Reportedly the most dangerous sporting event on the planet. The Isle of Man, as a race circuit, has been running annually since 1904. And it’s happening now.
There is regular talk of the race being shut down. It is simply too dangerous. But there is, luckily, enough interest and participation to keep it going…
Many have never heard of the deadliest motorsports race in the world. Many will suggest a different race. Was it the German Grand Prix when it was held on the Nurburgring Nordschleife? Not even close. The Dakar Rally? You’re still way off. The World Rally Championship, particularly the fatality-prone Group B series? Think again.
At most, those races had deaths that were merely in the double digits. But at the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy motorcycle race, a whopping 135 people have been killed during official competition over the past 105 years (237 if you include the amateur Manx Grand Prix).
The Isle of Man is punctuated by incredibly high speeds on a course with over 200 curves…
Current lap records
| Category | Rider(s) | Machine | Year | Time | Average speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outright | Bruce Anstey | BA Honda CBR1000RR | 2014 | 17:06.682 | 132.298 miles per hour (212.913 km/h) |
| Superbike TT | Bruce Anstey | BA Honda CBR1000RR | 2014 | 17:06.682 | 132.298 miles per hour (212.913 km/h) |
| Supersport TT | Michael Dunlop | Honda CBR600RR | 2013 | 17:35.659 | 128.666 miles per hour (207.068 km/h) |
| Lightweight TT (Snaefell) | James Hillier | Kawasaki ER650 | 2013 | 19:00.168 | 119.130 miles per hour (191.721 km/h) |
| Lightweight TT (Billown) | Chris Palmer | Honda | 2009 | 2:29.068 | 102.321 miles per hour (164.670 km/h) |
| Ultra-Lightweight TT (Snaefell) | Chris Palmer | Honda | 2004 | 20:20.87 | 110.52 miles per hour (177.86 km/h) |
| Ultra-Lightweight TT (Billown) | Ian Lougher | Honda | 2009 | 2:39.291 | 94.911 miles per hour (152.744 km/h) |
| Senior TT | Michael Dunlop | BMW S1000RR | 2014 | 17:11.591 | 131.668 miles per hour (211.899 km/h) |
| Superstock TT | Michael Dunlop | Honda CBR1000RR | 2013 | 17:15.114 | 131.220 miles per hour (211.178 km/h) |
| TT Zero | John McGuinness | Mugen Shinden | 2014 | 19:17.300 | 117.366 miles per hour (188.882 km/h) |
| Sidecar TT | Nick Crowe and Daniel Sayle |
LCR Honda 600 Sidecar | 2007 | 19:24.24 | 116.667 miles per hour (187.757 km/h) |
The track is 38 miles in distance… And the racing is insane…
© 2014, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. From a press release issued by Isle of Man TT Press Office:
Lee Johnston (58) in action.
1920 saw the Snaefell Mountain Course extended to its present length of 37.73-miles, with the start-finish just a few metres down the road from the present Grandstand.
The main points on the course at the start of the decade were Bray Hill, Quarter Bridge, Braddan Bridge, Union Mills, Crosby, Ballacraine, Ballig Bridge, Glen Helen, Creg Willies Hill, Kirk Michael, Ballaugh Bridge, Sulby Bridge, Ramsey, Ramsey Hairpin, Gooseneck, East Snaefell gate, Bungalow, Windy Corner, Keppel Gate, Creg-ny-Baa, Hillberry, Cronk-ny-Mona, Signpost Corner and Governor’s Bridge.
The challenge, risk and cost to the riders is extreme…
Listed are fatalities of riders in the World Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing Championship races since its foundation in 1949.
| Rider | Date of accident | Race | Class | Circuit | Bike | During | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Ben Drinkwater (UK) |
June 13, 1949 | 1949 Isle of Man TT | 350 cc | Snaefell Mountain Course | Norton | Race | [1] |
 Edouard Bruylant (BEL) |
July 17, 1949 | 1949 Belgian Grand Prix | Sidecar | Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps | Norton | Race | [2] |
| “Hurst” (GBR) |
July 17, 1949 | 1949 Belgian Grand Prix | Sidecar | Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps | Norton | Race | [2] |
| David Whitworth (GBR) |
July 2, 1950 | 1950 Belgian Grand Prix | 350 cc | Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps | Velocette | Race | [3] |
| John O’Driscoll (GBR) |
May 31, 1951 | 1951 Isle of Man TT | 350 cc | Snaefell Mountain Course | Rudge | Practice | [4] |
| John Wenman (GBR) |
June 4, 1951 | 1951 Isle of Man TT | 350 cc | Snaefell Mountain Course | Norton | Race | [5] |
| Chris Horn (GBR) |
June 8, 1951 | 1951 Isle of Man TT | 500 cc | Snaefell Mountain Course | Norton | Race | [6] |
 Dario Ambrosini (ITA) |
July 14, 1951 | 1951 French Grand Prix | 250 cc | Circuit d’Albi | Benelli | Practice | [7] |
| Sante Geminiani (ITA) |
August 15, 1951 | 1951 Ulster Grand Prix | 250 cc | Clady Circuit | Moto Guzzi | Practice | [7] |
| Gianni Leoni (ITA) |
August 15, 1951 | 1951 Ulster Grand Prix | 250 cc | Clady Circuit | Moto Guzzi | Practice | [7] |
| Dave Bennett (UK) |
May 18, 1952 | 1952 Swiss Grand Prix | 500 cc | Circuit Bremgarten | Norton | Race | [8] |
| Ercole Frigerio (ITA) |
May 18, 1952 | 1952 Swiss Grand Prix | Sidecar | Circuit Bremgarten | Gilera | Race | [8] |
| Frank Fry (UK) |
June 4, 1952 | 1952 Isle of Man TT | 500 cc | Snaefell Mountain Course | Norton | Practice | [8] |
| Norman Stewart (UK) |
August 16, 1952 | 1952 Ulster Grand Prix | 350 cc | Clady Circuit | Norton | Race | [9] |
| Harry Stephen (UK) |
June 8, 1953 | 1953 Isle of Man TT | 350 cc | Snaefell Mountain Course | Norton | Race | [10] |
| Thomas Swarbrick (UK) |
June 8, 1953 | 1953 Isle of Man TT | 350 cc | Snaefell Mountain Course | AJS | Race | [10] |
| Leslie Graham (UK) |
June 12, 1953 | 1953 Isle of Man TT | 500 cc | Snaefell Mountain Course | MV Agusta | Race | [10] |
 Geoffrey Walker (AUS) |
June 12, 1953 | 1953 Isle of Man TT | 500 cc | Snaefell Mountain Course | Norton | Race | [10] |
| Ernie Ring (AUS) |
July 5, 1953 | 1953 Belgian Grand Prix | 500 cc | Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps | AJS | Race | [10] |
| Simon Sandys-Winsch (UK) |
June 18, 1954 | 1954 Isle of Man TT | 500 cc | Snaefell Mountain Course | Velocette | Race | [11] |
| Gordon Laing (UK) |
July 4, 1954 | 1954 Belgian Grand Prix | 350 cc | Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps | Norton | Race | [12] |
| Dennis Lashmar (UK) |
July 25, 1954 | 1954 German Grand Prix | 500 cc | Solitudering | BSA | Race | [13] |
 Rupert Hollaus (AUT) |
September 11, 1954 | 1954 Nations Grand Prix | 125 cc | Autodromo Nazionale Monza | NSU | Practice | [14] |
 Ricardo Galvagni (ARG) |
June 25, 1955 | 1955 German Grand Prix | 500 cc | Nürburgring | Norton | Practice | [15] |
| Julian Crossley (UK) |
August 11, 1955 | 1955 Ulster Grand Prix | 350 cc | Dundrod Circuit | Norton | Race | [15] |
 Derek Ennett (IOM) |
August 9, 1956 | 1956 Ulster Grand Prix | 350 cc | Dundrod Circuit | Moto Guzzi | Race | [16] |
| Charlie Salt (UK) |
June 7, 1957 | 1957 Isle of Man TT | 500 cc | Snaefell Mountain Course | BSA | Race | [17] |
 Josef Knebel (GER) |
June 28, 1957 | 1957 Dutch TT | Sidecar | TT Circuit Assen | BMW | Practice | [18] |
| Roberto Colombo (ITA) |
July 6, 1957 | 1957 Belgian Grand Prix | 350 cc | Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps | MV Agusta | Practice | [19] |
 John Antram (NZ) |
May 26, 1958 | 1958 Isle of Man TT | Snaefell Mountain Course | AJS | Practice | [20] | |
 Des Wolff (RHO) |
June 6, 1958 | 1958 Isle of Man TT | 500 cc | Snaefell Mountain Course | Norton | Race | [21] |
| Adolfo Covi (ITA) |
September 6, 1959 | 1959 Nations Grand Prix | 500 cc | Autodromo Nazionale Monza | Norton | Race | [22] |
| Peter Ferbrache (UK) |
June 25, 1960 | 1960 Dutch TT | 350 cc | TT Circuit Assen | AJS | Race | [23] |
| Bob Brown (AUS) |
July 24, 1960 | 1960 German Grand Prix | 250 cc | Solitudering | Honda | Practice | [23] |
| Mike Brookes (UK) |
June 10, 1961 | 1961 Isle of Man TT | 500 cc | Snaefell Mountain Course | Norton | Practice | [24] |
 Marie Lambert (CH) |
June 12, 1961 | 1961 Isle of Man TT | Sidecar | Snaefell Mountain Course | BMW | Race | [25] |
| Ralph Rensen (UK) |
June 16, 1961 | 1961 Isle of Man TT | 500 cc | Snaefell Mountain Course | Norton | Race | [26] |
| Ron Miles (AUS) |
August 9, 1961 | 1961 Ulster Grand Prix | 350 cc | Dundrod Circuit | Norton | Practice | [27] |
| Tom Phillis (AUS) |
June 6, 1962 | 1962 Isle of Man TT | 350 cc | Snaefell Mountain Course | Honda | Race | [28] |
| Colin Meehan (NZ) |
June 6, 1962 | 1962 Isle of Man TT | 350 cc | Snaefell Mountain Course | AJS | Race | [28] |
 Hans Schuld (NED) |
June 29, 1962 | 1962 Dutch TT | 250 cc | TT Circuit Assen | NSU | Practice | [29] |
 Marcelin Herranz (FRA) |
June 1, 1963 | 1963 French Grand Prix | 250 cc | Charade Circuit | Moto Morini | Practice | [30] |
| Brian Cockrell (UK) |
June 2, 1964 | 1964 Isle of Man TT | Sidecar | Snaefell Mountain Course | Norton | Practice | [31] |
| Peter Essery (UK) |
June 8, 1964 | 1964 Isle of Man TT | Sidecar | Snaefell Mountain Course | Matchless | Race | [32] |
| Roland Föll (GER) |
June 26, 1964 | 1964 Dutch TT | 125 cc | TT Circuit Assen | Honda | Practice | [33] |
| Karl Recktenwald (GER) |
July 19, 1964 | 1964 German Grand Prix | 500 cc | Solitudering | Norton | Race | [34] |
| Vernon Cottle (UK) |
August 29, 1964 | 1964 Finnish Grand Prix | 350 cc | Imatra Circuit | AJS | Race | [35] |
| Norman Huntingford (UK) |
June 25, 1966 | 1966 Dutch TT | Sidecar | TT Circuit Assen | Matchless | Race | [36] |
 Toshi Fujii (JPN) |
August 26, 1966 | 1966 Isle of Man TT | 125 cc | Snaefell Mountain Course | Kawasaki | Practice | [37] |
| Brian Duffy (UK) |
August 28, 1966 | 1966 Isle of Man TT | 250 cc | Snaefell Mountain Course | Yamaha | Race | [38] |
| Alfred Shaw (UK) |
June 10, 1967 | 1967 Isle of Man TT | 500 cc | Snaefell Mountain Course | Norton | Practice | [39] |
 Werner Daubitz (DDR) |
July 16, 1967 | 1967 East German Grand Prix | Sachsenring | MZ | Practice | [40] | |
| Ian Veitch (NZ) |
June 10, 1968 | 1968 Isle of Man TT | 250 cc | Snaefell Mountain Course | Kawasaki | Race | [41] |
| Johann Attenberger (GER) |
July 7, 1968 | 1968 Belgian Grand Prix | Sidecar | Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps | BMW | Race | [42] |
| Josef Schillinger (GER) |
July 7, 1968 | 1968 Belgian Grand Prix | Sidecar | Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps | BMW | Race | [42] |
| Rolf Schmid (GER) |
October 13, 1968 | 1968 Hockenheim Grand Prix [N 1] | Sidecar | Hockenheimring | BMW | Race | [44] |
| Arthur Lavington (UK) |
June 6, 1969 | 1969 Isle of Man TT | 350 cc | Snaefell Mountain Course | Velocette | Practice | [45] |
| Bill Ivy (UK) |
July 12, 1969 | 1969 East German Grand Prix | 350 cc | Sachsenring | Jawa | Practice | [46] |
 František Boček (CSK) |
July 20, 1969 | 1969 Czechoslovakian Grand Prix | 350 cc | Brno Circuit | Jawa | Race | [47] |
| Robin Fitton (UK) |
May 2, 1970 | 1970 German Grand Prix | 350 cc | Nürburgring | Norton | Practice | [48] |
| Les Iles (UK) |
June 1, 1970 | 1970 Isle of Man TT | 125 cc | Snaefell Mountain Course | Bultaco | Practice | [49] |
| Michael Collins (UK) |
June 3, 1970 | 1970 Isle of Man TT | 500 cc | Snaefell Mountain Course | Seeley | Practice | [50] |
| Dennis Blower (UK) |
June 3, 1970 | 1970 Isle of Man TT | Sidecar | Snaefell Mountain Course | BSA | Practice | [51] |
 Santiago Herrero (ESP) |
June 8, 1970 | 1970 Isle of Man TT | 250 cc | Snaefell Mountain Course | Ossa | Race | [52] |
 John Wetherall (MLT) |
June 12, 1970 | 1970 Isle of Man TT | 500 cc | Snaefell Mountain Course | Norton | Race | [53] |
| Brian Steenson (UK) |
June 12, 1970 | 1970 Isle of Man TT | 500 cc | Snaefell Mountain Course | Seeley | Race | [54] |
| Maurice Jeffery (UK) |
June 12, 1971 | 1971 Isle of Man TT | 500 cc | Snaefell Mountain Course | Norton | Race | [55] |
| Christian Ravel (FRA) |
July 4, 1971 | 1971 Belgian Grand Prix | 500 cc | Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps | Kawasaki | Race | [56] |
| Günter Bartusch (DDR) |
July 8, 1971 | 1971 East German Grand Prix | 350 cc | Sachsenring | MZ | Practice | [57] |
| Gilberto Parlotti (ITA) |
June 9, 1972 | 1972 Isle of Man TT | 125 cc | Snaefell Mountain Course | Morbidelli | Race | [58] |
| Hans-Jürgen Cusnik (GER) |
July 16, 1972 | 1972 Czechoslovakian Grand Prix | Sidecar | Brno Circuit | BMW | Race | [59] |
| Renzo Pasolini (ITA) |
May 20, 1973 | 1973 Nations Grand Prix | 250 cc | Autodromo Nazionale Monza | Harley-Davidson | Race | [60] |
 Jarno Saarinen (FIN) |
May 20, 1973 | 1973 Nations Grand Prix | 250 cc | Autodromo Nazionale Monza | Yamaha | Race | [60] |
| Billie Nelson (UK) |
September 8, 1974 | 1974 Yugoslavian Grand Prix | 250 cc | Opatija Circuit | Yamaha | Race | [61] |
| Phil Gurner (UK) |
June 4, 1975 | 1975 Isle of Man TT | 500 cc | Snaefell Mountain Course | Yamaha | Race | [62] |
| Rolf Thiele (GER) |
June 28, 1975 | 1975 Dutch TT | 250 cc | TT Circuit Assen | Yamaha | Race | [63] |
| Paolo Tordi (ITA) |
May 16, 1976 | 1976 Nations Grand Prix | 350 cc | Mugello Circuit | Yamaha | Race | [64] |
| Otello Buscherini (ITA) |
May 16, 1976 | 1976 Nations Grand Prix | 250 cc | Mugello Circuit | Yamaha | Race | [65] |
| Walter Wörner (GER) |
June 7, 1976 | 1976 Isle of Man TT | Sidecar | Snaefell Mountain Course | Yamaha | Race | [66] |
| Les Kenny (AUS) |
June 12, 1976 | 1976 Isle of Man TT | 250 cc | Snaefell Mountain Course | Yamaha | Race | [67] |
| Hans Stadelmann (CH) |
May 1, 1977 | 1977 Austrian Grand Prix | 350 cc | Salzburgring | Yamaha | Race | [68] |
| Giovanni Ziggiotto (ITA) |
June 18, 1977 | 1977 Yugoslavian Grand Prix | 250 cc | Opatija Circuit | Yamaha | Practice | [69] |
| Ulrich Graf (CH) |
June 19, 1977 | 1977 Yugoslavian Grand Prix | 50 cc | Opatija Circuit | Kreidler | Race | [70] |
| Patrick Pons (FRA) |
August 10, 1980 | 1980 British Grand Prix | 500 cc | Silverstone Circuit | Yamaha | Race | [71] |
| Malcolm White (UK) |
August 10, 1980 | 1980 British Grand Prix | Sidecar | Silverstone Circuit | Race | [72] | |
| Michel Rougerie (FRA) |
May 31, 1981 | 1981 Yugoslavian Grand Prix | 350 cc | Automotodrom Grobnik | Chevallier | Race | [73] |
| Sauro Pazzaglia (ITA) |
July 11, 1981 | 1981 San Marino Grand Prix | 250 cc | Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari | MBA | Practice | [74] |
| Alain Béraud (FRA) |
August 30, 1981 | 1981 Czechoslovakian Grand Prix | 250 cc | Brno Circuit | Yamaha | Race | [75] |
| Jock Taylor (UK) |
August 15, 1982 | 1982 Finnish Grand Prix | Sidecar | Imatra Circuit | Windle | Race | [76] |
| Iwao Ishikawa (JPN) |
March 29, 1983 | 1983 French Grand Prix | 500 cc | Bugatti Circuit | Suzuki | Practice | [77] |
| Michel Frutschi (CH) |
April 3, 1983 | 1983 French Grand Prix | 500 cc | Bugatti Circuit | Honda | Race | [77] |
| Rolf Rüttimann (CH) |
June 12, 1983 | 1983 Yugoslavian Grand Prix | 125 cc | Automotodrom Grobnik | Race | [78] | |
| Norman Brown (UK) |
July 31, 1983 | 1983 British Grand Prix | 500 cc | Silverstone Circuit | Suzuki | Race | [79] |
| Peter Huber (CH) |
July 31, 1983 | 1983 British Grand Prix | 500 cc | Silverstone Circuit | Suzuki | Race | [79] |
| Kevin Wrettom (UK) |
July 7, 1984 | 1984 Belgian Grand Prix | 500 cc | Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps | Suzuki | Practice | [80] |
| Alfred Heck (GER) |
July 21, 1988 | 1988 French Grand Prix | Sidecar | Circuit Paul Ricard | LCR | Practice | [81] |
 Iván Palazzese (VEN) |
May 28, 1989 | 1989 German Grand Prix | 250 cc | Hockenheimring | Aprilia | Race | [82] |
| Nobuyuki Wakai (JPN) |
May 1, 1993 | 1993 Spanish Grand Prix | 250 cc | Circuito de Jerez | Suzuki | Practice | [83] |
| Simon Prior (UK) |
June 12, 1994 | 1994 German Grand Prix | Sidecar | Hockenheimring | LCR | Race | [84][85] |
| Daijiro Kato (JPN) |
April 6, 2003 | 2003 Japanese Grand Prix | MotoGP | Suzuka Circuit | Honda | Race | [86] |
98 riders’ deaths on the track in 65 years.
What a legacy. What a challenge. What a race!
The Isle of man TT, 2014… happening now.
The Native Iowan 
Reblogged this on The Native Iowan and commented:
2015… Isle of Man is sizzl’n hot… can you say FFFFASSSSTTTTT….
By: nativeiowan on June 3, 2015
at 10:49 am