THE historic event dubbed by many as the ‘world’s most dangerous race’ is approaching the finish line after Michael Dunlop became the most successful rider EVER earlier this week.
The Northern Irishman had been chasing his uncle Joey’s record for years but finally cracked it in 2024, winning the Supertwin TT to make it win No 27.
His uncle Joey – after whom the Joey Dunlop Cup is named – had held the previous record for 25 years.
Hundreds of people have died in the race’s history as motorbikes thunder around winding country lanes at 120mph.
It was part of the Motorcycle Grand Prix World Championship – now MotoGP – for 27 years before being scrapped due to safety concerns and continues to face consistent calls that it should be scrapped.
It can only be the Isle of Man TT, which returned on Saturday, June 1.
The annual racing event had its first race in 1907 and has been held on the Isle of Man almost every year since.
The event consists of a number of time trial races on public roads that are closed over a two week period – the first week for practice and qualifying and the second for racing.
There are currently six classes of races – the Senior TT, Supersport TT, Superbike TT, Superstock TT, Supertwin TT and Sidecar TT.
The Senior TT is the showpiece event and has run continuously since 1909.
The Isle of Man TT is open to all riders from any country as long they have a valid National Entrants or FIM Sponsors Licence for Road Racing, plus a driver’s licence.
The event has only been cancelled because of World War I (1915-1919) and World War II (1940-1946) and just three times since 1947 – because of the foot and mouth outbreak in 2001 and in 2020 and 2021 because of Covid-19.
The ‘TT’ in Isle of Man TT actually stands for Tourist Trophy rather than Time Trial, as many believe.
Race Day 1 – Saturday, June 1
Race Day 2 – Sunday, June 2
Race Day 3 – Tuesday, June 4
Race Day 3 – Wednesday, June 5
Race Day 4 – Thursday, June 6
Race Day 5 – Friday, June 7
Race Day 6 – Saturday, June 8
The 2024 Isle of Man TT is not being broadcast on live TV.
Instead, those who want to watch the race as it happens need to purchase the TT+ Live Pass, which costs £19.99 to cover the qualification and all races.
The TT+ Live Pass can then be streamed through a TV, smartphone, laptop or tablet and also includes analysis, interviews and other features.
ITV4 will have a nightly highlights show at 9pm from Friday, May 31 until the final race day on June 8.
The six races of the Isle of Man TT have a combined pot of £243,400 – the Senior TT race is the most lucrative of the annual event, with a total prize pot of £84,500 and £25,000 going to the winner.
The Superbike TT race has a shared prize pot of £62,000, while the Supersport TT offers a combined prize pot of £30,400.
Both the Superstock TT and Sidecar TT earns riders a share of £23,500, while the Supertwin TT will offer a total pot of £19,500.
The full Isle of Man TT prize money breakdown can be found here.
Joey Dunlop had been the overall race leader with 26 wins to his name at the event – with his last one coming in 2000.
Dunlop, who died aged 48 after crashing during a race in Estonia, has a statue on the island and the Joey Dunlop Cup is awarded to the most successful rider at the event each year.
Dunlop was voted as Northern Ireland’s greatest-ever sports star in 2015 and his funeral was attended by more than 50,000.
But the great man has now been caught and overtaken by nephew, Michael Dunlop, who entered the event with 25 wins before winning the first race of 2024 to equal Joey’s record.
The 35-year-old star then added another win – having won four races in 2023 – to take the overall record.
After his record-breaking win, the younger Dunlop said: “I’m no better than Joey, I never was, and I’ve got no intentions of being better than him, but everyone has always aspired to beat him.
“It’s an honour.”
The Isle of Man TT is known as one of the most dangerous event in sport for good reason.
Riders race around public roads at 120mph, surrounded by brick walls, telephone polls and houses.
Since 1937, the only year in which there has NOT been a fatality is 1982.
A total of 280 people – riders, officials and fans – have died, with 156 of those riders during the actual Isle of Man TT.
Extend that to the Manx Grand Prix, usually held in August, the total reaches 269.
Another ten officials have died, the most recent in 2006, while six spectators have also died, including two in 2007.
Three people died last year (one in the main TT and two in the Manx Grand Prix), while 2022 was the joint-deadliest year ever.
Six riders died that year, the same as in 1970.
