UK Bank Holiday Monday August 26, of thrilling wheel to wheel racing by machines and riders that belie the term Classic. Current stars who have taken the challenge include John McGuinness, Michael Dunlop, Dean Harrison, Lee Johnston, James Hillier and Conor Cummins.
Saturday’s racing sees the Bennetts Classic TT Senior Race opening the programme. The 500cc class sees a multitude of 1960’s machines go head to head in a nostalgic international battle; the classic style and sound of the Italian marques – Paton, Ducati, MV Agusta, taking on the Japanese giants Honda and Yamaha. With the older and no less successful, traditional British brands such as Norton, Matchless, BSA and Royal Enfield will try to recreate past glories. The welcome, and evocative, return of the Lightweight 250 machines to the TT Mountain Course completes Saturday’s programme.
Michael Rutter – Classic TT 2018
Monday’s race programme begins with the Junior Classic TT Race; a field dominated by Honda although the traditional British manufacturing industry is well represented with Velocettes, Nortons, BSA, and Matchless machines.
The meeting reaches its pinnacle with the RST Superbike Classic TT Race which features a cut-off date of 1993, these historic machines display strong links to their modern counterparts with lap times to match.
Bisecting the race action, the Classic TT off track festival maintains the buzz with the traditional Classic TT Party on Saturday night which this year features the Counterfeit Stones – delivering their own nostalgic tribute to match the trackside retrospective.
Dominic Herbertson – 350 Honda – Classic TT 2018
The festival action moves to the North of the Island for the VMCC’s annual Festival of Jurby – thousands of like-minded bike owners sharing their two wheeled passion with the quality of bikes on the track more than matched by the ones in the car park.
Sunday evening features the RST Classic TT Heroes Dinner where tales of derring-do are swapped by fans and legends cheek by jowl in the VIP Hospitality Unit.
A free paddock screening of four cinematic classics from the era at the Sundown Cinema – ‘Back to the Future’ from 1985, the tub thumping ‘Commitments’ (1991) – sure to get the paddock rocking – 1992’s pop culture classic Wayne’s World, and Bill Murray’s definitive appearance as a hapless reporter in Groundhog Day – wrap up the four day festival in a celluloid frame.
Ripley Land Racing Michael Rutter & Adam McLean
Ripley Land Racing have opted for a healthy blend of youth and experience, having signed TT stars Michael Rutter and Adam McLean for this year’s annual event. Having ridden for the team since 2014, Rutter will again campaign a 350cc Drixton Honda in the Junior Classic TT where he will be joined by young gun McLean who will ride a 350cc AJS 7R. The Northern Ireland youngster will also contest the Bennetts Senior Classic TT on the team’s 500cc Seeley G50 previously ridden by Rutter.
Ripley Land Racing have signed Michael Rutter and Adam McLean
In addition to the success enjoyed with Rutter, the Guildford-based team have also taken two race wins at the meeting with Chris Palmer, and Cameron Donald another rider to have enjoyed some strong results on board their machines. With Rutter and McLean signed for 2019, their intentions are clear for this year’s Classic TT, and they have a great chance of adding to their already impressive track record.
Team York Suzuki Gary Johnson & Sam West
Team York Suzuki are also set to challenge for honours at this year’s Classic TT, having secured the talented services of Gary Johnson and Sam West for the August event. Both Johnson and West will contest the four-lap RST Superbike Race on identically-prepared 1100cc Suzuki machines for Kevin Pearson’s York-based team.
The Team York Suzuki team will include Gary Johnson and Sam West
It will be Johnson’s fourth successive year with the team and although he’s found luck in scarce supply in recent years, his undoubted pace means he’s more than capable of pushing for a podium position, at the very least. The double TT winner has recorded a best lap of 123.864mph on the striking blue and white machines and was running in third place in last year’s race before being forced to retire at the beginning of the third lap. He did, however, take fifth place in 2016. West joins the team for the first time replacing Australian David Johnson, who competed with the team at the Classic TT between 2015 and 2018.
The 2019 line-up should again see Pearson’s team well to the fore with both riders having a great chance to impress.
Mistral Racing Paul Jordan & Derek McGee
Mistral Racing will field two of the Mountain Course’s rising stars for this year’s Classic TT, having signed Paul Jordan and Derek McGee for the August meeting. Both Jordan and McGee will ride identically-prepared ZXR 750 Kawasaki’s on Monday’s four-lap RST Superbike Race.
Mistral Racing announced Paul Jordan and Derek McGee as riders for 2019
Jordan joined the team in 2018, as a late replacement for McGee after he was injured at the Ulster Grand Prix, with the Magherafelt rider going on to put in a superb performance. With a fastest lap of 122.445mph on the green, white and red Kawasaki, the 27-year old had worked his way up to fourth place behind Dean Harrison, Horst Saiger and Conor Cummins before cruelly being forced to retire on the final lap.
McGee, meanwhile, had been due to make his Classic TT debut last year before the incident at the Ulster GP when he was the victim of another rider’s crash. Once back to full fitness, the ‘Mullingar Missile’ will finally get to make his first Classic TT appearance later this year where, together with Jordan, he forms a formidable looking team with the duo having a great chance of recording a podium finish.
Alasdair Cowan Racing David Johnson & Craig Neve
Alasdair Cowan Racing became one of the first teams to announce their line up for this year’s Classic TT presented by Bennetts, with David Johnson and Craig Neve contesting the RST Superbike Classic TT Race. The duo will line up on identically-prepared ZXR750 Kawasaki’s for the four-lap race which is scheduled to take place on the Bank Holiday Monday of August 26th.
David Johnson – TT 2019
ACR made their debut at last year’s Classic TT with Neve and former Senior Manx Grand Prix winner Andrew Dudgeon on board. Neve was forced to retire from a top ten position on the second lap, whilst Dudgeon went on to take a brilliant fourth place.
Dudgeon’s best lap averaged a speed of 123.024mph, which more than proved the capability and competitiveness of the ACR machines. With continued support from Robert Burns Ltd, team principal Alasdair Cowan is confident of an even better showing in 2019.
David Johnson – Supersport TT 2019
Neve will be making his third appearance at the Classic TT presented by Bennetts, while Australian ace Johnson, who recently signed for the Honda Racing squad, will be back for a fourth attempt. The Adelaide rider has previously campaigned Suzuki XR69 machinery at the event, taking an excellent third place in 2015 and fourth in 2017 with Team York Suzuki.
His move to ACR sees him join a long list of Kawasaki riders in the headline race, with the ZXR750 becoming the dominant bike in the class over the last two years, taking 6 of the top 7 spots in last year’s race.
Jamie Coward joins McLean and Vines on TZ250 Yamahas
Binch Racing will be amongst the favourites for success at this year’s Classic TT, presented by Bennetts, with a three rider line up of Jamie Coward, Adam McLean and Gary Vines.
The trio will all contest the four-lap Dunlop Lightweight Classic TT race on immaculately prepared TZ250 Yamaha’s for the team run by former Manx Grand Prix rider David Binch.
Jamie Coward, this year’s TT Privateer’s Champion, is a new addition to the team in 2019 and will be having his first taste of two-stroke racing at the Classic TT. However, he’s no stranger to the event itself and, having already competed in the three other classes, has chalked up five podiums in the Senior and Junior Classic TT races.
The Hebden Bridge rider has proven to be one of the most versatile riders currently competing on the roads and is in arguably the best form of his career. He’s already been in action on the Binch Racing machine this year with the 28-year old running at the front at the Pre-TT Classic meeting at Billown.
Adam McLean had his first two-stroke outing on the Mountain Course at last year’s event and he gave the team an excellent result when, after leading in the early stages, he finished in the runners-up spot to Lee Johnston.
The 23-year old Ulsterman pushed his more experienced rival all the way and although he was ultimately overhauled for the win, a superb best lap of 116.870mph enabled him to finish in second place and ahead of riders including Ian Lougher and Dean Harrison.
Gary Vines completes the line-up with the Colchester rider having been one of the leading two-stroke exponents of recent years. Winner of the 2015 Newcomers Manx Grand Prix, the 28-year old finished in sixth place in the 2016 Lightweight Classic TT race and was running in fifth place last year for the team before being forced to retire.
With a fastest lap on the 250cc Yamaha in excess of 112mph, his credentials around the 37.73-mile circuit speak for themselves and together with McLean and Coward, Binch Racing have assembled a formidable looking line up that is sure to be challenging for the race win.
Giacomo Agostini
Legendary Italian racer Giacomo Agostini, with 15 world championship titles to his name, will ride the iconic Robert Iannucci owned 350cc MV Agusta ‘Quattro Cilindri’ that was first introduced in the 1972 World Championship season and replaced the hugely successful MV Agusta triples that won the 350cc World Championship every year from 1968 to 1973.
Giacomo Agostini
He will ride in a parade lap at the Classic TT on the 350cc MV Agusta ‘Quattro Cilindri’, which owner Rob Iannucci acquired from the MV Agusta Cascina Costa Racing shop in 1986 and the Team Obsolete technicians have refurbished the bike while maintaining it in its original ‘as raced’ condition.
Giacomo will lead the field away in the Classic TT Lap of Honour on Monday 26th August. He will also be a guest of honour at the RST Classic TT Heroes dinner on Sunday 25th August as well as appearing at the Vintage Motor Cycle Club’s Festival of Jurby earlier in the day.
Rob Iannucci – Team Obsolete
“We have been a passionate supporter of the Classic TT concept since its initial inception and the chance to bring back the combination of one of the greatest names in TT history and one of the most iconic marques was an opportunity we couldn’t pass up. We are delighted to be able to give people on the Isle of Man the chance to witness this remarkable bike being ridden on the Mountain Course and to be able to add another chapter to this prestigious event’s growing reputation. We thank our sponsors Avon Tyres and Red Line Synthetic Oil”
Honda celebrate 60 years on the Mountain Course
Mike Buttinger, founder and owner of CMSNL, has recreated a Honda RC142 – the first Honda motorcycle to compete in the TT Races back in 1959, with the marque celebrating their 60th year at the IoM TT in 2019.
Working with Marnix Deibert and Sebas Van De Broek, Buttinger has rebuilt a complete RC142 from only an engine, fuel tank, swingarm, wheel hubs, and an assortment of smaller components. Leaving Deibert and Van De Broek with the sizeable task of recreating the frame, suspension, aluminium fairing, and a significant number of smaller components entirely by hand.
The machines were originally developed and supplied by Honda in 1959, and entered in the 125cc Lightweight TT Race, the nine-man team featured four Japanese riders and one American. A number of the Japanese riders had never ridden on tarmac before, only dirt, while their helmets failed to meet the standards set by the ACU.
With its aluminium fairing and out-of-date bottom-link front suspension, the RC142 was derided by many who saw it that year. Concern also came from within the team, as team leader Kiyoshi Kawashima San had concerns about the frame rigidity and brake performance.While American Bill Hunt fell from the race, the other four machines and riders performed impeccably, with only a broken rear brake rod pin causing an issue.
Tarquinio Provini won the race on the MV Agusta, but it was a landmark day for Honda. Naomi Taniguchi won a Silver Replica with a sixth place finish, with Giichi Suzuki seventh, Teisuke Tanaka eighth and Junzo Suzuki in tenth, meaning the team won the Constructor’s Prize.
Honda returned in 1960 with an improved machine and hired riders such as Jim Redman and Tom Phillis, who then won the 125cc World Championship just one year later.
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