MIKE HAMMONDS TT BLOG PAGES
TT 2019 PREVIEW
Disclaimer: The views expressed in my TT 2019 blog are mine and not those of
the TT Supporters Club.
The annual shakedown for the TT, the North West 200, produced seven
different winners, five of which are going to the TT. The three races on
Thursday evening were held in dry and sunny conditions, the weather
deteriorated on Saturday with racing delayed due to rain showers, the final
Superbike race being abandoned.
The most impressive performance came from the rider of the meeting, James
Hillier. He had three podium finishes starting with a third place in
Thursday's Supersport race, won by Lee Johnston from Dean Harrison. Saturday
produced very tricky conditions with the wet road, James came second in the
first Superbike race, beating Manxman Connor Cummins into third, Glen Irwin
winning the race. He was victorious in the Superstock race winning by over
3.7 seconds from Richard Cooper and Davey Todd.
Peter Hickman won the first Superstock race on Thursday evening from Irwin,
Michael Dunlop, Hillier and Johnston. This was Hickman's and Dunlop's only
podium finishes. The most inspired win came from TT stalwart Italian Stefano
Bonetti in Thursday's Supertwin race, achieving his first international
victory. Runner up was Jamie Coward with Michael Rutter third, Rutter also
finished third in the second Supertwin race. The second Supersport race was
won by Davey Todd, from Derek McGee and Connor Cummins.
John McGuinness struggled with reliability on his Superbike and Lightweight
Nortons, Hutchy could only manage a best of 6th in Thursday Supersport race,
the weather on Saturday put paid to his chances. Michael Dunlop only
featured once on the podium but you cannot help but admire his strength of
character having lost his father and brother to the sport.
Apart from James Hillier and Lee Johnston it was pretty muted meeting for
the TT top dogs. there will be plenty of soul searching and burning of the
midnight oil running up to practice week.
Derek McGee, Derek Shiels and Adam McLean had put impressive performances at
the early season races at Cookstown and Tandragee. A nasty spill at
Tandragee has put McLean out of the TT.
In the sidecars Peter Founds and Jevan Walmsley are currently leading the
British F2 championship and showing good form. The Birchall brothers
practiced at the last round but did not race, preferring to test instead.
Alan Founds with Jake Louther in the chair, Dave Molyneaux and Harry Payne,
Conrad Harrison and Andy Winkle have all performed well. Newcomers Callum
and Ryan Crowe will be of special interest, sons of TT sidecar great Nicky
Crowe. They have put in some very impressive performances this season and
are sure to be ones to watch, without doubt their machine will be
immaculately prepared.
Since 1988 the curtain raiser for the TT has been the The Pre TT Classic
Races, held on the Billown circuit. This is an increasingly popular meeting
featuring bikes and riders from yesteryear. Friday evening's practice will
be led by the newcomer controlled laps before a full session for all riders
and classes, culminating with the sidecar practice. On Saturday afternoon
there will be another full practice session including two races, Bank
Holiday Monday is then host to a full days racing to conclude the meeting.
Last year's road racing season was brilliant and tragic in equal measures.
Few will forget Peter Hickman's heroics in winning last year's Senior TT and
none of us will forget those who paid the ultimate price. Please spare a
thought to the family and friends of Dan Kneen, Adam Lyon, James Cowton,
William Dunlop, Fabrice Miguet and Alan 'Bud' Jackson.
Let's look forward to an exciting, fast and safe TT. To those perennial
detractors I would ask they they consider the family and friends of injured
riders before they look for their fifteen minutes of fame by making
outlandish statements. Throughout the history of mankind human beings have
taken risks and pushed the boundaries to the limit and beyond, without such
pioneers we would not be living in the advanced society that we do today.
Mike Hammonds
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