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Everything you need to know about the 2017 Isle of Man TT races

This year’s event is shaping up to be not just a brilliant racing spectacle, but also a great shop window for some of the best bikes of 2017.

Phil West

Words by: Phil West

Published on 19 May 2017 | 0 min read

  • The races start 3 June
  • Highlights are the Superbike and Senior events
  • Sidecar and electric races will feature, too
One of the world’s biggest, best and unique motorcycle sporting events – the Isle of Man TT Races – starts on 3 June. This year’s event is shaping up to be not just a brilliant racing spectacle, but also a great shop window for some of the best bikes of 2017.
The racing kicks off on Saturday 3 June, and concludes the following Friday, 9 June (see full schedule below). As always, the highlight events are the Superbike and Senior events for full 200bhp superbike variants of the 1000cc sportsbikes you and I can buy for the street. Expect to see likes of Guy Martin, Michael Dunlop and Ian Hutchinson riding BMW’s S1000RR, Kawasaki’s ZX-10R, and Yamaha’s R1 like you’ve never seen before. But what gives these classes extra zing this year, are the debuts of Honda’s brand new CBR1000RR Fireblade (ridden by Guy) and Suzuki’s equally new GSX-R1000R (ridden by Michael). The Superstock race is contested by less modified versions of the same machines, but now on treaded road tyres. The two Supersports events will feature 600cc sports machines such as Yamaha’s new R6, Triumph’s 675 Daytona, Honda’s CBR600RR and Kawasaki’s ZX-6R, while the Lightweight event is for 650cc twins, with most of the field being racers developed from Suzuki’s SV650, or Kawasaki’s ER-6f and Ninja 650. If your taste in racing is a little more obscure, the two Sidecar events and the unique, one-lap TT Zero race – for electric-powered machines – offer something you won’t see anywhere else.
Of course, the TT isn’t just about racing around the famous 37.75-mile roads circuit. Away from the Mountain Course is a whole festival of motorcycling. A street party is held along the seafront promenade of the Island’s capital, Douglas, every night of race week, complete with funfair, and there are live concerts, bike meets, and motorcycle shows across the Isle.
If you’ve already booked a visit, you’re in for a treat. And if you still fancy going, it’s not too late to plan to pop over to The Island. Even if you’re not able to attend, with excellent live racing coverage on Manx Radio, and all the racing highlights televised on ITV4, you can still enjoy much of the TT experience from the comfort of your own home.
2017 Isle of Man TT race schedule
Saturday 3 June
11.00am: RST Superbike Race 2.00pm: Sure Sidecar 1 Race Monday 5 June 10.45am: Monster Energy Supersport 1 Race 2.15pm: RL 360 Quantum Superstock Race Wednesday 7 June 10.45am: Monster Energy Supersport 2 Race 2.15pm: Bennetts Lightweight Race 4.20pm: SES TT Zero Friday 9 June 10.15am: Sure Sidecar 2 Race 12.30pm: PokerStars Senior Race

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