NEWS
NEW LOOK MGP ATTRACTS QUALITY ENTRY
The Manx Grand Prix returns this August for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic, delivering a new-look five race programme featuring the world’s best road racers locking horns on exotic classic racing bikes alongside races for some of the sport’s most exciting up-and-coming riders doing battle in races for Supersport and Supertwin machinery.
And a quality entry has been secured for the first year of this new era for the 99-year-old event, featuring 8 previous Isle of Man TT winners and 22 Manx Grand Prix winners. In all, the entry brings together riders with a total of 77 TT victories and 191 TT podiums as well as 34 Manx GP wins and 97 podiums.
TT legends John McGuinness MBE and Michael Dunlop lead the entry for the classic races, where they are joined by the likes of Michael Rutter, David Johnson, Jamie Coward, Gary Johnson, James Hillier, Lee Johnston and Ian Lougher. These riders and a host of other leading names will feature in the Senior Classic, Lightweight and Classic Superbike Manx Grand Prix races across the August Bank Holiday weekend.
Meanwhile, the Senior and Junior Manx Grand Prix Races (for Supersport and Supertwin machines respectively) will see some of road racing’s brightest prospects go head to head around the Mountain Course with aspirations of following in the long line of riders who have progressed to the Isle of Man TT.
The entry features a number of riders who have already lapped the circuit at an average speed of over 120mph, including podium finishers Stephen Smith, Dan Ingham and local rider Dean Osborne. Whilst European riders Victor Lopez Santos (Spain), Francesco Curinga (Italy) and Andrea Majola (Italy) have proved their pace previously and are likely to be contesting for a place on the podium as they gain more experience.
And there is every chance the Manx Grand Prix will unearth a currently unknown future star of the Mountain Circuit, with 23 newcomer riders entered across the five races who are each looking to make their mark. Local newcomers will join others from the UK, Ireland, France, Italy and the USA.
2022 will also see the return of riders from Austria, France, Czech Republic, Italy, Poland, Spain, Switzerland and the USA bringing an international atmosphere to the paddock.
The Manx Grand Prix starts on Sunday 21st of August and culminates on Monday 29th of August. Racing gets underway on Friday 26th of August with the Dunlop Lightweight Race, followed by the Bremont Senior Classic and Manx Grand Prix Supporters’ Club Junior races scheduled for Saturday 27th of August. The event climaxes on Bank Holiday Monday with the Mylchreests Group Senior and RST Superbike Classic Races.
