NEWS
RECORDS TUMBLE
2016 Isle of Man TT
This year’s Isle of Man TT saw lap
records tumble with the new outright
lap record set by Michael Dunlop at
133.962mph! Total race times also
fell in both the RST Superbike and
Pokerstars Senior TT – both won
by Dunlop.
Ian Hutchinson was the man of the
meeting, taking home three winners
trophies, winning both Supersport
races on his Monster Energy Yamaha
R6 and the Superstock title on his
Tyco BMW S 1000 RR.
Ivan Linton won the Lightweight TT
and Kiwi, Bruce Anstey won the SES
ZeroTT (for electric bikes).
The rivalry between Ian Hutchinson
and Michael Dunlop came to a head in
the post-race press conference of the
Senior TT where Hutchy said that he
was “disgusted” with the comments
made by Dunlop over the second
6XSHUVSRUWUDFHZKHUHDUXPRXUÁHZ
around that Hutchy had illegal pistons- when they weren’t. Hutchy went on
to say that the organisers would need
to apologise to him before he would
return to the TT again – this came
forthwith with the Technical Director
apologising for anything that was said.
Dunlop took it on the chin (sort of),
which we assume only enraged
Hutchy even more.
Both riders are the ones to beat at the
moment and both are pegging to be
the highest winners of TT trophies.
The score at the end of this year’s TT- Hutchy 14, Dunlop 13.
Three Aussies contested the solos this
year – Cam Donald, Dave Johnson
and Alex Pickett. All three had their
share of grief, but Dave Johnson had
WKHKLJKHVWSODFHÀQLVKRQWKH1RUWRQ
with 7th and a 130+mph lap in the
RST Superbike race. Cam Donald
got 10th in the 1st Supersport race
and had troubles in the other races
and Alex Pickett got 31st in the 1st
Supersport race with mechanical
issues in the 2nd.
On a sad note, four racers lost their
lives this year. Aussie, Dwight Beare
(Sidecars), “Spirit of the TT” award
winner, Paul ‘Shoey’ Shoesmith
(Superbike, Superstock, Supersport,
Lightweights), Ian Bell (Sidecars) and
Andrew Soar (Superbike). Shoey’s
- Hutchy 14, Dunlop 13.
death shook up Johnson and Pickett,
having both been riders for him in the
past and being great mates. A sad end
to an otherwise amazing 2016 TT.KINGS OF FINKE
KTM and Toby Price
KTM Australia’s Desert team took all
three steps of the podium at the Tatts
Finke Desert Race, with Dakar Rally
winner, Toby Price winning Finke for
WKHWK\HDULQDURZ1RWRQO\WKDW
Price completed his Ironman challenge
of competing in both car and bike
events. In his Stadium Truck, Price
ÀQLVKHGQGRYHUDOOVWLQFODVVDQG
smashed the race record on the bike
with a 3:46:55 total race time –
what a champion!