Lougher and Honda challenge for new look TT Superbike glory The annual Isle of Man TT Racing Festival has a new a look and massive 500,000 prize fund with the traditional two weeks of action over the demanding 37.73 mile Mountain Course already underway, with the competitors beginning practice for the actual racing that begins on Saturday 4 June and continues through to Friday 10 June with the prestigious Senior race. The racing programme moves with the current trend towards more production based machinery, introducing TT Superbikes, having two races for Supersport 600 machines, a Superstock race, while the Senior remains open to all three classes. As always, Sidecars are a traditional part of the action, with two races during the week. This has resulted in strong entries with John McGuinness, from Lancashire, the outright laprecord holder, returning to the Island where last year with three victories he doubled his winning pedigree in the event. McGuinness will be riding Yamaha. The Lancastrian expects tough challenges coming in, none more so than from Ian Lougher who began his ‘warm-up’ for the TT with a Superstock victory aboard his Honda Fireblade in the recent NorthWest 200 event. Like McGuinness, he has won six times on the Mountain Course, and with Honda supported machinery, prepared by Des Moore Race and Rally, has high expectations, particularly wanting to win the inaugural Superbike race to ensure a place in the sporting annals. “That would be great, I want to win at least one of the two big-bike races, though the Senior would be nice,” smiled the TT veteran who has been racing on the Island since 1984. “There’s something about the event that once you have raced here, you have to keep coming back. “The atmosphere is great, there is a real buzz, the speed, the mental preparation – it is all so different to anywhere else. It is a case of you, on your own, against the circuit and the elements. You are not forced to ride here, you do it because you want to, and because you want to enjoy it,” Lougher added. Joining him in the Honda equipe is Richard Britton, who is racing in the event for the eighth year – the Ulsterman is long overdue success and sees this as his best year to take the top step of the podium, with probably his best chances coming in either the Supersport 600 or Superstock races. Martin Finnegan, a Manx Grand Prix winner, also has Honda Fireblade power, and should make a real impact with his maturing style. Honda have a strong pedigree on the Island, totalling 122 victories in their 44 years of competition, and they are backing their riders with top machinery again as they bid to head off the obvious threat of McGuinness and his Yamaha team-mate Jason Griffiths. “Really, I am focussed on winning, and there is talk about a 130mph lap, but for me a victory at the slowest speed necessary would suffice, though there will be some riders out there wanting to go faster,” explained McGuinness who will be riding in all five solo classes. However both marques faces a real threat to their supremacy from Adrian Archibald and Bruce Anstey aboard the TAS Suzukis. Archibald, from Ballymoney in Northern Ireland, took a dominant double in 2003 in both the TTF1 and Senior events while last year he took Senior glory – he has lapped 126.82mph and is capable of more. Anstey, from New Zealand, enjoyed victory in last year’s 1000cc Production race amid five podium finishes, and he is raring to go following his superb victory, in difficult conditions of the feature race at the NorthWest 200. And, keep an eye on Ryan Farquhar who is determined to add to his single triumph at the TT as he rides the MSS Kawasaki in the Superbike and Senior races. On three wheels, Manxman Dave Molyneux will be aiming to add to his ten race winning pedigree, although 2002 World Sidecar Champion Klaus Klaffenbock could have a big say in the outcome of the two races, as could Nick Crowe. Both crews race Honda powered outfits. The promise is for classic confrontations across the seven races as the event nears its century – while the first ever motorcycle race was held on the Island in May 1905, the first actual Isle of Man TT motorcycle race was staged in 1907 and the organisers of this year’s event are confident that their revisions will power the event forward into its next century. However, for lovers of class machines, and the historic flavour that is a vital part of the TT, there is a further new element with the introduction of the TT Classic Nostalgia Weekend following on from the end of the race programme. The racing programme is Saturday June 4. TT Superbike race – six laps Sidecar Race “A” – three laps Monday June 6. TT Superstock race – three laps Supersport Junior TT race “A” – four laps Wednesday June 8. Supersport Junior TT race “B” – four laps Sidecar Race “A” – three laps Friday June 10. Senior TT race – six laps