Over 240 racers are Billown bound for the traditional curtain raiser of the TT Races festival, with overall 241 competitors venturing in May to Manx shores, for the yesteryear racing extravaganza that is the Blackford Financial Services Pre TT Classic Road Races.
Headline entries include a host of next generation roads talent, including Jamie Coward, Adam McLean, Paul Jordan, Ben Rea, Rob Hodson, triple Manx GP winner Michael Evans and reigning Junior Classic TT champion Dominic Herbertson.
Davies Motorsport’s Herbertson, victorious last year at Billown on 350 and 500 machinery, will no question start again as one of the favourites for multiple solo class victories, as will event legend Mike Hose and prominent yesteryear racing specialists such as Barry Davidson, Bill Swallow, Alan Oversby, Steve Ferguson and Chris McGahan.
Additional notable entrants include Hefyn Owen, Rhys Hardisty, Tom Snow, Keith Shannon, Sam Kinkead, Meredydd Owen, Dave Matravers, Will Loder, Tim Poole, Brian Mateer, Jeff Ward, prospective Cookstown 100 debutant Adrian Harrison and 2015 Newcomers B Manx GP winner Gary Vines.
Photo by Nick Wheeler
There’s also 11 event newcomers who are as follows: Manx GP winners Andy Farrell, Alistair Haworth and Mark Purslow, DP Coldplaning/TC Racing’s Julian Trummer, Dean Stimpson, Dave Holden.
David Mead, John Cliffe, Keith Clarke, Dean Edwards, Steve Birtles, Richard Ford, Andy Kildea and Port Erin based Gavin Brown.
Outside of the solo classes, the three wheeling fraternity also enjoys a strong event presence, with leading entries including Eddy Wright/Kieran Clarke, Tony Thirkell/Trevor Johnson, Greg Lambert/Ben McBride, Keith Walters/Alun Thomas and Wally Saunders/Bob Dowty.
Reminder the 2019 Blackford Financial Services Pre TT Classic Road Races, take place from the 24th to the 27th of May.
Words by Stevie Rial