The curtain goes up tomorrow (Saturday) on the 2006 Isle of Man TT meeting. The first practice session is scheduled to begin at 6.15pm with the racing getting underway a week later. Much interest in the solo classes will centre on whether Morecambe’s John McGuinness can add to his total of eight TT wins or raise the outright lap record of 127.68 miles an hour which he set in 2004. The Isle of Man’s own Dave Molyneux – the most successful sidecar driver ever on the mountain circuit with 11 TT victories - is the man to beat in this class. Last year saw one of the most competitive meetings for many years with six different winners from the seven races and Isle of Man Tourism and Leisure Minister David Cretney MHK, Chairman of the TT Co-ordinating Committee, envisages another week of intense racing. He said: ‘I believe the overall entry list is the strongest ever assembled in the 99 years history of the event. ‘We have eleven previous winners, two former World Champions as well as top riders from British Superbike, AMA Superbike and Irish Road Racing.’ Mr.Cretney said safety standards had been improved even further with significant investment in many areas. The overall budget for marshalling the course had trebled, enabling a number of training initiatives to take place. Around 1,400 marshals will be on duty around the TT Course. The amount of air fencing, Recticel safety barriers and pole protectors have been increased considerably, including an extra 68 pole protectors loaned by the organisers of the North West 200. In addition, two rescue helicopters will operate during both practice and race weeks whereas, previously, there was only one in place for the practice period and two for race week. Said Mr.Cretney: ‘The safety factor will always be of paramount importance and there is an ongoing programme of course protection with the riders in mind. This year has seen a number of major improvements being put in place.’ The 226 miles Superbike event on Saturday June 3rd heralds the start of the race programme to be followed on Monday June 5th by the Superstock and Sidecar ‘A’ TTs. The schedule for Wednesday begins with the Junior Supersport TT and continues with the Sidecar ‘B’ race. Friday sees the final events of the week – the six lap Senior TT and the Lap of Honour and Classic Parade.

ENDS
Contacts: Hon David Cretney MHK 01624 686704
Colin Brown 01624 661141