The Lost Legends Of Isle Of Man TT

A tiny island in the Irish Sea hosts the most dangerous race in the world, a race that has claimed more than 200 lives since its inception back in 1907. Despite this, riders come back every year to compete and deliver even in the most tragic situations. More than 45,000 enthusiasts flood the island between May and July for two weeks just to catch a glimpse of riders blitzing past, and that’s all it takes to get you hooked for life.  

So, why do these riders risk everything in spite of the consequences? As crazy as it sounds, it’s for the relentless pursuit of being the best!

A British documentary on the TT perfectly sums up the emotions every rider goes through and the obsession with the track. It’s a difference between climbing a mountain with and without a safety harness. The sense of pride and achievement when you make it to the top all by yourself is second to none. The same goes for the course: there are no extended gravel patches or tyre barriers to save you in case of a low or high slide. Just to give you an idea of how fast these riders go - the fastest lap record on the 60.72km course is 17'12.30 (John McGuinness, Senior TT) while the fastest average lap pace was measured at 215.591kmph (Michael Dunlop). One mistake is all it takes to end it all.

Every rider goes through a rollercoaster of emotions before the race. As you creep to the start line there’s a surge of adrenaline running through your veins, a sense of overwhelming pressure and hype from the crowd. And then you wait - wait for those 2-3 seconds which feels like a lifetime before you get flagged off. The moment the flag’s down, you dump the clutch and you’re off, going through all 6 gears within seconds and pushing speeds of over 300kmph down Bray Hill. It’s the point of no return and requires 100 per cent commitment; a split second is what separates the rider from life and death. The kerbs, stone walls, lamp posts, trees and buildings which line the entire TT course seem like a blur at those speeds. At this point the bike’s unpredictable, you’re struggling to keep the front from wheelieing or the bike from heading into a tank slapper from those sudden elevations and bumps on the road.

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However, as you munch in the kilometres, you and your bike start to settle down. It feels almost natural, and the brain starts thinking ahead of itself, predicting corners and the lines ahead of time. It’s almost intuitive, one might say. That said, even after years of experience you can never get it 100 per cent right.

Riders and spectators alike are reminded of this harsh reality every year when the risky course claims a life. 255 lives have been lost in the pursuit of glory so far, the most recent victim being Dan Kneen, who passed away on the 30th of May 2018 during a practice session. The accident transpired on Kneen’s first lap of the 59km long Mountain course, aboard his Tyco BMW near Churchtown, causing the session to be red flagged.

Dan Kneen wasn’t a rookie by any means. He made his debut back in 2008 at the Manx Grand Prix and won an unprecedented three races – the Junior, the Newcomers C and the Ultra lightweight MGP races. He also achieved his first TT podium in last year’s Superstock race by finishing third and clocked his fastest official lap of 209.77kmph with a time of 17m06.994s in the day before yesterday’s Superstock qualifying session. Just goes to show that no matter how experienced one is, you can never be too certain.

Of course, Dan Kneen is just the latest in a long and growing list of racers who have lost their lives attempting to tame the course. Call them heroes or call them reckless daredevils - nothing can take away from the fact that these are brave legends who died doing what they loved with single-minded devotion. Here’s a look at some of the greats from the most fearsome racing event that exists in our politically correct world today.

Davey Lambert (1969-2017) - British rider Davey Lambert, aged 48, crashed on the third lap of the Superbike race at Greebe Castle, suffering multiple injuries. He was first taken to a local hospital and then transferred to Aintree hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

David Jefferies (1972-2003) - David Jefferies was a leading star of the British Superbike Championship when he made his TT debut in 1996 at the age of 24. In his first two years of competition, he took a brilliant hat trick when he won the Formula One, Junior and Senior race victories on his Yamaha. Unfortunately, his winning streak wouldn’t last forever as he was killed in a practice accident in 2003. His death left the Island shell-shocked but he will always be remembered as one of the TT legends.

Joey Dunlop (1952-2000) - The most successful rider in IOMTT’s 111-year history died when he crashed in Estonia while contesting a non-title international event on public roads on the outskirts of the capital, Tallinn. Dunlop started racing in 1969 and gained major success on public roads circuits. He made his Isle of Man debut in 1976 and posted his first victory the following year with a 750cc Yamaha in the Jubilee TT. He still holds the record for most number of wins (26) at the Isle of Man TT.

Bob McIntyre (1928-1962) - McIntyre was one of the UK's finest riders ever and a master of the mountain course. His skill was such that the only thing that would ever stop him from breaking lap records or tearing off into the distance were his bikes which would often break down. He was the first man to lap the Mountain Course at over 162kmph. A crash in the pouring rain at Oulton Park in August 1962 saw him sustain serious injuries and despite fighting tremendously hard, he succumbed to the injuries nine days later.

These are just some of the names worth mentioning as the list is way too long to note. It’s a stark reminder of the fine line between success and failure at the Isle of Man TT. Having said that, the sport still lives on and has fans pouring in from all over the world to watch these brave men take on the lethal 60.72km long course at blistering speeds.

Some call it madness, while some think the riders are organ donors. We think they’re some of the most talented riders to have roamed Planet Earth.

We’re human beings and life is not a dress rehearsal. We only get one lap in life, why not make it a good one?