LIGHTWEIGHT RACE PREVIEW
The PE Lightweight Manx Grand Prix race will again rekindle memories from years gone by as the sights and sounds of 250cc two-strokes tackle the Mountain Course once more.
Mixed in with four-stroke Moto 3 and Supersport 400cc machines, it promises to be a race full of variety.
It’s also full of talent and winner for the last two years, Mike Browne, is reunited with the 250cc TZ Yamaha that saw him come out on top in both 2022 and 2023.
Continuing with Eddie Laycock’s team, he’ll start as favourite as he aims to make it a hat-trick.
Current lap record holder James Hind should be his biggest rival. He broke down whilst leading the 2022 race with just a few miles to go and having missed last year’s meeting, he’ll be keen to make amends this time around.
He spearheads the opposition along with Browne’s veteran team-mate Ian Lougher and Lee Johnston (Reed Racing Honda) who makes his return to the roads.
He lapped at close to 118mph on his way to winning the 2018 Classic Lightweight TT and if he can lap at a similar pace this year, he’ll be in with a great chance.
Michael Dunlop (MD Racing Honda) hasn’t had the best of luck in the Lightweight category but can obviously never be ruled out whilst other 250cc front runners should include Joey Thompson, who leads the field away at number one, Rhys Hardisty, Dan Sayle, Gareth Arnold, Stuart Hall, Chris Moore, Michael Sweeney and Michal Dokoupil.
Etienne Huon de Penanster, a race winner at Chimay, and Nick Sansome, runner-up in the ACU National Championship, are the leading 250cc exponents making their debut on the Mountain Course this year.
The race is also full of Supersport 400cc machines with Nathan Harrison, on paper at least, the best bet for the leading Ultra-Lightweight accolade.
Fellow Manxmen Michael Evans, Joe Yeardsley and Paul Cassidy – who was the top 400cc runner last year in ninth overall – should be his closest challengers.
Throw in the likes of Stefano Bonetti, Maurizo Bottalico, Michael Rees, Sam Johnson and Alan Oversby, and it’s clear it’s going to be a keenly fought race.
| 1 | Joey Thompson | Yamaha TZ250 | Seventy Four Racing |
| 2 | Ian Lougher | Yamaha TZ250 | Laycock Racing |
| 3 | Mike Browne | Yamaha TZ250 | Laycock Racing |
| 4 | Shaun Anderson | TBC | TBC |
| 5 | James Hind | Yamaha TZ250 | Dennis Trollope Racing |
| 6 | Michael Dunlop | Honda RS250 | MD Racing |
| 7 | Dominic Herbertson | TBC | TBC |
| 8 | Paul Jordan | TBC | TBC |
| 9 | Joe Yeardsley | Kawasaki ZXR400 | Neil Wood Painting And Decorating |
| 10 | Michael Evans | KTM RC390 | Atherstone Accident Repair Centre |
| 11 | Nathan Harrison | Honda RVF400 | H&H Motorcycles |
| 12 | Chris Moore | Yamaha TZ250 | Outhwaite Plant / iHeat / Silverstar |
| 13 | Lee Johnston | Honda RS250 | Reed Racing Honda |
| 14 | Gareth Arnold | Yamaha TZ250 | Jenarracing |
| 15 | Dan Sayle | Honda RS250 | John Chapman Racing |
| 16 | Stuart Hall | Yamaha TZ250 | Whippet Racing |
| 17 | Rhys Hardisty | Yamaha TZ250 | Phil Anslow Coaches / Kaymac |
| 18 | Maurizio Bottalico | Kawasaki ZX4RR | |
| 19 | Michal Dokoupil | Yamaha TZ250 | Cookson Travel |
| 20 | Michael Sweeney | Yamaha TZ250 | CSC Racing / IMS |
Enjoy a different view of the Manx Grand Prix this year by Marshaling - no experience required, and previous marshals welcomed. Sign on on the TT Marshal website: https://www.iomttmarshals.com/
