2009 Isle of Man TT – Monday Insider

The headlines read that the first race resulted in both lap and race records set by John McGuiness giving Honda a magnificent present for their 50th TT anniversary. As the race began in almost perfect conditions it quickly became clear that there was no one to challenge McGuinness, apart from his HM Plant Honda teammate, Steve Plater, who eventually came home in second place. Third place was Guy Martin, once again deprived of a win, but third gave Honda a clean sweep of the podium.

McGuiness was second to set off on the road and clearly intended to control the race from the start given the timing around the course. He was never challenged, leading at the end of every lap despite the pit stops. In fact, he was not short of his 130mph lap record posting 129.779 mph average from the standing start, breaking the class record in the process.

Some of the pressure disappeared on the first lap with one of the pre-race favorites, TAS Suzuki’s Bruce Anstey, retiring just seven miles out at Ballacraine on Lap 1, but it is doubtful that he would have stood much chance against the on-form McGuiness. It really came as no surprise when he broke the lap record officially on the second lap with a time of 17.21.29 and a lap of 130.443, this including slowing down for a pit stop!

Nobody really had any answer for the Cumbrian rider who then rode a sensible race to finish 18 seconds in front of Plater. He still managed to set a new race record in the process despite keeping below 130 mph average until the very last lap when he again posted a 130.259 mph giving a six-lap average of 127.996 mph for the 226 miles.

McGuiness is now a 15 times TT winner and has surpassed Mike Hailwood in the standing for total TT wins. Only Irish racing legend Joey Dunlop has more, with 26 victories spread across all classes.

All four Americans were in good spirits before the start and Mark Miller showed why when he came home in 11th place to claim a Bronze with a 121.528-mph average just missing out on a Silver replica. Jimmy Moore rode a steady, but creditable race on his Yamaha to come home in 22nd with a race average of 117.822 mph and also claim a Bronze replica.

TT virgins James Vanderhaar on his Kawasaki and CR Gittere on his Honda both finished, taking the last two finisher’s places, 49th and 50th, respectively. Certainly something to be cherished given the number of non-finishers from over 75 starters, including some top and fancied riders!

The top three were greeted in the winner’s enclosure by MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi, who had watched the race with fellow Italian GP legend Giacomo Agostini, a former TT winner. Unfortunately his presence, for the crowds at least, detracted from the stunning performances of the top three riders.

However, Rossi presented the trophies on the somewhat cramped rostrum under Ago’s instruction, before the pair set out on a lap of the 37.75 mile course behind the TT travelling marshals.

Later at a Dainese Press conference to show journalists how far its air bag system (worn by third-place rider Guy Martin during the race) has progressed, Rossi expressed his admiration for the competitors.

“I have watched the racing and am familiar with the course on the TV, but it is very different when you ride it. I need another few laps to fully understand it.”

When asked if this meant he wanted to race he quickly pointed out that he just wanted to understand fully how the rider’s managed to go so fast and he had no intention of racing at the TT, but would like to do some more laps!

Due to the interest caused by Rossi’s appearance the first sidecar race set off late and almost unnoticed in almost perfect conditions again. By the end of Lap 1 pre-race favorites and first team away, Nick Crowe and Mark Cox, headed the leader-board, followed by another favorite, local man Dave Molyneux.

However, it was not to last and Crowe retired on Lap 2, leaving Molyneux to stay in front and take the flag in first at the end of the three-lap race with a race record.

The Manx rider won by almost a minute from Phillip Dongworth/Gary Partridge in second place, with Simon Neary/Stuart Bond taking the last rostrum place. The win was his 14th in twenty increasing his record in the three wheeler class. Former World Champion Tim Reeves in his second year at the TT posted a creditable fourth place, while the other former world champion Klaus Klaffenblock broke down on the second lap.

There was then a brief practice session for bikes racing on Tuesday, when the race program will be the one that should have run today, had it not been for the weekend cancellations caused by the inclement weather. The weather is forecast for tomorrow is expected to be as good as today, meaning more race and lap records could fall!

Isle of Man TT 2009 - Dainese Superbike TT Results

1. John McGuinness - 1000cc Honda / HM Plant Honda Racing - 1’46”07.16
2. Steve Plater - 1000cc Honda / HM Plant Honda Racing - 1’46”25.27
3. Guy Martin - 1000cc Honda / Hydrex Honda Racing – 1’46”59.69
4. Ian Hutchinson - 1000cc Honda / Padgetts Racing – 1’47”39.66
5. Gary Johnson - 1000cc Honda / Robinson Concrete – 1’47”43.08
6. Adrian Archibald - 1000cc Suzuki / AMA Racing Team – 1’49”04.24
7. Ian Lougher - 1000cc Yamaha / AIM Yamaha Racing – 1’49”05.63
8. Carl Rennie - 1000cc Suzuki / WA Corless/Jackson Racing – 1’50”34.63
9. Daniel Stewart - 1000cc Honda / Wilcock Consulting – 1’51”05.13
10. John Burrows - 1000cc Suzuki / B E Racing – 1’51”45.54
11. Mark Miller - 1000cc Suzuki / WA Corless/Jackson Racing – 1’51”46.03
12. William Dunlop - 1000cc Yamaha / CD Racing – 1’51”54.06
13. Daniel Kneen - 1000cc Suzuki / Marks Bloom Racing – 1’52”03.00
14. Ian Mackman - 1000cc Suzuki / PRF Racing – 1’52”14.47
15. Mats Nilsson - 1000cc Yamaha / Black Horse Motorcycle Finance/Yamaha UK – 1’52”24.13
16. Mark Parrett - 1000cc Yamaha / Ripley Land – 1’52”29.31
17. Ian Pattinson - 1000cc Suzuki / Martin Bullock Raceteam – 1’52”56.30
18. James Hillier - 1000cc Kawasaki / Buildbase/Bournemouth Kawasaki – 1’53”06.61
19. Stephen Oates - 1000cc Suzuki / Hallett Aviation/Road & Racing M/C's – 1’53”42.34
20. Mark Buckley - 1000cc Yamaha / OTSS Yamaha – 1’54”12.66
21. Stefano Bonetti - 1000cc Honda – 1’54”17.95
22. Jimmy Moore - 1000cc Yamaha / JMF Millsport Yamaha – 1’55”16.92
23. Paul Dobbs - 1000cc Yamaha / Dave East Engineering/Barnes Racing – 1’55”33.48
24. David Hewson - 1000cc Kawasaki / The Other Bike Shop – 1’55”42.08
25. Steve Mercer - 1000cc Suzuki / thepeoplesbike.com – 1’55”59.06
26. Kiaran Hankin - 1000cc Honda / KH Tool & Plant Hire / Quill Performance & Exhausts – 1’56”12.03
27. George Spence - 1000cc Yamaha / Ayton Smiddy Ltd – 1’56”14.47
28. James McBride - 1000cc Yamaha / Pazzo Racing – 1’56”15.86
29. Paul Owen - 1000cc Yamaha / Team #98 – 1’56”25.09
30. Ben Wylie - 1000cc Yamaha / Wylie & Holland Racing/WW Development – 1’57”01.36
31. Roger Maher - 1000cc Yamaha / Tom Dineen Transport – 1’57”01.63
32. Sergio Romero - 1000cc Kawasaki – 1’57”10.95
33. Paul Shoesmith - 1000cc Yamaha / Speedfreak Racing – 1’57”20.92
34. Fabrice Miguet - 1000cc Kawasaki – 1’57”35.31
35. David Madsen-Mygdal - 1000cc Yamaha / CSC Branson Racing – 1’57”53.43
36. Alan Bud Jackson - 1000cc Suzuki / BDS Fuels – 1’58”00.29
37. Craig Atkinson - 1000cc Kawasaki / VRS Performance Centre – 1’58”11.93
38. Sandor Bitter - 1000cc Suzuki / Team Suzuki Systrend Hungary – 1’58”27.68
39. Thomas Schoenfelder - 1000cc Suzuki / ADAC Hessen-Thueringen – 1’58”45.48
40. Karsten Schmidt - 1000cc Honda / SBM Honda – 1’59”03.92
41. John Crellin - 1000cc Suzuki – 1’59”15.06
42. Marc Fissette - 1000cc Yamaha / Macau Racing Team - 2’00”13.62
43. Yoshinari Matsushita - 1000cc Yamaha / Black Horse Motorcycle Finance/Yamaha UK – 2’02”17.82
44. Jenny Tinmouth - 1000cc Honda / sorrymate.com – 2’02”49.59

Isle of Man 2009 - Sure Sidecar Race 1

1. Dave Molyneux/Dan Sayle - 600cc DMR Suzuki / A & J Racing – 58”59.28
2. Philip Dongworth/Gary Partridge - 600cc Ireson Honda / WAS Auto Centre Ltd – 59”53.22
3. Simon Neary/Stuart Bond - 600cc Dynobike Suzuki / Neary Racing – 1’00”18.86
4. Tim Reeves/Patrick Farrance - 600cc LCR / Team Prof Dr Sallmon – 1’00”21.88
5. Conrad Harrison/Kerry Williams - 600cc Shelbourne Honda / Printing Roller Services – 1’01”07.95
6. Steven Coombes/Paul Knapton - 600cc Ireson / Dave Hudspeth Carpets – 1’02”03.44
7. Roy Hanks/Dave Wells - 600cc DMR Suzuki / Dorwingear Ltd – 1’02”41.59
8. Neil Kelly/Jason O'Connor - 600cc Ireson Honda – 1’03”04.97
9. Tony Baker/Fiona Baker-Milligan - 600cc Baker Suzuki – 1’03”22.12
10. Andy Laidlow/James Neave - 600cc LCR Suzuki / Double 'M' Racing – 1’04”21.38
11. Dylan Lynch/Aaron Galligan - 600cc LCR Yamaha / Eclipse Racing – 1’04”22.16
12. Francois Leblond/Sylvie Leblond - 600cc Shelbourne Suzuki – 1’04”59.35
13. Mike Cookson/Kris Hibberd - 600cc Shelbourne Honda – 1’05”12.25
14. Kenny Howles/Lee Barrett - 600cc MR Equipe Suzuki / New Inn Shrawley – 1’05”13.22
15. Howard Baker/Mike Killingsworth - 600cc Shelbourne Honda / D & J Bikespares – 1’05”15.09
16. Gordon Shand/Stuart Graham - 600cc Shand – 1’05”36.17
17. David Kimberley/Paul Lowther - 600cc Ireson Honda – 1’05”36.48
18. Keith Walters/Alun Thomas - 600cc Ireson Honda – 1’05”38.50
19. Tony Thirkell/Nigel Barlow - 600cc MR Equipe Honda / Merlin Sidecars – 1’05”48.73
20. Alan Langton/Mike Aylott - 600cc Baker Yamaha / Ray Sansbury Racing – 1’06”12.08
21. Brian Kelly/Dicky Gale - 600cc DMR Honda – 1’06”15.43
22. Brian Alflatt/Herve Chenu - 600cc Baker – 1’06”48.29
23. Wal Saunders/Eddy Kiff - 600cc Ireson Suzuki – 1’07”03.94
24. Dean Banks/Nigel Brogan - 600cc Baker TBC / Pat Hodson Builders – 1’07”42.59
25. Mick Donovan/Aidan Browne - 600cc Ireson Yamaha – 1’07”44.18
26. Claude Montagnier/Laurent Seyeux - 600cc LCR Kawasaki – 1’07”54.59
27. Ruth Laidlow/Julie Hanks-Elliott - 600cc LCR Suzuki / Action Motorcycles Ltd – 1’10”50.71
28. Darryl Rayner/Mark Patterson - 600cc Shelbourne Honda – 1’11”09.64
29. Matt Williams/Jo Williams - 600cc MR Equipe Suzuki – 1’13”01.88