As the Isle of Man TT approaches, road racing enthusiasts are abuzz with excitement. The iconic event, which takes place on the 37.75-mile TT course, has a rich history of record-breaking performances. In this article, we’ll delve into the current lap records for each class at the Isle of Man TT, road racing news that’s sure to get your engine revving.
Outright Lap Record
The outright lap record, set by Peter Hickman in 2018, stands at an incredible 135.452mph average lap speed. Hickman achieved this feat on a BMW S1000RR, posting a total lap time of 16m42.778s. Interestingly, Hickman set a new lap record not once, but twice in the 2018 Senior TT, with a 134.456mph effort on lap four of the six-lap contest.
Supersport Class
In the Supersport class, Michael Dunlop holds the fastest lap record with an average speed of 129.197mph on a 600cc Honda in 2018. This impressive pace is merely a whisper shy of the outright best laps on Superbikes, which have been exceeding 130mph since 2007, courtesy of TT legend John McGuinness.
Superstock Class
The Superstock class has seen significant performance gains over the years, with Peter Hickman setting the current lap record at 134.403mph on a Smiths Racing-prepared BMW S1000RR in 2018.
Supertwins Class
In the Supertwins class, Michael Dunlop holds the current lap record at 122.750mph on a 650cc Paton, set in 2018. In practice for the 2023 TT, Dunlop posted an unofficial new lap record at 123.474mph, a promising sign for this year’s competition.
Sidecar Class
The Sidecar class has seen the Birchall brothers, Ben and Tom, dominate the proceedings, holding the lap record at 119.250mph, set in 2018. During practice for the 2023 TT, the brothers bettered this with a 119.414mph lap, hinting at an exciting battle to come.
Fastest Newcomer
Glenn Irwin, who made his TT debut in 2022, set the record for the fastest newcomer at 129.85mph, eclipsing Peter Hickman’s 129.104mph lap in 2014. Unfortunately, Irwin will not be participating in the 2023 TT.
Fastest Female Rider
The fastest female rider at the TT is Jenny Tinmouth, who posted a 119.945mph lap in 2010 on a Honda CBR1000RR. With no female competitors in the solo classes this year, this record won’t be beaten in 2023.
Electric Lap Record
The electric lap record at the TT stands at 121.824mph, set by Michael Rutter in 2018 on a Mugen. Although the Zero TT for electric bikes was dropped from the schedule in 2022 due to a lack of entries, organisers are still evaluating its future.
With these records in mind, the 2023 Isle of Man TT is shaping up to be an electrifying event, filled with thrilling performances and potentially record-breaking feats. As road racing news continues to unfold, one thing is certain – the Isle of Man TT remains the pinnacle of road racing events. (Source: Isle of Man TT, 2023)
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