Department of Tourism and Leisure confirm 2009 TT Programme – Entertainment programme set for an overhaul – Meetings held with Honda to discuss 50th anniversary celebrations – Billown TT Race re-vamped for 09 – World’s first clean emissions Grand Prix set for Senior Race Day After what was described by MCN as the ‘best TT ever’ and comparisons being made with the epic Senior Race between Steve Hislop and Carl Fogarty in 1992, the Department of Tourism and Leisure has confirmed that the 2009 TT Programme will run to the same format as in 2008. Fans at the 2008 TT were treated to some of the closest racing in history culminating in the sensational Dainese Senior TT where the lead swapped eight times between Bruce Anstey, Cameron Donald and eventual race winner John McGuinness. Meanwhile, Sidecar aficionados are still talking about the wheel to wheel dual between three wheel legends Dave Molyneux and Nick Crowe. The Billown circuit in the South of the Island will host a revamped day for two stroke TT racing, with two, two leg 125cc Ultra Lightweight and 250cc Lightweight races over 8 laps. The rider with the best aggregate points score over the 16 laps of the two legs will be declared the winner of each class. The organisers will look to build on last year’s inaugural event with a more competitive field and concentrated rider recruitment for those races has already begun. The rider recruitment programme continues to go from strength to strength with recent newcomers Cameron Donald and Steve Plater both registering maiden wins and sidecar driver Tim Reeves scoring the first podium for a newcomer since Jock Taylor in 1978. The solos also saw an incredible nine different individuals standing on the podium out of a possible fifteen places. Gary Johnson, a newcomer in 2007, will be looking to improve on his sensational performances at the TT including a standout fourth place in the Superbike race. Recruitment has already started for the 2009 TT and Rider Liaison Officers Richard ‘Milky’ Quayle and John Barton have been visiting a number of events in the UK, Ireland and Europe. The team is also watching international events closely for new talent and new teams from around the world are already expressing an interest in taking part with swelled grids of quality riders expected for TT 2009. Martyn Quayle, MHK, Minister for Tourism and Leisure, commented: “The 2008 TT races demonstrated the success of the rider recruitment programme with some of the closest races ever seen on the Mountain Circuit. 2009 will be more of the same but we are already in negotiation with an exciting list of riders keen to test themselves on the course and there will also be some new team announcements and hopefully some new manufacturers joining the event, which can only improve the line up. We are also looking to attract a larger grid for 2009 although we won’t compromise on the quality of rider taking part.”