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4 MCN SUPPLEMENT

Isle of Man TT

PADGETT’S HONDAAge: 28From: Bingley, EnglandTT Record: Debut in 2004; 1 win, 7 podiumsFastest TT Lap: 128.455mph (5th)Apart from two TT podiums, Hutchinson had a disappointing 2008 season, but aims to bounce back, having signed to ride for Padgett’s. Back on Honda machinery, he’s aiming to repeat his form from the 2007 TT when he won the Supersport race and finished on the podium in all four races.

UEL DUNCAN RACING HONDAAge: 28From: Brigg, EnglandTT Record: Debut in 2007; best finish 4th, 2008 Superbike raceFastest TT Lap: 127.272 (10th)In his second TT, Johnson was hugely impressive on the Uel Duncan Honda, finishing fourth in the Superbike and sixth in the Senior. He was also top six in the Supersport races and was second in the Superstock race before running out of fuel. Comes into his third TT as a definite contender for honours.

TEAM BLACKHORSE YAMAHA/AIM RACINGAge: 45From: Rhoose, WalesTT Record: Debut in 1984; 8 wins, 26 podiumsFastest TT Lap: 128.120mph (6th)Most experienced rider on the grid. Had a quiet North West 200, but comes into his own on the TT course and finished all five of his 2008 races in the top seven. Still chasing that elusive win on a Superbike and will probably be at his best in the Supersport and Superstock races.

HYDREX HONDAAge: 27From: Kirmington, EnglandTT Record: Debut in 2004; 0 wins, 5 podiumsFastest TT Lap: 129.816mph (2nd)Martin has not found his best form since last year’s disappointing TT. He banged himself up at last autumn’s Macau GP, crashed at Scarborough early this year and was off his usual pace at the NW200. Don’t be fooled into thinking he won’t be blisteringly fast at this year’s TT, though. Time to chalk up that first win?

HM PLANT HONDAAge: 36From: Morecambe, EnglandTT Record: Debut in 1996; 14 wins, 28 podiumsFastest TT Lap: 130.354mph (1st) The fastest man ever around the TT course, McGuinness equalled fellow legend Mike Hailwood’s record of 14 TT wins when he won last year’s Senior. Has had a quiet time on short circuits since last year’s TT, but looked in great form at the recent North West 200. Still the man to beat at the TT.

TEAM BLACKHORSE YAMAHA/AIM RACINGAge: 32From: SwedenTT Record: Debut 2008; best finish 8th, Supersport AFastest TT Lap: 121.343mph (69th) Did the Manx twice before making an impressive TT debut last year and was eighth in the opening Supersport race. Teaming up with experienced Lougher will only help his cause, especially as he also has 1000cc machinery at his disposal for the first time. Lots of potential here.

JACKSON RACINGAge: 45From: Carlisle, EnglandTT Record: Debut in 1990; 2 wins, 4 podiumsFastest TT Lap: 123.424mph (36th)Like regular sparring partner Ian Lougher, adopted Manxman Chris Palmer continues to notch up results of the highest order. This year the three-times 125cc TT winner is back for more, this time riding Suzukis for Jackson Racing, the team led by Manx GP lap record holder Alan Jackson Jnr.

HM PLANT HONDAAge: 38From: Woodhall Spa, EnglandTT Record: Debut in 2007; 1 win, 1 podiumFastest TT Lap: 127.065mph (11th)This is only his third TT, but he comes into this year’s races with factory Hondas and is more than capable of adding to the maiden TT race win he took in last year’s opening Supersport race. Has been in great form on short circuits and looked fiercely competitive in the NW200, winning both his races.

BATHAMS PIRELLI SUZUKIAge: 37From: Brierley Hill, EnglandTT Record: Debut in 1994; 1 win, 9 podiumsFastest TT Lap: 125.970mph (16th)Since splitting from Rob Mac Racing, Rutter has forked out £32,000 of his own cash and pulled in some big sponsors to race at this year’s TT. It might be a last-minute effort, but nothing’s been left to chance as Rutter aims to add to his tally of nine TT podium finishes.

WILCOCK CONSULTING RACINGAge: 33From: Barrow in Furness, EnglandTT Record: Debut in 2002; best finish 8th (2006 Supersport and 2008 Senior)Fastest TT Lap: 126.292mph (15th)Stewart is one of the top privateers since his return to the TT in 2006 after a four-year absence. The Cumbrian motorcycle dealer scored four top 10 finishes last year and clocked several 125mph laps. Rides an ex-Lougher Honda in Superbike races, Yamahas in the other races.

SAT, JUN 6 12.00 Superbike TT (6 laps)Sidecar TT 1 (3 laps)MON, JUN 8 10.45 Superstock TT(4 laps)Supersport TT 1 (4 laps)TTX GP practice

WED, JUN 10 10.45 Supersport TT 2 (4 laps)Sidecar TT 2 (3 laps)TTX GP practiceFRI, JUN 12 10.45 TTX GP (1 lap)Senior TT (6 laps)

SAT, JUN 11 15.10 125TT leg 1 (8 laps)250TT leg 1 (8 laps)125TT leg 2 (8 laps)250TT leg 2 (8 laps)

TV supremos North One TV will be exclusively filming the entire TT – and you can watch it every night on ITV 4 from June 4.

The biggest-ever TV effort has been put into the TT this year and the team behind the show will be bringing you

the entire TT each night at 9pm on ITV 4.

The team has arranged more camera positions than ever before around the circuit, and the rules have been changed to make sure every single bike has an onboard camera

– even John McGuinness’ (he has previously refused as he doesn’t want other competitors to know his lines).

The ITV 4 team has previously worked on massive shows such as the WRC coverage, F1 for ITV and the top-rated Fifth Gear motoring show.

18 MCN SUPPLEMENT

Isle of Man TT

The Relentless thirst for ►

PACEMAKER

By Phil Wain

When it comes to winning races at the Isle of Man TT, the Irish-based, Relent-less by TAS Suzuki team certainly know a thing or two. With 14 wins since 2002, the father and son Hector and Philip Neill squad is the most successful outfit currently competing at the Isle of Man, indeed one of the most successful of all time. And with Bruce Anstey and Cameron Donald signed once more for 2009, they have a great chance of in-creasing their already impressive record of success.

Two extremely different characters, Anstey, who has been with the team since late 2003, is somewhat of an enigma while Donald is the latest road racing sensation to emerge after his brilliant

maiden Isle of Man victories last year.But both are equally talented and

riders for whom Philip Neill is equal in his praise.

He said: “Lots of things come to mind when you have to describe Bruce, a managerial nightmare being one! He certainly tested all of my managerial skills in the early days but we’ve built our communication, respect and knowledge of each other. Although he’s totally dif-ferent to a lot of the other modern day riders, that essentially makes him the rider that he is.

“If we’d have tried to force him down the same line as other riders, I don’t think he would have achieved as much. He likes to be away from bikes when he isn’t racing so you just have to accept that’s the way he is.

“He’s incredibly cool and calm and his natural ability is phenomenal, probably more than any of the other riders. That ability is why he can be so calculating and he’s incredibly focused on his rac-ing. He thinks very clearly about what he’s doing and he’s bloody good at the TT. He did 129.4mph on the second lap of the Senior and that was with a lot of problems, so if it wasn’t for that I think it would have been a 130mph lap for sure. That’s what he’s capable of and that’s part of the reason why the others fear him so much.”

David Jefferies: 3 wins, 3 podiums

Ian Lougher : 1 win, 4 podiums Adrian Archibald: 3 wins, 6

podiums Bruce Anstey: 5 wins, 12

podiums Cameron Donald: 2 wins, 3

podiums Relentless by TAS total: 14 wins,

28 podiums

TAS BOSS, PHILIP NEILL

“It’s hard to pinpoint any weaknesses. His physical conditioning and fitness affected him but that has significantly improved so perhaps you could say his lack of racing miles holds him back a lit-tle. He only did about five laps at Macau last year and then we had two days at Kirkistown prior to the North West 200, one in the wet and one in the dry. Even then, Ian Lowry had his breath taken away at how fast he was.”

Anstey has taken no fewer than seven wins and 18 podiums at the TT, also currently holding the Supersport and Superstock lap records, whilst he’s also the third fastest rider in the history of the TT as 129.445mph.

However, there’s now a major force on the opposite side of the garage in the shape of Cameron Donald. A newcomer at the TT as recently as 2005, last year was only his third year on the Mountain Course but a double victory, which could well have been a treble had it not been for mechanical problems on the last lap of the Senior. He’s certainly stealing some of Anstey’s thunder.