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Celebrating next week, its 102nd Anniversary the much-loved Manx Grand Prix continually produces new Mountain Course racing superheroes.
After a string of victory near misses, could 2025 finally be the year, Jamie Williams finds the path to MGP winners club membership?
Riding the JLG/NCE Racing Honda, Kawasaki’s, Williams the P1 plate holder for Super Twin, Supersport, Junior, Senior contests, goes into next week’s opening qualifying session bursts in decent form, having late last month taken BeNeLux Trophy Supersport Race Two honours at Chimay.
2024 Senior Race runner-up, Hawick’s Chris Cook, the same as Williams is ultra keen to stand on the top step of the podium.
Meeting returner Skerries Andy Farrell knows this feeling and although a-few years away from IOM shores, discount him at your peril from higher-end leaderboard finishes.
Similar vibes are viable towards fellow Mountain Course returnees, boasting between them 10 years of TT racing experience, Adrian Harrison (Brook Built Racing – Yamaha) and Craig Szczypek.
A race winner on debut last year, vaulting to Junior Classics success, Hager PBM Ducati employee Harley Rushton progress astride modern era tackle (Allspeeds Racing Team – Kawasaki) will be-watched closely whilst others joining him as prospective victory chasers, dark horses for podiums, include:
2018 Newcomers B race capturer Michael Rees (P1 plate holder – Junior/Super Twin races), Liam Chawke (Jack Reid Cars-KMR Kawasaki/Chawkie Racing Supporters Club), four times top three finisher Alex Sinclair, No Limits Racing Champion Lewis Arrowsmith, full-time IRRC competitor Mike Mace.
Fastest newcomer of 2024 Johnny Stewart, Isle of Wight flyer Ryan Whitehall, Cowton Racing’s Toby Shann, Michael Gahan (Scott Racing), eight times Sidecar TT winner, 2016 Lightweight category winner Dan Sayle.
Extra names to look out for include Owen Monaghan, Dennis Booth, Tom Snow, Oliver’s Mount – Barry Sheene Festival Feature Race second place finisher, Paul Marley (Cowton Racing).
Dan Forbes, Graham McAleese, 2019 Ultra Lightweight Race 2 – second place finisher, Rad Hughes, Rodger Wibberley, Colin ‘Crofty’ Croft, Mark Johnson.
The ‘Cornish Stig’ Ross Orchard, Justin Collins, Ryan Garside, Tim Walsh, Aberdare Park front runner Will Burchell, Aiden Cleary, Calum Pert.
European Hill Climb Road Race Superbike Championship runner-up Salvatore Sallustro (VAS Engine Racing), piloting last year’s Twins class winning S1-R Paton, Kevin Rigot, Spain’s Victor Ortega, Norway’s Erik Kjuus, American’s Richard Kay, David Thomas are amongst the overseas aces hoping to create quite the impression.
Onto MGP newcomers, twenty-eight of them, from eleven different nations.
Ones to watch include the People’s Bike Team’s Grant Thomson who has already made his mark at both the Pre-TT Classic and Southern 100.
Irish roads front runner James Doy, William ‘Sherriff’ Grant (Cowton Racing), dominant Oliver’s Mount Supersport 400 force of 2025 Stephen Gorton, ‘Hello Dave’ Dave Glossop (Scott Racing), New Zealander Hamish Tarr (DP Coldplaning/TC Racing).
IRRC regulars Wally Jacobs, Peter Lionel, Matthieu Pauchard, You Tube vlogger Blake Kelly, David McArthur, Czech Republic rider Ales Sykora and Armoy third place finisher x2 Lee Hara.
Quicky timely reminder, if your still not aware, 2025 Manx GP qualifying stints thrust into fruition on Sunday, 17th of August (proposed start time 1:30 PM – mandatory lap for newcomers opens proceedings).
Photo credit: Mark Corlett, Nick Wheeler
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
Meeting returner Skerries Andy Farrell knows this feeling and although a-few years away from IOM shores, discount him at your peril from higher-end leaderboard finishes.
Similar vibes are viable towards fellow Mountain Course returnees, boasting between them 10 years of TT racing experience, Adrian Harrison (Brook Built Racing – Yamaha) and Craig Szczypek.
A race winner on debut last year, vaulting to Junior Classics success, Hager PBM Ducati employee Harley Rushton progress astride modern era tackle (Allspeeds Racing Team – Kawasaki) will be-watched closely whilst others joining him as prospective victory chasers, dark horses for podiums, include:
2018 Newcomers B race capturer Michael Rees (P1 plate holder – Junior/Super Twin races), Liam Chawke (Jack Reid Cars-KMR Kawasaki/Chawkie Racing Supporters Club), four times top three finisher Alex Sinclair, No Limits Racing Champion Lewis Arrowsmith, full-time IRRC competitor Mike Mace.
Fastest newcomer of 2024 Johnny Stewart, Isle of Wight flyer Ryan Whitehall, Cowton Racing’s Toby Shann, Michael Gahan (Scott Racing), eight times Sidecar TT winner, 2016 Lightweight category winner Dan Sayle.
Extra names to look out for include Owen Monaghan, Dennis Booth, Tom Snow, Oliver’s Mount – Barry Sheene Festival Feature Race second place finisher, Paul Marley (Cowton Racing).
Dan Forbes, Graham McAleese, 2019 Ultra Lightweight Race 2 – second place finisher, Rad Hughes, Rodger Wibberley, Colin ‘Crofty’ Croft, Mark Johnson.
The ‘Cornish Stig’ Ross Orchard, Justin Collins, Ryan Garside, Tim Walsh, Aberdare Park front runner Will Burchell, Aiden Cleary, Calum Pert.
European Hill Climb Road Race Superbike Championship runner-up Salvatore Sallustro (VAS Engine Racing), piloting last year’s Twins class winning S1-R Paton, Kevin Rigot, Spain’s Victor Ortega, Norway’s Erik Kjuus, American’s Richard Kay, David Thomas are amongst the overseas aces hoping to create quite the impression.
Onto MGP newcomers, twenty-eight of them, from eleven different nations.
Ones to watch include the People’s Bike Team’s Grant Thomson who has already made his mark at both the Pre-TT Classic and Southern 100.
Irish roads front runner James Doy, William ‘Sherriff’ Grant (Cowton Racing), dominant Oliver’s Mount Supersport 400 force of 2025 Stephen Gorton, ‘Hello Dave’ Dave Glossop (Scott Racing), New Zealander Hamish Tarr (DP Coldplaning/TC Racing).
IRRC regulars Wally Jacobs, Peter Lionel, Matthieu Pauchard, You Tube vlogger Blake Kelly, David McArthur, Czech Republic rider Ales Sykora and Armoy third place finisher x2 Lee Hara.
Quicky timely reminder, if your still not aware, 2025 Manx GP qualifying stints thrust into fruition on Sunday, 17th of August (proposed start time 1:30 PM – mandatory lap for newcomers opens proceedings).
Photo credit: Mark Corlett, Nick Wheeler
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
