Senior TT explained

The Senior Tourist Trophy is a motorcycle road race that takes place during the Isle of Man TT festival, an annual event traditionally held over the last week in May and the first week in June. The Senior TT is the blue ribbon event of the festival that takes place on the Saturday of race week, with "The Marquis de Mouzilly St. Mars trophy" awarded to the winner.

The event was part of the FIM Motorcycle Grand Prix World Championship from 1949 to 1976, before being transferred to the United Kingdom after safety concerns, becoming the British Grand Prix under the FIM from the 1977 GP season.[1]

Until 2012, the Senior TT had never been cancelled except during the two World Wars and during travel restrictions associated with the animal foot and mouth outbreak in 2001. However, during the 2012 TT Races, with inclement weather on the day prior to its traditional Friday race day (8 June), the decision was taken to postpone racing until the following day, Saturday, 9 June. Consequently, a course inspection was made, and following a meeting between riders and officials, the decision was made to cancel the running of the Senior race for safety reasons.[2] The races were cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Engine capacity

The 1911 TT races was the first time the Senior TT race took place and was open to 500 cc single-cylinder and 585 cc twin-cylinder motorcycles. It was won by Oliver Godfrey riding an Indian, at an average speed of 47.63 mph over five laps of the Snaefell Mountain Course that was in use for the first time that year.[3] The 1912 event was the first to limit the Senior TT to 500 cc machines and this engine capacity prevailed until 1984.

The engine capacity was modified from the traditional (up to) 500 cc for two-strokes and is now (up to) 1,000 cc for four-strokes, although 1,000 cc machines were permitted in 1985 and 1986, 1,300 cc in 1987, 1988 and 1989, and 750 cc in 1990–1998.

Eligibility

Entrants

Machines

The 2012 specification for entries into the Senior TT race are defined as:

Official qualification time

Speed and lap records

The lap record for the Senior TT class is 16 minutes and 42.778 seconds at an average speed of 135.452mph set by Peter Hickman during the 2018 Senior TT Race. The race record is also held by Hickman in 1 hour, 43 minutes and 08.065 seconds; an average race speed of 131.7mi/h achieved during the same six-lap race.[6]

The longest race distance for a FIM Motorcycle Grand Prix World Championship event was the 500 cc 1957 TT race, over eight laps (302.00 Miles), won by Bob McIntyre riding a 500cc Gilera, in 3 hours, 2 minutes and 57.0 seconds at an average race speed of 98.99 mph.

List of Senior TT podiums

[7]

Winner Second Third
Rider Machine Speed Rider !Machine Speed Rider !Machine Speed
1911 Oliver GodfreyIndian47.63 mph Charles B FranklinIndian?? mph A J MoorhouseIndian?? mph
1912 Frank A. ApplebeeScott48.69 mph J R HaswellTriumph?? mph Harry A CollierMatchless?? mph
1913 Tim WoodScott48.28 mph A R AbbottRudge?? mph A H AlexanderIndian?? mph
1914 Cyril PullinRudge49.49 mph Oliver GodfreyIndian?? mph Howard R DaviesSunbeam?? mph
1915-1919Not held
1920 Tommy de la HaySunbeam51.79 mph Doug M BrownNorton?? mph W R BrownSunbeam?? mph
1921 Howard R. DaviesAJS54.49 mph Freddie DixonIndian54.02  mph Bert le VackIndian53.91 mph
1922 Alec BennettSunbeam58.31 mph Walter BrandishTriumph?? mph Harry LangmanScott?? mph
1923 Tom SheardDouglas55.55 mph G M BlackNorton55.14 mph Freddie DixonIndian55.01 mph
1924 Alec BennettNorton61.64 mph Harry LangmanScott61.23 mph Freddie DixonDouglas60.17 mph
1925 Howard R. DaviesHRD66.13 mph Frank A LongmanAJS64.95 mph Alec BennettNorton64.05 mph
1926 Stanley WoodsNorton67.54 mph Wal HandleyRex-Acme66.31 mph Frank A LongmanAJS66.03 mph
1927 Alec BennettNorton68.41 mph Jimmie GuthrieNew Hudson66.02 mph Tom SimisterTriumph65.75 mph
1928 Charlie DodsonSunbeam62.98 mph George RowleyAJS61.27 mph Tommy L HatchScott60.89 mph
1929 Charlie DodsonSunbeam72.05 mph Alec BennettSunbeam70.51 mph Henry Tyrell-SmithRudge70.25 mph
1930 Wal HandleyRudge74.24 mph Graham WalkerRudge73.1 mph Jimmy H SimpsonNorton73.7 mph
1931 Tim HuntNorton77.90 mph Jimmie GuthrieNorton77.34  mph Stanley WoodsNorton76.35 mph
1932 Stanley WoodsNorton79.38 mph Jimmie GuthrieNorton78.47 mph Jimmy H SimpsonNorton78.38 mph
1933 Stanley WoodsNorton81.04 mph Jimmy H SimpsonNorton80.41 mph Tim HuntNorton80.16 mph
1934 Jimmie GuthrieNorton78.01 mph Jimmy H SimpsonNorton75.27 mph Walter F RuskVelocette73.27 mph
1935 Stanley WoodsMoto Guzzi84.68 mph Jimmie GuthrieNorton84.65 mph Walter F RuskNorton83.53 mph
1936 Jimmie GuthrieNorton85.80 mph Stanley WoodsVelocette85.66 mph Freddie FrithNorton84.49 mph
1937 Freddie FrithNorton88.21 mph Stanley WoodsVelocette88.09 mph John H WhiteNorton83.97 mph
1938 Harold DaniellNorton89.11 mph Stanley WoodsVelocette88.99 mph Freddie FrithNorton88.98 mph
1939 Georg MeierBMW89.38 mph Jock WestBMW88.22 mph Freddie FrithNorton87.96 mph
1940-1946Not held
1947 Harold DaniellNorton82.813 mph Artie BellNorton82.656 mph Peter GoodmanVelocette82.463 mph
1948 Artie BellNorton84.969 mph Bill DoranNorton80.338 mph Jock A WeddellNorton79.564 mph
1949 Harold DaniellNorton86.93 mph Johnny LockettNorton86.19 mph Ernie LyonsVelocette85.5 mph
1950 Geoff DukeNorton92.27 mph Artie BellNorton90.86 mph Johnny LockettNorton90.37 mph
1951 Geoff DukeNorton93.83 mph Bill DoranAJS91.44 mph Cromie McCandlessNorton90.33 mph
1952 Reg ArmstrongNorton92.97 mph Leslie_GrahamMV Agusta92.72 mph Ray AmmNorton92.4 mph
1953 Ray AmmNorton93.85 mph Jack BrettNorton93.74 mph Reg ArmstrongGilera93.62 mph
1954 Ray AmmNorton88.12 mph Geoff DukeGilera87.19 mph Jack BrettNorton86.04 mph
1955 Geoff DukeGilera97.93 mph Reg ArmstrongGilera96.74 mph Ken KavanaghGuzzi95.16 mph
1956 John SurteesMV Agusta96.57 mph John HartleNorton95.69 mph Jack BrettNorton94.96 mph
1957 Bob McIntyreGilera98.99 mph John SurteesMV Agusta97.86 mph Bob BrownGilera95.81 mph
1958 John SurteesMV Agusta98.63 mph Bob AndersonNorton95.4 mph Bob BrownNorton95.25 mph
1959 John SurteesMV Agusta87.94 mph Alistair KingNorton85.5 mph Bob BrownNorton83.0 mph
1960 John SurteesMV Agusta102.44 mph John HartleMV Agusta100.44 mph Mike HailwoodNorton98.29 mph
1961 Mike HailwoodNorton100.61 mph Bob McIntyreNorton99.2 mph Tom_PhillisNorton98.78 mph
1962 Gary HockingMV Agusta103.51 mph Ellis BoyceNorton96.27 mph Fred StevensNorton96.24 mph
1963 Mike HailwoodMV Agusta104.64 mph John HartleGilera103.67 mph Phil ReadGilera100.1 mph
1964 Mike HailwoodMV Agusta100.95 mph Derek MinterNorton98.47 mph Fred StevensMatchless96.4 mph
1965 Mike HailwoodMV Agusta91.69 mph Joe Dunphy Norton90.28 mphMatchless88.09 mph
1966 Mike HailwoodHonda103.11 mph Giacomo AgostiniMV Agusta101.09 mph Chris ConnNorton95.37 mph
1967 Mike HailwoodHonda105.62 mph Peter WilliamsMatchless99.64 mph Steve SpencerNorton98.59 mph
1968 Giacomo AgostiniMV Agusta101.63 mph Brian BallSeeley95.57 mph Barry RandleNorton95.58 mph
1969 Giacomo AgostiniMV Agusta104.75 mph Alan BarnettMetisse98.28 mph Tom DickieSeeley97.92 mph
1970 Giacomo AgostiniMV Agusta101.52 mph Peter WilliamsMatchless97.76 mph Bill SmithKawasaki96.26 mph
1971 Giacomo AgostiniMV Agusta102.59 mph Peter WilliamsMatchless98.4 mph Frank PerrisSuzuki96.51 mph
1972 Giacomo AgostiniMV Agusta104.02 mph Alberto PaganiMV Agusta98.13 mph Mick GrantKawasaki97.03 mph
1973 Jack FindlaySuzuki101.55 mph Peter WilliamsMatchless100.62 mph Charlie SanbySuzuki100.27 mph
1974 Phil CarpenterYamaha96.99 mph Charlie WilliamsYamaha96.31 mphYamaha94.35 mph
1975 Mick GrantKawasaki100.27 mph John G. WilliamsYamaha99.88 mph Chas MortimerYamaha98.15 mph
1976 Tom HerronYamaha105.15 mph Ian Richards Yamaha105.11 mph Billy Guthrie Yamaha104.84 mph
1977 Phil ReadSuzuki106.97 mph Tom HerronYamaha105.67 mph Eddie RobertsYamaha104.24 mph
1978 Tom HerronSuzuki111.74 mph Billy GuthrieSuzuki107.72 mph Chas MortimerYamaha107.11 mph
1979 Mike HailwoodSuzuki111.75 mphSuzuki109.84 mph Dennis IrelandSuzuki109.43 mph
1980 Graeme CrosbySuzuki109.65 mph Steve CullSuzuki108.87 mph Steve Ward Suzuki108.58 mph
1981 Mick GrantSuzuki106.14 mph Donny RobinsonYamaha104.05 mph John NewboldSuzuki103.77 mph
1982 Norman BrownSuzuki110.98 mph Jon EkeroldSuzuki110.85 mph Dennis IrelandSuzuki109.25 mph
1983 Rob McElneaSuzuki114.81 mph Con LawSuzuki112.97 mph Joey DunlopHonda112.77 mph
1984 Rob McElneaSuzuki115.66 mph Roger MarshallHonda112.65 mph Trevor NationSuzuki112.05 mph
1985 Joey DunlopHonda113.69 mph Roger MarshallHonda113.43 mph Mark JohnsSuzuki111.31 mph
1986 Roger BurnettHonda113.98 mph Geoff JohnsonHonda112.91 mph Barry WoodlandSuzuki112.47 mph
1987 Joey DunlopHonda99.85 mph Geoff JohnsonYamaha98.79 mph Roger MarshallSuzuki97.9 mph
1988 Joey DunlopHonda117.38 mph Steve HislopYamaha116.53 mph Geoff JohnsonSuzuki115.84 mph
1989 Steve HislopHonda118.23 mph Nick JefferiesYamaha117.58 mph Graeme McGregorHonda116.38 mph
1990 Carl FogartyHonda110.95 mph Trevor NationNorton109.76 mph Dave LeachYamaha109.61 mph
1991 Steve HislopHonda121.09 mphHonda119.66 mph Phillip McCallenHonda118.35 mph
1992 Steve HislopNorton121.28 mph Carl FogartyYamaha121.2 mph Robert DunlopNorton119.1 mph
1993 Phillip McCallenHonda118.32 mphHonda117.55 mph Steve WardHonda116.31 mph
1994 Steve HislopHonda119.25 mph McCallen, PhillipHonda117.96 mph Joey DunlopHonda116.75 mph
1995 Joey DunlopHonda119.11 mph Iain DuffusDucati118.53 mph Steve WardHonda118.25 mph
1996 Phillip McCallenHonda119.76 mph Joey DunlopHonda118.5 mph Nick JefferiesHonda118.47 mph
1997 Phillip McCallenHonda119.45 mph Jim MoodieHonda119.4  mph Ian SimpsonHonda118.62 mph
1998 Ian SimpsonHonda119.79 mph Bob JacksonKawasaki119.72 mph James CourtneyHonda119.19 mph
1999 David JefferiesYamaha121.27 mph Iain DuffusYamaha120.44 mph Ian LougherHonda120.42 mph
2000 David JefferiesYamaha121.95 mph Michael RutterYamaha121.21 mph Joey DunlopHonda120.66 mph
2001Cancelled due to foot-and-mouth outbreak
2002 David JefferiesSuzuki124.74 mph Ian LougherSuzuki124.32 mph John McGuinnessHonda123.45 mph
2003 Adrian ArchibaldSuzuki124.53 mph John McGuinnessDucati123.93 mph Ian LougherHonda123.21 mph
2004 Adrian ArchibaldSuzuki123.81 mph Bruce AnsteySuzuki122.96 mph Gary CarswellSuzuki120.64 mph
2005 John McGuinnessYamaha124.324 mph Ian LougherHonda123.67 mph Guy MartinHonda123.32 mph
2006 John McGuinnessHonda126.178 mph Donald CameronHonda125.68 mph Bruce AnsteySuzuki125.59 mph
2007 John McGuinnessHonda127.255 mph Guy MartinHonda126.6 mphHonda125.67 mph
2008 John McGuinnessHonda127.186 mph Donald CameronSuzuki126.18 mph Ian HutchinsonYamaha125.19 mph
2009 Steve PlaterHonda128.278 mph Conor CumminsKawasaki127.88 mph Gary JohnsonHonda126.87 mph
2010 Ian HutchinsonHonda128.607 mph Ryan FarquharKawasaki127.46 mph Bruce AnsteySuzuki126.4 mph
2011 John McGuinnessHonda128.426 mph Guy MartinSuzuki128.28 mph Bruce AnsteyHonda128.1 mph
2012Cancelled due to weather conditions
2013 John McGuinnessHonda128.943 mph Michael DunlopHonda128.73 mph Bruce AnsteyHonda128.58 mph
2014 Michael DunlopBMW128.680 mph Conor CumminsHonda128.39 mph Guy MartinSuzuki128.201 mph
2015 John McGuinnessHonda130.481 mph James HillierKawasaki130.03 mph Ian HutchinsonKawasaki129.83 mph
2016 Michael DunlopBMW130.685 mph Ian HutchinsonBMW130.029 mph John McGuinnessHonda129.388 mph
2017 Michael DunlopSuzuki130.456 mph Peter HickmanBMW130.04 mph Dean HarrisonKawasaki129.724 mph
2018 Peter HickmanBMW131.700 mph Dean HarrisonKawasaki131.656 mph Conor CumminsHonda129.554 mph
2019 Dean HarrisonKawasaki130.824 mph Peter HickmanBMW129.719 mph Conor CumminsHonda129.599 mph
2020Cancelled due to COVID-19
2021Cancelled due to COVID-19
2022 Peter HickmanBMW129.432 mph Dean HarrisonKawasaki129.085 mph Conor CumminsHonda128.745 mph
2023 Peter HickmanBMW132.526 mph Dean HarrisonKawasaki132.097 mph Michael DunlopHonda131.661 mph

Multiple winners (riders)

Rider Wins
7
5
4
Alec Bennett, Harold Daniell, Geoff Duke, Michael Dunlop, David Jefferies, Phillip McCallen, Peter Hickman3
2

Multiple winners (manufacturers)

MarqueWins
Honda23
Norton20
MV Agusta13
Suzuki13
BMW6
Yamaha, Sunbeam5
Gilera, Kawasaki, Rudge, Scott2

See also

Notes and References

  1. Guinness Motorcycle Sport Fact Book by Ian Morrison pp120 (1991)(1st Edition) Guinness Publishing The Bath Press
  2. Web site: Decision made on final day of racing at the 2012 TT - The official Isle of Man TT website. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120613171002/http://www.iomtt.com/News/2012/06/09/Decision-made-on-final-day-of-racing-at-the-2012-TT.aspx. 2012-06-13.
  3. News: Aaron. Frank. The First American Motorcycle to Win the Isle of Man TT . 13 March 2024 . Motorcyclist . 16 November 2011 . en.
  4. International Tourist Trophy Regulations 2012 page 3/Appendix A page 34 ACU Events (Isle of Man) Limited (2012) Isle of Man Department of Economic Development
  5. Book: International Tourist Trophy Regulations 2012 . 19 . ACU Events (Isle of Man) Limited . 2012.
  6. News: New lap and race records for victorious Hickman in PokerStars Senior TT. 8 June 2018. Isle of Man TT. 8 June 2018. Duke Marketing Ltd..
  7. Web site: TT Fact Zone. Duke Marketing Ltd..

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