Thinking
of riding in the Manx Grand Prix or you have ridden and would like
some advice? Our Ambassadors are all particularly
experienced MGP competitors who have kindly volunteered to help advice
you on all MGP matters, from bike setup to travel and accommodation.
Simply complete the form at the bottom of this page with your question:
David Taylor Lives:Yorkshire About:"2009
is my 16th competitive season. I've competed at the Manx since
1996 and have raced 400s, 600s and 750s on the Mountain Course.
I've been lucky enough to stand on the podium twice and win 13
Silver Replicas, obtained in every one of the modern bike classes.
Plans for this year definitely include being at the Manx for the
Junior & Senior as it’s the big race meeting of the season
for me. After the disappointment of not being able to participate
in last year’s delayed Senior, I’m keener than ever to do a sub-20
minute lap of the Island on my Suzuki 750. Doing other big race
meetings will depend entirely on how the economic picture looks
as the year progresses but there's no way I'm missing the Manx!".
Mark Castle Lives:Rode Heath About: "I
first visited the TT in 1996 and again in 1999. The bug
bit me and by September 1999 I’d prepared an FZR400 and
begun racing, purely to compete on the Mountain course.
I was accepted for the cancelled MGP01 so had to wait
until MGP02 to DNF leading the newcomers C!! Since then
I’ve achieved silver reps in 4 Ultralightweight & 3
Junior races, with four top 5 finishes including 2 podiums
and a fastest lap, as well as a proddie 600 TT bronze
rep. My racing career has been on 400’s and Supermono’s,
having only ever raced a 600 at the Isle of Man. I’ve
raced at Spa, the Northwest and Aberdare and I’ve finished
2nd in the Darley Moor 400, 3rd ACU Star 400, 3rd air-cooled & 4th
water-cooled British Supermono Championships. In 2001
I became involved with the Mike Hailwood Foundation,
who tutored me around the course before my first MGP.
Since then I’ve brought many riders over to tutor them,
including Guy Martin, Scott Wilson and Nigel “Speedy”
John."
Nigel John"Speedy" Lives:South Wales About: Nigel
has a wealth of experience gained over the last 18years
having competed in over 12 countries across the World
on a variety of bikes from 750 to 125GP bikes.
While he’s competed in British/European Championships
and Endurance Races’ his true love is road racing
which has taken him as far a field as New Zealand
and Estonia. He is a regular competitor in Irish
and European road races. As well as his Manx GP achievement
in 2005 of 1st Newcomer B class and 2nd in the Lightweight
race’ Nigel as also achieved lap records, wins and
podiums at Skerries, Tallinn(Estonia), Mettet and
Chimay(Belgian), Aberdare Park, Zwartkop(South Africa)
to name just a few.
Nigel his very fond of his two stroke bikes and is
currently recovering from injury.
Norman Gordon Lives: Northern
Ireland About: Former
Manx Grand Prix Winner, with road race Clerk of the Course
experience. Norman has been working in conjunction with
the MIke Hailwood Foundation for over 10 years.
Russ Henley Lives: Nottinghamshire About:I started
racing in 1991 and have experience of competing at several Road
Race events including Scarborough, Aberdare Park, North West 200,
Isle of Man MGP and TT. The highlights of my racing career included
winning the 250 race at Aberdare Park on my first visit, third
in the 1995 Lightweight Manx and winning the 1996 Lightweight Manx
Grand Prix. Most of my racing experience is centred around pukka
125 and 250 race bikes although I have been known to ride Ducati
twins on occasions.
My advice to any MGP competitor or somebody considering competing
in the Manx for the first time would be to ride a bike which
you are fully familiar with. Modern 125/250 machines are great
for learning on as they are quick enough,but not so stupidly
fast that they will get you into trouble. Modern 2 strokes( if
prepared well) are also very reliable and in my opinion, at least
twice as much fun as any four stroke machine!!
Stephen Carr 'Cargo' Lives:Northern
Ireland About: I
first went to the Manx in 1992 to spanner for a mate
and soon realised that this was a way for me to ride
on the TT course - something I'd wanted to do since
my first visit to the TT in 1985.
I started racing in 1996 and did my first road race
in August that year and did the Manx a year later
in 1997. All I ever wanted was to compete on the
TT course and at the time I thought that would be
it...............11 years later I'm still going and
NO plans to stop.
I've ridding 600s and 400s at the Manx and would
love a classic ride one day. My best results at the
Manx have come on 400s and while I've never won a
rep I've been very close once or twice (maybe this
year).
This year I'll be on a Wrathalls built 400 Yamaha
owned by Malcolm Mac Donald of TTwebsite and also
I'll have a 600 Kawasaki of my own. We are really
looking forward to a great two weeks on the Isle
of Man.
There is no greater pleasure than racing on the TT
course on closed roads and I would encourage anyone
who races to come and enjoy the pleasures of competing
on the greatest road race circuit in the world.
It's one of those things you just have to do!
Barry Wood Lives:Isle
of Man About:Barry
made his Manx Grand Prix debut in 1988 and competed
almost every year until 2006 achieving many successes. He
was back to back winner of the Lightweight Classic
MGP in 1999 and 2000 and was 2nd in the Lightweight
MGP in 1996.
He is very proud of the fact that he has stood
on the Manx Grand Prix rostrum no less than 9 times,
probably the most ever by a local rider.
Barry also rode in the TT from 1998 to 2007. A
serious accident during practice for the 2007 TT
left him with injuries that have ended his racing
career, but he retains a life long enthusiasm for
road racing, especially the Manx Grand Prix, where
he has spent much time over the years helping newcomers
to learn their way round the TT Course safely.
Carolynn Sells Lives:Isle
of Man About: First
lady ever to win a race on the Mountain Course! Her
dad and her brother are both very accomplished competitors.For more information click here.
Tom Jackson Lives:Cumbria About: I started
racing sidecars in 1973 until 1980 when I had a bad accident and
decided to retire.Then in 1994 I started racing my T20 Suzuki 250cc
classic bike. My first Manx Grand Prix was in 1994, finishing
in 13th position and winning the Team Award with my brother Bob and
Bud. I have also received 5 replicas, 5 finishers awards and
3 team awards. I have also competed in the Pre-Classic TT Races
for several years with above average results.
I have raced in the Irish Road Racing Championship for the past
10 years at Cookstown, Tandragree, Skerries, Kells, Mid Antrim,
Killane, Dundalk and Dundrod 150 having numerous wins and finishing
2nd in the championship in 2003 and 2004.
I have also ridden on short circuit tracks such as Aintree, Croft,
Oulton Park and Tonfanau.
This year I intend to race at Cookstown, Skerries and Kells in
Ireland also Aintree, Croft, Oulton Park and not forgetting the
Pre-classic TT and the Manx Grand Prix.
Ewan Hamilton
Lives:Drumoak, Aberdeenshire. Scotland About:I
have been racing since 1985 and competed at the Manx
GP since 1987. Raced two strokes at the Manx every year
and consider the “strokers” as in my blood stream. Concentrated
primarily on the Classic Lightweight class since 1992,
but have ridden in every class apart from the Senior
Manx and have been fortunate to have climbed to the top
step of the podium twice. Over the years I have also
assisted many newcomers on their first visit which can
be just as rewarding. During 2008 I shall be at most
of the Scottish meetings and am travelling to Chimay
to compete in the Classic races This year at the Manx
I shall be entering the Classic Lightweight and modern
Lightweight.
Shall be in the paddock if anybody requires advice
and support as races can be won and lost in the garage
if bike preparation and the riders approach to the
Manx is not quite spot on.
Maria Costello Lives: Spratton About: Maria
finished third in the Ultra Lightweight Race at the
2005 Manx Grand Prix. This placed her in the history books as the
first woman solo racer to ever stand on the podium at a race around
the TT course [RLR Motorsports Honda RVF400].For
more information click here.
Andy Jackson Lives:Lancashire
Rab
Davie Lives: Strathmiglo,
Fife, Scotland. This will be my eigth year riding at the Manx.
Newcomer in 1998 then every year since 2002. I ride
both 400cc and 600cc Honda's in the Ultra Lightweight
and Junior Classes with a highest placing of 4th in
the ultra lightweight in 2006. I have finished every
race I have started at the Manx apart from last year
when I had a retirement at the end of the 2nd lap with
a very small oil leak (you cant take the chance). From
10 starts I have 8 silver replicas, 1 finishers medal
and 1 retirement. Back home I will be racing at Knockhill,
Croft and East Fortune at various Scottish and NE events.
I will be at these meetings throughout the season if
anyone would like any Manx Grand Prix advice.
Davy Morgan Lives:Northern
Ireland About: Senior
Manx Grand Prix winner. Rides big four strokes.
Nick Jefferies Lives:Yorkshire About:Rode MGP
from 1975 to 1983. Then three Classic MGP’s in 1998,99, 2003. Rode
TT from 1975 to 2002.
In all 83 races, 63 TT and MGP replicas, one record lap, one TT
win, one MGP win and seventeen rostrum places.
“For me the Manx is the best motorcycle competition I have ever
been involved with. Every year it was the highlight of my season,
and I always finished the two weeks wanting more. From friendly
organisation, to relaxed atmosphere, the Manx always did it for
me.I’m very proud to associated with the event, and if any rider,
Newcomer or otherwise, feels they could benefit from my experience,
I would be delighted to help.”
Alan Jackson Lives:Lancashire
Stephen Jackson Lives:Cheshire About:'First
visited the Island as a young boy in the very early 60' - must have
liked it as I'm still coming back close to 50 years later!
Started racing in 1969 on the same pre-unit Bonneville that I rode
to work every day. Over the years I have raced twins, triples,
fours, and even a six cylinder machine and always prefered racing
on real road race circuiits rather than the man made tracks.
Competed on both the Billown (Southern 100) and TT mountain circuit
and although no longer racing myself, now have a small race team
which competes on the roads in Ireland and the Isle of Man, including
the Manx GP.'
Complete the form below in order to submit your question:
"Racing
is living (22nd August - 4th September,
2009), everything before or after is just waiting"