Check out Mark Neale’s new movie documentary Charge, chronicling the world’s first ever electric motorcycle race, the TTXGP, that took place at the 2009 Isle of Man’s Tourist Trophy. Neale is the director behind Faster which traces the story of the move from two-stroke 500cc GP racing to four-stroke bikes and the MotoGP.

Ewan McGregor gets to narrate, and the above trailer promises a fabulous movie. We get some high speed, on-board racing (Oh my God!!), the story of MotoCzysz and a great quote from Valentino Rossi: “There’s just one gear?” Check it out in the video trailer.

Source | Asphalt and Rubber

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Honda is celebrating 50 years of racing history with a dedicated site including historic photographs and footage, and its initial 1954-1958 declaration to participate in the legendary Tourist Trophy on the Isle of Man.

These pics are from Honda’s campaign at Sao Paulo in 1954 to prepare itself for its TT debut. It was the 1959 TT race, however, that marked the first entry from a Japanese team in a World GP series race. The racing scene at the time was very European-dominated, but Honda entered four 125cc motorbikes in the event, and won 6th, 7th, 8th and 11th places.

This remarkable achievement was further marked by Honda being awarded the Manufacturer’s Trophy for the event. The rest, we could say, is history. See the Honda MotoGP history site for more photos and the 1954 declaration from then Honda President, Soichiro Honda.

Source | London Bikers

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As Marc Potter from MCN, who rode alongside Valentino Rossi and Giacomo Agostini during the parade lap and was with the Italian duo while they were watching the Dainese Superbike race reported what Valentino Rossi said, or what I imagine anyone would say, who was taking in for the first time in their life the Tourist Trophy and watching John McGuinness go by at 180mph: “’Fack!”

Rossi rode a specially painted 2009 Yamaha R1 alongside Giacamo Agostini who was on a MV Agusta and followed the TT marshals and “Ago” showed Rossi where he won 10 TT Trophys out of the sixteen times he competed in the races when they were part of the official Gran Prix championship.

Continue reading: Valentino Rossi and Giacomo Agostini at 2009 TT

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John McGuinness won a record breaking 2009 Dainese Superbike TT yesterday and celebrated his 15th career TT win on the Isle of Man.

McGuiness did three laps of the six, averaging more than 130mph, setting a new lap record of 130.442mph on his second lap and also setting a new race record of 1h 46m 7.161s and winning 18.11 seconds clear of HM Plant Honda team-mate Steve Plater and almost 34 seconds ahead of third place Guy Martin.

The winner’s garland was presented to McGuinness by reigning MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi.

Source | iomtt

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Valentino Rossi’s appearance at 2009 Isle of Man TT has been postponed until Monday June 8 due to poor weather forecasts.

The 8 times World Champion was due to complete a parade lap of the 37.73 mile (60.7 km) road circuit with Grand Prix and TT legend Giacomo Agostini this morning ahead of the Dainese Superbike TT race.

Vittorio Cafaggi, Communications Director, Dainese commented:

“Valentino is very much looking forward to visiting the Isle of Man and is keen to experience the races which is why we have rescheduled his trip to make sure that he is able to enjoy a lap of the course and be certain of a full day’s racing.”

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Here are the first shots of the qualifying rounds of the 2009 Tourist Trophy on the Isle of Man. The famous road race kicks off tomorrow when we’ll see the superbikes and the sidecars competing.

Source | IoM Tourist Trophy

Continue reading: Tourist Trophy 2009 pics from qualifying round

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The greatest road race festival in the world, the Tourist Trophy will be roaring back into life from Saturday May 30th until Friday June 12th, and you can check out their 2009 promo video.

MotoGP star Valentino Rossi will present at the Isle of Man on June 6th, and will do a parade lap before the Dainese Superbike race on a Yamaha R1 together with Grand Prix legend Giacomo Agostini who raced and won 10 TT races when the course was part of the World Championship series.

Bradley Smith, the English 125cc rider who won his first race at Jerez this year, will also be visting the famed Isle for the Dainese Superbike event and will be presenting prizes after the race.

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If you’ve got any doubts about what it actually means to ride the Tourist Trophy on the Isle of Man, check out this footage from 2006 and 2007. The tip comes from reader Antosette, and it’s real heart-in-your-mouth riding around what appears to be a normally quiet and laid back location.

Despite that impression mostly from the architecture and landscape, the riding is anything but laid-back; this is serious stuff (apart from the fun relay at the end which gives a laugh).

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